The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-11-27
For the r. I. Republican.

HSi"6 "A'' Auouso octh VI Dermod Mac
Moorough, has the following passage -
"The studied negligent measures cele.
brated in the Italian school of poetry.
but first successfully engrafied into the
English language by Lord Byron in his
ininitable Beppo and Don Juan--the
last a poem Of more genius, in our 0wa o.
pinion, than Miton's Epic, and of unsur-
passed richness in delicacy Of SATIRE" &c.
1t was with mingled feelings of regret
and shame that noticed in tho Courier
e. Enquirer ofthe 10th inst. an article
commenting on the foregoing passage in
strain Of pisiful abuse and nonsense.
The Editor of the Courier g. Enquirer,
in the fulness of his wrath, INDUCES in q
gar tissue Of hesrtless spleen against
the unfortunate but immortal Byron.
This towering and unsurpassed genius 10
pronounced by the Courier. & Enquirer
a "licentious doggrsl poet" whose dog.
grelism is occasionally relieved by
ray of genius! !" Such a sentiment an
tins, comes with an i'll grace from this
source, where morality is assumed for the
purpose of comprising any means how
ever shameless and despicable. As to
the term licentious, in its application to
Byron, and in the acceptation ne gense-
ally understood, it is equally as applica-
bic TO Milton. Ia fact, as far as open
expression of language goes, more might
be said in affected squoamishness against
Milton. than Byron. The only differ
ence is, that on particular subjects, BY
ron expresses himselfin lively freedom
Of thought.-Milton on the contrary, ON
similar subjects. speaks with equal, il not /,
more freedom, only in q graver manner.
| am no enemy Of Mil,on.-I admire
him-at least 80 far as have read him.
Did Byron err! tits ours to forgive him
His irritable genius could not brook the
cold, insensate, unrelenting bigotry ofths
world. His springs of life were early
poisoned J. He was driven to madnesst
--He fed on the bitter fruits of his own
wild fancy The world pursued hun -
He was offered up at the shrine of the
worlds contending elements He was
their victim HE ceases to be He
sleeps. The elofiy-the most luminous star
that ever hlezed in the poetical horizon
10 quenched! The wild genius sleepsi
The mighty Byron! who gained the sum-
mit-the very zenith of all that 10 truly
magnificent and sublimely beautiful in
|poesy-sleeps But his glowing pages
still. and forever piN breathe all the fire
and magic of towering intellect!
Though human byenas--she bigot, the :
hypocrise, and the fool ,gmay still prowl
around his hallowed tomb-though these
venemous reptiles. whose gross, grovsl-
ling souls are wrapt in their own Shiny
corruscations, may still strivc--now that
the lamented Byron is no more, and
heeds not their loathsome calumnies-to
pull down his well-enrned fame to their
own level. they will not--.bey never can
succeed in the ungenerous, unworthy,
and reckless determination
Blu. let Byron speak for himself in a
few words: 4seet
And if my voice break forth, 'tis not that
now
I shrink from what is suffer'd let him
speak
Who hath beheld decline upon my brow,
/ Or seen my minds convulsion leave il
weak,
But in this page record will Iscek.
Not in the air shall these my words dis-'
perse, s.
Though be ashes q far hour shall wreak
The deep prophetic fulness Of this verse,
And pile on humsn heads the mountain Of my
rft .- 90 enc --rr7rf r-ft fss'.s
That curse shall be Forgiveness. -HavsI
Hear me. my mother Earth behold Il
Heaven . f>
Have not had to wrestle with my lot7
Have not sufferd things 70 bs forgiven
Have not had my brain sesr'd, my heart
riven-- ~~-
Hopes saPp'd, name blighted, Lfs's life
lied away? aNff
And only not to desperation drives,
Because not altogether Of snch clsy
As rois into the souls Of those whom survey.