Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-09-24
.NEsCELLaNEOgS.
r.nM rHs AMERlcAs sENrlNEL.
L.YRlCS-By Wslliam 3. TaPpan'


We have read with great pleasure this
charming littls solu me- The smooth
ness, of the pupbers,l the sweetness
which prevails throughout, the seiee,
ton of,the subjects. and beautiful ana
poetic style of the composition, are car
eulated to raise, the author 10 the es', L.
nation of the community OF letters II
there be any, truth in the remark "hich
ws have met. SO mewhere, shat poetry
IL the next best kind OF writing to prose-
it surely cannot apply to lyrics, OF po'
etrv intended to be sung to music.
lyric poetry was originally confined
Co the celebration of the praises OF gods
and heroes, but iits sphere has since
been more extended, and We hnd Hor-
ace declaring si.i. @ asH.)
Gods, heroes, cenquerers, Olympus crowns, Z
Loves pleasing cares and tibet free joys OF wine,
Are proper subjects OF the lyric song itf
Me-. II. has selected his subjects in
xhe spirit of these lines. "the free joys
of wiae, !" howeyerl are omitted: per-
:haps because the purity and religious
fervor of his muse is above them.
The work teens with the best and
purest feelings of the heart expressed
with that sweetness which was the ORR
ginal characteristic Of this species of
poetry. The poet has carefully avoid
cd those errors into which the ancient
and modern Bric writer's have gener-
ally fallen, aud which particularly dis
&inguish the licentious numbers OF AN.
acreon Moore. ....r..sr. t..,..,.
The love, which 10 The theme OF MI.
It's song, ID that of the admlfer ana
friend of woman; nos q line can Dc
pointed out which will aid the seducer,
weaken the resolution or sap the W.T.
tue of the sex. How different are the
seatiments with which we read the adj
dress TO wife, commencing withAthese
words
long had loved thee, thou vast dearer far
Than all mortality beside can boast;
NV pride, nv glory, thou my chosen star,
I loved thee well, but do love thee most
Since the sad time that sickness writhed this
And the " Wedding Ring of Moore.
How much more satisfactorily than
Moore can he answer the question
why was it written ?-what is the mo-
rality of your poem?
The concluding stan2a on Music"
IS very touching: sl
o, if to finite state be given
Some emanation from above,
Some foretaste of a brighterheaven,
IT'S 1Izs.c from the lips we love.
Although our national feelings are
always excited by we'll directed appeals
TO the heart in favor of the heroes OF
s76, we have seldom been more fsvora-
bly, impressed than by his lines on" 1he
Sast Osteran Of the Revolutions.
isaw the hoary warrior chief,
Whose sternly proud, but bhghted form,
Proclaimed him worn with bitter grief,
An oak amid the pelting storm.
OF those whose crimson tide lmbrued
The fields where Albion's glory tell,
OF those who oft undaunted stood,
When cannons pesle1 the hero's kneil--
He was the last--the only head
Was his, that waved with wintry bloom;
Surviving all, for all had sped;
They slept In honor's laureiled tomb.
He gazed-alas, he gazed IN valns
To meet the comrades of his toll;
Compatriots on the CORY PLAIN,
Companions In the victor spoil. !
All. all around was sad and drear,
And nousht could grief of years beguile;
For him, coincidence had no tear, 1
For him, affection wore no smile
! saw--and 10! the warrior slept,
The war woin veteran joined the brave;
The genius of Columbia wePt,
And freedoms wreath bedecked his grave.
The beautiful tribute from the pen
of native poet. to the virtues OF the
veteran friend of American liberty, the
venerable La Fayette, must be graft
flying to American readers-We think,
however, it would have been better to
have avoided attempting to rhyme with
lis name. No English words agree
with it In sound.
Son of yalor! heir OF glory
Noble by the patriots line;
Gallant warrior chiettain hoary!
fmmort atty is thine.
Wreath the laurel, muses. wreath 1t,
Ills for no ignoble name;
Breathe the song, !aspirers breatheit,
WcEny OF the veteran s tame
When people true to bravery
Saw the storu,scloud gathering nigh,
Heard the manacles of slavery
Rattle in the turbid sky
M 4 Z ,hn ~ St N