Thomas's Massachusetts spy, or, Worcester gazette. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1811-1821, 1821-05-16
MISCELLANY.
LTTERARY.

We have read it over with care, and its pc
rusal has afforded US so much pleasure, that it
was believed a concise review Of II might
crafty some Of our readers.
The Poem is entitled 6 EscALAxA; Gn
american 1ale''-by Samuel B. Beach, Of
Oswego County, in this state. In his choice
) of a subject, we think the author has been
peculiarly judicious and happy, since he has
selected one, which, in the language Of crit
ticks, possesses great poetick capabilities, and
opens wide field for descriptive imagery and
the fights Of fancy. The story on which the
Poem is founded, is semi~historical, authen-
tick enough to render the events probable,
and sufficiently involved in doubt and uncer-
tainty, to leave ample room for poetick inven-
ton, and free range TO the imagination. -
It's very probable the authors plan might
have been suggested by reading JMatdock, to
which at any rate It is in subject nearly allied.
In PREDATORY note to the Poem, Mr.. Beach
gives the following outlines of his story -
6 The ruins of fortifcations and other traces
Of civilization, discemible in the interiour of
North america, and particularly along the
Ohio. and between that and the lakes, remain
to this day, and probably ever viii remain,
totally unaccounted for. From this have
taken nv hint. In the ninth century, Harold
Houfagre conquered twelve of the petty
chieftains of Norway, and united their terri
tories into kingdom. Naddhr, one of these
petty chieftains, fleeing from Harold, turned
pirate, discovered and eolonized Greenland
and IN one Of his voyages from Norway to
that country, with colonists, he is supposed
to have persisted by shipwreck--so says histo-
Fy: But have taken the liberty, continues
Mr.. Beach, to alter his supposed fate, and to
make him the founder of Norwegian colony,
at the junction Of the Ohio and Mississippi
Of course, this colony retains the superstitious
ceremonies and observances of its Scandma-
Wan ancestors, who at that period were not
converted to Christianity.
tsThe poem opens with a grand feast, in
froductory to a splendid hunting match, and
preparatory to the annual religious rites in
honour of Odin-the time about 800 years
after Naddhr's first landing on the continent,
and when the colony had become powerful.
Then follows the grand hunting match of the
King and Mobiles, in the course of which,
Ruric, the Kings son, carries off by force
Escalala, the daughter of powerful Indian
chief, and the heroine of the poem. This
produces a destructive war between the |
Aborigines and Colonists, ending in the utter
determination of the latter; and this result is
prosuced by the energy, skill, and implaca-
bic revenge OF Escalala."
The reader viii see at glance, that such
a story opens to the poet an almost boundless
range, rich in the grandest scenery of nature,
and fertile in topicks for poetick fiction. In
many respects the author has the advantage
In the choice of a subject, of Southey, in his |
Maddox, or Campbell, in his Gertrude of |
Wyoming since his design embraces, not only |
the native grandeur Of American scenery
The
muses. have never haunted-lakes and rivers
6 unknown to sone,n and the exhaustless
topicks Of Indian character, manners, and Gus.
toms, but also the awful sublimiiy OF arctick
scenery, as well as the pagan mythology and
superstitious lore Of Scandinavia. Besides,
there is more of romantick adventure in the
character of the Norwegians, than in that of
the WEIGH, from whom Southey selected his
hero: and our author is less trammelled by
historick records, than Campbell was in his
Gertrude.
1t remains to be seem, with what talents,
genius, and taste, Mr.. Beach has availed
himself of the advantages, which his subject
presents The first part Of the poem, COM
prising three cantos, which is all we have
seen, and all. il is believed, which the au-
thor has finished, embraces great variety of
topicks, and several kinds of versi6cation :
and to enable the reader to judge for himself
of the merit of the work, our extracts shall
be as copious and diversified, as our limits
win permit.
As a specimen.of the authors talent at
description, we select the following lines from
the first csnto -
Long was their wandermg-but at last,
Through many wild and tracxless waste.
By Missisippi's hoary flood,
The homeless, houseless wanderers stood,
And found them there a place of rest,
Richer than Araby the blest.
Wild was the scene-but all as fair
As fancy's fondest visions are,
And seem'd to those its haunts who tred,
a paradise scdhout its god.
Here, on the right, Ohio roll'd
His tribute waters, swift and bold
Like some rich vassal proud to bring
The wealthiest of'ring to his King
While there, broad, deep, impetuous, strong,
Old Mississippi swept along,
As tho he scorn'd the needless tide
His yassal's feeble founts supplied.
And on its surface all the pride
OF plumage, that e'er deck'd the tide
OF sylvan stream, in eddying play,
Wheeled lightly in the summer ray.
The deep cmbow'ring woods around,
With vines and mantling ivy crown'd,
And thousand flowers Of varied hue,
Fresh from their birth and moist with dew,
Shed fragrance, rich as poets sing,
Elysian gales were wont to fling
Round those blest souls, by Minos given ri
On earth an antepast Of heaven
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