MRS. DBEING'S POS1119.

AN enormous number of flowers is necessary for the production of a small quantity of otter of roses; but even when the essence is diluted the "scent of the roses will hang round it still." As rose-water is to otter, so is Mrs. Robert Dering's poetry to that of the greater masters of the lyre. There is a true poetical spirit, but diluted, sometimes to weakness. The themes, however, are so adapted to the style or rather the genius of the writer, the sentiments are so appropriate to the themes, and the exe- cution is characterized by such quiet simplicity and elegance, that several of her pieces are more pleasing than some poems of greater vigour and power but less homogeneity. Positive faults, chiefly referring to weak- ness of versification and the management of the governing events of the story, may be found in the poems; but they are excrescences capable of

✓ emoval, not inherent defects.

"Humble Sorrows " is a simple tale of peasant life. A harsh and

ill-conditioned father, a patient, loving mother, a beautiful and amiable daughter, with a rustic lover as a matter of course, form the elements of the tale : the general incidents are those of every-day life, the highest only reaching to a fair, and a peasant rivalry thereat. The love-cross at first is merely owing to the father Auselm's sullen nature, and his desire to keep his daughter at home ; a distress is afterwards produced by a charge of murder brought against the lover Godwin, because his rival Reuben is found slain in a wood. In addition to its triteness, this incident is not skilfully managed; the " evidence" weak, the circumstances not very probable, and the acquittal melodramatic : it would not have been difficult to select some rustic incidents of a more likely and a less hack- flied kind. However, the characters are lifelike, the sentiments and re- actions just, and the colouring natural. The poem suggests the idea of a feminine Crabbe : it has less force and severity than " Nature's sternest painter " displayed, but more elegance, and sometimes as much truth. This picture of ill-matched minds and benumbed affection might have been conceived by Crahbe. They had in youth's sweet early time been wed,

When moat profusely life's delights are shed, And when the hearts and hands that lovers give Bid fair to hold together whilst they live. But youth's bright sky too soon is overcast, When the heart's fond emotions all are past; And Janet's heaven grew black with many a cloud, Soon as her wedded faith and love were vowed.

A free and happy heart did she confide To Anselm's eare when she becapielis bride; She gave it truthfully at his appeal,

And took him for her own in wo or weal, • _ la all sincerity, resolved to share

Her husband's every joy and every care;

Her every duty cheerfully perform, And love him ever with airg lion warm.

Her pure and unsuspecting mind was slow Unkindness and deceitfulness to know; And with amazement day by day she leam'd That all her tenderness was unreturn'd.

Here was a heavy trial to endure, When she of Anselm's heart had been so sure; But she had still to learn how wearily

Do loveless days of wedded life pass by—

How droops the heart by cold unkindness check'd, Which had look'd on to years with pleasures deck'd: If she had seen his love to others given, To woo it back she ardently had striven;

But stern, unyielding, cold that heart within—

Too well she knew there was no love to win.

" Wo to the heart whose sorrow at the best Is but the subject of an idle jest; The heart which sighs for fondness like its own, But seeks it in a pulseless heart of stone.

And such the burden Janet had to bear—

A load of disappointment, trouble, care: Beneath it all her courage seem'd to fail, Her lovely eyes grew dim, her cheeks grew pale. The burden was in meekest patience borne, Bat by a spirit broken and forlorn."

"Arno and Francisca" is the story of an Italian sculptor falling in love with an English lady of rank, whose statue he was to execute. The father's conventional opinions and family feeling oppose obstacles ; which, however, yield to his daughter's failing health, and the lovers are united ; the artist Arno becoming a count and turning out to be

of noble family, as a sop to English notions. The same qualities are

displayed in this poem as in "Humble Sorrows"; and there is one

gem in the tale. If Mrs. Hering always wrote like the following de-

scription, she would take a high place among the poets of the day.

" The Sculptor wrought—the features were the same, And genius gloried as the likeness came.

The same soft outline Art as Nature gave;

The hair descended in the selfsame wave; The lips, just parted, all but seem'd to speak; The rose was all but blooming on the cheek; The throat—the neck—almost you might declare The very breath of life was heaving there; And were the work of Art to Nature shown,

Almost might Nature claim it as her own.

"And whose the features? whose the master hand Which could such magical success command ? 'Twee Arno's toil that made the lifeless mass All beauty save Francisca's own surpass; His glance was searching, and his touch was true, And touch by touch the soft resemblance grew.

• s. gamble Sorrows, ditto and Francisca, and other Poems. By,Efrs. Robert Dering. Published by Groombridge. Francisco's father watch'd him day by day

Impress her beauty on the pliant clay: Fresh charms were added as his fingers moved, And that which seem'd perfection still improved. Each moment lovelier yet became the face; The neck—the shoulders—had Francisco's grace ; And ev'n her soul so peaceful, pare, and mild, He traced in the loved features of his child."

"Rich and Poor" is another story of English rural life; the subject being a " poor " gipsy who is assisted in his love by a "rich" landlord. The theme is made too much of; and its ruggedness requires more homely power than is the characteristic of Mrs. Daring's mind. Like the previous poems, too, though in a greater degree, it would have been im. proved by the bestowal of more care upon the versification of many lines, in condensing and working up weakness into strength.

The volume contains a variety of miscellaneous poems, distinguished by the same qualities as the. longer pieces, but the want of strength more visibly showing. They do not call for particular remark.