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    •• The Shaving of Shagpat , " is a work of genius , and of poetical genius . It has none of the tamenesa which belongs to mere imitations manufactured with-servile effort or thrown off with sixuious facility . It is no patchwork of borrowed incidents . Mr . Meredith has not simply imitated Arabian Actions , lie has been inspired by them ; he has used Oriental forms , but only as an Oriental genius would have used them who had been " to the mannerborn . " Goethe , when he wrote an , immortal work under the inspiration of Oriental studies , very properly called it West-ostliche—West-eastern—because it was thoroughly Western in spirit , though Eastern in its forms . But this double epithet would not give a true idea of Mr . Meredith ' s work , for we do not

    remember that throughout our reading we were once struck by an incongruity T > etween the thought and the form , once startled by the intrusion of the chill north into the land of the desert and the palm . Perhaps more lynx-eyed critics , and more learned Orientalists , than we , may detect discrepancies to which we are blind , but our experience will at least indicate what is likely to - " * e the average impression . In one particular , indeed , Mr . Meredith differs widel y ^ from p is models , but that difference is a high merit : it lies in the exquisite delicacy of his love incidents and love scenes . In every other characteristic—in exuberance of imagery , in picturesque wildness of incident , in significant lramour , in aphoristic wisdom , the " Shaving of Shagpat" is a new Arabian Night . To two thirds of the reading world this is sufficient recom-* mendation .

    According to Oriental custom the main story of the book—The Shavin * of Shagpat—forms the setting to several minor tales , which are told , on pretexts more or less plausible , by the various dramatis persona . We will not forestall the reader ' s pleasure by telling him who Shagpat was , or what -were the wondrous adventures through which Shibli Bagarag , the wandering barber , became Master of the Event and the destroyer of illusions , by sbaviW from Shagpat tlie mysterious identical which had held men iu subjection to him . There is plenty of deep meaning in the tale for those who cannot be satisfied without deep meanings , but there is no didactic thrusting forward of moral lessons , and our imagination , is never chilled by a sense of allegorical intention predominating over noetic creation * * Nothing can be more vivid and concrete than the narrative and description , nothing fresher and more vigorous than the imagery . Are we reading how horsemen pursued their journey ? We are told that they . " flourished their lances with cries , and jerk ed their heels into the flanks of their steeds , and stretched forward till their beards were mixed with , the tossing manes , and the dust rose after them crimson in the

    sun . * ' Is it a maiden ' s eyes we are to see ? They are "dark , under a low arch of darker lashes , like stars on tie skirts of storm . " Sometimes the images are exquisitely poetical , as when Bhanavar looks forth " on the stars that were above the purple heights and the blushes of inner heaven that streamed tip the sity ; ' * sometimes ingenious and pithy : for example , " clenched her hands an instant with that feeling which knocketh a na . il in the coffin of a desire not dead . " Indeed , one of the rarest charms of the book is the constant alternation of passion and wild imaginativeness with humour and pithy , practical sense . Mr . Meredith is very happy in bis imitation of the lyrical fragments which the Eastern tarle- tellers weave into their narrative either for the sake of giving emphasis to their sententiousness , or for the sake of giving a more intense utterance to passion , a loftier tone to description Werwill quote a specimen of the latter kind from the stow of Bhanavar the Beautiful . This story is the brightest gem among the minor tales , and perhaps in the whole book . It is admirably constructed and tboroua-lilv poetic in its outline and texture . l

    Bhanavar gazed on her beloved , and the bridal dew overflowed her underlids and ahe loosed her hair to let it flow , part over her shoulders , part over his and in sighs that were the measure of music she sang : ' "I thought not to love again ! But now I love ns I loved not before ; I love not : I adore 1 O my beloved , kiss , kiss me ! waste th y kisaes like a rain . Are not thy red lips fain ? Oh , and so softly they greet ! Am I not sweet ? Sweet must I be for tb . ee , or sweet in vain : Sweet to thee only , my dear love 1 The lamps and censers sink , but canno t cheat Those eyes of thine that shoot above , Trembling lustres of the dove ! A darkness drowns all lustres : still I see . Thee , my love , tliee ! Thee , my glory of gold , from head to feet ! Oh , how tlie lids of the world close quite when oui- lips meet !" Almeryl strained her to him , and responded : " My life was midnight on the mountain sido ; Cold stai's were on the heights : Tltere , in my darkness , I had lived and died , Content with little lights . Sudden I saw the hoavons flush with a beam , And X ascended soon . And evermore over mankind supreme Stood silver in the moon . " And he fell playfully into a new motre , singing-: "• Who will point nay beloved In musical word or colour ? ISarth "with an envy ia moved : Sei-aht l ! s and roses she bringp . Gems from the groon ocean-Bpringa , Fruits with tho fairy blooin-dowH , Feathers of Paradise hues , Waters with jewel-bright falls , Ore from tho Genii-halls : All in their splondonr approved ; AH ; but , match'd with my beloved , Darker , denser , and duller . " Then ohe biased him for that aong , and pang : 44 Once to be beautiful wan my pride , And I WunU ' d in love with ray own bright brow

    Once , when a wooer was by my side , I worship ed the object bhat had his vow : Different , different , different now , Different now is my beauty to me : Different , different , different now ! For I priae it alone because prized by thee . " Almeryl stretched his arm to the lattice , and drew it open , letting in the soft night wind , and the sound of the fountaiu and the bulbul and the beam of the Btara , and versed to her in the languor of deep love : " Whether we die or we live Matters it now no more ; Life has nought further to give : Love is its crown and its core . Come to us either , we ' re rife , — Death or life ! . " Death can take not away ,

    Darkness and light are the same : We are beyond the pale my , Wrapt in a rosier flame ; Welcome which will to our breath , — Life or death ! ' An example of Mr . Meredith ' s skill iu humorous apologue is the Punishment of Khipil the Builder , which is short enough to be quoted without much mutilation : —r They relate that Shapesh , the Persiancommanded the buildi of a palaco

    , ng aad Khipil was his builder . The work lingered from tie first year of the reign of Shapesh even to his fourteenth . One day Shapesh went to the river-side where it stood , to inspect it . Khipil was sitting on a marble slab among the stones and blocks ; round him " stretched lazily the masons and stonecuutters and slaves of burden ; and they with the curve of humorous enjoyment on their lips , for he Tras reciting to them adventures , interspersed with anecdotes and recitations and poetic instances , as -was his wont . They were like pleased flocks whom the shepherd hath led to a pasture freshened with brooks , there to feed indolently ; lie , the shepherd , in the midst .

    Now the King said to him , " O Khipil , show me my palace where it standeth , for I desire to gratify my sight with its fairness . " Khipil abased himself before Shahpesh , and answered , " ' T is even here , O King of the age , where thou delightest the earth with thy foot , and the ear of thy slave with sweetness . - Surely a site of vantage , one -that dominateth . earth , air , and water ,, which ; is the builder ' s first and chief requisition for a noble palace , a palace to fill foreign kings and sultans with the distraction of envy ; and it is , O Sovereign of the time , a site , this site I have chosen , to occupy the tongues of travellers and awaken the flights of poets ! ' * Shahpesh smiled and said , " The site is good ! I laud the site ! Likewise I laud the wisdom ofEbn Busrac , where he exclaims : — '" Be sure , where Virtue faileth to appear , For her a gorgeous mansion men will rear ; And clay and night her praises will be heard , "Where never yet she spake a single word . "'

    Then said he , . " O Khipil , tny builder , there was once a farm-aervant that , having neglected in the seed-time to sow , took to singing the richness of his soil when it was harvest , in proof of which he displayed tlie abundance of weeds that coloured the land everywhere . Discover to me now the completeness of niy balls and apartments , I pray thee , O Khipil , and be the excellence of thy construction made visible to me ?" Quoth Khipil , " To hear is to obey . " He conducted Shahpesh among the unfinished saloons and imperfect courts and roofless rooms , and by half-erected obelisks , and columns pierced and chipped , of the palace of his building . And he was bewildered at the words spoken by Shahpesh ; but now the king exalted him , and admired tho perfection of his craft , the greatness of his labour , the speediness of his construction , his assiduity ; feigning not to behold his negligence . Presently they went up winding balusters to a marble terrace , and tho King said , " Such is thy devotion and constancy to toil , 0 Khipil , that thou shalt walk before me here . "

    He then commanded Khipil to precede him , and Khipil was heightened with the honour . When Khipil had paraded a Bhort space he stopped quickly , and &aid to Shohpeah , " Here ia , as it chanceth , a gap , 0 King ! and we can go no further this way . ' . ' Shahpeah . said , "All is perfect , and it is my will thou delay not to advance /' Khipil cried , " The gap is wide , O mighty King , and manifest , and it is tho one incomplete part of thy palace . " / Then said ShahpeBh , "O Khipil , I B « e no distinction bat \ vcei > one part and another ; excellent are all parts in beauty and proportion , and there can be no part incomplete in this palivce that occupieth tho builder fourteen yonra in its building : so advance , and do nay bidding . "

    Khipil yet hesitated , for the gap was of many atmlea , and at the bottom of ttio gap was a deep water , and he one that know not the motion of swimming . But bhahposh ordered hie guard to point their arrows iu the direotion of Khipil and Khipil stepped forth hurriedly , and fell into the gap , and was Bwullowed by tho water below . When ho rose tho third time succour roachod him , and ho was dr , < , ^ - d trembllnS > 1 " » teeth chattering . Ami Shahpeuh praisod him , and said , " This is an apt contrivance for a bath , Khipil , 0 my builder ! well conceived ; one that taketh by surprise ; and it shall bo thy reward daily when much talking hath fatigued thoe . Then ho bade Khipil lead him to tho hull of state . And when thoy wore there ShahpoBh eaul , " lor a privilege , and aa n mark of my approbation , I give thoo BUTil " 011 m mtvr w ° ohftil < of yonder throno , ovou in my prenenoerD Khi JPJj 1 8 aid > "Surely , 0 King , tho chair is not yot exooutod . " And ShahpoBh . exclaimed " If thin bo ho , thou art but tho length of thy moa-Buro on tho ground , O talkative one ! " h y

    yoS ^ nlVShat '' 1101 B ° ' ° KlUS ° •* *«» n M » i * that I am f an ^ w T ? ! ° T * ° S ' W 0 Ut tO tU ° l ) laQ ° ° «» ° »» r Hbould bo , Sta ^ cJSr ^ aisff poBture ' oyoing tho Kius > and ™** ° »*«* " *<» ^ thefu almlTbe ho « nCi \ ' > " * ** ?* tbftt * W ™ "* ° « ° « tiou of the chair , move thou toiler ! ' i * \ T ? ? ? ° ° ** ono de * ™ anight ; but

    Untitled Article

    * THE LEADER . [ No . 302 , Saturday ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 5, 1856, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2122/page/16/