The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-07-30
MISCELLANEOUS.
NEW POEM.

Course of Time," has been the subject of very
general commentator wherever we have seer
it noticed. 1t is the production of Robert Pol
lok, a young Scotch Divine, who died on the
18th of September last, at the early age o.
twenty eight, at Shirley Common, near South
ampton, England, while on journey to Italy
for the recovery Of his health. We have giver
i: somewhat cursory examination, from which
we have formed highly favorable opinion Of
its literary character, and are induced to be.
heve, that it is destined to outlive most of the
literature of the day, and to secure to its au.
thor high rank among the first poets of the
age. Of its theological opinions we have moth
ing to say, except that they are of the orthodox
kind
= In the following lines, which we have ex-
tfacted from this work, will be found one of the
most graphic, just and powerful delineations of
Lord Byron, ever committed to paper. Al
though his name is not mentioned in the work,
yetthe portraiture could never be mistaken by
any one conversant with the writings of that
highly gifted bard.
He touched his harp, and nations heard. en-.
tranced.
As some vast river Of unfailing source,
Rapid, exhaustless, deep, his numbers flowed,
And oped new fountains in the human heart
Where fancy halted, weary in her flight,
In other men, his fresh as morning rose,
and scared untrodden heights and seemed at
home,
Where angels bashful looked Others, though
great,
paneath fba;r orr,,r,o,t roo.,oJ ...,.u.1..
whites;
He from above descending, stopped to touch
The loftiest thought and proudly stopped, as
though
1t scarce deserved his verse With Natures
self
He seemed an old acquaintance, free 10 JSst
At will with all her glorious majesty.
He laid his hand upon " the Oceans name,
And played familiar with his hoary locks
Stood on the Alps, stood on the Apprentices,
And with the thunder talked, as friend to friend;
And wove his garland of the lightnings wing,
In sportive twist-the lightning's fiery wing,
Which as the footsteps Of the dreadful God,
Marching upon the storm in vengeance seemed !;
Then turned, and with the grasshopper, who
sung
His evening song, beneath his feet conversed.
Suns, moons, and stars, and clouds, his sisters
were
IlOChSy lAOuAIIdiAeJ @lAObOOiS1 SSooy olIO WAANS5
and storms,
His brothers-younger brothers, whom he
scarce
AS equals deemed All passions Of all men
The wild and tame-the gentle and severe;
All thoughts, all maxims, sacred and profane;
All creeds all seasons, Time, Eternity;
All that was hated, and all that was dear;
All that was hoped, all that was feared by man,
He tossed about, as tempest, withered leaves.
- L.. IL
With terror now he froZe the covering blood;
And now dissolved the heart in tenderness:
Yet would not tremble, would not weep himself
But back into his soul retired, alone,
Dark, sulen proud; gazing contemptuously =
On hearts and passions PROSTATE at his feet.
So Ocean from the plains, his waves had late
To desolation sweet, retired in pride,
Exulting in the glory of his might,
And seemed to mock the ruin he had wrought
AS some fierce comet Of tremendous size,
To which the stars did reverence, as it passed
Sc he through learning, and through fancy tool
His fight sublime; and on the loftiest top
Of Fame's dread mountain sat not soiled, anC
worn,
As if he from the earth had labored up
But as some bird of heavenly plumage fair,
He looked which down from higher region
came,
And perched it there, to see what lay beneath
The nations gazed, and wondered much, ant
praised.
Critics before him fell in humble plight;
COMPOUNDED fell and made debaslng signs
To catch his eye and stretched, and swelle
themselves
To bursting nigh, to utter bulky words
Of admiration vast and many too,
Many that aimed TO initiate his flight
With weaker wing, unearthly fiuttering made
And gave abundant sport to after days.
Great man the nations gazed and wondere
much,
And praised; and many call his evil good
Wits wrote in favor of his wckedness
And kings to do him honor took delight
Thus full of titles fiattery, honor, fame,
Beyond desire, beyond ambition full
He died--he died of what? Of wretchedness.
Drank every cup Of Joy, heard every trump
Of fame; drank early, deeply drank; drar
draughts
That common millions might have quenched-
then died
Ofthirst, because there was no more to drink
His goodness. Nature, wooed, embraced, @
joyed,
Fell from his arms, abhorred his passions died
Died all but dreary solitary pride:
And all his sympathies in being died.
AS some i'll guided bark, well built and tall,
Which angry tides cast out on desert shore,
And then retiring, left it there to rot
And moulder in the winds and rains of HEAVIER
So he, cut from the aympathies of life,
And cast ashore from pleasures bostcro
surge
Awandering, weary, worn, and wretched thin,
6corched and desolate, and blasted soul;