The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-02-18
LORD BYRON.

/ h'o'AD AsoA's
The following eloquent article Is trans
lated from the Journal ipaiiic, a French
paper published 10 New York
FRAGMENT.
- Thus II IL that republicans
honor the hero ofthrir liberty. But whilst
| they are preparing his ifinmphal pomp,
another nation is gathering round the
bier in a mourning not less gloribus.-
Another great existence has been severed
from amidst ON egotstical aud trining age.
\ man Lo,d Byronl superior Ia the asein
fore. otgenins and ndopsndenco sprung Up.
Bursting through all preiudices, he dared
| Ia be himself alone and his noble figure
was strong contrast with the uniform
features ot hs contemporaries. Endowed
with soul OF fire, aud desolating energy of
thought, he FASTENED 10 essay all life ; aud
though Young, he had exhausted il all, and
become disgosled with every thing around
him. No longer hcguiled by love, friend
ship, country or futurity, he renowned,
forever, all sditenug and consolng senti.
men,s. Fleeing from himself, in qurs; of
strong emotions for his blazing spilit, he
rushed nj hazard into stranger lands.
Yet was l,e not guitless. With passions
the most violent that ever devastated the
human heart, he was by them often led
into error and numberless faults track
each step of his career. True, they were
such ne the world pardons, bit they arc
not the less faulty, needing all the splendor
of his glory To veil their tuIpitudc.
Poesy was his nature; but he could not
eondcscend 10 those vain Gctions which
delight the ordinary reader He sang to
soothe his oNn thoughts---he spoke OF him
scl-his head was Tyre, whose very vi
bration was harmonious, but which, IN
mourntul mood, forever varied the hymn
of sorrow.
He sung the tormcnts of the strong man,
oppressed Ivy tritIug destiny--the gnaw
ing of heart born Tor virtue " warped to
wrong,' forever struggling against atheism
and despair.
At tunes, Il noble cry of liberty or love
resounded amidst these mournful walings,
but ii was cry which made the hrarrr
shuddcr, like that of liberty oppressed, or
love struggling with death.
At times also, with sombrc and affect
ing irony, he oportcd with the things Of the
earth, as II by rendng away the charm of
lies brilliant Illusions, he might ayengc
himself, because not one Of them could
solacc him.
necessarily rowing, the wandering bard
of liberty lived mysterious and unknown,
save his germs but that WAS all himself
At intervals, from the depths of some new
country, like Alcyon from the bosom Of
the tempest, he discovered himself by his
sublime strains, "A moment seen, then fading
M the distance.
Often latgucd by his own genius, he
plunged with madness into cXccsses the
most rperyating; squandering hlsnoble heart
on objects unworthy calling the meanest
associates around him 10 share IN his orgies.
Then, MS il revolving from such degrading
attempts, rushing again To solitude.
Long did he pace across our subject he
mlsphere free, but posSest By NE demon Of
has oion heart Glory had thrown his bril-
liant halo round his brow. Popularity,
which he drspisrd, chung II him. Kings,
whom he braved, beheld him passing II.
midst their slaves, aud rs if sturllied NJ the
sight Of the Colossus. ms # enchanted by
his magic melody, dared not to raise their
sceptir5 against him.
bbHtblt hlll sflRllr "'lNtTAg ptu~
soners of power, blinded by his rtnown,
dared not direct against him those torrents
OF invective, which thRy vomit forth on an
that is independent. They seem to com
prehend that he WAS beyond their ken, ans
rendering homage TO his genius they asen
ged themselves BY tearing his private cho-
racter to atoms. Calumny respects ted mel.
ther his paternal roofnor nuptiaI couch.
He dtspised such vain camours, aud as
the eagle of the mountain abandons hls lof
ty eric 10 the storm, and lifts himself
bove the region of the tenpes, to scream
in wild sublimity, so he posing himself a
| hove the whirwind of the world, from that
height which the eve could scarce reach
gave forth those flashes, those cries oi
enthusiasm which astonish by their magni-
iicence.
SACRED POETRY