Collected Poems Enchanted Island And Other Poems New Poems Sherwood Tales Of The Mermaid Tavern New Poems Watchword Of The Fleet Etc

Author : Alfred Noyes
Publisher : CreateSpace
ISBN 13 : 9781511964890
Total Pages : 260 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (648 download)

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Download or read book Tales of the Mermaid Tavern written by Alfred Noyes and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2015-04-29 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this, his latest book, Mr. Noyes presents to the public a poem of even greater value than those which have brought him his early popularity. His earlier works, "Drake," "Sherwood" and "The Enchanted Isle," containing as they did a combination of great vigor of expression, the glamour of true romance, and lilting, haunting music, were but the promise of better things. And in the "Tales of the Mermaid Tavern" we find that promise fulfilled. In a little, shabby inn off Fleet Street, Mr. Noyes lays his scene. The story tells us how, happening there, he is pressed into service as pot-boy, and, 'mid clashing tankards and a ringing chorus, takes up his duties. They roar for new drink-this brilliant company about the old oaken table-Raleigh, Marlowe, Drayton, Lyly, Dekker, Ben Jonson, Peele and Shakespeare- a happy, carefree group. And then the poem moves swiftly. The difficult and daring motive of having each sing or speak is skillfully and convincingly handled. Of the individual poems, 'twere difficult to select the most pleasing. They vary from Sir Walter Raleigh's swinging sea-song, "A Knight of the Ocean," to Shakespeare's tense plea for the unhonored green. There is a joyous flight of fancy, "Black Bill's Honeymoon," which bring "Bacchus and the Pirates" pleasantly to our memories. Probably the greatest passage of the entire collection deals with the life and death of Kit Marlowe. Chapman and Nash sing of the brilliant, youthful poet, and we have pathos in the descriptions of his carefree boyhood, and burning scorn for the vileness of those who brought about his sordid death. There are many, many others, each with a very genuine appeal. Space prevents the pleasant task of praising each one. But the book will be read and appreciated by all. With characteristic unobtrusiveness Mr. Noyes entered the little inn with its faded green shutters and worn sign. Humbly he took his position as pot-boy for the great masters of English poetry. Then he would drift from sight. Yet, with the strain of his triumphant idealism singing in our ears, we prophecy with unbounded assurance that 'twill not be a great space of time before the English nation urges him to the seat which Marlowe, Jonson, and Shakespeare beckon him to so graciously, at the candlelit, oaken table of the Mermaid Tavern. -The Yale Literary Magazine, Volume 78 [1913]