New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-02-18
THE TRIBUNE.
LEIGH HUNTS ITALIAN PoETs-qn Three Parts; }
No LII Wiley s. Putnam's Library OF Choice Read


ever very entertaining book, and lis viyacty and
general fidelity make it no valueless representation
oslslan literature 10 those who have never entered
,bs, most beautiful grand and fertile region The
,ock ;s beyond measure, Leigh Huntish none Of
hi. writings have so fully expressed the great tai
cu good feeling, and peryasive vulgarity OF the au-
or'smind In boldest relief these attributes are
seen in the critical and biographical sketch OF Dante
suppose Medee TO have an acute and lively Eng
H.b Abigail who described her exploits. magical
ard ,rsgical for the edifcation OF the kitchen, with
neec, accuracy as 10 facts and kind enlightened,
s,ru,ting admiration the greatness OF her subject
in,orarded with such remarks as q reference OF
Medean conduct TO the Abigail standard might call
forth. and YOU will have an idea Of this common
,sry of the author OF I" Nimini Pinini upon him
whom be sply charncterizes as that lonely lion OF
aman." Never was q more complete illustration
ofthe way tnen; naturally looks at genius admiring
the results unable TO appreciate the conditions under
which they mus, be produced.
The great mixture OF truth in all the criticisms OF
Mr. Leigh Hunt his fineness Of perception and SYM
PATTY in details only make more palpable his entire
want of spiritual insight, poetic dignity and that bo
Epess OF heart without which there can be no full de.
rrotion, FAR less mathematic measurement, of the
works of great souls.
Hunts attempts 10 take measure of Dante and TO
enforce blame where he thinks the moral well being
us,be world calls for his guardian care, are simply
ludcrous. 1t is the fly buzzing round the lion and
Gaming him for eating up the great "wild beast
reg and other atrocities for which his yship has
.omse, as not being in bis line. The truer what he
rys is the more funny in him TO say it, as he does,
md bis patronizng limitations of the influence and
srrogatives of Dante only serve TO show more inev
aSy the pet,iness of his own proportions and
ahcng gait.
With what face shall the pupil of Dante listen TO
DO sspient Cockney who informs him that 1.-The
Via Nuova is most engaging history of boyish
assion, evidently as real and true his own side
love and truth can be, whatever might be its mis-
sske os object" or the grave tea'drinking CEN
sare passed upon the Forentine for his bad temper
and probable carelessness of his duties family
| man" Verify, the reason why no man is a hero TO
hsrast de chanbre lie likely to be the opposite OF
what's commonly supposed by the sneering quoters
cihs saying.
In the same style is the following passage one OF
The most glazing instances of the foles consequent
upon want of spiritual development in any pro-
portion to mere taste and talent that will be found
throughout Hunts statement
+As our Florentine's Heaven 1t is full of beauties
lac though sometimes OF more questionable and pau
eunica than be found in either OF the other
Nos The general impression OF the place is that 1t is
Heaven al all He says is and talks much OF lis
miles and is 5eaude; bur always excepting the pc.
he srni hroupht the hchv-
say esrtn. We realize little but assemblsge OF doc
& and doubtful characters far angry and theo-
.cai than celestial; gddy rsptures OF monks and in
:.tors dancing In circles. and saints denouncng popes
I'D florentines IN short Heaven libeliug itself with
secves against earth, and terminating in great pre-
.npnon'
The following extract gives fair idea of what is
nod and what is miserable in Hunts buzzing rep
sanitation OF Dante. Let the simp!eminded read
svho is not s,raining after self consequence read
land see whether he can spare time TO think OF the
rites objections in face of the poetic magniticence
ndinefable oveliness revealed TO him in these pas,
ages even though the divine forms be yelled in
lsshod prose
His angels however are another matter Belief was
lepaed Tor those winged human forms, and they fur
.1aec him with of his most beautiful combinations
SAe natural with the supernatural. Ginguene has re.
naked the singular variety well as beauty of Dante
MitOn B. indeed commonplace III the COM
Aioa Ii the eighth OF the i"tepO, the devils
t'oeny refuse the poet and his guide entrance into
Aelty CT Dis; an angel comes sweeping over tae sly
pH1e to enorcei it, the noise OF his wings makes the
aGes Gemhe and 10 like crashing whirlwind SUCH as
s down trees and sends the peasants and their herds
yes before IL The heavenly messenger, after rebukinS
se'ds touches the portals Of the city with his wand
-! ~ open; and ne returns the way he came without
ss<iae word to the two companions. His face was
- one occupied with other thoughts This angel Is
.eaised by tempest Another. who brings the souls
ae departed TO Purgatory is hrs, discovered at dis
80 gradually disclosing white splendors which are
4 SIsnss and garments He comes IN boat Of which
sles are the sails; and as he approaches it is i'm
ssaoe 10 look him in the face for lis brightness. Two
s angels have green wings and green garments, and
a'spery is kept in melton like dag by the vehement
uoa 81 the wings. fifth has face like the morning
-. casting fourth quivering beams. sixth is OF u
ss oppressive that the poet feels weight on his
:e peioie he knows Whist is coming. Another's pre-.
ss Affects the senses like the fragrance OF May
-Sa'as and another is in garments dark cinders,
a1asword In bis hand toe sparkling to be gazed
Ses occasional pictures of the beauties OF external
,e worthy &C these angelic creations and 10 the
Gdegee fresh and lovely. You long 70 battle Your
"a smsr.ing with the fumes OF he'll. In his dews You
sk eachsnted his green fields and his celestial blue
"a the from the pain and sorrow in midst OF
ga the visions created.
Ses grandeur OF every kind is proporonate 10 that
angels, almost 10 his ferocity; and that is saying
NJ thing. IL is not always the spiritual grandeur OF
o, The subjecton of the material impression the
- but is equally such when he chooses, and far
80 abundant His Internal prccipices-his SLACK
ssSaWncs-his innumersbIe cries and clasrings OF
sss-e' very odors of huge ioathsomeness-h
twilight standing up the middle in pits. like
a,s and causing earthquakes when they move-hs
sSaske OF the mountain in purga,ory, when spirit
o. nee for Heaven---hs dgnited Mantuan Sordelo,
,Syfesarding him sEd his guide as they go by like
- oa dis watch his blasphemer, Capsneus. lying
AZ oeauered rage and sulienness under eternal
TAKES OF hre (human precursor OF Millions Sstanl
-Spect OF arsdise e rs ii the universe had smiled
aaosants OF the whole planet Saturn crying ont
n accordance with the anti.Papa indignation OF
essn Daniano that the poet, though among them,
aedr chat hey satd-and the bushing eclipse.
P.,s oads a. sunset which takes place the apostle
ouehuneiaon OF the sanguinsry filth OF the court
ss,k.e taese sublirnit!es, and many more, make US
q whether 20 be more assonished the greatness
D pea or The raging bitterness Of the man.
~. prose Is even more sloveny than usual in
os.'r Books he talks of "heaps of wine" and
dBs., liquids, aud uses other such budding cud-
~ expressions in profusion.
III s'f'csures on Tasso arc even more offensive
NJ nose On Dante, becauae i, seems as if they
IsU 20 harm and grieve and DISCUS, the poe, if he
men, while we feel that Dante would crush
once as Tieck represents hin, TO do with the
II -~30sn Sftuc In the }, G,rda,, IS