The claims of Mrs. Hemans are much less hypothetical. Some of the constituents of these, it is true, were narrative poems of length, which, after the not wholly beneficent example of her elders and betters, could be measured out by the long hundred without much difficulty. But, a great many more are those short poems which, except under the force of some extraordinary inspiration such as she hardly ever enjoyed, take a long time and the vital power of a long time to bring to perfection. There is little evidence of any such accumulation and expenditure of poetic energy on her part. They grew in beauty side by side has the same quality, which one is reluctant to depreciate or ridicule, but which certainly excites more esteem than enthusiasm.
Leaves have their time to fall, etc.
Now, the soul of Mrs. Hemans was a poetic soul but it was not a strong one and it failed to follow steadily what star it had.