The native American., 1839-06-29

DRYDEN AND SwIFT.-Dryden and Swift. "Aike-
yet 0 how different AL Ike in boldness of character
and imaginationn the great influence which each
ercsed over the literature of his counryn energy Of
mind--in clearness and sagacy IF understand;ng-in
unequal powers of satrein perfect mastery Eng
ish thoughts, English feelings and English words In
the art OF ruling his fellow and bending them to his
purpose, Swift the greater; in the power Of delight
ing, persuading and convincing them, Dryden bore off
the palm Both were great reasoncrs but Dryden only
the great poet Swift scarcely ever scared beyond
those societe which he flung off without labor as
relief to his dark, melancholy, bitter thoughts He
looked upon literature as pastimeas means OF graft
flying his desire for personal dsinctoaor part Of his
system OF Uiue la bagate which he propounded rs rule
OF life. To Dryden literature daily bread 1t brought
him his aureatesp and its butt of canary and compen
sated for their loss when they taken away His
little purtanica parmony Of Blakesley would have
fined him for life to his suit drugget but for his rymng
plays, his prologues eposues, dedcaons and ransla-
tons. Dryden wrote hurredly-panfully; pandering
too often deprared taste and corrupt passion Yet
how gorously times did he lift himself above that stag
nant and pestiferous atmospheric The image of the old
poet composing his majestic ODE, his gray hairs waving
round his inspired features. tremulous with mental
tion, and lighted up with the fires Of genius, forms
Of the nobest pictures of which literary annals afford
a glimpse. Nor is the less striking affecting
when we recall him. in advanced lfe pausing amidst his
tolls, his vanities and his controversies repentng that
his youth had been winged with vain desires, re-
peatng in all the fness Of convctionsolemn autumn
winds or rivers in soltudehs deep and awful soloquy
g Dim as the borrow'd seams of moon and stars
To lonely, weary, wandering travellers, ""
Is Reason to the soul: and high
Those rolling fires discover but the sky,
Not light as here; so Reasons glmmering ray
Was lent not to assure doubtful way,
But guide upward to a better day.
And as those nightly tapers disappear,
When Days bright lord ascends our henisphere;
So pale grows Reason at Religions sights
So dies and SO dissolves i'll supernatural light"
The life of Swift presents such exalted moods as
these He could wher with his irony and ivective-ex
cite to mirth with his wit and inventon-.ransport us
with wonder at his marvellous powers Of grotesaue and
ludcrous combination, his knowledge Of human nature
(percng "que through the deeds of men" y and his
natchesi power of feignmg reality and assuming at plea
sure different characters and situations in life. But he
welded the rod of empire chiefly throw down and de-
face, not to build up embellsh He hurled some in
q gnant phppcs at the abuse Of power breathing the
utmost and defiance of oppresson; but this was not
his usual yein To strip the world Of all its pleasant dra-
perry and dsguses its romance its morning and twilight
tints OF fancy his constant ject He was like the
Purtans who tainted the walls of their churches black to
remind them of their sins His birthday he kept by read.
ing the chapter Of job in which the patriarch curses the
day on which he was born Vet he had risen from the
dreary level of poverty and dependence to sit at good
mems feass and rie in the coaches of prime minister's;
he had nation at his beck and was prosperous and
wealthy gentleman. Deep in his naughty soul must have
been seated that recollection of youthful wrongs con.
tumsy and disappointment, which could make all these
things like the book of the angel honey in the mouth
but bitter in the belly