Kingsley's is a character easy to criticize. He had a feminine side, which, in a truly feminine fashion admired force, however exerted; a side which is responsible for that "muscular Christianity" whose paternity he denied. In his rôle of reformer his vehemence and impetuosity stood him in good stead; but impatience like his is the enemy of the grave and noble style. Though not profoundly learned, he had wide and varied information. He came near being a great preacher, for he chose living topics; and he had the gift of clothing in picturesque imagery an abstract truth, first perceived perhaps by a more original mind. He wrote one really great story, 'Hypatia'; and five brilliant ones: 'Yeast,' 'Alton Locke,' 'Hefeward the Wake,' Westward Ho!' and 'Two Years Ago.' His 'WaterBabies' is one of the few perfect fairy stories in the language. Even its moralities cannot wither it, nor its educational intention stale its infinite variety. He had the lyric quality and the poet's heart. he devoted himself to his favorite pursuit, he would have been a famous naturalist. And from his first published work to his premature death he was a distinct moral force in England. THE MERRY LARK WAS UP AND SINGING HE merry, merry lark was up and singing, THE And the hare was out and feeding on the lea, Now the hare is snatched and dead beside the snow-yard, And my baby in his cradle in the church-yard THE DEAD CHURCH ILD, wild wind, wilt thou never cease thy sighing? WILD Dark, dark night, wilt thou never wear away? Thy Lent is past, thy Passion here, but not thine Easter Day. Peace, faint heart, though the night be dark and sighing; Rest, fair corpse, where thy Lord himself hath lain. Weep, dear Lord, where thy bride is lying: Thy tears shall wake her frozen limbs to life and health again. THE SANDS OF DEE MARY, go and call the cattle home, And call the cattle home, And call the cattle home, Across the sands of Dee:" The western wind was wild and dank wi' foam, The western tide crept up along the sand, And o'er and o'er the sand, And round and round the sand, As far as eye could see: The rolling mist came down and hid the land, "Oh! is it weed, or fish, or floating hair - A drowned maiden's hair, Above the nets at sea?» Was ne'er a salmon yet that shone so fair They rowed her in across the rolling foam, The cruel hungry foam, To her grave beside the sea: But still the‘boatmen hear her call the cattle home, YOUTH AND AGE HEN all the world is young, lad, and everything is green, WHE And every goose a swan, lad, and every lass a queen, Then boot, lad, and horse, lad, and round the world away, And go it while you're young, lad; - each dog must have his day. When all the world gets old, lad, and all the trees turn brown, young. Ο LONGINGS From The Saint's Tragedy' H! THAT we two were Maying Down the stream of the soft spring breeze; Like children with violets playing In the shade of the whispering trees. Oh! that we two sat dreaming On the sward of some sheep-trimmed down, Watching the white mist steaming Over river and mead and town. Oh! that we two lay sleeping In our nest in the church-yard sod; With our limbs at rest on the quiet earth's breast, And our souls at home with God. A ANDROMEDA AND THE SEA-NYMPHS From Andromeda › WED by her own rash words she was still, and her eyes to the seaward Looked for an answer of wrath: far off in the heart of the dark ness, Bright white mists rose slowly; beneath them the wandering ocean Glimmered and flowed to the deepest abyss; and the knees of the maiden Trembled and sank in her fear, as afar, like a dawn in the midnight, Rose from their seaweed chamber the choir of the mystical sea maids. Onward toward her they came, and her heart beat loud at their coming, Watching the bliss of the gods, as wakened the cliffs with their laughter. Onward they came in their joy, and before them the roll of the surges Sank, as the breeze sank dead, into smooth green foam-flecked mar ble, Awed; and the crags of the cliff and the pines of the mountain were silent. Onward they came in their joy, and around them the lamps of the sea-nymphs, Myriad fiery globes, swam panting and heaving; and rainbows, Crimson and azure and emerald, were broken in star-showers, light ing Far through the wine-dark depths of the crystal, the gardens of Ne reus, Coral and sea-fan and tangle, the blooms and the palms of the ocean. Onward they came in their joy, more white than the foam which they scattered, Laughing and singing, and tossing and twining, while eager, the Tri tons Blinded with kisses their eyes, unreproved, and above them in worship Hovered the terns, and the sea-gulls swept past them on silvery pinions Echoing softly their laughter; around them the wantoning dolphins Sighed as they plunged, full of love; and the great sea-horses which bore them Curved up their crests in their pride to the delicate arms of the maiden, Pawing the spray into gems, till the fiery rainfall, unharming, Sparkled and gleamed on the limbs of the nymphs, and the coils of the mermen. Onward they went in their joy, bathed round with the fiery coolness, maids. Onward they passed in their joy; on their brows neither sorrow nor anger; Self-sufficing as gods, never heeding the woe of the maiden. MY A FAREWELL Y FAIREST child, I have no song to give you,- Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; WAITING FOR THE ARMADA From Westward Ho!' EE those five talking earnestly, in the centre of a ring, which Slongs to overhear and yet is too respectful to approach close. Those soft long eyes and pointed chin you recognize already: they are Walter Raleigh's. The fair young man in the flamecolored doublet, whose arm is round Raleigh's neck, is Lord Sheffield; opposite them stands, by the side of Sir Richard Grenville, a man as stately even as he,- Lord Sheffield's uncle, the Lord Charles Howard of Effingham, Lord High Admiral of England; next to him is his son-in-law, Sir Robert Southwell, captain of the Elizabeth Jonas: but who is that short, sturdy, plainly |