Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-10-20
80
LINES from Po,ioc''S "Course Of Time"
! PORTRAIT OF BYRON.

JiHsS from ioltoc,S "Course IF Time"
4 PORTRAIT OF BYRON.
\ man ofrank, and of capacious soul,
Who riches had aud fame Beyond desire,
An heir of hottery, titles born,
Aud reputation, aud luxurious life;
y ct, not content with aucesioial name,
Or to be known because his fathers were,
lie OH this height hereditary stood,
And gazing higher purpuscd in his heat
ia take another step. Above him seen''d
Alone the OF Sorg--ihc lofty seat
OF canoni1cd bards; and ,hherward,
by nature taught, and inward melody,
IN prime Of youth, he bent his eagle eye.
No cost was spared. What books Inc wish'G, he rcad
What sage to hear, he heard; what scenes to sec,
lie saw. Aud first, in rambling school-boy days,
Britamnias mountains walks, and heath, Cir lakes,
And story telling glens aud founts, and brooks,
And maids, as develops pure and fair, his soul
With grandeur hll'd, aud melody, and love-
Then travel came, and took him where he wisil'L.
He cities saw, and courts, aud princeiy pon,p;
And unused alone on ancient mountain brows;
and mus d on hatte-helds, where valour fought
In other da US; and unused on ruins grey
With years; and drank from old and fabulous wells
And puck'd the vine thar fist born prophets pluskd;
And m,is'd famous fombs and ON the wave
OF ocean nluscd AMI on the desert waste.
The heavens and earth Of every country
Where'cr the old inspiring sen lwelt,
Aught that could rouse, expand, rehne the soul,
Thither ne went, aud n,edita;cd there.
lie toucu his arp, and nations heard, e,.;rauc'd.
As some vast river vi nu:ains source,
Rapid, eShaustless, deep,his numbers iow'd
Aud open'd new fountains i'll the human heart.
Where fancy halted, weary III her flight,
IN other men, mis- fresh morning rose,
And soar'd unrodden heights, and scem3 at home,
Where angels bashful iook'd. Others, though great
Beneath their argument scen,'d struggling whites;
He, from above descending, stoop'd To touch
T,e lof,ies, thought; and proudly stoop'd as tho
II scarce deserved his With Natures self
lie seemed oli acquaintance, free to jest
at will with all her glorious majesty
lie laid his hand upon the "OceauS mane,
And play'i ia niiiiar with his hoary locks
Stood the Alps, stood the Apennues,
And with the thunder talk friend 10 friend;
Aud woye his garland IF the Lining wing,
IN spnrtivc twist-thc iighining's fiery wing,
Which. the footsteps of the dreadful God,
Marching upon the storm i'll vengeance seemd-
Then turu'i, and with the grasshopper, who sumg
His evcuin, song, beneat III his feet, conversed.
Suns moons. and stars, aud clouds his sisters
Rocks, AIMS meteorS aud winds, ana storms
His brottsrs--yo younger brothers, whom he
As equTl; dcemd. AL, passions of all men
The wild and tame--thc gentle and seveTe
All thoughts all ma zins, sacred aud profaue;
All creeds, all seasons, Time, Eternity,
Ali that hated, aud all that dear;
Alltlat was hoped, all that feared by man.
lie tossj about, 5 tempest wiLer'd leaves,
Then, smiling, look upon line wreck he made.
With terror he troZe the covering blood:
Ans, W disSolyi the heart in tenderness:
Net WOULD not tGembe, would not weep himself.
Bat back into his soul retired alone.
DARK. sul.em, proud; gazing c0mtemptuously
On hearts, and passions PROSTATE at his feet.
So Ocean from the plains, his waves had late
To desolaton swept, retired in pride,
GXuItng in the glory Of his might,
And seenl'd TO mock the rain he had wrought.