Εσπερε παντα φερεις. Vesper omnia fers; Fers vinum, fers capram, There are several passages in the Carmina of Horace also, which display much elegant colouring of the illustrative kind, but very few entire odes that can with propriety be termed descriptive, that is, whose sole purport it is to dwell upon rural and pictoresque beauty. The second of his Epodes Beatus ille qui procul negotiis, the fourth ode of the first book, the thirteenth of the third Ad Fontem Blandusiæ, and one or two more may be mentioned which are nearly or altogether of this kind. Several of his odes likewise commence with vivid and well drawn scenery; at the fifth line, for instance, of the fourth of the third book, and the seventh and twelfth odes of the fourth book. Dismissing, however, any further considerations of the Roman, we will now pass forward to our own poets, among whom Milton may be esteemed the model of, and the first who excelled in, what I would term the pictoresque ode. His L'Allegro ed Il Penseroso are the most exquisite and accurately descriptive poems in his own, or any other, language, and will probably for ever remain unrivalled. There is an unity in their design so admirably sustained, the imagery is so rich, and at the same time so well supported, that from its accumulation they operate an effect which scarce any other poem of the same class has successfully aspired to. In the Grongar Hill of Dyer we have, likewise, a lyric effusion equally spirited and pleasing, and celebrated for the fidelity of its delineation; the commencement however is obscure and even ungrammatical, and his landscape not sufficiently distinct, wanting what the artist would term, proper keeping. It is nevertheless a very valuable poem, and has secured to its author an envied immortality. Let us now, once more adverting to the genius of Collins, remark, that in his address to Evening he has presented us with the first fortunate specimen of the blank ode. Nothing but his own ode on the Popular Superstitions of the Highlands of Scotland can exceed the fine enthusiasm of this piece; the very spirit of Poussin and Claude breathe throughout the whole, mingled indeed with a wilder and more visionary train of idea, yet subdued and chastened, by the softest tones of melancholy, Since its publication many productions in lyric blank verse have been given to the public, and some possessed of very considerable merit; Mrs. BARBAULD's beautiful Ode to Spring may be considered as one of the happiest attempts toward the introduction of this species of metre. Collins's ode on the Popular Superstitions, after due precedence to that on the Passions, I esteem the noblest effort of his pen, but as I shall have occasion to quote it in a future sketch, and with some additional observations, I now proceed to mention a few other pieces which fall under this division. The Il Bellicoso and Il Pacifico of Mason are respectable imitations of Milton, especially the former which abounds in nervous and strongly painted scenery, and the ode on the approach of Summer, commencing, Hence, iron-scepter'd Winter haste, is another most admirable composition of the same school. The ode too of Gray as finished by Mason, on the Pleasure arising from Vicissitude is one of the choicest products of the lyre, a specimen of classical composition which the more it is studied will please the more. The lines on Solitude by Grainger, and Smollet's little poem on Leven Water have likewise a claim to particular distinction. Of the lyric works of our late Poet Laureat, and of his classical BROTHER OF WINCHESTER, the odes entitled "The Hamlet," "The First of April," and "To Fancy," assume a distinguished rank in our catalogue, and are replete with characteristic and well selected touches of description. These, with a few additional pieces, when thrown together, will form a tissue of descriptive lyric poetry highly honourable to the taste and genius of our Bards. 4. Silent Nymph with curious eye Dyer. 5. If ought of oaten stop or pastoral song Collins. 6. Home thou return'st from Thames whose Naiads long 7. O Solitude, Romantic maid 8. Now the golden morn aloft 9. Hence dull lethargic Peace 10. Hence pestilential Mars Collins. Grainger. Gray & Mason. Mason. - Mason. 11. A muse unskill'd in venal praise Beattie. 12. O Parent of each lovely muse ! 16. As evening slowly spreads his Warton Joseph Warton J. beguil'd Warton T. phyr woos Warton T, 22. Born in yon blaze of orient light Darwin. 23. Gay child of summer who on burnish'd wings 24. Bright is the eastern sky-Aurora mounts Sayers. |