POETRY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1783, 7 November 1879, Page 2

POETRY.

Among the poems sent to Sydney to compete for the prize offered for the best poem celebrating the opening of the Sydney Exhibition, was one under the motto of " Nobilitas sola est atque unica Virtus." The gentleman under this motto we are now authorised to say was Mr G. Willmer, whose fame as " Canterbury's sweet singer" is so widely spread. Owing to the length of the poem we are unable to publish it in full, but some idea of the style may be gained from a few short extracts. It is entitled " Sonnets celebrating the Present Progress and the Future Hopes of New South Wales," and commences with the following prose prologue : * " Rich merchants of that great city own stately vessels, which glide to and fro on the deep blue waters, laden with wool and flax and corn, and wine and oil, the fruits oE this goodly land. Their storehouses are full of all manner of rich treasures of the earth. Their lofty temples are chastely finishod'with ornamental gilded works of the fine" arts, and carvings on wood and stone, with ooverings of tapestry cunningly woven together with choice fine materials dyed blue, purple, scarlet, and crimson, enriched with silver and gold embroidery. The fair virgins of the land are olad in fine white linen and raiment of fancy needlework, and silks of gorgeous colours, sparkling with jewels of silver and jewels of gold, and all kind of precious stones, therefore make ye a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it "Virtue" for a sign unto your children for ever." Then follows the prelude, which commences as follows : O sing! sweet muse! when boeoms glow, And smooth heroic numbers flow. O ! pourtray one artistic scheme With Virtue's civilising theme ! O sing this glorious day-star's morn! Our heaven leaves not one soul forlorn, But aids with that strong mighty hand, Which formed primeval forests grand. i Prometheus' daughter tune our song, Entrance the audience sweet and long. O sing of earth, and hills, and dales, And charm with thy romantic tales! Sing of our mid-day sunny hour With meet ethereal glowing power. O choose that chaste and gracious part, Where Science and most cunning Art And Princes of our mother earth With lofty minds Bhall come to search Out temples high, where mansions lie. And garden paths wind pleasingly. Part 11. is written in a different metre, and contains the following verses : Ye fishes of the mighty deep 1 And sparkling waters sing my lay, And stream forth songs, where willows weep ; So great the laws of harmony. Bejoice! ye vineyards and'greon grove! While feathered tribes mount in the sky, O, listen to our songs "of love When Art with Science dwelleth nigh. Ye gentle flocks of sheep this day, And herds of cattle leap for joy, And lambskins sport around and play : Blest land, how bright without alloy. In Part 111. the metre again alters. The first of the twenl.y-ono verses of which it im composed runs as follows : Ho ! for a Jenny Lind's clear voice to sing Sweet songs, to set ten thousand hearts aglow With pleasures, borne upon an angel wing, In unison with Art refined below. O, join our fairy dance around that shrine, Haste onward ye with eagle strength of flight, And flushed with warmth and all fair things divine, Bobed in Sol's chariot of intense delight. This hurried sketch will give the reader some idea of the poem in its entirety. Although the judgos did not award the prize to Mr Willmer, they cannot have failed to have been struck with many of the images which abound in the stanza*.