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athletic tone of his verse； which taught
〃How a man should uphold the sports of his land
And strike his best with a strong right hand
And take his strokes in return〃
and the practical philosophy； summed up in the well…known quatrain
〃Life is mostly froth and bubble；
Two things stand like stone；
Kindness in another's trouble；
Courage in your own〃
appeal strongly to Australians。 Gordon's work cannot be considered
as peculiarly Australian in character； but much of it is concerned
with the horse； and all of it is a…throb with the manly； reckless personality
of the writer。 Horses and horse…racing are especially interesting
to Australians； the Swinburnian rush of Gordon's ballads charms their ear；
and in many respects he embodies their ideal of a man。
There are few Australians who do not know some of his poems；
even if they know no others； and his influence upon subsequent writers
has been very great。
Brunton Stephens； who came to Queensland in 1866； wrote there a long poem
called 〃Convict Once〃 which； when published in London in 1871；
gained high praise from competent critics； and gave the author
an academic reputation。 A little book of humorous verses
issued in Melbourne in 1873 almost immediately became popular；
and a later volume of 〃Miscellaneous Poems〃 （1880）； containing some
fine patriotic utterances as well as many in lighter vein；
established him as one of our chief singers。
The first important poem from New Zealand Domett's 〃Ranolf and Amohia〃
was published in London in 1872。 Domett spent thirty years in New Zealand。
He wrote a good deal of verse before leaving England and after his return；
but 〃Ranolf and Amohia〃 is the only poem showing traces
of Australian influence。 It is a miscellany in verse rather than an epic；
and contains some fine descriptions of New Zealand scenery。
The death of Kendall in Sydney in 1882 closed what may be regarded
as the second literary period。 He had published his finest work
in 〃Songs from the Mountains〃 （1880）； and had the satisfaction of knowing
that it was a success； financially and otherwise。 Kendall's audience
is not so large as Gordon's； but it is a steadily growing one；
and many readers who have been affected by his musical verse
hold the ill…fated singer in more tender regard than any other。
He lived at a time when Australians had not learned to think it possible
that any good thing in art could come out of Australia；
and were too fully occupied with things of the market…place
to concern themselves much about literature。
Several attempts have been made to maintain magazines and reviews
in Sydney and Melbourne； but none of them could compete successfully
with the imported English periodicals。 ‘The Colonial Monthly'；
‘The Melbourne Review'； ‘The Sydney Quarterly'； and ‘The Centennial Magazine'
were the most important of these。 They cost more to produce
than their English models； and the fact that their contents were Australian
was not sufficient in itself to obtain for them adequate support。
Newspapers have played a far more important part in our literary world。
‘The Australasian'； ‘Sydney Mail' and ‘Queenslander' have done a good deal
to encourage local writers； but the most powerful influence
has been that of ‘The Bulletin'； started in Sydney in 1880。
Its racy； irreverent tone and its humour are characteristically Australian；
and through its columns the first realistic Australian verse of any importance
the writings of Henry Lawson and A。 B。 Paterson became widely known。
When published in book form； their verses met with phenomenal success；
Paterson's 〃The Man from Snowy River〃 （1895） having already attained
a circulation of over thirty thousand copies。 It is the first
of a long series of volumes； issued during the last ten years； whose character
is far more distinctively Australian than that of their predecessors。
Their number and success are evidences of the lively interest taken
by the present generation here in its native literature。
Australia has now come of age； and is becoming conscious
of its strength and its possibilities。 Its writers to…day are； as a rule；
self…reliant and hopeful。 They have faith in their own country；
they write of it as they see it； and of their work and their joys and fears；
in simple； direct language。 It may be that none of it is poetry
in the grand manner； and that some of it is lacking in technical finish；
but it is a vivid and faithful portrayal of Australia； and its ruggedness
is in character。 It is hoped that this selection from the verse that has been
written up to the present time will be found a not unworthy contribution
to the great literature of the English…speaking peoples。
William Charles Wentworth。
Australasia
Celestial poesy！ whose genial sway
Earth's furthest habitable shores obey；
Whose inspirations shed their sacred light；
Far as the regions of the Arctic night；
And to the Laplander his Boreal gleam
Endear not less than Phoebus' brighter beam；
Descend thou also on my native land；
And on some mountain…summit take thy stand；
Thence issuing soon a purer font be seen
Than charmed Castalia or famed Hippocrene；
And there a richer； nobler fane arise；
Than on Parnassus met the adoring eyes。
And tho'； bright goddess； on the far blue hills；
That pour their thousand swift pellucid rills
Where Warragamba's rage has rent in twain
Opposing mountains； thundering to the plain；
No child of song has yet invoked thy aid
'Neath their primeval solitary shade；
Still； gracious Pow'r； some kindling soul inspire；
To wake to life my country's unknown lyre；
That from creation's date has slumbering lain；
Or only breathed some savage uncouth strain；
And grant that yet an Austral Milton's song
Pactolus…like flow deep and rich along；
An Austral Shakespeare rise； whose living page
To nature true may charm in ev'ry age；
And that an Austral Pindar daring soar；
Where not the Theban eagle reach'd before。
And； O Britannia！ shouldst thou cease to ride
Despotic Empress of old Ocean's tide；
Should thy tamed Lion spent his former might；
No longer roar the terror of the fight；
Should e'er arrive that dark disastrous hour；
When bow'd by luxury； thou yield'st to pow'r；
When thou； no longer freest of the free；
To some proud victor bend'st the vanquish'd knee；
May all thy glories in another sphere
Relume； and shine more brightly still than here；
May this； thy last…born infant； then arise；
To glad thy heart and greet thy parent eyes；
And Australasia float； with flag unfurl'd；
A new Britannia in another world。
Charles Harpur。
Love
She loves me！ From her own bliss…breathing lips
The live confession came； like rich perfume
From crimson petals bursting into bloom！
And still my heart at the remembrance skips
Like a young lion； and my