Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-03


tunes! How cam poetry dress herself in lovler
costume! How could she display her charms
in more attractive fascination! She may sing
the exploits of murderous heroism, she may
paint in all the rainbow tints Of epic glory, the
bloody triumphs Of war, or the proud and boast
ed achievements Of civic superiority; She may
peurtray greatness in all It's forms, and Halter
the favorites of fortune in every aspect in
which they are smiled upon; She may pour
the JUNCTION Of her admiration upon the head
Of the diplomatist who has gained kingdom
by the subtlety Of his over-rsachings, or upon
the warrior.genius, who has conquered one by
he proves Of his arm; but she can never, in
all this, create for herself, great an interest
in, or FIX Tor herself, so firm hold upon the
right feelings Of the heart, as when she lends
her energies to the cause Of suffering virtue,
and puts forth her faculties in all the majesty
of theis might, in behalf of him whom genius
has remembered but rhom fortune has forgotten.
This is the character in which Mr.. Bryan
appears before US; this is the "APpeaP' he
makes. Gifted, as we think, with the true in
spiraiion Of Helicon, he has thrown himself up
on the sensibilities Of his countrymen, as the
advocate, the most eloquent advocate OF the
claims, which suffering member OF the bro
therhood Of genius has right to urge upon
them He pleads for brother bard in distress
Poor Coffin, who, whatever may have been
his failings, has surely expiatsd them all IN
the penance which want and disease have
thrown upon him, is poet, man OF genius
And now in the last stages Of an incurable mala-
ady, is ekins out wretched existence, IN the
chilly atmosphere Of poverty, supported by
casual charity, and suffering from the common
wants Of life, when he fails TO find it! This is
the subiec, OF Mr.. Bryan's pen, and with feel
ing worthy ola poet, and Of a man, he publish
es this work, for the exclusive benefit Of the SUI
fsring bard. Surely, then, as we have already
intimated, he comes before us with no common
claims. and if moiive alone were to urge upon
us, its title TO critical clemency, IL would be
sufficient.
Such, however, is not, in our estimation, the
case: Mr. Bryan writes very beautiful poetry;
and this little volume is our boucher for the as
ser,ion. We not only think that criticism will
be at loss TO fix on any part OF it, wherein to
fasten very serious faults, but we are confident
that very many spots will be found eminently
meritorious. We do not say that we should
not have been better pleased with the perfor-
nance, had the author adopted rhyme instead
of blank verse In saying this, however, we
probably only exhibit our want Of judgment;
still i, is our judgment. The poetry Of Milton
and of James Thompson, is not within the
reach of every poetical aspirant In our mind
rhyme is an appropriate beauty in English
verse; and while we acknowledge our liking to
The Splendid Shilling, of Philips, we are almos,
pre- ared to say that copy OF hne verses by
Addison III the sixth volume Of the Spectator
=. no IL
ready minated Of the superiority Of rhyme
over blank verse, in all minor English compo-
sitinns ---,-
Pope said that he could not only express his
thoughts more clearly, but with greater brevi-
~ in rhyme than without il; and no one who
has read that great master, and remarked his
sententious condensation Of thought, will doubt
it; but all this is matter Of taste, in which we
may be wrong, as we are quite sure we shall
be-, if we dctain the reader longer from the
performance of which we speak. we VIII
therefore introduce him 10 our poets exordium,
and we shall make such farther extracts taken
at random from the work., as our limits will
permit
while millions weep at scenes of fancied wo,
And fictions wand dissoves the sternest hearts,
Der bosoms sordid, vicious and unkind,
rhe charm of pure and generous feeling throws,
And kindes in the miser's frozen veins
momentary glow Of sympathlslng zeal;
Shall actual want and wretcbedness unieigned
Pour forth their supplant wall, nor find relief!
Shall they not waken in the public breast
A Gvelier throb-an interest more intense
Than all the mage pomp of scenic grief
Than all the bleeding phantoms OF the mind
In plaintve tones a cry of anguish comes
From misery's drear abode and cries for help;
While meek eyed PHYS pale seraphic form,
Is lowering n to urge the tender suit
No common suffering wrings her thrilling breast
No feeble claims enlist her kindness now
Upon dying poets wasting fraInes
And visage wan, her streaming eye is turned.
Is there no, be au,y and beauty Of very high
order in The following allusion TO Collins own
poetry!
I,eIgion, free from ostentatious pride,
sectarian bigotry and presty guile;
The simple, pure religion taught by Christ,
Composed of meeknsss. charity and love-,
And speaking forth its faith sincere, in toorks,
Received the humble homage of his muse"
We really have little inclination to CRITICISED Mr..
Bry,n's verses in the spirit Of the N y. Lite
rary Gazette. We neither claim so high pro-
vince as that respectable journal, or SO nice an
ear as its Editors The doctrines OF the Spon-
dee. Troe hee, and Iambus, are by NO means so
familiar 10 us. But even we can see FAULT IN
poe,ical feet, and this line, with few others in
the poem, may be found SHINING against the