" MADONNA'S CHILD."
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—In reproaching me with occasionally falling, in "Madonna's Child," into a confusion of metaphors, I am sure you had no intention to garble the one only instance you cite. But if, instead of quoting it, as you do,—
"You might Have been my star But since you furl your wings and veil your light,"
you had filled up the space occupied by the asterisks with the words in the context, which run thus,-
" Yon might
Have been my star : a star once fell by pride.
But since," &c.,
you would have enabled your tribunal of intelligent readers, of whom you have just cause to be proud, to perceive for themselves, what I am surprised you should have missed, that the reference to Lucifer, the fallen angel or star, leaves no room for any such criticism. Of another passage you are good enough to cite with commendation, your printer has made a melancholy travesty. It is where the statue of the Madonna is described,—
" As one who seemed to see all without seeing!
And without ears to hear man's suppliant sighs."
" Without ears" is printed "without care ;" an alteration which, unfortunately, does not make nonsense, but something vastly worse. I may add, with an apology for venturing to occupy so much of your space, that "glistening lemon-bowers," should be "glistering lemon-bowers."—I am, &c., Swinford House, September 24, 1873. ALFRED AUSTIN.
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