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90

ing and his duodecimo court.

Although the total production of Ralph Hodgson is slight in quantity, the percentage of excellence is remarkably high. The reason for this is clear. Instead of printing everything he writes, and leaving the employment of the cream-separator to his readers, he gives to the public only what has passed his own severe scrutiny. He is a true poet, with an original mind.

As for the work of Lascelles Abercrombie, which has been much praised in certain circles, I should prefer to leave the criticism of that to those who enjoy reading it. If I should attempt to "do justice" to his poetry, I should seem to his friends to be doing just the
opposite--the opposite of just.

CHAPTER V

BROOKE, FLECKER, DE LA MARE, AND OTHERS

Rupert Brooke--a personality--the spirit of youth--his horror at old age--Henry James's tribute--his education--a
genius--his poems of death--his affected cynicism--his nature poems--war sonnets--his supreme sacrifice--his charming
humour--his masterpiece, Grantchester.--James Elroy
Flecker--the editorial work of Mr. Squire--no posthumous
puffery--the case of Crashaw--life of Flecker--his fondness for revision--his friendship with Rupert Brooke--his skill as a translator--his austerity--art for art's sake--his
"brightness"--love of Greek mythology--steady mental
development--his definition of the aim of poetry.--Walter De La Mare--the poet of shadow--Hawthorne's tales--his
persistence--his reflective mood--his descriptive style--his Shakespeare characters--his sketches from life.--D. H.
Lawrence--his lack of discipline--his subjectivity--absence of reserve--a master of colour--his glaring excesses.--John
Drinkwater--the west of England--his healthy spirit.--W. H. Davies--the tramp poet.--Edward Thomas--his death--originality of his work.--Robert Nichols--Willoughby Weaving.--The young Oxford poets.

Rupert Brooke left the world in a chariot of fire. He was s

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