Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-08-01

The misnoner in the title Of this essay is
now, we fear, quite obvious to the reader
For its scarcity in analytical criticism, the
apology offered is the unexpected prollxIty
to which The illustrative portion has been
drawn out In fact, the article in Its orr
ginal drsught, ranged widely into view
of lord Byron's poetical peculiarities and
the sources Of his high reputation. For
the reason given, this view is omitted TOR
the present, and our remarks will conclude
with a structure or two on the versliicalion-
The metre in which the Pilgrimage is
composed, is confessedly more laborious
than, any other in the language, and SUBJ
jects to severer test the rhythmical ability
of the attemptcr. Millions objection 10 the
couple! was the tyranny which it exercised
over thought, by requiring the admittance
or exclusion of words, and not unfreqnently
Of line, for purposes Of mere sound
This inconvenience is observable in even
Pope, the closest thinker, as well as the
most skilful versfier in the whole poetical
calendar. Ii necessitated him 10 use an ar
tifce which he practsed too often TO elude
detection always; namely the placing of
the superluous line first IN the couplet.-
Every school boy knows the secret history
Of the distich,
GA wits feather and a chiefs rod:
An honest mans the noblest work of God"
The expectation was, that the intruder
would escape censure, by the audacity with
which it invited notice. If such be the
embarrassment OF a measure, where the
thought is followed through only two lines,
what must be the perplexity of that, where
it is alternately RENTED and resumed thro'
a painful succession OF four verses, and
those not in immediate sequence lndeed,
the prosperity of the English poets who
have essayed TO cultivate this stanza, has
not been such as might stimulate new adj
ven;urers. Spenser, whose name it bears,
is now completely shelf classic. The
success of Beattie has not sustained his
eulogy on its capabilities for the harmo-
NOUS and highly poetical passages which
have been admired in the Minstrel, are at
tended by a retinue of cumbrols and sleepy
companions Campbell, more exact dis
tinguisher Oft the true Castalian stream, has
found the Auency Of his conceptions i'm.
peded by the magnificent but heavy vest
ment with which Gertrude enyeloped them.
Every reader of the Pennsylvania tale
prefers that part of it where the Indian
warrior deserts the stately rhymth OF his
poet, for strains more suitable 10 his indig-
nant anguish.
It's remarkable that Thompson has given
to this species OF verse, despite of its tram
mels, unusual harmony; though he failed
to attain even common degree of that
quality in the Seasons, where no obstacles
were presented.
SCOTS attempt in g the Vision Of Don
Roderick," is allowed on all hands to be
an abortion.
1t was reserved for lord Byron to heal
many of the distempers which had before
seemed radical in the constitution OF this
metre. In some parts Of the first canto OF
Harold, and in the greater part OF the Sc
cond, he gave 10 it sonorous dignity,
which entities it to the praise yielded by |
Pope to the versication OF bis great master; |
" The full majestic march and energy di-
vine."
From uniformity, The besetting sin" OF
this s,anza, no poetical regeneration could |
redeem it but though it was impossible !
that Lord Byron could render it various or
lively, he has made it the gorgeous vehicle |
of thoughts, of which, tho all are clothed |
in resembling garbs, none could be spared.
The attempt in Canto 81, to diversity the |
pauses and shorten the quantity was, on
the whole, iDjudicious, as it demanded an
irksome vigilance from the reciter In the
subject of our present examination, the en-
terprise is prosecuted more happily every |
where than in the AIexandrines. For in
stance, what ear is delighted by the ensu-
ing lines?
Sand still the eloquent air breathes-burns
with Cicero"
&c In ruin, even as he had seen The desolate
sight"