第1章

SydneyPrefaceTheEditorhasendeavouredtomakethisselectionrepresentativeofthebestshortpoemswrittenbyAustraliansorinspiredbyAustraliansceneryandconditionsoflife，——\"Australian\"inthisconnectionbeingusedtoincludeNewZealand。Thearrangementisasnearlyaspossiblechronological；andtheappendixcontainsbriefbiographicalparticularsoftheauthors，togetherwithnoteswhichmaybeusefultoreadersoutsideAustralia。 TheEditorthanksMessrs。H。H。Champion，HenryGylesTurner，E。B。Loughran，A。BrazierandWalterMurdoch(Melbourne)，Mr。SydneyJephcott(UpperMurray，Vic。)，Mr。Fred。Johns(Adelaide)，Mr。ThomasCottle(Auckland)，Mr。J。C。Andersen(Christchurch)，Messrs。DavidScottMitchell，AlfredLee，A。W。Jose，andJ。LeGayBrereton(Sydney)，fortheirgeneroushelp。 Mr。DouglasSladen\'santhologies，Messrs。TurnerandSutherland\'s\"DevelopmentofAustralianLiterature\"，and`TheBulletin\'havealsofurnishedmuchusefulinformation。 ContentsIntroductionWilliamCharlesWentworth。 Australasia\"Australasia:aPoem\" CharlesHarpur。 LoveWordsACoastView\"Poems\" WilliamForster。 `TheLoveinherEyeslaySleeping\' \"Midas\" JamesLionelMichael。 `ThroughPleasantPaths\' \"JohnCumberland\" PersonalityPeriodical(Sydney，1858) DanielHenryDeniehy。 LoveinaCottageASongfortheNightPeriodical(Sydney，1847) RichardRowe。 SuperstitesRosaeSoulFerry\"Peter\'Possum\'sPortfolio\" SirHenryParkes。 TheBuriedChief\"FragmentaryThoughts\" ThomasAlexanderBrowne(`RolfBoldrewood\')。 Perdita\"OldMelbourneMemories\" AdamLindsayGordon。 ADedication\"BushBalladsandGallopingRhymes\" Thora\'sSong\"Ashtaroth:ADramaticLyric\" TheSickStock-rider\"BushBalladsandGallopingRhymes\" HenryKendall。 PrefatorySonnetsSeptemberinAustraliaRoseLorraine\"LeavesfromAustralianForests\" ToaMountainAraluenAfterManyYearsHy-Brasil\"SongsfromtheMountains\" OutreMer\"Poems\" MarcusClarke。 TheSongofTigilau\"AustralEditionofthecollectedWorksofMarcusClarke\" PatrickMoloney。 Melbourne\"AnEasterOmelette\"(Melbourne，1879) AlfredDomett。 AnInvitationAMaoriGirl\'sSong\"RanolfandAmohia\" JamesBruntonStephens。 TheDominionofAustraliaTheDarkCompanion\"MiscellaneousPoems\" DayNight\"ConvictOnce\" ThomasBracken。 NotUnderstoodSpiritofSong\"MusingsinMaoriland\" AdaCambridge。 WhatoftheNight？ Good-byeTheVirginMartyrHonourDespairFaithManuscriptAlexanderBathgate。 TheClematis\"FarSouthFancies\" PhilipJosephHoldsworth。 QuisSeparabit？ ManuscriptMyQueenofDreams\"StationHuntingontheWarrego\" MaryHannayFoott。 WherethePelicanBuildsNewCountryNoMessageHappyDays\"MornaLeeandotherPoems\" HenryLeaTwisleton。 ToaCabbageRose\"Poems\" Mrs。JamesGlennyWilson。 FairylandAWinterDaybreakTheLark\'sSong\"ABookofVerses\" EdwardBoothLoughran。 DeadLeavesIsolationIshmonie\"\'NeathAustralSkies\" JohnLiddellKelly。 ImmortalityHeredity\"HeatherandFern\" RobertRichardson。 ABalladeofWattleBlossomASong\"WillowandWattle\" JamesListerCuthbertson。 AustraliaFederataAtCapeSchanck\"BarwonBallads\" WattleandMyrtlePeriodical(Melbourne) TheAustralianSunrisePeriodical(Geelong) JohnFarrell。 AustraliatoEnglandPeriodical(Sydney，1897) ArthurPatchettMartin。 Bushland\"TheWitheredJester，andotherVerses\" DouglasBrookeWheeltonSladen。 UndertheWattlePeriodical(1888) VictorJamesDaley。 PlayersPeriodical(Sydney，1900) AnnaPeriodical(Sydney，1902) TheNightRideManuscriptAliceWerner。 BannermanoftheDandenong\"ATimeandTimes\" EthelCastilla。 AnAustralianGirlASongofSydney\"TheAustralianGirl，andotherVerses\" FrancisWilliamLauderdaleAdams。 SomethingGordon\'sGraveToA。L。Gordon\"PoeticalWorks\" LoveandDeathManuscriptThomasWilliamHeney。 Absence\"InMiddleHarbour，andotherVerse\" ARiverinaRoadPeriodical(Sydney，1891) PatrickEdwardQuinn。 AGirl\'sGravePeriodical(Sydney，1889) JohnSandes。 `WithDeath\'sPropheticEar\' \"BalladsofBattle\" InezK。Hyland。 ToaWaveBreadandWine\"InSunshineandinShadow\" GeorgeEssexEvans。 AnAustralianSymphonyANocturneAPastoral\"Loraine，andotherVerses\" TheWomenoftheWestPeriodical(Melbourne) MaryColborne-Veel。 `WhatLookhathShe？\' SaturdayNight`Resurgam\' \"TheFairestoftheAngels，andotherVerse\" DistantAuthorsPeriodical(London) JohnBernardO\'Hara。 HappyCreekACountryVillageFlinders\"LyricsofNature\" M。A。Sinclair。 TheChatelainePeriodical(Dunedin，N。Z。) SydneyJephcott。 ChaucerWhitePaperSplitting\"TheSecretsoftheSouth\" Home-woeABalladofthelastKingofThuleAFragmentManuscriptAndrewBartonPaterson(`Banjo\')。 TheDaylightisDyingClancyoftheOverflowBlackSwansTheTravellingPostOffice\"TheManfromSnowyRiver\" TheOldAustralianWaysBytheGreyGulf-Water\"RioGrande\'sLastRace，andotherVerses\" JessieMackay。 TheGreyCompanyAFolkSongDunedinintheGloamingTheBurialofSirJohnMackenziePeriodical(Dunedin，N。Z。) HenryLawson。 Andy\'sgonewithCattleOutBackTheStarofAustralasiaMiddleton\'sRouseaboutTheVagabondTheSliprailsandtheSpur\"IntheDayswhentheWorldwasWide，andotherVerses\" ArthurAlbertDawsonBayldon。 SunsetTheSeaToPoesy\"TheWesternTrack，andotherVerses\" JenningsCarmichael。 AnOldBushRoadAWoman\'sMood\"Poems\" AgnesL。Storrie。 TwentyGallonsofSleepAConfession\"Poems\" MarthaM。Simpson。 ToanOldGrammarPeriodical(Sydney) WilliamGay。 Primroses\"ChristonOlympus，andotherPoems\" ToM。 VestigiaNullaRetrorsum\"Sonnets\" EdwardDyson。 TheOldWhimHorse\"RhymesfromtheMines，andotherLines\" DowellO\'Reilly。 TheSea-MaidenPeriodical(Sydney，1895) DavidMacDonaldRoss。 Love\'sTreasureHouseTheSeatotheShellTheSilentTideTheWatchonDeckAutumn\"TheAfterGlow\" MaryGilmore。 ALittleGhostPeriodical(Orange，N。S。W。) Good-NightPeriodical(Brisbane) BernardO\'Dowd。 Love\'sSubstituteOurDutyManuscriptEdwinJamesBrady。 TheWardensoftheSeasManuscriptWill。H。Ogilvie。 QueenslandOpalPeriodical(London) Windo\'theAutumnPeriodical(London) DaffodilsPeriodical(Edinburgh) AQueenofYorePeriodical(Sydney) DroughtPeriodical(London) TheShadowontheBlindPeriodical(London) RodericQuinn。 TheHouseoftheCommonwealthPeriodical(Sydney) TheLotus-FlowerManuscriptDavidMcKeeWright。 AnOldColonist\'sReverie\"StationBallads，andotherVerses\" ChristopherJohnBrennan。 Romance\"XXIPoems:TowardstheSource\" PoppiesManuscriptJohnLeGayBrereton。 TheSeaMaid\"Oithona\" Home\"SeaandSky\" WilfredPeriodical(Sydney) ArthurH。Adams。 Bayswater，W。 ManuscriptBondStreetPeriodical(London) EthelTurner。 ATremblingStar`Oh，ifthatRainbowupthere!\' \"GumLeaves\" JohannesCarlAndersen。 Soft，LowandSweet\"SongsUnsung\" MauiVictorPeriodical(Dunedin，N。Z。) DoraWilcox。 InLondon\"VersesfromMaoriland\" ErnestCurrie。 LaudabuntAliiPeriodical(Timaru，N。Z。) GeorgeCharlesWhitney。 SunsetManuscriptJamesListerCuthbertson。[reprise] OdetoApolloPeriodical(Melbourne) NotesonthePoemsBiographicalNotes—— AnAnthologyofAustralianVerse—— IntroductionAstheliteratureofacountryis，incertainrespects，areflexofitscharacter，itmaybeadvisabletointroducethisAnthologywithsomeaccountofthemaincircumstanceswhichhaveaffectedtheproductionofAustralianpoetry。 AustraliawasfirstsettledbytheBritishalittlemorethanacenturyago，sothatwearestillayoungcommunity。Thepresentpopulation，includingthatofNewZealand，isalittleunderfivemillions，oraboutthesameasthatofLondon；itischieflyscatteredalongthecoastandthefewpermanentwaterways，andavastcentralregionisbutsparselyinhabitedasyet。Allclimates，fromtropicaltofrigid，areincludedwithinthecontinent，butthewantofsatisfactorywatershedsrendersitpeculiarlyliabletolongdroughtsandsuddenfloods。 Theabsenceofthosebroad，outwardsignsofthechangingseasonswhichmarkthepageantoftheyearintheoldworldisprobablyagreaterdisadvantagethanweareapttosuspect。Here，too，haveexistedhardlyanyoftheconditionswhichobtainedinoldercommunitieswheregreatliteraturearose。ThereisnoglamourofoldRomanceaboutourearlyhistory，noshadingofffromtheactualintoadimregionofmythandfable；ourbeginningsareclearlydefinedandofaneminentlyprosaiccharacter。Theearlysettlerswereengagedinahand-to-handstrugglewithnature，andintheestablishmentoftheprimitiveindustries。Theirstrenuouspioneeringdayswerefollowedbythefeverishexcitementofthegoldperiodandaconsequentrapidexpansionofallindustries。Businessandpoliticshaveaffordedreadyroadstosuccess，andhaveabsorbedtheenergiesofthebestintellects。 Therehasbeennoleisuredclassofculturedpeopletoprovidetheatmosphereinwhichliteratureisbestdevelopedasanart；and，untilrecently，wehavebeencontenttolooktothemothercountryforourartisticstandardsandsupplies。Theprincipalliteraryproductionsofourfirstcenturycamefromwriterswhohadbeenbornelsewhere，andnaturallybroughtwiththemthetraditionsandsentimentsoftheirhomecountry。 Wehavenotyethadtimetosettledownandformanydecidedracialcharacteristics；norhasanygreatcrisisoccurredtofuseourcommonsympathiesandcreateanationalsentiment。 Australiahasproducednogreatpoet，norhasanyremarkableinnovationinverseformsbeensuccessfullyattempted。Buttheoldformshavebeensocolouredbythestrangeconditionsofanewcountry，andsochargedwiththethoughtsandfeelingsofavigorous，restlessdemocracynowjustoutofitsadolescence，thattheyhaveaninterestandavaluebeyondthatofperhapstechnicallybetterminorpoetryproducedunderEnglishskies。 ThefirstversesactuallywrittenandpublishedinAustraliaseemtohavebeentheRoyalBirthdayOdesofMichaelRobinson，whichwereprintedasbroadsidesfrom1810to1821。Theirpublicationinbookformwasannouncedin`TheHobartTownGazette\'of23rdMarch，1822，butnocopyofsuchavolumeisatpresentknowntoexist。Thefamous\"Prologue\"，saidtohavebeenrecitedatthefirstdramaticperformanceinAustralia，onJanuary16th，1796 (whenDr。Young\'stragedy\"TheRevenge\"and\"TheHotel\"wereplayedinatemporarytheatreatSydney)，wasforalongtimeattributedtothenotoriousGeorgeBarrington，andrankedasthefirstverseproducedinAustralia。Thereis，however，noevidencetosupportthisclaim。 Thelinesfirstappearedinavolumecalled\"OriginalPoemsandTranslations\" chieflybySusannahWatts，publishedinLondonin1802，afewmonthsbeforetheappearanceofthe\"HistoryofNewSouthWales\"(1803)—— knownasGeorgeBarrington\'s——whichalso，inallprobability，wasnotwrittenbyBarrington。InSusannahWatts\'bookthePrologueisstatedtobewrittenby\"AGentleman\"，butthereisnocluetothenameoftheauthor。Mr。BarronField，JudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWales，printedinSydneyin1819 his\"FirstFruitsofAustralianPoetry\"，forprivatecirculation。 FieldwasafriendofCharlesLamb，whoaddressedtohimtheletterprintedin\"TheEssaysofElia\"underthetitleof\"DistantCorrespondents\"。 Lambreviewedthe\"FirstFruits\"in`TheExaminer\'，andonewishesforhissakethattheversesweremoreworthy。 ThefirstpoemofanyimportancebyanAustralianisWilliamCharlesWentworth\'s\"Australasia\"，writtenin1823 atCambridgeUniversityincompetitionfortheChancellor\'smedal。 Thereweretwenty-sevencompetitors，andtheprizewasawardedtoW。MackworthPraed，Wentworthbeingsecondonthelist。Wentworth\'spoemwasprintedinLondoninthesameyear，andshortlyafterwardsin`TheSydneyGazette\'，thefirstAustraliannewspaper。 In1826therewasprintedattheAlbionPress，Sydney，\"WildNotesfromtheLyreofaNativeMinstrel\"byCharlesTompson，Junior，thefirstverseofanAustralian-bornwriterpublishedinthiscountry。 TherewasalsopublishedinSydneyin1826abookofversesbyDr。JohnDunmoreLang，called\"AuroraAustralis\"。 BothLangandWentworthafterwardsconductednewspapersandwrotehistoriesofNewSouthWales，buttheirnamesaremorefamousinthepoliticalthanintheliteraryannalsofthecountry。 AtHobartTownin1827appeared\"TheVanDiemen\'sLandWarriors，ortheHeroesofCornwall\"by\"PindarJuvenal\"，thefirstbookofversepublishedinTasmania。Duringthenexttenyearsvariouspoeticaleffusionswereprintedinthecolonies，whichareofbibliographicalinterestbutofhardlyanyintrinsicvalue。Newspapershadbeenestablishedatanearlydate，butuntiltheendofthisperiodtheywerelittlebetterthannews-sheetsorofficialgazettes，givingnoopportunitiesforliterature。Theproportionofwell-educatedpersonswassmall，themajorityofthefreesettlersbeingmembersoftheworkingclasses，asveryfewrepresentativesofBritishculturecamewillinglytothiscountryuntilafterthediscoveryofgold。 Itwasnotuntil1845thatthefirstgenuine，thoughcrude，Australianpoetryappeared，intheformofasmallvolumeofsonnetsbyCharlesHarpur，whowasbornatWindsor，N。S。W。，in1817。 Hepassedhisbestyearsinthelonelybush，andwrotelargelyundertheinfluenceofWordsworthandShelley。Hehadsomeimaginationandpoeticfacultyofthecontemplativeorder，butthedisadvantagesofhislifeweremany。Harpur\'sbestworkisinhislongerpoems，fromwhichextractscannotconvenientlybegivenhere。 Theyear1842hadseenthepublicationofHenryParkes\'\"StolenMoments\"，thefirstofanumberofvolumesofversewhichthatstatesmanbravelyissued，thelastbeingpublishedjustbeforehiseightiethyear。ThecareerofParkesiscoincidentwithalongandimportantperiodofourhistory，inwhichheisthemoststrikingfigure。Nottheleastinterestingaspectofhischaracter，whichcontainedmuchofruggedgreatness，washisloveofpoetryandhisunfailingkindnesstothestrugglingwritersofthecolony。OtherswhodeserveremembrancefortheirservicesatthistimeareNicolD。StenhouseandDr。Woolley。AmongthewritersoftheperiodD。H。Deniehy，HenryHalloran，J。SheridanMooreandRichardRowecontributedfairlygoodversetothenewspapers，theprincipalofwhichwere`TheAtlas\'(1845-9)，`TheEmpire\'(1850-8)，andtwopapersstillinexistence——`TheFreeman\'sJournal\'(1850)and`TheSydneyMorningHerald\'，whichbeganas`TheSydneyHerald\'in1831。Noneoftheirwritings，however，reflectedtoanyappreciableextentthesceneryorlifeofthenewcountry。 WiththediscoveryofgoldanewerabeganforAustralia。 Thateventinducedtheflowofalargestreamofimmigration，andgaveanenormousimpetustothedevelopmentofthecolonies。 AmongtheardentspiritsattractedherewereJ。LionelMichael，RobertSealy，R。H。Horne，theHowitts，HenryKingsleyandAdamLindsayGordon。MichaelwasafriendofMillais，andanearlychampionofthePre-RaphaeliteBrotherhood。 SoonafterhisarrivalinSydneyheabandonedtheideaofdiggingforgold，andbegantopractiseagainasasolicitor。LateronheremovedtoGraftonontheClarenceRiver；therein1857HenryKendall，aboyof16，foundworkinhisoffice，andMichael，discerninghispromise，encouragedhimtowrite。Mostoftheboy\'searliestversesweresentfromMichael\'sofficetoParkes，whoprintedtheminhispaper`TheEmpire\'。WhenKendallleftGrafton，MichaelgavehimaletterofintroductiontoStenhouse，whichbroughthimintouchwiththesmallliterarygroupinSydney； andhisfirstvolume，\"PoemsandSongs\"，waspublishedinSydneyin1862。 Itwasnotlongbeforeherecognisedtheextremeweaknessofmostofitscontents，anddidwhathecouldtosuppressthebook。 HesentspecimensofhisbestworktotheLondon`Athenaeum\'，andwroteapatheticlettertotheEditor，whichwasprintedintheissueof27thSeptember，1862，togetherwithsomeofthepoemsandamostkindlycomment。Kendallsoonwroteagain，sendingmorepoems，andreceivedencouragingnoticesin`TheAthenaeum\'on19thSeptember，1863，27thFebruary，1864，and17thFebruary，1866。TheseformthefirstfavourablepronouncementuponAustralianpoetrybyanEnglishcriticaljournalofimportance。TheirstimulatingeffectuponKendallwasverygreat。Fromtheindifferenceofthemanyandthecarpingcriticismsofsomeofthemagnateshere，hehadappealedtooneofthehighestliteraryauthoritiesinEngland，andreceivedpraisebeyondhiswildestexpectations。 MeanwhilethecolonyofVictoria，whichbeganitsindependentcareerin1851，hadbeenadvancingevenmorerapidlythanNewSouthWales。 `TheArgus\'newspaperhadbeeninexistencesince1846，andotherperiodicalssprangupinMelbournewhichgavefurtherscopetoletters。 `TheAustralasian\'wasestablishedin1854，andsoonbecamethemostimportantliteraryjournalinAustralia。AdamLindsayGordon，whohadlandedinAdelaideinthesameyearasHenryKingsley——1853—— publishedalittlebookofversein1864atMt。Gambier，S。A。，andbegantocontributeversestoaMelbournesportingpaperin1866。 Thesewereprintedanonymously，andattractedsomeattention； butacollectionofhisballads——\"SeaSprayandSmokeDrift\"—— broughtverylittlepraiseandnoprofit。MarcusClarkecametoMelbournein1864，andsoonafterwardsbegantowritefor`TheArgus\'andotherpapers。 AboutthesametimethepresenceofR。H。Horne，thedistinguishedauthorof\"Orion\"，inMelbournelentalustretothatcity，whichwasforthetimetheliterarycentreofAustralia。 HornecorrespondedwithKendall，andcontributedtoapapereditedbyDeniehyinSydney——`TheSouthernCross\'(1859-60)。 HewasthepresidinggeniusoftheliterarygatheringsatDwight\'sbook-shopinMelbourne，andnodoubtexercisedabeneficialinfluenceuponthewritersaroundhim。 In1870，afteraseriesofcrushingdisappointments，Gordoncommittedsuicide。 Hisdramaticendawakenedsympathyandgaveanadditionalinteresttohiswritings。Itwassoonfoundthatinthecityandthebushmanyofhisspiritedracingballadswerewellknown。Thevirile，athletictoneofhisverse，whichtaught\"HowamanshouldupholdthesportsofhislandAndstrikehisbestwithastrongrighthandAndtakehisstrokesinreturn\"—— andthepracticalphilosophy，summedupinthewell-knownquatrain—— \"Lifeismostlyfrothandbubble，Twothingsstandlikestone； Kindnessinanother\'strouble，Courageinyourown\"—— appealstronglytoAustralians。Gordon\'sworkcannotbeconsideredaspeculiarlyAustralianincharacter；butmuchofitisconcernedwiththehorse，andallofitisa-throbwiththemanly，recklesspersonalityofthewriter。Horsesandhorse-racingareespeciallyinterestingtoAustralians，theSwinburnianrushofGordon\'sballadscharmstheirear，andinmanyrespectsheembodiestheiridealofaman。 TherearefewAustralianswhodonotknowsomeofhispoems，eveniftheyknownoothers，andhisinfluenceuponsubsequentwritershasbeenverygreat。 BruntonStephens，whocametoQueenslandin1866，wrotetherealongpoemcalled\"ConvictOnce\"which，whenpublishedinLondonin1871，gainedhighpraisefromcompetentcritics，andgavetheauthoranacademicreputation。AlittlebookofhumorousversesissuedinMelbournein1873almostimmediatelybecamepopular，andalatervolumeof\"MiscellaneousPoems\"(1880)，containingsomefinepatrioticutterancesaswellasmanyinlightervein，establishedhimasoneofourchiefsingers。 ThefirstimportantpoemfromNewZealand——Domett\'s\"RanolfandAmohia\"—— waspublishedinLondonin1872。DomettspentthirtyyearsinNewZealand。 HewroteagooddealofversebeforeleavingEnglandandafterhisreturn，but\"RanolfandAmohia\"istheonlypoemshowingtracesofAustralianinfluence。Itisamiscellanyinverseratherthananepic，andcontainssomefinedescriptionsofNewZealandscenery。 ThedeathofKendallinSydneyin1882closedwhatmayberegardedasthesecondliteraryperiod。Hehadpublishedhisfinestworkin\"SongsfromtheMountains\"(1880)，andhadthesatisfactionofknowingthatitwasasuccess，financiallyandotherwise。Kendall\'saudienceisnotsolargeasGordon\'s，butitisasteadilygrowingone； andmanyreaderswhohavebeenaffectedbyhismusicalverseholdtheill-fatedsingerinmoretenderregardthananyother。 HelivedatatimewhenAustralianshadnotlearnedtothinkitpossiblethatanygoodthinginartcouldcomeoutofAustralia，andweretoofullyoccupiedwiththingsofthemarket-placetoconcernthemselvesmuchaboutliterature。 SeveralattemptshavebeenmadetomaintainmagazinesandreviewsinSydneyandMelbourne，butnoneofthemcouldcompetesuccessfullywiththeimportedEnglishperiodicals。`TheColonialMonthly\'，`TheMelbourneReview\'，`TheSydneyQuarterly\'，and`TheCentennialMagazine\' werethemostimportantofthese。TheycostmoretoproducethantheirEnglishmodels，andthefactthattheircontentswereAustralianwasnotsufficientinitselftoobtainforthemadequatesupport。 Newspapershaveplayedafarmoreimportantpartinourliteraryworld。 `TheAustralasian\'，`SydneyMail\'and`Queenslander\'havedoneagooddealtoencouragelocalwriters，butthemostpowerfulinfluencehasbeenthatof`TheBulletin\'，startedinSydneyin1880。 Itsracy，irreverenttoneanditshumourarecharacteristicallyAustralian，andthroughitscolumnsthefirstrealisticAustralianverseofanyimportance——thewritingsofHenryLawsonandA。B。Paterson——becamewidelyknown。 Whenpublishedinbookform，theirversesmetwithphenomenalsuccess； Paterson\'s\"TheManfromSnowyRiver\"(1895)havingalreadyattainedacirculationofoverthirtythousandcopies。Itisthefirstofalongseriesofvolumes，issuedduringthelasttenyears，whosecharacterisfarmoredistinctivelyAustralianthanthatoftheirpredecessors。 Theirnumberandsuccessareevidencesofthelivelyinteresttakenbythepresentgenerationhereinitsnativeliterature。 Australiahasnowcomeofage，andisbecomingconsciousofitsstrengthanditspossibilities。Itswritersto-dayare，asarule，self-reliantandhopeful。Theyhavefaithintheirowncountry； theywriteofitastheyseeit，andoftheirworkandtheirjoysandfears，insimple，directlanguage。Itmaybethatnoneofitispoetryinthegrandmanner，andthatsomeofitislackingintechnicalfinish； butitisavividandfaithfulportrayalofAustralia，anditsruggednessisincharacter。ItishopedthatthisselectionfromtheversethathasbeenwrittenuptothepresenttimewillbefoundanotunworthycontributiontothegreatliteratureoftheEnglish-speakingpeoples。 WilliamCharlesWentworth。 AustralasiaCelestialpoesy!whosegenialswayEarth\'sfurthesthabitableshoresobey； Whoseinspirationsshedtheirsacredlight，FarastheregionsoftheArcticnight，AndtotheLaplanderhisBorealgleamEndearnotlessthanPhoebus\'brighterbeam，—— Descendthoualsoonmynativeland，Andonsomemountain-summittakethystand； ThenceissuingsoonapurerfontbeseenThancharmedCastaliaorfamedHippocrene； Andtherearicher，noblerfanearise，ThanonParnassusmettheadoringeyes。 Andtho\'，brightgoddess，onthefarbluehills，ThatpourtheirthousandswiftpellucidrillsWhereWarragamba\'sragehasrentintwainOpposingmountains，thunderingtotheplain，Nochildofsonghasyetinvokedthyaid\'Neaththeirprimevalsolitaryshade，—— Still，graciousPow\'r，somekindlingsoulinspire，Towaketolifemycountry\'sunknownlyre，Thatfromcreation\'sdatehasslumberinglain，Oronlybreathedsomesavageuncouthstrain； AndgrantthatyetanAustralMilton\'ssongPactolus-likeflowdeepandrichalong，—— AnAustralShakespearerise，whoselivingpageTonaturetruemaycharminev\'ryage；—— AndthatanAustralPindardaringsoar，WherenottheThebaneaglereach\'dbefore。 And，OBritannia!shouldstthouceasetorideDespoticEmpressofoldOcean\'stide；—— ShouldthytamedLion——spenthisformermight，—— Nolongerroartheterrorofthefight；—— Shoulde\'erarrivethatdarkdisastroushour，Whenbow\'dbyluxury，thouyield\'sttopow\'r；—— Whenthou，nolongerfreestofthefree，Tosomeproudvictorbend\'stthevanquish\'dknee；—— MayallthygloriesinanothersphereRelume，andshinemorebrightlystillthanhere； Maythis，thylast-borninfant，thenarise，Togladthyheartandgreetthyparenteyes； AndAustralasiafloat，withflagunfurl\'d，AnewBritanniainanotherworld。 CharlesHarpur。 LoveShelovesme!Fromherownbliss-breathinglipsTheliveconfessioncame，likerichperfumeFromcrimsonpetalsburstingintobloom! AndstillmyheartattheremembranceskipsLikeayounglion，andmytongue，too，tripsAsdrunkwithjoy!whileeveryobjectseenInlife\'sdiurnalroundwearsinitsmienAclearassurancethatnodoubtseclipse。 AndifthecommonthingsofnaturenowArelikeoldfacesflushedwithnewdelight，MuchmoretheconsciousnessofthatrichvowDeepensthebeauteous，andrefinesthebright，WhilethronedIseemonlove\'sdivinestheight\'Midallthegloriesglowingrounditsbrow。 WordsWordsaredeeds。ThewordswehearMayrevolutionizeorrearAmightystate。ThewordswereadMaybeaspiritualdeedExcellinganyfleshlyone，AsmuchasthecelestialsunTranscendsabonfire，madetothrowAlightuponsomeraree-show。 AsimpleproverbtaggedwithrhymeMaycolourhalfthecourseoftime； ThepregnantsayingofasageMayinfluenceeverycomingage； AsonginitseffectsmaybeMoregloriousthanThermopylae，AndmanyalaythatschoolboysscanAnoblerfeatthanInkerman。 ACoastViewHigh\'midtheshelvesofagreycliff，thatyetRisethinBabylonianmassabove，Inabenchedcleft，asinthemoulderedchairOfgrey-beardTimehimself，Isitalone，AndgazewithakeenwonderinghappinessOuto\'erthesea。UntothecirclingbendThatvergesHeaven，avastluminousplainItstretches，changefulasalover\'sdream—— IntogreatspacesmappedbylightandshadeInconstantinterchange——either\'neathcloudsThebillowsdarken，ortheyshimmerbrightInsunnyscopesofmeasurelessexpanse。 \'TisOceandreamlessofastormyhour，Calm，orbutgentlyheaving；——yet，OGod! Whatablindfate-likemightinessliescoiledInslumber，underthatwide-shiningface! Whileo\'erthewaterygleam——therewhereitsedgeBanksthedimvacancy，thetopmostsailsOfsometallship，whosehullisyetunseen，HangasifclingingtoacloudthatstillComesrisingwiththemfromthevoidbeyond，Liketoaheavenlynet，drawnfromthedeepAndcarriedupwardbyetherealhands。 WilliamForster。 `TheLoveinherEyeslaySleeping\' Theloveinhereyeslaysleeping，Asstarsthatunconsciousshine，Till，underthepinklidspeeping，Iwakeneditupwithmine； AndwepledgedourtrothtoabrimmingoathInabumperofblood-redwine。 Alas!toowellIknowThatithappenedlongago； Thosememoriesyetremain，Andsting，likethrobsofpain，AndI\'malonebelow，Butstilltheredwinewarms，andtherosygobletsglow； Iflovebetheheart\'senslaver，\'Tiswinethatsubduesthehead。 Butwhichhasthefairestflavour，Andwhoseisthesoonestshed？ WinewaxesinpowerinthatdesolatehourWhenthegloryofloveisdead。 Lovelivesonbeauty\'sray，Butnightcomesafterday，AndwhentheexhaustedsunHishighcareerhasrun，Thestarsbehindhimstay，Andthenthelightthatlastsconsolesourdarkeningway。 Whenbeautyandloveareover，Andpassionhasspentitsrage，Andthespectresofmemoryhover，Andglareonlife\'slonelystage，\'TiswinethatremainstokindletheveinsAndstrengthenthestepsofage。 Lovetakesthetaintofyears，Andbeautydisappears，ButwineinworthmaturesThelongeritendures，Andmoredivinelycheers，Andripenswiththesunsandmellowswiththespheres。 JamesLionelMichael。 `ThroughPleasantPaths\' Throughpleasantpaths，throughdaintyways，Loveleadsmyfeet； Wherebeautyshineswithlivingrays，Soft，gentle，sweet； Theplacidheartatrandomstrays，Andsings，andsmiles，andlaughsandplays，AndgathersfromthesummerdaysTheirlightandheat，ThatinitschambersburnandblazeAndbeamandbeat。 IthrowmyselfamongthefernsUndertheshade，AndwatchthesummersunthatburnsOndellandglade； Tothee，mydear，myfancyturns，IntheeitsParadisediscerns，Fortheeitsighs，fortheeityearns，Mychosenmaid； AndthatstilldepthofpassionlearnsWhichcannotfade。 Thewindthatwhispersinthenight，Subtleandfree，Thegorgeousnoonday\'sblindinglight，Onhillandtree，Alllovelythingsthatmeetmysight，Allshiftinglovelinessesbright，Speaktomyheartwithcalmdelight，SeemingtobeCloth\'dwithenchantment，robedinwhite，Tosingofthee。 ThewaysoflifearehardandcoldToonealone； Bitterthestrifeforplaceandgold—— Weweepandgroan: Butwhenlovewarmstheheartgrowsbold； Andwhenourarmstheprizeenfold，Dearest!theheartcanhardlyholdTheblissunknown，Unspoken，nevertobetold—— Myown，myown! Personality\"Deathistouschange，notconsummation。\" HeartofMidlothian。 Achange!no，surely，notachange，Thechangemustbebeforewedie； Deathmayconferawiderrange，Frompoletopole，fromseatosky，ItcannotmakemeneworstrangeTomineownPersonality! ForwhatamI？——thismortalflesh，Theseshrinkingnerves，thisfeebleframe，ForeverrackedwithailmentsfreshAndscarcefromdaytodaythesame—— Aflywithinthespider\'smesh，Amoththatplaysaroundtheflame! THISisnotI——withinsuchcoilTheimmortalspiritrestsawhile: Whenthisshallliebeneaththesoil，Whichitsmeremortalpartsdefile，THATshallforeverliveandfoilMortality，andpain，andguile。 WhateverTimemaymakeofmeEternitymustseemestillClearfromthedrossofearth，andfreeFromeverystainofeveryill； Yetstill，where-e\'er——what-e\'erIbe，Time\'sworkEternitymustfill。 Whenalltheworldshaveceasedtoroll，WhenthelonglighthasceasedtoquiverWhenwehavereachedourfinalgoalAndstandbesidetheLivingRiver，Thisvitalspark——thislovingsoul，Mustlastforeverandforever。 TochoosewhatImustbeismine，Mineinthesefewandfleetingdays，ImaybeifIwill，divine，StandingbeforeGod\'sthroneinpraise，—— ThroughallEternitytoshineInyonderHeaven\'ssapphireblaze。 Father，thesoulthatcountsitgainToloveTheeandThylawonearth，Unchangedbutfreefrommortalstain，Increasedinknowledgeandinworth，Andpurifiedfromthisworld\'spain，ShallfindthroughTheeasecondbirth。 Achange!nosurelynotachange! Thechangemustbebeforewedie； DeathmayconferawiderrangeFromworldtoworld，fromskytosky，ItcannotmakemeneworstrangeTomineownPersonality! DanielHenryDeniehy。 LoveinaCottageAcottagesmallbemine，withporchEnwreathedwithivygreen，Andbrightsomeflowerswithdew-filledbells，\'Midbrownoldwattlesseen。 Andonetowaitatshutofeve，Witheyesasfountainclear，Andbraidedhair，andsimpledress，Myhomewardsteptohear。 Onsummerevestosingoldsongs，Andtalko\'erearlyvows，Whilestarslookdownlikeangels\'eyesAmidtheleafyboughs。 WhenSpringflowerspeepfromflossycells，Andbright-wingedparrotscall，InforestpathsbeourstoroveTillpurpleeveningsfall。 Thecurtainsclosed，bytaperclearToreadsomepagedivine，Onwinternights，thehearthbeside，Hersoft，warmhandinmine。 Andsotoglidethroughbusylife，Likesomesmallbrookalone，Thatwindsitsway\'midgrassyknolls，Itsmusicallitsown。 ASongfortheNightOtheNight，theNight，thesolemnNight，WhenEarthisboundwithhersilentzone，Andthespangledskyseemsatemplewide，Wherethestar-tribeskneelattheGodhead\'sthrone； OtheNight，theNight，thewizardNight，Whenthegarishreignofdayiso\'er，Andthemyriadbarquesofthedream-elvescomeInabrightsomefleetfromSlumber\'sshore! OtheNightforme，Whenblitheandfree，Gothezephyr-houndsontheirairychase； WhenthemoonishighInthedewysky，Andtheairissweetasabride\'sembrace! OtheNight，theNight，thecharmingNight! Fromthefountainsideinthemyrtleshade，AllsoftlycreepontheslumbrousairThewakingnotesoftheserenade； Whilebrighteyesshine\'midthelattice-vines，Andwhitearmsdroopo\'erthesculpturedsills，Andaccentsfalltotheknightsbelow，Likethebabblingssoftofmountainrills。 Loveintheireyes，Loveintheirsighs，Loveintheheaveofeachlily-brightbosom； Inwordssoclear，LestthelisteningearAndthewaitingheartmaylosethem。 OthesilentNight，whenthestudentdreamsOfkneelingcrowdsroundasage\'stomb； Andthemother\'seyeso\'erthecradlerainTearsforherbaby\'sfadingbloom； OthepeacefulNight，whenstilledando\'erIsthecharger\'stramponthebattleplain，Andthebugle\'ssoundandthesabre\'sflash，Whilethemoonlookssadoverheapsofslain； AndtearsbespeakOntheironcheekOfthesentinellonelypacing，ThoughtswhichrollThroughhisfearlesssoul，Day\'ssternermoodreplacing。 OthesacredNight，whenmemorycomesWithanaspectmildandsweettome，ButhertonesaresadasaballadairInchildhoodheardonanurse\'sknee； Androundherthrongfairformslongfled，Withbrowsofsnowandhairofgold，Andeyeswiththelightofsummerskies，Andlipsthatspeakofthedaysofold。 Wideisyourflight，OspiritsofNight，Bystrath，andstream，andgrove，ButmostinthegloomOfthePoet\'sroomYechoose，fairones，torove。 RichardRowe。 SuperstitesRosaeThegrassisgreenuponhergrave，Thewestwindwhisperslow； \"Thecornischanged，comeforth，comeforth，Erealltheblossomsgo!\" Invain。Herlaughingeyesaresealed，Andcoldhersunnybrow； Lastyearshesmiledupontheflowers—— Theysmileabovehernow! SoulFerryHighanddryupontheshingleliesthefisher\'sboatto-night； Fromhisroof-beamdanklydrooping，rayingphosphorescentlight，Spectralinitspale-bluesplendour，hangshisheapofscalynets，Andthefisher，laptinslumber，surgeandseinealikeforgets。 Hark!therecomesasuddenknocking，andthefisherstartsfromsleep，Asahollowvoiceandghostlybidshimoncemoreseekthedeep； Wearilyacrosshisshoulderflingethhetheashenoar，Anduponthebeachdescendingfindsaskiffbesidetheshore。 \'Tisnothis，buthemustenter——rockingonthewatersdim，Awfulintheirhiddenpresence，whoaretheythatwaitforhim？ Whoaretheythatsitsosilent，ashepullethfromtheland—— Nothingheardsaverumblingrowlock，wavesoft-breakingonthesand？ Chilladownthetossingchannelblowsthewailing，wand\'ringbreeze，Lonelyinthemurkymidnight，mutt\'ringmournfulmemories，—— Summerlandswhereonceitbrooded，wrecksthatwidows\'heartshavewrung—— Swiftthedrearyboatfliesonwards，spray，likerain，arounditflung。 Onapebbledstranditgrateth，ghastlycliffsarounditloom，Thinandmelancholyvoicesfaintlymurmurthroughthegloom； Voicesonly，liplessvoices，andthefishermanturnspale，Asthemothergreetsherchildren，sisterslandingbrothershail。 Lightenedofitsunseenburden，cork-likeridestherockingbark，Fastthefishermanflieshomewardso\'erthebillowsdeepanddark； THATboatneedsnomortal\'smooring——sadatheartheseekshisbed，Forhislifehenceforthisclouded——hehathpilotedtheDead!