Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-09-18
From the London ] Britannia.
4 NEW PLANET.
THE MODERN ORLANDO-Cantos |. to VI

1. III,
Cobum.
This work comes at happy time to silence the re.
prunch that the sprt OF poetry has hcen s,nohercd by
steam Every one vii! acknowledge here the risng
OF n new star, destined to move with brliancy in an
orbit OF its own The Modern Orlando" is BY turns
striking, picturesque pathetic, witty, and grand, and
displays IN all the true soul OF gcnius-originaty.
Shoud fail become popular it can only be from one
dcec---n great defect it must be admitted with GER
tain class o. rcaders-the absence of personality and
vicuusucss.
When it was thought all veins of poetry had been
exhausted and the mind worn out, this author appears
to show that invention is limcss and that where
there is true ability there will never be wanting novel;
ty IN syl" and subject.
For the idea Of his production. and the idea merely
the writer is indebted to Arosto His hero is a travel.
err, hnta traveller in modern iashon--by rail and by
sr1uibout, by yacht and by post chariot. All his adj
ventures are OF the day, all his characters OF the time
Ills plan of painting * the plan of Pope His canvass
Is summer cloud, his cours rainbow hucs, and his
subject " the Cynthia of the minute"
II Is not little surprising that the verse OF the young
writer should display the finish Of that of veteran
poet The vgor OF his thought goes hand in hand with
the music ct his rhyme. lie is neither careless
latocd slovenly line, or n false cadence, never slips
ltom his pen. Poetic expression seems so natural to
hlu!-whatrvcr his theme, however changeablc his
snbirct-;hat one is tempted to think the stanza he
manages with 20 much ease and grace must be his
cvery-,ay laHuugr.
Visiting all nnds, and passing rapidly from grave to
gay, our Orlando some Objects that call forth
Serious reflections. some that move him to smiles and
rdcuic. In Paris, the city of strange contrasts, he
finds food enough for his varying hilnor. The char
aclrr of the capital splcndidy struck out in single
stauXa -
Paris thou s'ranrcst thing Of all things strange;
Young beauty, slprrunnuttcd iiirt
True va one love Above, and that one, change
GucIng, yet grim; haf diamonds and half dirt
Thou model o,-lwo rues and no shirt
Thy court thy kingdom. and thy lii' game;
Worn ont with age, aud yet, by time unhur;
t.d.t i.hoat Wstic, gi"ry without .nn". 60,
I'm tbs daIhCHl picture set IN cdiihs most gided
irame.'
His visit 10 Fortanblrau and the picture gallery of
the palace, draw forth the powers OF his sarcastic wit.
Here are couple Of his portraits;
MoiIERE
"Nhosr is that visagc. sportyc, yet severe:
That lip oianghlrr, yet those piercing eyes:
/ That brow bright, yet carrwom All Moierc
| see the hand that stripped the souls disguise.
! Forced monks 10 feel, and monarchs to be wise
/ Dared the court whisper, and the .Icsuts knife
Vet tall We honor, all that We dcspise)
| Leading. poor fool, an ultra -henpcckcd life,
! And dying ON the stage Verdict dashnng wife -
TAIIEyRANp.
" One place Is vacant, which bu, one can fill,
Prince OF imperial craftsmen, TalIcyrand!
Where is thy cold grey eye, thy visage chill,
Thy snccring lip, thy smile supremacy bland
Thou first and last OF that imperial band,
Who swluded monarchs, mobs, and all mankind
Thy craft, SO sweeping, that t was almost grand?
! Thy galley making way with every wind,
summing al rocks ana shoals, VET uerer lctt behind
Yes twas delightful, from thy features placid,
To see such lily sparks OF satire dart
Thy wit drop of dcati--pure prlssc acid
\ flash of LhtnlnI, killing without smart
Tell me, thou man OF brain without a heart
Prince S,apu IN what courty escrltore
Hast thou locked up thy never-iaing chart,
That stecrcd thee safe through council and b0udoir
TIL frances blazing torch was buried III the Loire
France has tor thee no rival-Rom, but Sya
Yet strip the classic gliding from the name,
What was his lazy life, his Bnian villa,
His Senate craving tor the bread OF shame.
To My keen course, through Frances tide OF flame
Thy path, hcSct with factions serpent stings
Thin" was the longer and the harder game
When Enropes thrones were made the tonbs OF king.
But politics avaut II turn To wedding rngs.'
One presence pcryadrs all Fontanbleau, but espcci
ally ills
THE CHAMBER.
One Glance n, thy bronze bust, Napoleon.
Ere all are hurried from the little room,
Where Eurupc's lord was tumbed from his throne
There stands his couch the table, hid in gloom
Where his own pailid fingers signed his doom;
The CHAIR, IN agony OF spirit scored
kmg-uukcr | ask not, rhcre stands thy tomb
Thougn thousands round il wept or cannon roared.
Here was Napoeous tomb here vanished crown an
sword!
+ am not playing moralist ! and yet,
, Where has the world a cnchcr-like that bust
Why, shall the heart through halt century fret,
: STAKE life, and love, and peacc-to tum to dust
A Lake thee II mighty from throne be thrust,
The scoii and victim OF its ransomed slaves.
; lflowly, take postcry trust
Dream dreams build castles upon winds and waves
And, after allie down among earths wormy graves
= The Proycncul hills recall To mind another chara,
@ ter, hardly less celebrated -
MlRABEAU.
Il " Now rise before me the Provencal hills
= GLORY of novels, Paradise OF France
4 Where wine from every highway hedge disiils
Aud LIES sole labor is, to sing and dance
. Alas, tor all the hunors OF romance
The morning cuts your midrif with the Bize,
Noon burns Your cuticie, and blinds your glance
Night is despair-lhe reign of Pharoah's plague Off
p And yet paused, to see an old chateau
= Now but heap OF ivy-maned stones;
II The fortress OF thy fathers Mirabeau =
" Thou man OF contradictions prop of thrones,
.. Yet, the hot marrow in rebellions bones
~ The muuarcl's hireling yet the rabblc's king
t, Courier yet brazcn trump OF factions tones
!, Thy genius hall swine's hoo halt eagles wing
1t Bold coward patriot slave, tool, traitor-every thin
A These are the men one hates and yet admires;
'rhc hnse, vet brilliant, actors on lilies stage;
u The Iitan-brood, with scrpents tor their sres:
% The sl,auIe and scorn, but wonder OF their age
ne With mixture OF the savage and the sage;
ar Fierce sumnoners 10 that consulnniae tray,
~ Which tainted thrones with maddened nato
- wage
81 Dark heralds oi the last avenging day,
r. When diadcms crushed, and those who crush
Is. lhem--clay!