Yet, Freedom! yet thy banner, torn, but flying, Streams like the thunderstorm against the wind; Thy trumpet voice, though broken now and dying, The loudest still the tempest leaves behind.' These were lines which even Wordsworth, little as he was disposed to appreciate Byron, acknowledged to be genuine poetry. And can his Ode to Greece' be forgotten? or those stanzas in the second canto, of 'Childe Harold?' 'This must he feel, the trueborn son of Greece, If Greece one trueborn patriot yet can boast; Not such as prate of war, but skulk in peace, The bondman's peace, who sighs for all he lost, Yet with smooth smile his tyrant can accost, Their birth, their blood, and that sublime Of hero sires who shame thy now degenerate horde! When riseth Lacedæmon's hardihood, When Grecian mothers shall give birth to We think it certain that a great portion of the estimate in which Byron is held on the continent is due to his political tone; to his strong, but not extravagant zeal for the freedom of nations. Foreign nations are more ardent in their desire for liberty than we are, precisely because they have less of it; and they value more a poet who makes it his theme. But, moreover, Byron had the true tone of nationalism, as opposed to patriotism on the one hand, and cosmopolitanism on the other; he had raised himself above the position in which one's own country is regarded as the end of all things, without losing the sense of the distinction of nations between themselves. This would seem to be the truest mode, at present, of regarding mankind; for cosmopolitanism has something unreal about it; it is the view of a philosopher who communes with his own mind, but is neglectful of the world around. Shelley was a cosmopolitan; and his odes to liberty have about them something visionary, and even fanatical. Campbell and Wordsworth (in his sonnets) have | written political poems which come next after those of Byron, though at a long interval. Both of these were patriotic, rather than national or cosmopolitan; Campbell most distinctively so; and his well-known odes, though failing in breadth, have a flow and freedom only inferior to the poems of Byron. Wordsworth's sonnets, on the other hand, are somewhat dry and intellectual, though full of matter. There is one poem of Byron in which the egotism, though existing, is yet not inordinate, and where, consequently, the pathos is true notion of the relation which he himself pure and undisturbed; the poet having a bears to the outer world. This is his Epistle to Augusta' (his sister); a confession of his own failure in life, which cannot but affect us: 'If my inheritance of storms has been In other elements, and on the rocks Of perils, overlooked or unforeseen, I have sustained my share of worldly shocks, I have been cunning in mine overthrow, It is this unassuming egotism (though in other forms of it) that moves us in Burns and Heine; and it is a very different thing from the pure egotism which knows of nothing but itself and its own emotions. Shelley and Byron, each in a single instance, endeavoured to escape out of their own personalities, and depict the outward world with an impartial eye; Shelley in the Cenci,' Byron in Don Juan.' It will be proper to consider how far they each succeeded in this attempt. The Cenci' has received much praise for accurate painting of men; but this seems to us a mistake. The language, indeed, is surpassingly vigorous, and many of the thoughts are most striking; all these belonged to Shelley himself. But surely the characters are very crudely drawn. How different is the unredeemed, causeless, fiendlike villany and blood-thirstiness of Count Cenci from even the most wicked of Shakspeare's characters! Macbeth, Richard, Iago, Goneril, these are all human; in each case we see how it is that they become what they are; it is either from some great and overpowering ambition, or from meanness" and insensibility of nature, or from low revenge acting on a mind that has accustomed itself to none but cunning and filthy thoughts. But what are Cenci's motives, predispositions, desires? There are none. And is anything to be made of the character of Beatrice? We doubt it exceedingly. and great deeds, and when the very failings of poets resulted from the breadth of the field they endeavoured to occupy. From The Spectator. GLEANINGS FROM FRENCH GARDENS.* It is possible, indeed, that placed in so extraordinary and dreadful position as she was, all subtle shades of motive and impulse may have been annihilated by the one thought and fear that had possession of her; but yet we cannot help thinking that a poet with a true insight into her nature would have found something more than those few bold lines which Shelley has drawn. The THIS is a suggestive work, full of the characteristics of the Cenci' are, in fact, exact knowledge derived from practical exvery much the same as those of the Greek perience and daily occupation. Mr. Robplays, and it would occupy a very respect-inson writes upon a subject he understands able place among them; not, perhaps, quite in a clear and unpretending manner, with so high as the Prometheus,' the Antigone, no attempt at book-making, but with a disor the Medea,' but decidedly above the tinct aim and reasonable purpose. He gives "Seven against Thebes,' or the 'Philoctetes.' our English gardeners credit where credit is Don Juan' is, as has often been re- due, and at the same time shows in what marked, the truest and fullest exhibition of respects they are surpassed by the hortiByron's nature. There is extraordinary culturists of France. So many topics are picturesqueness in the different scenes, par-touched on in this volume that it is difficult ticularly in the first four books; the satire, though too savage, is often good; and the outbursts of passion are more genuine and perhaps more splendid than in any of Byron's other works. It has no centre, and no plot, nor properly speaking any characters; for these all would have demanded concentration of thought, which Byron lacked. Yet, with all its faults, it is the greatest of Byron's efforts. No critic of Don Juan' ought to omit mention of that most graceful passage in which Jeffrey is addressed: And all our little feuds, at least all mine, To make such puppets of us things below, No passage that Byron ever wrote gives one so kindly an impression of him; and here we may well leave him. It is impossible not to regret that, by his early death, he lost the opportunity of earning a purer and less chequered fame than his early life had won for him; but he had affected Europe with a power that he could never have equalled in any other line. In him, as well as in those whom we have classed with him, not we alone, but all generations of Englishmen, must take an abiding interest. They are the latest of our poets whose inspiration was not borrowed, but original; those of the present day are the inheritors of their ideas; and if they have excelled the elder generation in care, in freedom from faults, in artistic completeness, they lack the fire and strength of that time when poetry was considered not so much an art to be perfected in isolation as a means of rousing men to great thoughts LIVING AGE. VOL. X. 402 to lay hold of the salient points. Some of the chapters are devoted to subjects interesting only to the professional gardener, but the greater portion of the book will be found of value to the amateur. Mr. Robinson complains, and we think justly, that we do not make sufficient use of hardy plants in the arrangement of our gardens. In this respect indeed we appear of late years to have retrograded. So much has this been the case that many of the plants familiar to us as children, and as cheap as they were familiar, are now rarely seen and can only be procured at an extravagant price. Fashion rules over the flower garden as much as over the toilet, and the variety of bloom and foliage which was once so admirable in Engpatches of colour. It is true that what are lish gardens is now superseded by blazing called florists' flowers the ranunculus, the tulip, the hyacinth-were always and of necessity grown in separate beds; but twenty years ago far more attention was paid to mixed borders than is paid now. raniums and other bedding plants have been brought to rare perfection by the new system; but we question whether the effect of vast masses of colour is pleasing to the eye. We are dazzled, but not gratified; we gaze at these bright beds with wonder rather than with delight. In fact, our gardens, to quote an expression of Mr. Robinson's, are often "overdone with flowers;" and he notes how this mal-arrangement is avoided in the Luxembourg, in the Louvre, and elsewhere, by planting herbaceous plants in the centre of the border, so as to produce a permanent line of verdure. He mentions, too, more --- Ge Gleanings from French Gardens, comprising an Account of such Features of French Horticulture as are most worthy of Adoption in British Gardens. By W. Robinson, F.L.S. With numerous illustra tions. London: F. Warne and Co. 1568. than once, what must have struck all visitors | example of the Parisians, but it is certain to Paris, the pleasing manner in which the we might do much which has not been hitherIrish ivy is employed as an edging to flower to attempted. beds: A curious chapter in these Gleanings is devoted to "Salad Culture," which, as our "In the private garden of the Emperor the ivy bands are placed on the gravel walks, or seem readers are probably aware, is one of the to be so; for a belt of gravel a foot or so in width great successes of French gardening. We separates the ivy from the border proper. The have been disposed to think that this suceffect of these outside of the masses of gay flow-cess is due in large measure to climate, but ers is excellent. They are the freshest things to Mr. Robinson avers that this is a mistake, look upon in that city, all through the months and that there is no possible reason why we of May, June, and July. They form a capital should not grow as good salads in England setting, so to speak, for the flower borders, the and Ireland as ever went to the Paris marbest indeed that could be obtained; while in them-kets. His remarks upon this matter, which selves they possess beauty sufficient to make it are of necessity technical, prove that he has worth one's while to grow them for their own given careful consideration to the subject. He believes, too, that with proper attention we could grow in these islands peaches as good and as cheap as ever were produced at Montreuil, and that instead of that delicious fruit being a mere article of luxury, it might be profitably grown for general consumption. sakes." In conclusion, we thank Mr. Robinson for an instructive book on a subject which possesses some interest for all readers. Gardening is an expensive amusement when carried out with all the appliances of art; but gardening, which is one of the most exquisite and satisfactory of pleasures, possesses the great advantage that it may be brought to much perfection on a small scale, and with very limited means. From the amateur it asks more for taste than money, more for love than science, and we venture to assert that it yields quite as much delight to the man who gardens on a small scale, but with his own hands, as to the millionaire, with his lines of glass houses and his acres of pleasure-grounds. This is but one of many uses to which ivy is applied. It is used as a covering to everything unsightly, it is planted in nearly every courtyard in Paris, and Mr. Robinson observes that he never saw the scarlet geranium to greater advantage than in deep long boxes," placed against a wall densely covered with ivy, and that planted also along their front edges, so as to hang down and cover the face of the boxes." In tasteful arrangements like these the French display great ingenuity and a fine eye for colour, and although they cannot compete with us in large private gardens, they excel us greatly in the floral decoration of houses, and windows, and city courtyards. The latter are generally left by us in all their bareness, and it is a pleasant surprise when we come upon a patch of flowers or a pretty fernery in a London byway. In France, on the other hand, there is a general appreciation of these vegetable felicities; and we shall not soon forget our delight last summer, while wandering one hot day through Rouen, at the sight of a square courtyard belonging to a large millinery establishment which was veritably a bower of greenery and blossoms. Truly has it been said that it is the chance and cheap pleasures of travel that impress SOCIETY bears far too hardly upon flirts. us the most strongly. Mr. Robinson re- The majority of these not uninteresting creamarks, by the way, that ivy is frequently tures are simply the victims of a peculiar used in Paris as a screen in living rooms, temperament. Flirtation, in their case, is and in some shops is allowed to grow up the due to physiological, not psychical causes. walls, a pretty custom truly, but one which They coquette with men for the same reawe should not care to see adopted in Eng-son that kittens play with each other; it is land, since the love we cherish for ivy is their instinct thus to amuse themselves. shared in by snails and other insects. Mr. Their pretty wiles are not the result of a Robinson has a great admiration, which we theory, but the quite unconscious, unintencan only share with him in a limited degree, tional, and innocent play of a natural imfor M. Haussmann's transformation of Paris; pulse. The sly looks, the quaint graces, but we participate in his enthusiasm for the the pert airs which seem so very artificial, boulevards, and for the exquisite skill with are no more artificial than the colour of the which shrubs and flowers are planted in every young person's eyes or the tapering form available position. Our London atmos- of her fingers. "Be natural, and abandon phere will not allow us to follow closely the these meretricious pretensions and affec --- From The Leader. FLIRTING AS AN ART. tations," says society; and the flirt is nat- to flirtation with her mother's milk? As ural, but alters neither her habits nor her yet, we have no hospital for the cure of flirmanners. Then society, never very logical tation in which we might shut up this fasciat the best, becomes angry. She sees her nating invalid. Flirtation-doctors have not finest boys being tortured, and turned from yet arisen; and while we take no precauthe serious business of their life, and alto- tions to prevent or cure the disease, we gether made fools of, by this little woman console ourselves by abusing and vilifying with the languishing eyes and the shapely the persons afflicted. Such treatment does mouth. Eldest sons as well as younger not accord very well with our generally prosons are the prey of the flirt; and more se- fessed notions of benovolence and mutual date young women, whom it would be highly sympathy. It may be more or less satisfacadvantageous for these boys to marry, sit tory to ourselves, but it is not very logical. unsolicited and alone. Society begins to If, in this matter, society must direct its call the flirt names. She regards the tiny rage against some one, that scapegoat woman (nearly all girls who are flirts by na- should not be the flirt natural, but the flirt ture are small in person) with the virtuous artistic. The one is the victim of a poison indignation of a disappointed mother. She running through her veins; the other is a thinks it a monstrous thing that the danger- skilful elaborator of this poison, using it as a ous little creature should be tolerated; and charm to produce all kinds of devilment and she is amazed to see the attentions paid to sorcery. The flirt natural is an unfortuher by the men. Hence the name flirt has nate; the flirt artistic is a criminal. One become one of dire opprobrium. Out of may forgive a girl who owes to the chemic mere self-defence society has been forced to action of her blood a disposition for indefiexcommunicate this subtle enemy. Flirta- nitely making love to everybody; but she tion is the secret poison which, introduced who simulates the symptoms of this ailinto the social body, disarranges its func- ment in order to procure for herself a passtions, upsets its equilibrium, and tends to ing amusement removes herself into another produce decay and death. For it is the busi- class. The flirt natural is not nearly so ness of society to get people to marry. All dangerous as her artistic sister. The former its institutions have, more or less openly, is very likely to bring her career to a close that end in view. What are its balls, par- by suddenly marrying, and then her hus-, ties, picnics, and so forth, but so many op- band, acting as keeper, prevents her comportunities for love-making and consequent mitting ravages upon society to any great match-forming? They are as much ruled by extent. But the flirt artistic is not caught one ultimate aim as are the rustic games of by any of these sudden gusts of passion. Scotch villages, which are essentially so She is too cool, self-collected, self-conscious. many ingenious devices for allowing young She does not flirt because she cannot help people to kiss each other. Now, flirtation it: she chooses flirtation as her favourite enters this pretty scheme as the serpent en- pastime, and prepares herself for it. Mr. tered Paradise. It is the one foreign ele- Briggs going out fishing with a splendid asment. It overturns all the nice calculations sortment of rods, gaffs, landing nets, hooks, of prospective mothers-in-law. It defeats feathers, lines, reels, and what not, is but the prospects of many a very worthy and a feeble representative of the artistic flirt, honest girl. It turns the head and empties when she enters a room clothed in æsthetic the pocket of many a very tolerable young armour. She bristles with weapons. She gentleman. Sometimes it occasions a sui- can throw pointed knives with the precision cide. Need we wonder that society regards of a Chinese juggler. Where the flirt natural this thing with horror? Unfortunately, how- draws out her forces so clumsily as sometimes ever, society refuses to recognise this distinc- to make her an object of ridicule in the eyes tion between flirtation and the flirt. Flir- of the person attacked, the flirt artistic tation may be-nay, is bad enough; but manipulates them with the skill and accuif the flirt only acts in consonance with the racy of a general. She knows how they unavoidable impulses of her silly little na- will best tell; she is further acquainted with ture, how is she to be blamed? We shut her enemy's weak points. The natural flirt, the leper out beyond the gates, or we lock prompted by her innocence, shows her hand him up in a hospital; but we are not moved too much. Making love to a widower, she by any ill-will towards him. Why should will get into rhapsodies over the beauty and we be angry with this gentle creature of angelic temper of as plain and pestilent nineteen, who cannot help looking at you lot of little brats as ever tormented a visiwith her big eyes in a peculiar way; who tor. She will grossly flatter to his face a cannot help writing in an ingeniously sug- cold-blooded author who is studying her for gestive manner; who sucked in a tendency" material;" or she will pretend to be hurt a by the negligence of a man who, instead of of which she is capable, has generally plenty thinking anything about her, is pondering of admirers and few lovers. The natural over some railway bridge he is building, flirt, who flirts because her sympathetic or the price of some yacht he wishes to and foolish little heart delights to bask in purchase. A woman who understands the the sunshine of sham love-making, is far true art of flirtation never commits such more likely to win the adoration of a real blunders. She knows, in the first place, lover than the woman who treats flirtation that the easiest way to pique men into at- as a science. The former may herself fall tention is by the display of indifference to in love, if only out of a weak sympathy with thema display, however, which must not a strong passion; the latter, loving a free be so overdone as to be apparent. She life full of amusement, will not allow herself knows that men like to seek, not to be to be guilty of any such indiscretion, and sought; and her object is to make herself, takes care to stifle the premonitory tennot worth the seeking, but seekable. That dency to it. A woman who is not swayed is to say, she does not care so much to pos- by any self-conscious theory, and who sess that which men most love, as to possess makes love to everybody merely because that which will provoke most men into fan-making love comes naturally to her, is quite eying they love her. It is amusement she likely to be led, also naturally, into making wishes; and she does not care to have the love to some one in particular. Then pastime grow too serious, Then there is domes the crisis of marriage, the cares of the chance of exposure, scandal, and other children and domestic duties, and the ceaseunpleasantness. She prefers to make life less battles with recusant servants, to drive agreeable to herself by reaping the gentle the quicksilver of flirtation out of her blood flatteries men bestow on the women who and transform her into an affectionate, most attract them. The possession of beau- motherly, and pleasant little woman. The tiful eyes is only valuable to a woman if other artistic flirt is seldom capture and tamed people recognise their beauty; and the great in that way. Sometimes she becomes the art of flirtation is the securing of this atten- victim of a grand passion; and gives her tion by the skilful bringing out of the flirt's former admirers their revenge by commitbest points. The flirt's best weapons is un- ting some prodigious act of folly: but more doubtedly her eyes. The eyes can utter so frequently she amuses herself with sham much without compromising their owner. love-making until real love-making is no They never blunder; they never shock unex-longer possible to her, and she subsides into pected prejudices; they never say anything the comfortable quiet of elderly single life. rude or hasty or injudicious. However great a woman's cleverness may be, there is always. a chance of her misrepresenting herself in a letter; however accomplished a talker she is, she is always apt, especially in the subtleties of flirtation, to commit herself. APOLOGISTS for the "sexe engendré the eyes are never chargeable with inconsis- pour damner tout le monde" are wont to tency. They may be grossly inconsistent, say that the flirtation of young ladies is they may make love to a man one moment only a kind of necessary experiment. By and laugh in his face the next; but the vic- no other means can they properly test the tim of their inconsistency dare not com-character of the various young gentlemen plain. He cannot prove his case against so solicitous of the honour of their hand. intangible an enemy. It is this which Flirtation enables them to "differentiate." makes the flirt's eyes so powerful and so dangerous. Her manner is also a strong weapon. Natural graces of form and feature she knows how to cultivate to the best advantage as well as other women; but in the acquired grace of her manner she has one of the principal instruments of her pet amuseOther women may have as fine a neck, as pretty wrists, as delicate hands; but the artistic flirt knows how to make these speak the occult language in which she converses with her admirers. And it is to be noted, that the woman who definitely chooses flirtation for her chief pastime, and who devotes herself to it with all the energy ment. But From The Leader. BREACH OF PROMISE. It is not so much an amusement as a duty; and the whole race of husbands that might be are only asked to sacrifice a little time and attention for the benefit of the husband that is. In the end they will all share in the satisfactory results of the theory (supposing that they all marry); they are like so many rejected articles which wander from one office to another, until they light upon the magazine which they really suit. The gentlemen whom one hears advocating this theory point to the otherwise defenceless state of the girl of twenty. What means has she of testing the character of her suitor except that of giving him a little |