Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-01-30

sol become classic ground. Paradise Lost 81
he read and admired whista love Of the bealti-
fll aud sublime finds habitation among the
children of men; and John Milton, like the great
Homer. will live in tradition, when connected
history is lost. lie well deserves pace within
these sacred walls; and Royalty forgetting his
paritanical antecedents, in It's admiration OF his
glorious insplrations-has accorded him monu-
,nent with Britian's most honored sons. Here
also. is tomb 10 Samuel Butler, author of llu-
dibras. and one of the first wits ot England. That
he had looked deep into the well of human ma
ture is established by two lines from his great
poem, for it i, but too true Of all men. that
''rhey compound Gr sns tts} are iu,insi t.
By dantnius those tssy lhfe -" mind i.
noticed also the tombs of Ben Johnson, Abra-
liam Cowley. Dryden, Spcnser Chaucer, Pope
prayton, Prior, and lost Of others who have
contributed the richest pemls 10 the treasury
of English literature. Southey sleeps here also,
but his monument excited M particular interest
with me- for | never could regard him Us n poet
If the first order II i, true that he has written
much that i, beautiful and elegant. but there APP
pens more Of artistic skillin his pieces than OF
poetic fire Thanbais certainly vastly superior
to every thing else written by him; and yet, II
is So fantastic both in idea and diction, that had
Byron been its author, it would have been IS.
tcemed bat another proof of his rcckcssness and
insanity.
searched throughout the Poets Corner for
Byrons monument, but found it not. lie was
denied resting place within its oonsecrated linn
its Yes, in the land of boastcd liberty of con
science aud freedom of thought, poet whose in
lures own Eolian. and whose thrilling words and
glowing numbers have quickened the pulses and
rayi,hed the souls Of men wherever the English
language has been heard he refused IA mon
ument in Westminster, because he could not
think rs established crecds directed, and dared
to ridicule what horny custom reyerenccd. |
am apologist for his errors, and no cuogist OF
his vices but SUI, | know that he did write
Childe Harold. and that the whole world has unit
ed in pronouncing that Of the nobest works
of genius ever executed 10y man. Let the English
people disgrace them. 1--we, as they please by mar
row minded bigotry, and short sighted prejudice.
Let them bury his body in obscurty, if they
choose. lie has left behind him the noble off
springs of his mighty intellect The beauty and ou.
blinity Of which must secure for him n name
that will live whilst ldas peak shall kiss the sky,
and pocsy have temple upon the earth. En-
shrncd in the hearts of humanity, with Shaks-
pearc Milton, aud all the great hards Of his
country, he will go dowu 10 posterity honored
and admired by ali who can appreciate the beau.
ties of his uutyc tongue. Had morality been
made the test the old Abbey would have had few
tenant. indeed. Kings and Queens, who repose
49,
whole chapcls consccrat,d to their ashes, would
never have been allowed to take up their final
dwellings there Statesmen, whose mighty stat
ues awaken the admiration, and elicit the wonder
of every ras-er-by, would have been compelled
to find nabode N some more lowly sanctuary
Would Pope, withaIl of III petty iealousies, his
low yauties, aud busc betrayal of friends have
been admitted, had unjust II standard been up
piled Would the mockiug Gray, the servile
Dryden the drunken Goldsmith, the centous
Fielding. or the debauchcd sheridan, have been
honored with monuments, had their country
prosttuted itself 10 the disropniable task of sit
ting in Judgment upon their private characters !
They all slumhrr there by the incontcstabe right
of genius, in comparison with which all other
titles are but rush.ight TO the meridian sun.
They have been carried to Westminster, and
they sleep there in peace, whilst the noblest OF
them all who observed temple, has MOI been
able to find tomb" within these eonseeruted
walls could but think of the noble bards in
diguant rcmonsran against the ungratetu
treatment of Dante, and Boecacio, and found
myself con- family recalling those famous words
And SANTA eroce wants their mighty dust,
Vet for Tins want tore nocl, as of wore,
I'm S "%.'FI fagc"a, slow Of sr",@ ""s r &,
! There is a beautiful window at this end of the
church, which is made of stained glass aud re
presents Abraham, Isaac, jacob, Moses, Aaron
the twelve patriarchs and the Arms Of Sibcrt
Edward the Confessor, Queen Elizabeth, George
Hind, and the Bishop OF Rochester. At the cas-
end, which is on the opposite side, there are tire,
painted windows, which in beauty of conception
and elegance of execution, cannot be surpassed
Each contains two figures rs large as life, ant
represented with admiral skill and beauty. II
the first, arc the representations of the Saviour
and the Virgin Mary, in the second, figures o
Edward the Confessor aud Henry ilrd, and il
the last, pictures of St Augustine aud Milctus
one of the Bishops of London. The light. il
CHANGING thro these painted panes, robs them %
their expressive tints, and wears subdued, mel
lowed and softened hue, it falls upon the time
worn pavement, and envelopes the stately monu
ments Of this consccrated Chamber. | felt rs il
| were treading the shores of old romance, in
deed, as gided along midst antique pillars hal
lowed tomhs, aud roseate shadows, startling by
the echo of my footsteps, the deep silence which
keeps watch over these graves of departed genius
My soul enhanced by the soemnity and beauty
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