Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-07-07

him. In the most painful crisis. of his
private lie, he eVinced this irritahiIiiv
and Impotence Of censure in such de-
gree, as almost to resemble the noble
victim of The bull Sight, which is more
maddened by the squibs, darts, and pet
ty annoyances, of the unworthy crowds
beyond the lists. than by the lance of
his nobier, and, SO TO speak, his more le-
climate antagonist. In. word, much
ofthat in which he erred, was in bra
wade and scorn of his censors, and was
done with the motive of Dryden's des-
pot, Ito shew his arbitrary power" II
is needless to say, that his was a false
and preludiced view Of such contest !;
and that if the noble bard gained a sort
of triumph, by compelling the world 10
read poetry, though mixed with baser
matter, because it was his, he gave, in
return, an unworthy triumph to The un-
worthy, besides deep sorrow to those
whose applause in his cooler moments
he most valued.
TWAS the same with his politics, which
on several occasions assumed tone men
acing and con;emptuous to the constlu.
ton OF his country; while, in fact, Lord
Byron was in his own heart sufficiently
sensible, not only Of his privileges as a
Brlton, but Of the distinction attending
his high birth and rank, and was pecu-
liarly sensitive Of those shades which con-
stltute what is termed the manners of a
gentleman. Indeed notwithstanding his
ha7ing employed epigrams, and ali the
petty war Of wit, wien such would baye
been much better abstained from. he
would have been found, had a collision
taken place between the nris!ocratic and
democratic parties in the state, exerting
all his energies in defence of that TO
which he naturally belonged His own
feeling on these subjects ne has explain
ed In the very last canto of Don Juan +;
and they are in entire harmony with the
opinions which we have seen expresse d
in his correspondence, al moment when
matters appeared TO approach a serious
struggle IN his native country:
tie was as INDEPENDENTLY, much more.
1 Than those who were not paid for indenend-
ence;
As common soldiers, or a common-s-Shore
Have in their several arts or parts ascend.
| ance
O'er the irregulars in lust or gore.
Who DO not give professional attendance.
Thus on the mob all statesmen are as eager
ToproTe their pride, as footmen to a beggar.
We are not however, Bylon's apolo-
gsts, for nos, alas he needs none. His
excellencies will no5o be universally ac-
knowledged, and his faults Oct us hope
and believe) not remembered in bis en-
ltaph. 1t will be recoIlected what a part
ne has sustained in British literature
since the disappearance ofChilde Har-
olde, space Of nearly sixteen years.
There has been no reposing under the
shade of his laurels, no living upon the
resource Of past reputation none OF
that cOddling and petty precaution, which
little authors call stalking care of their
tame." Byron let his fame take care Of
itself. His foot was always irSthe arena.
his shield hung always 10 the lists; and
although his own gigantic renown in
creased the difficulty of the struggle,
since he could produce nothing, howev-
er great, which exceeded the public es-
innate of his genius, yet he advanced to
the honouraHle contest again and again
and again, and came always off with dis
tlnchon, almost always with complete
triumph. AS various in composition as
Shakespeare himself, (this will be add
mitted by all who are acquainted with
his Don Juan, he has embraced eyery
topic of human life, and sounded eyery
string on the divine harp, from its slight
est to lis most powerful and heart as
founding tones. There is scarcely a
passion, or situation, which has escap-
ed his pen; and he might be drawn, like
Garrlck, between the Weeping and the
Laughing Muse, although his most pow
eriul efforts have certainly been dedica-
ted to Melpomene. His genius seemed
as prolific as various. The most prodi-
gal use did not exhaust his powers, nav,
seemed rather to increase their yigor'
Neither Chiide Harolde, nor any Of
the most beautiful of Byron's earliest
tales, contain more exquisite morsels Of
poetry than are TO be found scattered
through the Cantos of Don Juan, amidst
verses which the author appears to have
thrown of with an effort as spontaneous
as that OF tree resigning its leaves tc
the wind.-But that noble tree will ney.
er more bear fruit or blossom It has
been cut down in its strength, and the
past is all that remains to us of BYRON
We can scarce reconcile ourselves TO the
idea-scarce think that the voice is 81
lent forever, which, bursting SO often or
our ear, was often heard with rapturou,
admiration, sometimes with regret, bu
always with the deepest interest.
Allthat's bright must fade,