The Collected Poems of Isabella Valancy Crawford

, Each soul his own.' Now, tyrant, dare to die And claim thy robes of which I prophesy ! " Miss Crawford's idea of Peace is of no limp negation, but of a being who is blest in proportion as she is strong. It is an heroic figure that she sets before us: " Peace stands within the city wall; Most like a god she towers tall, And bugle-like she cries to all. " In place of sounds of nether hell, In place of serpent-hiss of shell, Sounds sweet her powerful ' All's well!' " Is she a willow by a stream ? The spirit of a dreamer's dream ? The pale moon's meek and phantom beam ? " The mere desire of panting soul? Water, not wine, within the bowl ? Rides she, a ghost, upon the roll " Of spectral seas? Nay, see her rise, Strong flesh against the flushing skies, Large calm within her watchful eyes." Of the poems which have hitherto not appeared in book form, there are in some an Oriental prodigality of colours and images which almost affright the everyday imagination. Such is " The Inspiration of Song," which at first glance appears to be an inspired medley of starry distances, fine-flamed diamonds, immortal roses, banks of violets, the heavy wings of slow centuries,rarest gems of every hue, flowering walls and " a tawny lion with a mane that tossed in golden tempests round his awful eyes." But the fundamental design beneath this wealth of decoration is strong and sufficient. Miss Crawford ornaments with a lavish hand, but she demands immen...