American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-04-24
Mns. HEMANS,S POEMS.

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Mus HEMANS'S POEMS.
The North American Review for April. 1927,
contains Review Of Mrs. Ifemans's Poems, from
,h,ch we make the following extracts we have
no doubt the readers of the Waterman will be de-
lighted with them. Speaking ofthe writings Of this
excellent woman, the Reviewer says,
nThe moral charm which is spread over them,
Is 80 peculiar, so full Of nature and truth and deep
feeling, that her productions claim at once the
nrsse of exquisite purity and poetic excellence.
She adds the dignity of her sex to high of
the duties of poet; she writes with buoyancy.
vet with earnestness; her poems bear the impress.
| Of character worthy of admiration. In the pur-
suit Of literary renown she never forgets what Is
due to feminine reserve. We perceive a mind,
endowed with powers to aspire; and are still fur
ther pleased to find no unsatsfied cravings. no
passionate pursuit of remote objects. but high en-
. dowments, graced by contentment There is plain
IL the consciousness of the various sorrow to which
Lfe exposed, and with it the spirit Of resignation.
She sets before herself clear and exalted idea Of
| what female writer should be, and is on the way
| 10 realize her own idea of excellence. Living In
| domestic retirement in beautiful part Of Wales,
| II is her own feelings aud her own experience,
which She communicates t. US. We cannot illus
trate our meaning better than by introducing our
readers at once to Mrs. Hemans herself, as she
describes to US the occnpatians OF day.
AN HOUR OF ROMANCE.
.There were thick leaves above and around.
And low sweet sigls, like those Of chldhood's sleep,
Amidst their dinness, and 4 ii tui saund
Az of soft showers Nater--dark and deep
ytl& oak shadows DER the turf so still,
Tiey seerrd but plcur'd gooms-s hidden TIL
Made music, such as hannts US IN Dream
Under the fern tufts and a tender CLEAN
EtrI n
Gang mourning through the woven beech bougha down,
And s,eepd the magic page wherein read
OF roys, chivalry and old reno@n,
tale Of Palestine *-MeanWhlle the bee
Swept past me with tone of s,;Inmer hours
drowsy bugle, waiting thoughts OF hoaers.
Blue skies and amber sunshlne-5rightly tree
On tilmy wings the purple dragonHy
Shot glancng like fairy Jsveho bya
And sweet voice OF sorrow told the dell
Where sat the lone wood-pigeon
All sense Of these things faded, as he SPELL
Breathing from that high gorgeous tale grew s,tong
On nv chaind soui-twas not the leaves heard;
"A Syrian wind the on-banuer silrr'd,
Through lis proud floating foids-'was not the brook,
Singing in secret through its grassy glen
A wild shrill trumpet u the Saracen
Peapd from the deserts lonely heart, and shook
The burning air Like clouds when wnds are high,
Ger clttering sands flew steeds OF Araby,
And tents rose up, and sudden lance and spear
Flsshd where fountains diamond wave lay clear,
shadow'd by graceful pain-trees Then the shout
OF merry England's Joy swelra freely out,
Made shields dark mirrors to its depths OF blue;
And harms were thereI heard their sounding srngs,
As the waste echoed 10 the m'rih OF kings
The brigh, masque faded-unto ife's worn track
What caiPd me, from its tiood Of glory, bsck'
"A voice of happy chidhood!--and they passd
Banner and harp, and Paynim trumpet's blast
Yet might scarce bewal the vision gone,
My hear. so leaptt 10 that sweet laughters tone
The uoetry is here as beautiful as the scene DIES
cribed is quiet and pleasing. 1t forms an amiabl
picture of the occupations of a contempatve mlnt
The language, versifcation, and imagery are
great merit, the beauties OF nature described ny
careful observer; the English scene rs placed
happy contrast with the Eastern, and the drea'
Of romance pleasantly disturbed by the cheeifn
ness Of life. But we make but sorry work at con
mentng on what the reader must ieel.
If we would form right estimate of the literar
career 0! Mrs Hemans, it is but justice to her !
remark, that it has been begun and continued "
der many disadvantages. woman has ai@a.
MUCH to struggle with, on entering the lists OF a
thorshp and she was more peculiarly lett to n
own resources and her own efforts, passing n
life in the bosom Of domestic retirement, reno
from all the advantages Of literary intercourse
To her own mind and her native endowments
she solely indebted for the name she has now a
quired.'
"In 1920 Mrs. Hemans published The ske
tic,' poem Of great merit for its style and its Sc
timents Of which we shall give rapid sketc
She considers the influence of unbeief on the
'ections and gentler part OF our nature ana art
doubt, shows the relief that may be found in I
thoughts that have their source in immortaht
CHANGING at pleasure the only resort OF the ske
tic, she turns to the sterner tasks OF lite,
s.The Tslisman--T ales Of fhe Crusaders,