Poetical Works of Robert Bridges, Volume 1

NOTES

NOTE ON EROS AND PSYCHE.

This Poem is in all essentials a faithful translation of Apuleius’ story, the chief differences being that first, in the way of form, I have, for the sake of balance and contrast, chosen to lengthen the introductory portion; I have also located the story in Crete, and this gives rise to occasional description.—The description of the sunset on p. 83 is a portrait of the phenomena which followed the great eruption of Krakatoa.—Secondly, in the way of ethic I have made a gentler characterization of Psyche, who deserves more care in handling the motives of her conduct than was perhaps felt in Apuleius’ time and country.

The acrostic on p. 102 is a remnant of my original dedication. In the first edition there was a note acknowledging the frequent translations from the Greek, and other robberies: and in the second, in which I altered the spelling, I gave my reasons for that, in so far as it is unusual. These reasons I need not repeat here, especially as the spelling is not at all as I should wish to see it. I advocate liberty in these matters instead of the conventional tyranny. But I will add here that the main inconsistencies of the punctuation are owing to this volume being a reprint of three separate books. The stops are intended solely for the readers’ convenience; and almost anything is better than the regulations of a methodic punctuation, which by assuming the possibility of indicating all the varieties of grammatical structure and rhythmic pause by four symbols, cannot be applied without perpetual vexation and injury.

NOTE ON THE GROWTH OF LOVE.

It was not my wish or intention to offer these sonnets to the public, but since they have been published in America without my permission, and some of them have appeared in collections of poetry in this country, and have been mentioned in professional criticism, I have thought it wise to come to their rescue, and include them in this edition of my poems; to which end I have, while this volume was in the press, revised them; cutting out ten, and amending the worst places in others where I could. As they now stand they still make an imperfect poem, but one for which I need not further apologize.

Note on Sonnet XIX.—The octett forms part of my ‘Purcell Commemoration Ode,’ published as No. 2 of Elkin Mathews’ ‘Shilling Garland,’ 1896, and set to music by Dr. Hubert Parry.

XXXV. The argument is partly from Michael Angelo’s Madrigal xix.

LXIII. Partly from the anonymous sonnet No. 3793 in the Libro reale, ‘Io vivo di speranza.’

LXIV. The first quatrain from Michael Angelo’s Madrigal, ‘Beati voi.’

LXVII. ‘The sunsets of five years ago,’ which happen to be described on p. 83 of this volume.

R. B.

1898.