The Soul's Comedy. By Arthur Edward Waite. (George Redway .)
—In this work Mr. Waite has produced a poem very much above the average of poetic merit. Though The Soul's Comedy is never likely to become a popular book, yet it will be read by many with a considerable amount of pleasure. Jasper Cartwright's struggle against the circumstances which have combined to ruin his spiritual existence, and his final triumph over them, are powerfully portrayed, and cannot fail to interest such as are thoughtfully inclined. Occasionally Mr. Waite goes so deep as to become some- what unintelligible ; we might even fancy that he is a little uncertain as to his own meaning. Perhaps, however, this is par- donable in a poet of the present day. His blank verse is pleasing and melodious. Scattered at intervals throughout his volume there are passages of more than ordinary beauty. Here is one :— "O silvery voice across the starless void! 0 blessed vision, wonderful, divine!
I see thee standing, and thy radiant face Smiles down on me through all the gathering gloom ; I cannot look at thee ; I yearn, and stretch
Mine eager hands to reach thine own in vain—
Gulfs are between us, the eternal sea, The aching void, the infinite abyss, Which none may cross !"
The fourth line is a little weak; but, on the whole, this is certainly a fine piece of verse.
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