R640400B. Sordello, Strafford, Christmas Eve, and Easter Day.

Monthly Religious Magazine, April 1864, p. 272

Listed in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 337.

We have read only the last two poems,—“Christmas Eve” and “Easter Day.” They are rich in high thoughts, and breathe a very true and tender spirit of faith and love, and cannot be read without pure and profitable enjoyment; but we could not help wishing all the while for more clearness and completeness. Dr. Johnson was undoubtedly right, though crustily and savagely so, when he declined furnishing brains as well as reasons to the reader: nevertheless, the simplest things are the best and the most satisfying. But perhaps one who is not a poet ought not to say any thing about poetry.

[Rufus] E[llis].

Reviewed:

Sordello, Strafford, Christmas-Eve and Easter-Day (RB), Boston: Ticknor & Fields, 1864.

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