“ In this direction he has had many followers, who have sometimes assumed the appearance of pioneers; but after Matthew Arnold’s fine lecture on “Celtic Literature,” nothing perhaps did more to help the Celtic revival than Aubrey de Vere’s tender insight into the Irish character, and his stirring reproductions of the early Irish epic poetry. ”

“ He also wrote a picturesque volume of travel-sketches, and two dramas in verse, Alexander the Great (1874) ; and St Thomas of Canterbury (1876) ; both of which, though they contain fine passages, suffer from diffuseness and a lack of dramatic spirit. ”