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, who was born at Holmwood in Surrey in 1843, received his education at Eton and Oxford. He left the University without taking a degree, and in 1861 published his first poems—'The Queen Mother,' and 'Rosamond.'

These first efforts were not received with much favour either by the critics or by the general public; but, four years afterwards, the publication of 'Atalanta in Calydon' at once placed the young and ardent poet in the first rank among our living bards.

He was enabled to dispute the laurels with Browning and Tennyson. The feeling and inspiration of the 'Atalanta' are thoroughly Greek, and it is written in rich yet simple English, artfully elaborated into most liquid verse.

There is no poet whose verses are more beautifully liquid and flowing than Mr. Swinburne's, and this quality is quite distinctive of him. His power of rhyming is wonderful. 'Sestina,' the poem published in the early part of 1872, bears witness to this, as there are only two rhymes all through it.

Subsequently to the publication of 'Atalanta in Calydon,' Mr. Swinburne produced (in 1865) 'Poems and Ballads.' However beautiful many of the poems in this volume were, their charm was destroyed by others which were neither wholesome nor good.

Of late, Mr. Swinburne has turned over a new leaf, and all his recently published verses are as unobjectionable in matter as they are poetic in inspiration and finished in execution. Whatever else may be urged against Mr. Swinburne's writings, it can never be denied that they are the productions of a true poet.