The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-02-11
Gle 1}ruiclucr.
For The Cecil Wig
MACAULET As A POET.

MlCAULEY As A POET.
Anew edition of ''Thc Lays of Ancient
Rome, by 7. b. Macaulcy, claims our notice.
AS we pick up copy we very naturally ask
remembering the authors reputation as an
EsSayist and Historian: What is Macaulcy's
worth as Poet? Few lads pass through
their minority without taking, among other
diseases peculiar to youth, that of rhvming.
but with Macaulcy this was not simply an
affection of youth. Graduating with the
highest honors CT his class in the first Cniy,r-
Sity his country, with a mind richly stored
with the treasures Of literature lie turned to
poetry as pursuit and aim of life. lie laid
upon the altar of the muse, strong natural tai
cnts and extensive requirements, but we fear
the result has proved her coy as was ever
lovers maid These lays are four in number,
they Purport to be ballads of the carly days OF
Roman chivalry and hcroism, and manifest
great re carch and familiar acquaintance with
the old chrcniclcrs Of the seven hillctl City.
The irSt in the collection is titled .IIoratius:
a lay made about the year of the City 800"
The story is made up Of the several accounts
given by Polybius, Livy and Dionysi,ls, of
lloratius' defence of the bridge against the
Etiuscans. 1t contains several descriptive
passages of more than ordinary power, the fol-
lowing s'anzas from the description of the
gathering of the forces around the standard of
Parscna will illustrate our remark We should
like to give the whole passage but cannot:
''Thc horscmcn and the footmen
Are pouring in amain
From many Il stately mark ct-placc,
From many fruitful plain;
From many a lonely hamlet,
Which, lid by beech and pine,
Like an eagles nest hangs on the crest
ofpn'rle Apennine."
'.Thc harvest of Auctium
This year old men shall reap;
This year young boys in Umbro
Shall plunge the struggling sheep;
And in the watts of Luna,
This year the must shall foam
Round the white feet of laughing girls
Whose sires have marched to Rome,''
The rapid approach of the enemy threw the
town into great CONSERVATION. 1t is at this
juncturc 1loratius is brought out.
"But the Consul's brow was sad,
And the Consul's speech was low,
And darby looked he at the wall,
| And darkly at the foe.
Their van will be upon us
Before the bridge goes down;
And if they once may win the bridge,
| What hope to save the town.
Then out spake brave IIoratius,
| The Captain of the gate:
| sTo every man upon the earth
| Death cometh soon or late,
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his GODS
sAnd for the tender mother
Who handled him to rest,
And for the wife who nurses
His baby at her breast,
And for the holy maidens
Who feed the eternal flame,
To save them from false Sextus
That wrought the deed of shame p
sHcw down the bridge, Sir Consul,
With all the speed we may;
I, with two more to help me,
| Will hold the foe in play.
In yon strait path thousand
May we'll be stopped by three.
Now, who will stand on either hand,
And keep the bridge with me p
Then follows highly wrought dcscfiptid
of the defence of the pass-the death of MAJ
of the enemy-thc escape of Horatius by swiI
ming the river after the destruction of t
bridgc-his triumphant entrance into RoI
and his final reward. The whole poem h
about it the ring of changing armour a
sounding clarions with much of the rugg
stateliness ofthe old Roman legions.
The next poem in order is ''Thc Battle
Lake Rceillus;" ballad smacking strong
of the IIomcric; dcsigncdly Grecian in its C,
and character. The picture of the bat
around the fallen Tarquin is a perfect mast
piece; we cannot quote it entire for want
space, and we have not the heart to multi
it. Thcpoem contains one or two other
points.
The next is called "Virginia." 1t is
old story Of Virginius, but it has several exc
lent points. The speech of young Icillius
specimen ofrugged, powerful cloquence I'll
would stir heart of adamant. The Will
! poem is mere polished and ola higher metril