The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-05-20
s.siss.ss 81 EaaAi.1sse NsasFs ss Thsashg
and Feesi2g amsEg Dtaereat Nations M
Different Kpecbs.

and fccft1E nnnEx Btnerent Nations NJ
Dtaerent KPechs.
! have endeavored in this section 10 IN
fold in fragnenlary manner the different
influence which the external world. that is
the aspect Of animate and inanin1ate nature
has exercised at different epochs, and among
different races and nations, on the inward
world Of thought and feeling. 1 have tried
10 accomplish this object by tracing through
out the history Of literature, the particular
characteristics OF the vivid manifestation Of
the feelings Of men in regard to nature.---
Ia this, as throughout the whole Of the work,
nay aim has been TO give not 80 much a
complete, as a general, view, by the seleo-
ton Of such examples as should best display
the peculisrities Of the various periods and
races. | have followed the Greeks and Ro-
mans 10 the gradual extinction Of those feel
ings which have given to classical antiquity
in the West an imperishable lustTe; have
traced in the writings Of the Christian faith
eB OF the Church, the fine expression Of
love OF nature nursed in the secltlsion OF the
hermitage. In considering the lndoG
manic nations, (lhe denomination being
here taken in lis most restricted sense),
have passed from the poetic works Of the
Germans in the middle ages. to those OF the
highly cultivated ancient East Arianic ma
tons. (the Indians):' and Of the less gifted
West AEians (the inhabitants OF ancient
lran). After rapid glance at the Celtic
or Gaelic songs, and at newly discovered
/ E.nutsb anso I haze laa.,.k "A ,ha :. a. -,
cePtion Of the life Of nature, which, in ra-
ces of Aranean or Semitic origin, breathes
in the sublime poetry Of the Hebrews, and
in the writings of the .Arabians. Thus I
have traced the reflected image OF the world
Of phenomena, as miTrored in the imagine
ftion of the nations of the north and thesouth-
east Of Europe, Of the west OF Asia, OF the
Persian Plateaus, and Of tropical India. In
order TO conceive nature in all her grandeur,
II seemed TO me necessary TO present her un-
der two-fold aspect first effectively, as an
actual phenomenon; and next, as reflected
in the feelings OF mankind. After the ia
ding Of Aramsic, Greek, and Roman glory
III might say after the destruction Of the
ancient world--we find in the great and
INSPIRED founder Of new world, Dante Al
ighieri, scattered passages which manifest
the most profound sensibility TO the aspect
of external nature. The period at which he
lived followed Immediately that Of the de.
cline Of the minsrelsy Of the Suabian Min
nesingers, on the north side OF the Alps,
Of whom have already spoken.
Dante when treating OF natural objects,
wiEhdraws himself for time from the pas
sionate, the subjective, and the mystic ele-
ments Of his wide range OF ideas. Inirnit
ably does he paint for instance, st the close
Of the first canto Of the Pnrgatorio, the
sweet breath Of morning, and the trembling
Light on the gently agitated distant mirror OF
the sea, al tTemolar de la msrina;) in the
fifth canto, the bursting Of the clouds and
the swelling Of the rivers, which, after the
battle Of Campaldino, caused the body Of
BuOnconte da Montsleltro to be lost in the
Ano. The entrance into the thick grove
Of the terrestrial paradise reminds the poet
OF the pine forest near Ravenna: ia piIlele
in sui Tito di ChiasSi, where the early song
Of birds is heard in the tall trees. The 10.
cal truth Of this natural picture contrasts
with the description of the river Of light in
the heavenly paradise, from which sparks
burst forth, sink amidst the flowers on the
banks, and then, as il intoxicated by their
perfumes, plunge again into the stream II
seems not impossible that this fiction may
have had for its groundwork the poets rec.
objection Of that peculiar state of the ocean
in which, during the beating of the waves,
luminous points dash above the surface, and
the whole liquid plain forms a moving sea
Of sparkling light. The extraordinary con.
ciseness Of the style Of the Divina CONNIE
dia augments the depth and earnestness Of
the impression produced. Lingering on
Italian ground. but avoiding those frigid
compositions, the pastoral romancss, | would
next name the sonnet in which Petrarch de.
seribes the impression which the lovely val
ley Of Naueluse made on him when Laura
was no more; then, the smaller poems OF
BOiardo. the friend Of Hercules Of Este;
and at later period some noble sianzas by
VittOua Colonna.- Cosmos.