gh devout purpose and wide human sympathy ennoble all the
writer's work, and his clear language and quiet music will retain
his audience."--_Nineteenth Century_, August, 1880.
"In all that respects technical points, certainly the most
finished work we have yet had from the author's hand, and here
and there the phrasing is exquisite. For ambitious aims, and for
art which so far has justified those aims, for elevation and
refinement, these poems are in advance of any of the author's
former works."--_British Quarterly Review_, July, 1880.
"Any notice of recent poetry would be inadequate without a
reference to the 'Ode of Life.' The only fault we have to find
with this really remarkable effort--a sort of expansion of
Wordsworth's famous Ode--is that it is rather too long for its
ideas; but it possesses power, sweetness, occasional profundity,
and unmistakable music. It is, when all is said and done, a true
'Ode,' sweeping the reader along as the ode should do, and
'Growing like Atlas, stronger for its load.'
It appears to us to bring definite proof that the writer's
pretensions have not been over-stated."--_Contemporary Review_,
February, 1881.
SONGS UNSUNG.
"Some of the more important pieces make almost equal and very
high demands alike on my sympathy and my admiration, and I hope
you may long be enabled to cherish the enviable gift of finding
utterance for Truths so deep in forms of so much power and
beauty."--_Letter from_ MR. GLADSTONE, November, 1883.
"The reader of his former work will probably commence this volume
with considerable expectations. Nor will he be altogether
disappointed, although he will probably wish that Mr. Morris had
given the world more of his exquisite classical
workmanship."--_Fortnightly Review_, November, 1883.
"'The New Creed' is, in some respects, his most striking
achievement. The poem is one well suited to his mind, but we are
not aware that he has ever before written anything at once so
impressive, so solemn, and so self-restrained. The last two lines
have all the happy energy of the highest poetry."--_Spectator_,
November 10th, 1883.
"In reading it one feels constantly 'How worthy this book would
be of beautiful illustrations!'"--_Academy_, November 24th, 1883.
"The volume is full of the sweet fruits of a larg
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