Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-08-01
ALEXANDRIA,:
SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST |.
FOR THE GAZETTE.
Critical Essay on tke Fourth Cdnto Of
Childe Harotd's Pilgrimage.

taken IN their natural order, ana the selec-
ton of then was not intended TO intimate
an opinion that they surpass their associ-
ates. In truth, the latter part of The canto
is more abundant in beauties, than that
which has been considered. But the extent
which this article has unwittmgly reached,
forbids the insertion Of any additional STAN
zas. Disseminating therefore, the perse-
verance with which Harold has been hi
therto accompanied in his journey, we shall
sketch brief and rapid outline of his SUBJ
sequent progress,
From Tuscany he seems to have passed
to the popedom, where his attention was
first engaged by Perugia, the ThrasImenus
of ancient Italy. After portraying it as the
scene of Roman disaster, he describes It's
present tranquility. OF the reflections on
Clitumnus, the Campanian river, that con-
tained in stanza SO is the best. The cele-
bra.ed artificial cascade at Velino, in the
kingdom of Naples, occasions to the poet
his next. and perhaps most graphical pic
ture. He who reads the following portion
of il, will more readily excuse the breach
than the forming of our resolve, just limited,
to for5ear farther quotation.
"Horribly beautiful! but on the verge,
From side to side, beneath the glittering
morn,
An Iris sits, amidst the internal surge,
Like hope upon death-bed, and unworn
Its steady eyes. while around is torn
BY the distracted waters, bears serene
Its brilliant hues with all their beams I'M
shorn :.
Resembling. mid the torture of the scene,
Love watching madness with unalterable
mien."
In the Neapolitan territory lord Byron
seems TO have been detained but for short
time. Who is satisfied that he did not stay
long enough to describe its beautiful bay?
And now the pilgrim reached the " Eter-
nal City," His eye is now met by the mis-
tress Of the world-the queen OF art-the
sanctuary of religion disrobed Of her man
tie of power and environed by solitude
yet
" Perchance even dearer in her hour Of wo,
Than when she was boast, marvel and
a show"
Torespond faithfully TO the emotions en-
gendered by the idea of this spectacle in
the breast of classical noralist is impos-
sible. But, to apply to the present subject
the words of one who never used words in
vain, " il is sufficient for lord Byron to have
done better than others what no man has
done WELL"
In Eustace's tour j, is stated, that during
the French occupation Of Rome in '98 and
'99, Voltaire's Brutus was acted in the Co.
liseum. To promote the amusement, the
republican Vandals determined to remove
thither, from its abode in the Palazzo Spa
da, the statue of Pompey. It's gigantic
size made necessary the amputation of an
arm, and on restoring il to the Palazzo the
surgeons of liberty sawed off the other
Both were afterward replaced In the
lines of the pilgrimage which celebrate him,
no allusion is made to this sacrilege against
the hero OF republican Rome, the conque-
ror of kings and Of himself. !
The parallel between Cesar and Napo-
leon, commencing in stanza 80, would
strike most readers as conveying the deci-
sion of
:" An ardent judge, who Jealous in his trust,
With warmth gives sentence, yet is always
just"
Caution may, however, suspect in it
something ofpartiality to the Roman.
After Aaiterng advertence 10 our own
country, Harold meditates over the Capo |
di Bove, where lie the ashes Of Cecilia Me-
tella, the wife of Crassus. Of The redec-
tons on this tomb, Supposed by tancilul
writer to echo the sounds of lamentation
which fall near it) those in Stanza lO2 are
the most affecting.
At Rome terminated The pilgrims travels
in Italy. The remainder OF the canto des-
cribes the interesting objects in that city
and IFS vicinage, varied by frequent moral
speculations. No notice can now be af- |
forded 10 these moving alterations of des-
cription and sentiment, other than TO de-
signate the chief Of them namely the STAN
zas on Trajan, the greatest and most vir-
tuous of the emperors-on Rienhi, who in |
q degenerate age revived the memory of |