Review of poetry, ancient and modern : a poem
Hyclbr .* V '%^- Pi ?!«*. 'P'^fe^ :^-Wi ^fc;.^ C/^c.<^ (^ A-i^^-' T i^^^z^^^-^^ X-«^^y^ ^ '':!if^-^/y\ ^c^^'S^t'.^'^^^:^^^''y^ REVIEW OF POETRY, ANCIENT and MODERN. REVIEW OF F OETRTy ADDRESSED to a SON. Object of my fondefl care, 'Mid whofe gay and childifli air, Pleas'd attention can delcry Reafon's dawning brightnefs nigh; While {he, with delighted view, Marks thy cheek of rofy hue, Marks thine eye, whofe vivid light Shines than orient gems more bright ; s Marks 764327 C 2 ] Marks thy brows ferenely bold, Crown'd with locks of waving gold ; While an inexprefiive charm, More than features, more than form, Which no pencil e'er could trace, Heightens every infant grace. Twice three Summers now have fhed Their warm fun-beams o'er thy head. Summers, fraught vi'ith anxious fears To refledlion's riper years : While o'er Europe's wafted lands Difcord hurls her flaming brands. And her rugged arms embrace Gallia's fan^uinary race. Fixing in each fa v age mind Hatred to the human kind — Pale C 3 3 Pale experience, all aghaft, Reads the future in the part, And amidft impending glor)m, Trembles for the nation s doom. Thee, lov'd boy, no cares molfeft, Shade thy brow, or heave thy breaft ; Or if cares fhould difcompofe, Like the dew-drop on the rofe, Or like clouds before the wind,- Light, they leave no trace behind. Genuine delights are thine, Mirth and innocence divine, Cherub health of florid hue, Quick furprife for ever new, Frolic fancy, gay and free. Gilds the rapid hours for thee. Happy I 4 ] Happy age, to grief unknown ! Happy age, but quickly flown \ Soon thy fports thou mufl refign, Studious labor then is thine ; Far from every youthful play Grave inftrudion points thy way : Science, rich in ancient ftore, Spreads for thee her claflic lore: Armed with maglfterial rage Pedants guard the myftic page, Urging on thy tardy flight To dillindlon's fteepy height. Rough is learning's arduous road. Yet with brightefl: flowrets ftrow'd, Flowrets, 'mid the wafte of time, Blooming in eternal prime. Poefy C 5 3 Poefy, with pleafing guile, Oft (hall chear each graver toil, And by fidion lead thy youth To the fenfe of moral truth. When, enraptur'd, you rehearfe Matchlefs Homer's glowing verfe. While his artful mufe by turns Chills with fear, with ardour burns Melts to pity's foftened ftate, Or infpires with generous hate ; Let th' iiiflrudlive tale impart Virtuous caution to thy heart : Let the ten-years fatal war Teach thee early to beware. Nor to pafiion's dangerous fway Yield thyfelf a willmg prey. Thus C 6 -J Thus, had fenfual Paris ftrove To overcome his guilty love, Lawlefs Helen had remained Honour'd in her native land : Valiant chiefs, untimely flain, Had not prefTed the hoftile plain : And, undrenched in royal blood, Troy's illuftrious towers had flood. Oft entranc'd thou fhalt admire Pindar's wild eccentric fire, Borne on fancy's rapid wings. Swifter than the theme he fings, Hefiod, who to thought refin'd Purity of didion join'd, Anacreon, whofe lyric lay. Ever graceful, ever gay, Cele- C 7 3 Celebrates in feftive fccne Wine's young God, and Beauty's Queen, Sappho's bright poetic flame, Of her fex the pride and fhame, Bion, o'er whofe laureate hearfe, Morchus mourn'd in fvveeteft verfe, Theocritus, whofe poliih'd fenfe Shines in fimple elegance. While lie paints in valleys green Jojs that wait the rural fcene, Sophocles, of lofty thought, And the Bard* \\ith pathos fraught, Who recites the direful fate That attends fraternal hate.— • O, may ne'er fuch hate accurs'd In my children's breads be nurs'd, But * Euripides. C 8 ] But a mutual conftant love Cheer thofe ills which all muft prove. Ariftophanes combiii'd Brilliant wit and force of mind ; Yet with an indignant rage Turn from his licentious page, That to ridicule configned Th' ornament * of human kind See amid a later age Plautus charm the Latlan ftage; Quick invention's varied mien Sparkles in feach comic fcenc, But too oft th' averted eye Turns from grofs obfcenity. * Socrates. Terence [ 9 3 Terence chafter, more refin'd, Pleafes and Improves the mind : To complete his polifh'd line, L^lius , Africanus join : Attic tafte his pen revives, And Menander in him lives. Rudely learned Enniiis fung Fair Linteruum's groves among ; Yet his energetic ftrain o- Could even Cato's praife obtain. In Lucretius wq lament Talents loft, and time mifpent : Taught amid Athenian Tchools Atheifm's pernicious rules, Idly learn'd, he dares advance Faireft order fprung from chance, D Whih [ lo 3 While confus'dly atoms hurl'd, Harmoniz'd into a world. Much Catullus muft we prize Who dai'd Ccefar's wrath defpife : Yet more praife fhould he receive Who fo nobly could forgive. Mantua's bard fubllmely fings Fates of heroes and of kings, Or defcending to the plains, Warbles fweet in ruflic ftrains. Horace points his fatire ftrong, Or awakes the lyric fong. Ovid's tender lines impart Subtile poifon to the heart. Soft in elegiac ftrains Fond TibuUus' mufe complains : With With no vain ambition fraught, He nor wealth nor honours fought. Scorning mid a courtly train Even the imperial fmile to gain. Native energy and fire In Propertius' lays confpire, While his fixed and ardent flame Gives to Cynthia lafting fame. Vainly the fond mufe's love Deathlefs wreaths for Gallus wove : By ingratitude * debas'd. He their partial boon difgrac'd. Haplefs Lucan's nervous ftrain Paints Pharfalia's fanguine plain. * Having confpired againfl Auguftus, his benefador. Gay [ 12 ] Gay Petronius could control Savage Nero's cruel foul : But too foon his alter'd fate Sunk beneath the tyrant's hate. Thus from every age we prove Vice can never truly love ; For in prefent as in paft, Virtuous friendfhips only laft. Juvenal with generous rage Lafli'd the vices of his age; Yet full oft his nervous thought, In unfeemly language wrought, Spreads a deeply crimfon'd die O'er the cheek of modefty. Like him, to fatiricLays Perfius confecrates his days. But C '3 ]. But difo-ufted to behold Nature in fo foul a mould, Oft we clofe their lift of crimes, And revert to happier times As in the metallic mine Pureft ores mid bafcft ftiine. Thus in Statius' doubtful page Beauties mixed with faults engage. Tho' renown be Martial's due. With contempt the bard we view Who, from vanity or fear, Meanly footh'd a tyrant's ear. Claudian's luftre cheered the gloom That o'crwhelmed declining Rome : On th' expiring poet's breaft Genius funk to death-like reft, E Nor [ 1+ ] Nor again review'd the earth Till awoke by Dante's birth. Mid a rude, unlettered age Dante formed his myftic page ; Hence the obfcure and rugged line Often clouds the work divine ; Yet his felf'illumin'd ray Kindled to a brighter day. Softcft paffion, pureft fire Petrarch's moving lines infpire, While the loves and virtues mourn With him o'er his Laura's urn. Ariofto's fportive mufe Fid:ion*s w^ildeft themes purfiies, Tells of necromantic ire, Stygian fprights, and giants dire, Knights C 's 3 Knights on flying courfers borne. Streams infpiring love and fcorn, Beauties fatal to behold, Paladins and virgins bold, Who with more than mortal might Rag'd unconquer'd thro' the fight. Taflb in fublimer ftrains Sings Judaeas hallow'd plains, Pious Godfrey's fpotlefs fame, Tancred's unavailing flame, Guelpho's feats, from whom we trace Honour'd Brunfwick's warlike race, Young Rinaldo's conquering arms, Falfe Armida's baleful charms, And fuperior to his fate, Solymem in exile great. Leav- C i6 3 Leaving now each foreign foil, Turn we to thy native ifle; Genius with a fonder eye View'd nor Greece nor Italy. Happy land by nature bleft, In her faircft liv'ry dreft ! Mild the funs and pure the gales That rcfrefh her graffy vales j Her's are daughters fam'd for charms, Her's are fons renown'd for arms, Nor for arms alone : the mind. By philofophy refin'd, Here has fathom'd truths unknown. And each fcience made her own. But more learned bards muft name ^ Bacon's, Newton's, Harvey's fame, And C '7 3 And with unremitting toil Trace the depth of Locke and Boyle ; While I view with carelefs eye Fairer fcenes of poefy. As amid the gloom of night. When no ftar emits its light, Swift the meteor's fudden ray Gleams a momentary day ; Thus gay Chaucer's mirthful rhymes Glittered amid barb'rous times. Next defcriptive Spenfer ihrouds Truth in allegory's clouds, And in Gloriana's name Sings Eliza's matchlefs fame. Peerlefs Shakefpeare brightly fhone With a fplendour all his own : F While C i8 ] While with eloquence divine Nature fpeaks thro' ev'ry line j. Scorning frigid rules of art, He enchants the yielding heart. O'er the fubjed paffion reigns, Reafon charms, and judgment chains,. And with unrefifted fway,. Steals each captive fenfe away^ Jonfon's labour'd fcenes impart Lefs of genius, more of art. Join'd with Beaumont's friendly name, Fletcher gains dramatic fame : One for brighter wit renown'd,. One for judgment more profound. Loyal Cowley's virtuous mind Copious wit to learning join'd ^ Den- [ 19 ] Denham in more meafur'd lines Britifli poefy refines, Teaching in his nervous page Skill to the fucceeding age. Strong defcription, thoughts fublime Soaring beyond place or time, Scenes of wonder, terror, pain, Glow thro' Milton's lofty ftrain. Whether his afpiring flight Joins the dazzling fons of light, Or amid the infernal reign Meets the fall'n angelic train. Or in Eden's blifsful groves With the firft of mortals roves, Awful grandeur flill is (hewn Unexampled, and alone. Lavifh C 20 3 Lavifli wit and humour gay Crown farcaftic Butler's lay, Formed to humble and deride Zealots' hypocritic pride. Bending with empafllon'd mien O'er pathetic Ot way's fcene, Sympathy with ftreaming eye Mourns iiditious mifery ; For fuch touching woes are fhown As each breaft muft feel its own. Courtly Waller's polifh'd ftrain Sacharifla woo'd in vain ; Nor his genius nor his love Could the fcornful beauty move. High amid the fons of fame View exhauftlefs Dryden's name, Dry den, C 2' ] Dryden, whofe expanfive mind Strength with harmony combin'd : But chill poverty's control Oft dcprefs'd his vigorous foul ; And indignant we furvey Adulation (lain his lay. Philips in majeftic ftrain Sings Pomona's cultur'd reign. Wit and learning blufhing boaft Smith, by vile intemp'rance loft. Eafy numbers, fmooth and gay, Sweetly flow thro' Parnel's lay. Fafcinating beauties glow In the graceful lines of Rowe. Warmeft praifes Garth attend, Poverty's and merit's friend. G Addifon's [ 23 ] Addifon's enlighten'd page Charm' d while it reform'd the age j There philofophy pourtray'd Frowns in no forbidding fhade, And mid each perplexing care Virtue fhines divinely fair. Prior fliews how mental worth Far excels the pride of birth ; For by talents only rais'd, Courtiers fought him, monarchs prais'd. Sparkling wit's inceffant blaze Congreve crown'd with early bays. Pen live Gay repin'd to fee Human hope^s uncertainty ; Hope, whofe vifions, bright as vain, Still delude, yet ftill enchain. In [ n ] In defpairing Hammond's lines With new grace Tibullus fhines. Conftant friendiliip's facred flame Still illumines Tickell's name, Which thro' life confpicuous {hone,, Join'd with tafte and Addifon. Savage with peculiar fate Prov'd a barb'fous mother's hate : From his nalive honours torn,* Doom'd to calumny and fcorn, Still o'er his devoted head Want her baleful influence fhed : Yet with a refplendent ray- Genius cheer'd his rugged way, * The Earldom of Macclesfield,. And [ 24 ] And when long thro' forrows led Life's indignant fpirit fled, Generous pity foftening blame, Gave him to eternal fame. Bright was Swift's meridian pride, Harley's friend, and Ireland's guide : Horrid o'er his clofing fcene Gloom'd pale frenz/s haggard mien. Thus like beauty's fragile prime Stronger wit muft yield to time. Where does fleeting blifs then reft ? Only in religion's breaft. — - Brilliant fancy, judgment clear, Melody beyond compeer, Quick intelligence of mind, Reafon ftrong, and thought refin'd, All C =5 ] All that genius, all that art Can of magic force impart, Varied beauties to difplay, Meet in Pope's enchanting lay. Liftening to the tuneful ftrain Livid envy frowns in vain, While warm admiration pays Tributes of ecftatic praife. By luxuriant Thomfon led Fancy climbs the mountain's head; Wanders by pale Cynthia's light Mid the polar half-year's night, Where refulgent meteors glow O'er perpetual hills of fnovv ; Shuddering from th' impending fteep Views th' unfathomable deep : li Oi [ 26 ] Or recoiling from the fight, Turns where fofter fcenes invite : Mid the foreft's cool retreat Shuns the noontide's fcorching heat ; Or in the tranflucent wave Seems the fervid hmbs to lave ; Or mid Afric's funny vales Breathes the aromatic gales, While the dazzled eyes furvey Scenes, exuberantly gay. Shenftone mid his lov'd retreat Sung Alcides' lofty fate; How in early youth his mind Pleafure's faithlefs lures declin'd, And by hardy virtue train'd, Deathkfs blifs, and glory gain'd. Sweetly C 27 ] Sweetly flow the folemn ftrains When defponding Young complains, Mourning/midnight's deepcft gloom, '^ Fair Narcifla's early doom : Young, who erft fevere and gay Shone in fatire's daring lay. Akenfide in colours warm Paints imao-ination's charm. Carelefs Churchill's vigorous mind Pours his fatire unconfin'd. ^ Goldfmith's winning lines impart Soft benevolence of heart. Where the moon with glimmering ray Lights the church-yard's lonely way, By pale contemplation led. Moral Gray delights to tread. Mafon [ ^8 ] Mafon with inftrudive lay Warns th' ambitious, fair, and gay, While o'er beauty's fable bier Admiration drops a tear. Senfe, by fludious thought refin'd, Critic tafte, with candour join'd, Strong difcernment, juft and clear. Graceful didion, truth fevere, Piety's feraphic flame Mark enlighten'd Johnfon's name. Leaving fancy's tuneful train, Beauties more fublime remain, Where the holy feers of yore Pour prophetic wifdom's lore, And [ 29 ] And to rapt devotion prove Heaven's unccafing truth and love. •Whether glowing hymns reveal Royal David's fervent zeal, Or Ilaiah's lofty mind Threats the ruin of his kind, Or in fofter, fweeter ftrain, Jeremiah tells his pain, While his fad laments deplore Sion's priftine greatnefs o'er, Pecrlefs glories thro' each line Prove the origin divine. O may each celcftial truth Influence thy tender youth, 1 Teach C 30 ] Teach thee every vice to fhun That has haplefs man undone, And thro' error's tenfold night Lead thee to eternal light. ^ I ^ I S. THE UBRAinr UNIVBRSnT OF CALIFORNU LOS ANGELES UNntRSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles '^''"'^''" »UE on the last date stamped below. ^%?-. 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