The Continental Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 3, March, 1864: Devoted to Literature and National PolicyVarious
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 3, March, 1864: Devoted to Literature and National Policy
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
Strange statements truly, and yet we see no reason to doubt that Miss
Doten fully believes them to be simple records of facts known to
herself. We do not doubt her truth and good faith; but we confess
ourselves puzzled with the contradictory and inconsequent phenomena of
modern spiritualism. These developments never bring any accession to our
knowledge. In addition to the curious circumstances attending the
creation of these poems, many of them are very beautiful. In those
purporting to have been dictated by the spirit of Poe, the similarity of
style is quite remarkable. His alliterations, his frequent assonances
and rhymes, his chiming and ever-musical rhythms are wonderfully well
reproduced. But has he learned nothing new to tell us in those 'supernal
spheres'? Has he struck upon no new path in those weird regions, grasped
no fresh and startling thought to weave into the perfect music of his
lines? Nay, has he learned no new tunes, chimes, or rhythms 'where the
angels' feet make music over all the starry floor'? Could he not lift
for us the veil of Isis? The 'inspiration' from Shakspeare we regard as
a total failure. He who never repeated himself on earth, comes to us who
love him, after his long residence in heaven, and travesties his own
matchless dramas by weak quotations from them, as if he had been
cogitating only his own words through the new scenes of glory which had
opened before him. Our great Shakspeare has grown none in the passing
centuries--comes from the empyrean to gabble like a dotard of the
visions of his youth? We quote from the poem:
'Man learns in this Valhalla of his soul
To love, nor ever finds 'Love's Labor Lost.'
No two-faced Falstaff proffers double suit;
No Desdemona mourns Iago's art;
And every Romeo finds his Juliet.'
Trust us, fair and gifted Miss Doten, the spirit who sang this into your
soul was not Shakspeare, nor, unless we are much mistaken, even one of
his acquaintances.
FAITH AND FANCY. By JOHN SAVAGE, Author of 'Sibyl, a
Tragedy.' New York: James B. Kirker, 599 Broadway. Washington, D. C.:
Philip & Solomon.
We are glad to welcome this little volume of poems, some of which were
published anonymously, and received general praise from critics and
readers. They are vigorous, patriotic, rhythmical, and many of them are
marked with imaginative power. The 'Muster of the North' is a bold and
striking poem.
LIFE OF EDWARD LIVINGSTON. By CHARLES HAVENS HUNT.
With an Introduction by GEORGE BANCROFT. New York: D. Appleton
& Co., 443 and 445 Broadway.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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