Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1814-05-16

suddenly involved, while pursuing the wild
and eccentric movements Of the Ciorr A
perusal of the work evinces, that. We in a
great measure INDUCED false ,terrors,-
Though the reader j. sometimes transport
ed. as it were by enchantment, to gaze with
selim through "grases" Of the Haram, yet
he finds some key that will unlock its "n,as-
sy doors; and though he is sometimes
conducted into "cypress groves" his cour. !
ly guide has too much politeness to deser,
him in this bewildsred state without furn-
ishing him with SEINE clue, by which he
Can extrica,e himself. The story is simple,
comprising but few incidents, and those for
the most part naturally introduced. For
want Of room we decline giving an abstract
oil it here, referring those, who wish to see
an admirable skeleton of the Poem to late
Boston Weekly Messenger. -
But short and simple as the story is, the
Prowler is disposed to think it in some re-
speets faulty. Selim and Zuleika are too
nearly allied by ccnsanguinity to raise in US
IN ardent wish to see them still closer uni
ted BY the ties Of affinity. Besides, We should
think the habits Of intimacy, between the
lovers even from childhood, TOO close, and
the growth of affection too gradual to admit
of that violent and romantic passion, which
characterised them in the last moments Of
their lives.
We do not profess to be fully acquainted
with the secret workings of love, and canno,
therefore comprehend how Zuleika could
imbibe from the lips of Selim such violent
amorous fever, as to render her "cheek too
blushing." We had thought that sisferty
affection, however ardent, could never raise
glow of,his description and surely this
is the only kind of attachment, which Zale-
ika can be supposed to feel in this stage Of
the story.
Like this-and this-no more than this,
Fer, Ala sure thy lips are fame,
What fever in thy veins is flushing
Mine own hath nearly caught the same.
At least Ifeel my cheek TOO blushing."
There appears to be striking impropri.
ETY. in some of the authors similes. Take
for instance the following.
"a vayhsyse at the trumpet's sound,
A lion rous'd by needless hound,
fvans wsk'd to sudden strife
BY Craze Of iil-direcied knife.
Starts not 70 more coRvulsive iife."
Here we see Selim under the soft and
soothing influence ofthe plighted vow, con-
vulsed with the wild and ferocious temper
Of the svarhorse, don, and syrans. Love u
sually breathes milder spirit, and has less
to do with Lord Byron's characteristic
50 might and majesty"
The first question we asked ourselves
after reading the poem before US was, how
Zuleika could with propriety be called q
bride. With us . certain ceremony is re.
quisile in order to entitle female to that
appellation, however strongly she may be
welded in heart. 1t has been suggested,
that lady may be denosninated bride just
before an expected marriage as well as i'm.
mediately after the nuptiala are celebrated.
We would rather give this latitude to the
word than indulge suspicion, that Lord
Byron is one Of those enlightened philoso.
pliers, who are for abolishing the cold form.
atty, performed by the priest or justice, and
for reviving that golden age
"When love was liberty. and nature law."
Thus far Tor our censures, which are pro-
mulgated with difiidence. To point out the
numerous beauties Of the poem would be
much more pleasing task.
"Sed fugit irreparabile ,empus."
This part Of our remarks, together with
some geographical illustrations, the limits
of this number compels US TO defer.
z.