Songs from the Mind

This is the second edition of Mrs Bennett’s book on Donne, Herbert, Vaughan and Crashaw – a thorough, sober, workmanlike evaluation of four poets who bring to greatly varying themes something of a common method. The main characteristics of this method Mrs Bennett defines in her Introduction. ‘Metaphysical poetry usually comprises an analysis as well as a correlation of emotions . . . Because of this analytic habit, the metaphysical poets preferred to use words which call the mind into play, rather than those that appeal to the senses or evoke an emotional response through memory . . . It would not be wide of the mark to describe metaphysical poetry as poetry written by men for whom the light of day is God’s shadow.’

Her own criticism has, like the poetry she discusses, the virtues ofpage 143 conciseness and discrimination. She quotes lavishly but always with relevance. John Donne is perhaps too great a fish to be contained in any critical net; but her treatment of the three companion poets is frequently illuminating. In particular her analysis of the unconscious sadistic component in Crashaw’s religious poetry will bear close scrutiny; and her judicious biographical asides in discussing the poetry of Herbert. All in all, an able book, a model of balanced criticism; but for that very reason, a careful adzing of familiar ground, not (as, for example, in Edith Sitwell’s essay on Pope) a simultaneous revelation of the springs of action in the critic’s mind.

1954 (85)