Ossian Collection > Aspects of poetry

6a CRITICISM AND CREATION. [ll.
modern novel — (I wish they would condense their three
volumes into one) — the modern novel, which depicts
character, groups of men and women, their attitudes,
looks, gestures, conversations — all, in fact, which reveals
life — with a power that versified dialogue can hardly-
rival. All this may be conceded. And yet there remain
large and deep ranges of experience which, just because
they are so deep and tender, find no natural and adequate
outlet, but in some form of melodious and metrical
language. Whether this shall be done by original genius,
pouring new life and rhythm into the old and well-used
metres, or whether, by striking out novel and untried
forms of metre, which may better chime with new ca-
dences of thought, I shall not venture to say.
You ask for reality, not fiction and filigree-work.
Well, then, there are many of the most intense realities,
of which poetic and melodious words are the fittest,
I might say the only, vehicle. There is the poetry of
external nature ; not merely to paint its outward shows
to the eye, but to reproduce those feelings which its
beauty awakens. There are those aspects of history
in which great national events kindle our patriotism,
or striking individual adventures thrill us with a sense
of romance. There is the whole world of the affec-
tions, those elements of our being which earliest wake
and latest die. The deep home affections, the yearn-
ings for those whom no more we see, the unutterable
dawnings on the soul, as it looks towards the Eternal,