Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-08-25
TcoMMuNIcArED.
Ertrocf from the Common place Book Of a
CE.Sla,t >JDfod NM 1913


The coincidence Of thought and expression
between authors and poets Of different ages and
nations, has been the theme of frequent remark
That the language Of passion should be the
same, whether flowing from the lips Of The Sy'
rian, the Chinese, the Roman or the American
results from the original constitution OF human
nature, which is uniform. That the language
OF argumen, and of eloquence should be the
same among different races Of men, ana IN dis
tant ages, is not So clear. Different climates
and different civil, moral and religious institu'
,ions, induce different modes OF thinking and
reasoning. Didacic compositions, IN 2articu
lar, must be conformed 10 ;he preconceived l.
IDEAS and opinions Of those whom i, is proposed
to teach; and as these preconceptions are mere
matters ofeducation, the result OF artificial com
binations of ideas, derived through the senses
from external obiects,--ins,ruc,ions, which
would shock and outrage the feelings OF an Eu
ropean, and would be wholly uninteitSible and
inomorehensible to the African or Chinese
might exactly suit the meridian Of Turkestan
For example: a Turkish captain about tc
invade a heighboring province, exhorts his
troops 10 kill without mercy all who are capa'
bic OF resistance, and TO to make slaves OF the
survivors; TO burn and destroy cities. farm
houses and barns; and to spare only the frui,
trees. He assures them that the particular des'
tiny and fortune of every individual was preor'
dained long before his birth; that ne has no
moral agency whatever in carving out, or modI-
fying, his own destiny; that flight will not avail
him, if il be his fate 10 die; and that no supe-
riority offoice can destroy his life, If he be des
tired 10 i've; that The more infidels he kills or
ensiaves, the greater will be his reward in Pa
racise; aud, therefore, that mercy is the great
est crime that he can commit against himself
as well as against his Prophet. All this ap-
pears reasonable ard proper TO the Turk; and
il he should (,ielding to the tenderness OF his
nature) spare the lives and liberties OF some in
nosenl persons who have never injured hi,"'
5sfieIes Il 10 Sc h Judgment Of Cod upon his
crime and disobediense. and promises, in his
prayers, never to be guilty Of The like again
How would This doctrine suit Christian, or
even Pagan army? In matters OF Fancy and
Imagination, however, which hold AN interme-
mediate station between the emotions Of Pas
sion and the deductions Of Reason and Educa
ton, II is amusing 10 trace the condolences OF
Poets and Historians, between whom there could
have been no personal communion. These re-
marks were suggested by the perusal Of some
passages in Hsrace's Art of Poetry, soon after
having read and admired the fine passage Of
Shakespear Which, compares the events of HUI
man Life to The incidents Of a Drama.
The passage alluded to in the Ar, OF Poetry,
commences with the l56Ih line
Setats cuusque notand stunt tib mores, SC,
Translation.
Mans several ages, with attention view
His hying years and changing nature too
The BOY who now his words can freely sound
And with steady footstep prints the ground
Places IN playfellows his chief delight,
Qusrrels shakes hands, and not wrong right:
Sway'd by each fav'rite bzuble's short-lved power
In smiles in tears; all humors every hour
The BEARDLESS YOUTH at length from tutor free,
Loves horses, hounds, the fields and liberty
Plant as wax to vice his easy soul
Marble to wholesome council and control
Improvident OF good of wealth profuse
High, fond, yet tickle; generous, yetioose
To graver studies, new pursuits inclined
MANHOOD with growing years, brings change of mind |
Seeks riches, friends, with thirst of honor glows
And all the meanness OF ambition knows
Prudent and wary on each deed intent,
Fearful to act and afterwards repent
Evil in various shapes OLD AGE surrounds
Riches his sim, inriches he abounds,
Yet what he fear'd to gain, he breads to lose
And what he sought useful, dares not use.
rnuid and cold in all he undertakes,
His hand from doubt, well rs weakness, shakes,
Hope makes him tedious, fond of dull delay
)up'd by tomorrow, tho he dies to-day
n humor'd, queruous, yet loud in praise
)f all the mighty deeds OF former days
When he was young Good heavens what glorious times
Unlike the present age, that teens with crimes SC
Horace On will be remembered) lived and
srote before the Christian Era and in coun>
ry where Paganism was the only religion
.nown Fifteen hundred years afterwards, in
civilized and Christian country, far distant
rom tina, in which Horace had lived, Shakes
care wrote as follows.
AL the worlds stage
And all the men and momen merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances; a
And one man in bis time plays many parts, &c
At first the infant 4
Mewling and puking in his nurses arms y
Then the whining school boy with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover
Signing ike furnace, with woful ballad a
Made to his mistress eyebrow: Then soldier, Il
Fall of strange oaths, and bearded like a jeard, O
Jealous m a~.--:, sudden and quick in quarrel .,
Seeking the bub9 reputation, r.
Evenin the cam bn's mouth; And then the Justice
With eyes sewers and beard of formal cut P,
s,Ll of wise saws and modern instances; 7