The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-11-01


There are not many PaFages in EngGh poetry
more in,preive than iome parts of this ex,raS. A,
'nober iluitration of the prodigious improvement,
which the hylc OF the old romance is capable of re-
e;suig from a more liberal adnixture of pathetic
entnieHts and gentle affections, we INHERIT the follow
ng paage, where the effea of the picture i. finely
filled by the coptraf Of its two Compartments:
SO Paled the day-the evening fell,
Twas near the time of curiew bell;
The air was mild, the wind was calm,
The dream was fmooth, the dew was balm,
Fen the rude Waterman, on the tower,
Enjoyed and blefed the lovely hour.
Far more fair Margaret loved and bleiIsd
The hour OF filerce and of reR.
Cn the high turret, fitting lone,
She walked at times the lute's foft tone:
Touched wild Eote, and all between
Thought OF the bower Of hawthorns green;
Her golden hair Greamed free from band.
Hsr fair cheek reiied on her hand,
Her blue eye fought the wen afar,
For loverslove the welern itar.
6 IL yon the ftar DER Pechryft.Pen,
That rifles hewly to her ken,
And, ipreadng broad lis wavering light,
Shakes It's loofe trefles OH the night
Isyon red glare the weRern mar
o, tits the bsacon-blaze of war
Scarce could fhe draw her frightened breath;
For we'll Che knew the fire Of death
The warder viewed it blazing ftrong,
And blew his war-note loud and long,
Till, at the high and naughty found,
Rock, wood AID river, ruug arouad;
The blaa alarmed the fetal hall,
And fartied forth the warriors all;
Far downward on the caffe-yard,
Full many torch and creiet glared:
And helms and plumes, confuledIy rofed,
Were IN the blaze half feen, half LOFT
And fpears IN wild diforder nook,
Like reeds beiide frozen brook.
The Senefchal, whole FLYER hair
Was Redeemed by the torches glare,
Stood in the midi, with geiture proud,
And iued forth his mandates loud
" On Penchrya CLOVIS bale of fire,
And three are kindling on Prie.thaughfwire," &C.
p. 1856.
In thsfe paiages, the poetry of Mr.. Scott is en-
tiled to decided preference over that of the ear
Ter mntrels, cot only from the greater confilfeucy
nd condemnation of his imagery, but from an n.rin-
ic fuperiority in the nature of his materials From
he Improvement of tafte, and the cultivation of the
er feelings of the heart, poetry acquires, in REIN
ID age, many new and invaluable elements, which
&c neeefarily unknown in period of greater finn.
Lefty. The deicripton Of external obietas, howe.
er, is at all times equally inviting, and equally ca
j and many of the pictures which have been left by
he ancient romancers, muf be permitted to poGe(s.
long with great difiufenefs and homenefs of dfion.
n exaneis and vivacity which cauuot be eafily ex-
eeded In this part of his undertaking Mr. Scot,
neFsfore had fewer advantages but we do not think
hat his fucces has been lefs remarkable In the fol.
owing defcription of Melrofe, which introduces the
acoud canto, the reader will obferve how iIfujly
e calls in the aid ofientmen;a aiIoeiations to heioh-
en- the effsa fthe picture which he prefen;s to the
ye.
'Ifthou won'd'1 view fair MsIrofe Alright,
Go Witt It by the pale moonlight
For the gay beams Of ligh,fome day
Gid, but to Aout, the rains gray
When the broken arches are black in right,
And each fhafisd oriel gnmers white;
When the cold lights uncertain mower
Streams on the ruined central tower;
When bptirefs aud buttrcls alternately,
Seem framed ofeboD and ivory;
When Silver edges tn, imagery,
And the icrols tina. teach thee to live and die I;
When aifiant Tweed ia heard to rave,
And tbs owlet TO hcot DER the dead mans grave
Then go-hut go along the while
Then view s. Dsyidis ruined pile;
And, horne returning, foothy fwsar,
Was never Ieene 70 lad and fair + D. S5, s6.
IN the following Pafsge be is lefs ambitious, and
onf1e, hjTisn as ancient n1inlrel would have
one on the occanol, 20 minute and pictureique
.prefenta;iou Ut the viiibls obje6t before him.
when for the lias they fought the plain,
The itately Ladys's Giksn rein
Did noble Howard hold
Unarned by her fide he walked,
And rnuet, 40 courteous phrafs, they talked
Cffezts of arms OF old.
Getty bis garb---bis Flenlih ruff
Fell DER his doublet G,aped Of buff,
With fstin hafhed, and lined
Tawny his boot, and gold MS lpur,
His cloak was all Of Poland fur,
His hols with FLYER twined
His B;Ibos blade, By MarchInen felt,
Hung in a broad and Rudded belt
Hence in rude phrsIe, the BoTderers RiiI