The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-24
! For the National Era.
POETRY AND PROSE.

Ill.
There is only time for brief glance at other
nations. Sir Walter Scott has made famous the
bards and minstrels of Scotland and Wales, so
We need but refer to the antiquity of their pro:
fession. The minstrels of Wales were for long
time its only historians, and in its Triads is
treasured up much invaluable information. Mr..
Parry in his preface to the " Cambrian Plu.
tarch," writes, that "poetry, among the Cymry,
had for ages anticipated the functions of his.
tory, and in the Triads were often preserved
what might not admit of diffusion in the strains
OF the bard. These phenomena, in ancient
Welsh literature, had apparently their origin in
the Bardic or Druidical institution, of which
the encouragement of oral tradition, whether
by songs or aphorisms, formed prominent
characteristic" SO, in Ireland, bards were at.
tached to all the principal families of the ma
ton, as historiographers are now employed un.
der different sovereigns, who were accustom ed
to repeat the gonealogies and histories of their
patrons, and to sirg praises Of their valor and
prowess. These bards were also employed as
heralds, which at once goes to prove the an
tiquity of and the respect shown to their pro-
fession.
1t is somewhat remarkable, that among the
nations of the south of Europe, the only valua.
BILE historical records that have been handed
down to us are written in the Roman tongue,
and we find the native language only in light
er and more familiar style of composition. The
Troubadours used the sweetaowing Provencal,
the historians employed the more dignifed
Latin. Likewise, in early English history the
monkish hiStoriographers wrote in Latin, but
the popular mind retained only the more promi-
nent and dramatic events, which we find to this
day in the ancient ballads and songs of the
North of England So late as the time of AL.
fred, Anglo-Saxon literature was singularly de.
6cient in all its parts The learned Anglo
Saxons, Beda, Alcuin, and others, wrote in
Latin, and transations Of the classics were not
thought Of
If further proof of the superior antiquity of
poetry be demanded, we have only to refer the
reader to the Haravis and ancient songs of
the Peruvians, to the harsh chants of the North
American Indians, and to the soft cadences of
the natives of Polynesia. Among all these ma
tons, the poetical compositions, if they NAV be
SO called, of their ancestors will be found to
comprehend all the important facts of their diff
ferent histories, and, indeed, all we know OF
them. But we will suppose the reader to be
satisfied with the proofs laid before him, and
proceed to state what we believe to be the hid
den reason, instinct, influence, or what you will,
that causes a savage and uncultivated people
to express its thoughts, sentiments, and pas
xr-aEl. H..
verse.
And the reason for all this, we should think.
lies deep in the nature of man and the forma.
ton of language-subjects so intimately con.
nected as not to admit of separate considera.
ton. The wants of man create the capability
OF expressing those wants and in proportion as
his necessities increase, so also does his vocab.
ulary. Take, for instance, the savages OF
Africa. Their speech suffices for the mere
satisfying of the animal appetites but utterly
lacks the power to set forth any metaphysical
distinction. Or, as a better example, look at
the English language. Every student knows
that most OF the scientific or philosophic terms
we use are mediately or immediately derived
from the Latin or Greek How does this hap.
pen !? 1t results, as we conceive. from the fact
that the Britons, Saxons, and Normans, came
in contact with Roman civilization while their
languages were in uniformed and incomplete
state, and since they contemplated and studied
the philosophy and science of Rome. instead of
awaiting the gradual advancement of their own
schools, as matter of course they adopted it's
phraseology also. From this it would seem to
follow that the language of an uncutivated and
savage people expresses rather the passions
and impulses than subdued sentiment and re-
Election.
And this advances us another step. namely.
that the compositions Of such people fall nat.
urally into the poetic order. What we under
stand by poetry, however, differs entirely from
that of barbarous nations. Their versifcation
is not according to our rules of composition,
but depends on little more than ALTERATION of
syllables, and oftentimes on the rise and fall of
the voice alone. Thus it will be seen that the
language of people, in the condition above
spoken OF, would naturally put on the garb of
poetry on the least provocation, so to speak.
The Indian, sitting in his lodge, is quiet and
taciturn but place him by the council fire. and
he is different being. Beginning with slow
and measured accent, he is aroused by degrees,
and fervid stream of eloquence pours from his
lips, passionate in sentiment, chant-like in Tone
until he seems to be reching in rude epic to his
companions the doughty deeds of their fore
fathers, and their own achievements, more glo-
TlOuS Stlii. III 1Ctld0U, 100, SkalQS were
often introduced into the banqueting halls of
the sturdy Norsemen, who told Of brave deeds
on land and sea. And as the bard warming
with his subject, sang in burning words of the
marvellous daring and proves of the old
vikings of the North, his valiant listeners
would leap frenzedly from their seats, clash
ing their arms, and demand to be led through
all perils and dangers, to the wide extended
portals Of glory and undying fame
1t may perhaps be asked why these words
fail to arouse and touch US of to-day. The
reason is plain. They had an intensity of ex-
preston and thrilling and deep-reaching
meaning almost unknown to as for, although
the mere cords may be the same now as then,
their significance is, in great measure, gone.
1t is man that has changed With the power
to regulate and control his animal appettes
has come the gradual development of a moral
and intellectual nature, the god-lke part of his
being, which no appeal to the passions and ig-
noble desires can satisfy, but which, as the
beauty and harmony of the order of things
break upon it, thirsts after comprehension of
the great principles and truths coeval with the
universe, and cravas more perfect knowledge
of the slave of God, that SOFTLY is the love of
God"
Many more instances might be given in sup
port of our proposition-the bards and impro-
risateurs of the Cymry, Scots, aud Caledonians,
the minstrels of ancient Greece, and even the
poets of the middle ages But we leave the
reader to an examination of the remains, not
only of Scandinavian composition, but that of
other ancient nations; and we shall be more than
repaid for our slight labor, if by it any one is
induced to an Investigation of the rare, though
too often neglected, beauties of the primitive
literature of nations.
The UNION IN DANGER = The deepest in
terest is taken here in the New York election.
and if it should go for the black Republicans,
there will be an almost universal sentiment in