Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-11-16

sword under pretence of reforming the inhabitants and
reducing them to the orthodox faith of paying tribute to
the Roman Sec. This authority Pope Adrian grants him
without scruplc You may read Rapn the brief itself
Aud with this sacregous abuse of religion Henry, reek
ing with the blood OF Beckett, aud Dermot, the rufiian
builder of monaseries achieve the conquest Of Ireland
in vaSsalaee TO the crown OF England. And this is the
tenure which Ireland is held as an appensge to the
sister island at the present day.
"ilsory, have said should be the school Of morals
When first read this part OF Hume's history,
shocked AZ the careless .lerence with which he tells
this tale Of wickcdness aud wo; and the unqualified
panegyrc which he upon the character Of Henry
the Seconda great man, no doubt, and hero, but in
the estimate of phio>ophic virtue mixed character
has appeared the checkered VI human affairs
The history of the conquest Of Ireland appeared
he full OF instruction. by an exhibition OF the actions and
motives which cOncurrcd 10 effect it,
But to bring these into proper reiefit necessary
that il should be told again. The period however was
remote; the history OF ireland had. by the subuga'ion
that island been merged in that Of her overshadowjpv
ghbor and mistress and the conquest Of land nj thus
day bearing population of millions of souls,
sunk into mere inc ent in the annals of England, scarce
~ known noticed by the general readers Of history
The characters, excepting that of the principal
Henry Psntaganet were so obscure and Wondering into
oblivion, that doubt whether one i'm hundred OF my
readers WILL ON first seeing title page recolcct
know that such aperSon as Dermot MacMorrogh
listed. 10 give the story, therefore, interest which
might invite readers appeared TO advisable present
Al IN the garb oil poetry The subject veil adapted
the composition OF au historical tale and such deliver
II TO the judgment OF country is intended also
moral tale esching the citizens of these States of both
sexes the virtues OF conjuga fidelity of genuine piey,
and OF devotion to their country by pointing the finger Of
scorn at the example six hundred years since exhibited
OF country sold To foreign invader by the Joint agency
oil violated marriage vows unprincpled ambition. and
| ligons mposture."
The story, extracted from Hume, is vcrsified
IN four cantos, called with reference the adven-
lures and country of the hero-the Elopement; the
Expulsion; the Restoration; the Conquest; n division
that gives the narrative greater distinctness. The
Spencer staZa Is adopted throughout, and the versi-
hcatlon rs easy. From an historical tale of the 18th
century, the sole object appears be illustrate and
enforce moral lesson; this is plain from the pre-
face; and the commencement of the poem precudes
other construction.
sing of Dermot, Eriu's carly pride;
The pious patriot of the Emerald strand;
The FIRST deliverer, for stolen bride
who sold 10 Albions king his native land
But-Counrymen OF mine, let betide
wv, me man who thinks OF anght but what's in hand
what shall tell you, happen'd you know,
Beyond the seas six hundred years ago.
lis strange how often readers will indulge
Their wits, mystic meaning 10 discover;
Secrets neer dreamt OF by the bard, divuge,
And where he shoots duck, will find a plover:
Satire shafts from every line promulge,
Detect tyrant, when he draws a lover:
Nay, so intent his hidden thoughts TO see,
Cry, ii he paint ascoundrel-"That means me-
IT'S human In old Roman days.
When that sweet Map IAN minstrel tuned his Tyre;
Sung how Htueas from the Trojan blaze
On his broad shoulders bore away his sire;
! Yet scruplcd not, with vest raise
In Tyiin Dido's veins, unhallow'd fire:
Debauchd her left her, 'whem'd with scvrn and
shame,
| by scIi-conbustion 10 redeem her fame
| The Roman delivers straight began to PRIV
Into the courier minstreps full intent:
Ioys fall, Rome's rise, they ken'd with half eye
Was but the outward mask of what he meant:
His patron prince with oil of fools ply,
They soon discovered the poets bent:
| he good Hneas was wisp of straw,
Augustus Caesar was the man they saw.
Aud so for sixteen hundred wears and more
That willy knave for Yirgl's hero passed;
llll father Harionin versed in classic lore
To hnd another clue about him east:
And, wont in Legendary lies TO pore,
He delvd, aud dev'd and deiv d. and found al last
| hat NirgilS Hlned was monksh tale,
In verse, our SaTiour's passion TO unve
Poor Salignac! how hard fate thine;
Thy pupil heir apparent TO throne,
Thou drew st the moral gem from Homer's mine,
! Ana madst the GTecan muses. all thy own.
To teach him wisdom with voice divine
! - rms was thy noble purpose this alone:
But when thou painedst court and courtezan,
lhey said twas Louis aud his Mon,espan.
Against all this, enter my protest:
=, Dermot Mac Morrogh shows my hero's face;
Nor Will J. or in earnest or in Jest,
Permit another to usurp his place;
And give me leave TO say that know best
My own intentions in the lines / trace;
Let no man, therefore, draw aside the screen,
And say lis any other that mean
The Popes interference in this niquitous business
calls forth an apt apostrophe to Religion.
Divine Religion! bliss of man below,
Thou link of union between earth and skies:
Nurse OF our virtue, solace of wo,
- Lore OF the learned, wisdom OF the wise;
mon non rom whose iountain streams perennial flow,
On! how canst thou behold such deeds OF shame
such crimes accurst committed in thy naInep
The lines on Justice are a fit COMPANION piece
for those on Religion.
And If there be ruler of the skies
Justice, eternal justice is his law
! Ana whatsOe or OF justice earth denies
Angelic hands in heaven shall mend the flaw
hsc' then, ON Hopes seraphic pinions rise
from worlds beyond the grave thy comfort draw
! ana deem the wrongs that virtue here ststains
! Proofs that on high God of justice rcgns
Cor sole ,,,r
thus apologies:
| among the critics il has been of yore
! question whether, when he forms his plan,
An epic poet must, 10 say o more
i axe Tor his hero right honest man,
| But Tor my part hold the rule a bore;
'Iwere well TO make him honest if YOU can;
| Into another question il must fall;
Where such hero can be found at ALL
"IIcroes are much The 80 Pope avers)
From Macedonias mailman the Swede.'
Bat liis again, another question sirs
III alter ages have improved the brcedi
! And TO my memory only occurs
Adapted TO disturb the poets creed.
WIN any mortal ask-who is that oncl
Name him Ay! hold taper to the Sun!
| 'Iis said, the exception only proves the rule
All other heroes from the days OF Pope,
! Compounds have been OF mailman, knaye and fool
And thus may be delin'd, without trope
! All servic followers OF the self same school,
no hang themselves, whenever they have rope
IN Time shall end, their merits you may scan,
Among them ere you find an honest man.
So far then, from improvement in the breed
The scale has fallen since the poets days
For Charles OF Sweden, raving mad indeed
Of Inaag ,ltu II