Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-04-18
WHOLE NO. 1909
The PoetiCaI Temperament.

We have heard it advanced that a
poetical temperament is the result ola
peculiar combination of the physical
and mental-a sort of physical ecstasy
which inspires the mental. BE this as
it may, it is certainly curious that
large numbers Of our poets, chiefly
those in whom the sensuous, nervous
and imaginative Is predominant, were
celeb! ated for the beauty Of their per.
sons and their physical prowess, Shell
ley we know was striking ely beautiful.
Lord Byron sent all his generation to
Tie looking glass to catch the pecul-
lar, scornful turn of the lip and the
scowl on his handsome brow. We
also read Of his swimming of the
Iellespont-no mean feat in any age.
Edgar Allen Poe is thus described -
His forehead was grand and pale
his face fine and thoughtful, with
lneaments OF deicacy such as belong
only to genius or high blood. Sir
Walter Scott says of Burns, whom he
saw in his youth: His eye strikingly
indicated the poetical character and
temperament. 1t was large and of a
dark cast, which glowed Il say literal
ly glowed) when he spoke with feel
Ing and interest. His person was ro-
= bust and gave one the idea that he
possessed considerable bodily yigor."
Edgar Allen Poe also made himself
famous by swimming several miles up
the Hudson River OF Professor
Wilson Christopher North) it used to
be said that often the singular sight
might be witnessed of a Scotch pro-
3 fessor Of philosophy thrashing some
bully in the streets of Glasgow, for
some deed whlch offended the protes.
sol's sense of rectitule Keats, on
one occasion distinguished himself
very similarly. We hear of him
,hrashing, to the immense delight of
, bystanders, q bully ola butcher, the
offence which moved the poets wrath
being the oppression Of a small boy.
Undoubtedly Keats was true poet,
divinely given and divinely inspired.
A passion for poesy was at all times
burning and bursting within him.
thrilling him in every fibre of his be-
ing and he saw the large, white
plumes of chivalry and romance for
ever dancing before his eyes, and gor-
geous visions OF unutterahle beauty
were forever fiutter,ng before him.
The genius of Keats has wrought for
us tracery Of unsurpassed richness
and beauty; fairy colonuades and no.
bic palaces, which glance in the light
Of land of magical loveliness often
| times, too, we find the thought crys-
talzed like the diamond flashing in
, wondrously-hued brilliancy. His
works resemble the wild luxuriauce of
tropical vegetation there is super
abundance Of fertility, thought is piled
! on thought, and image upon image,
until we are bewildered as well as de-
lighted. Then his works are also dies.
tined to remain with us--they are
things too glorious tor decay and
while those majestic luminaries-the
IIomers, the Millions and the Shakes.
peares, continue to rain upon us the
glory of their light, compelling the
reverence of all beholders, this star,
throbbng in the same wide armament,
will also attract the worship and love
Of the devout, who will often and
earnestly gaze upon it with tears !!
Still we love Keats We admire
him ; we weep Ger his early grave,
over which Italian breezes softly sigh,
mourning tor the glory that hath
gone, and we tain would say OF him,
rs did one Of Clalibel
Where Claribel low lieth
The brcezes pause and die.
Letting the rose-leayes fall
But the solemn oak tree sigheth,
Thck-eavcd ambrosial,
With an ancient melody
OF an inward agony
Where Claribel low leth.
Prom Thoughts on Keuts, by Rob
en $. Weir, IN " ep Dominion, Month
ly for AprH.
There is \ story told OF two
Scotch lads who knew little of gun
merry and Natural History, but were
familiar with King James Bible, and
Of the winged heads that pass for cher
ubs in painting and sculpture. Going