Few better things have been said of Langland than this, —
"That with but a touch
Of art hadst sung Piers Plowman to the top
Of English songs, whereof 'tis dearest, now
And most adorable;"*5*
or of Emerson than this, —
"Most wise, that yet, in finding Wisdom, lost
Thy Self, sometimes;"*6*
or of Tennyson than this, —
"Largest voice
Since Milton, yet some register of wit
Wanting."*7*
`The Crystal' abounds in such happy characterizations.
— *1* See Dowden's `Studies in Literature', pp. 468-523. *2* See Symonds's `Walt Whitman: A Study'. London, 1893. *3* Ward's `Memorial', p. xxxviii. *4* `The Crystal', ll. 66-70. *5* Ibid., ll. 87-90. *6* Ibid., ll. 93-94. *7* Ibid., ll. 95-97. —
IV. Lanier's Poetry: Its Style
So much for the poet's thoughts; what shall we say of their expression? In other words, is Lanier the literary artist equal to Lanier the seer? In order the better to answer this question, let us begin at the beginning, with the elements of style, some of which, however, I pass by as not calling for special comment.