Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-01-31


heresy from Ola, | suppose must make
my confession-although hardly think a
just comparison between the two poets could
be drawn. Byron, to me, is one of might
and desolation but he takes too much de-
light in clothing man with the haughtiest,
fercest passions, and seems to prefer view
ing nature in her darkest aspect whilst to
Scott, the sweet breeze Of morning, the
sparkling, quiet stream, and the brown-cov-
cred heath are the dearest, and man by
him is never deifed with God-like attri-
butes, linked with thousand crimes.
If Scott is preferred to Byros pray,
how do you rank Moore, Campbeff, Niiiton,
Young, Pope, Cowper and Shelley
did not say he was my favorite above
all poets, replied Irene gently Indeed,
| would find it a difficult matter to decide
upon the relative superiority of any one
over the other, as each awakens different
feelings and sentiments within my bosom.
| yield to creeping ave. whilst following
Milton through his successive scenes of sub
Unity and grandeur. lose sight of this
world, as hold converse with those bright
inhabitants of heaven, and of the first crea-
ted earth. Young's Night Thoughts are
fraught with splendid passages, but he is
too verbose-and if [ may use his favorite
word, too tenebrious for my entire sympathy.
Pope is elegantly harmonious there is a
racy force, pith in his reasoning which
gains the minds assent Immediately, and
| must confess somewhat consonant with
my taste. Moore's frank and glowing spir-
it seems continually to delight in basking
in sunbeams. He speaksroses, as BY on
says-forever inhaling the balmy breath of
summer zephyrs. Campbell is truly the
poet of Hope 1t is the burden of his song
through all changes The gentle majesty
of autumn-the chilling blast of winter
the capricious tears and sunshine Of spring,
and the soft voluptuous summer-all sea-
sous are alike to has hoping nature. There
is plairtive gentleness in Cowper, and
often pious fervor breathed by him, when
he looks through Nature up to Nature S
God. As to poor Shelley, he dwelt toe
much in an ideal world-one that is vague
and shadowy-in which human nature can
find no actual sympathy-and as some poet
has said of him, truly he
"Was cradled into poetry by wrong,
And learn'd in suffering what he taught in song
But added Irene, her pale cheek glow
ing when she that moment caught the ear
nest gaze of Eugene Mansfield, L fear 20,
will not only charge ne with heterodoxy
but also of loving to hear the music of my
own vain tongue.'
By no means guilty of either,' replied
Eugene with much animation; we onl,
wish the lights and shades of your opinion
respecting Hemans and Landon, to acqui
you with all due equity
EOh! as to L. E. Ito feel the full
power and force of her poetry, one mus
have heart broken by the blight Of incon
stancy-and with an unstrung silent lut
become forever victim to green and ye
low melancholy. Gifted as I deem he
and dazzled by the successive brilliancy {
her gemmed lines, yet she rarely touches
chord within me, that vibrates to the truth
she utters-for, you know there can be I
real sympathy unsealed by experience.
is different with Mrs. Hemans-there
equal softness, touching pathos and fervo
if not brilliancy of imagination, in her po
try, united with more healthy, soul-chee
ing spiritual power-which do not breatl
their life-giving influence in that Of L.
L.; but l am warned by Olia's threatenil
brow to pause, for with her no compariso
should be made derogatory to her favorite
The announcement of other visitors pl
vented Olia's cherry mouth from vauntl
as usual her dissent in warm defence
L. 3. J.. So long as the conversation &C
tinued general, Irene maintained her qui
composure of manner-but when the Il
tones of Eugene Mansfeld's voice address
: her ear exclusively-the penetrating c
of one well-skilled in physiognomy, wor
: have detected other changes of expressiC
mirrored from the heart in her beauti
countenance.
3 You seem in reflective, digest
r mood this morning, Mansfield S
e ney Atherton on their way home.
, there too much truth and soberness abb
Miss Carlton for your chivalrous Hots]
e natu:e and poetic Imagination |?
l confess there is generally too m,
dpdtuy duU CUIu IeScIt0 duOuG ueI AOI
/ entire enjoyment of her society. At tin
L have thought she resembled some auto
?, atom, more than one of our Creators i
e best gifts and when brought into cont
II with the animated, charming Ola Ir,
she seems doubly So
4 Il was not aware you had enlisted un
ID the same banner with your humble serv:
n- I must sound retreat, for ii would be
p feet madness to rush into battle oppose
er one so formidable as the irresistible E
Il, pean, meditative Mr. Mansfield. w
e. has become of your love at first sight
h, never did the moon gaze upon the wa
ti- more earnestly than you did, when you
m beheld Miss Carlton? detected agita
n as we'll as admiration in your every loo
Ter sShe certainly possesses beautiful
tures,' replied Eugene, somewhat EN-
lss rassed-s which struck me at first sig
'ol but at the second I'VE start, for soul s.
of wanting there Her person is decid
al majestic-very graceful and swan lik
her motions-but she wants that fe,
fly and elastic tread which always belong
re- a happy, loving nature. Give me We
on. with a soul, and that soul swayed b
de- dent feelings-such being will max,
so forget Pandora's box was ever opened
eld Il perceive you are not correct r
of human-or at least of aUoman matt
Ms else, you could never pronounce Irene
ace ton deficient in such feelings Yo'
vel. aware of the singular situation in '
t. eaLor,, los+ x1;ll hos nlaco0 her.