Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-07

morous beas,ie cast FORTH after all its proy'.
dent pains, to 'thole the slee'y drioole, anu
craurench cauld' The 'hoar visage' OF WIN
ter delights him; he dwels with sad ana OH
returning fondness in these scenes oil So'e,i"
desolation; but the voice Of the tempest oe-
comes an anthem to his ears; he loves 10 walk
in the sounding woods, Cor il raises his tn"oghts
to Him ,oho ,CaLketh on the ,o,ngs 81 the toina -
true poet.soul, for il needs but to De s'tuok'
and the sound il yields willbe music! But o.
serve him chi fly as he mingles with MS pro
ther men. What warm all-comprehendlng ieI>
low-feeling, what trustful, boundless love, "na'
generous exaggeraton Of the object loved! his
rustic friend, nut brown maiden, are no longer
mean and homely, but hero and queen
whom he praises as the paragons oil earth.
The rough scenes of SCOTTISH life, not seen
by him in any Arcadian illusion, but IN the
rude contradiction, in the smoke and SOIL Of
too harsh reality, are still lovely 10 HIN: fov.
erty is indeed his companion, but love also, and
courage; the simple feelings, the worth, the
nobleness, that dwell under the straw ROOT, are
dear and venerable 10 his heart; and thus owe:
the lowest provinces Of mans existence, he
pours the glory Of his own soul; and they rise
in shadow and sunshine, and softenec and
frightened into beauty which other eyes DIS
Germ not in the highest. He has just sell con-
seriousness which 100 often degenerates into
pride; YET il is noble pride, for defence, not
for offence; no cold, suspicious feeling, but
frank and social one. The peasant Poet bears
himself, we might say, like king in exile; he
Is cast among the low, and feels himself equal
to The highest;-yet he claims no rank, that
none may be disputed to him. The forward
be m rsNaI m. eunerr ilioue he can SubUuP
pre,ensions Of wealth or ancestry are OF no
avail with him; there is fire IN that dark eye,
under which the nsoIence Of condescension"
cannot thrive. In his abasement, in his e1-
IRENE need, he forgets not for moment the
majesty Of Poetry and manhood. And yet, tar
as he feels himself above common men, he
wanders no, apart from them, but mixes warm
ly with their interests; nay, throws himself
into their arms; and, as it were, intreats them
TO love him. II is moving 10 see how, in the
darkest dependency, this proud being still
seeks relief from friendship: unbosoms him.
self often TO the unworthy; and, amid tears
strains to his glowing heart heart that knows
only the name of friendship. And yet he was
quick 10 learn;" man Of keen vision, before
whom common disguises afforded no conceal
mrnt. His understanding saw through the
hollowness even of accomplished deceivers;
but here was generous credulily in his heart.
And so did our Peasant show himself among
US; "a soul like an Eoian harp whose strings
the vulgar wind, as i, passed through Them,
changed itself INFO articula,e melody" And
this was he for whom the world found no fiiie
business than quarreling with smugglers and
winters, computing excise duties upon tallow,
and guaging ale barrels In such tolls was
that mighty Spiri, sorrowfully wasted; and a
hundred ye ars may pass on, before another such
is giveo US 10 waste"