NOTES TO THE SEASONS. always been particularly admired, because it was the first Season which he gave to the world; the first enterprize of his poetical talents which opened his way to fortune, and to fame. If his Autumn, the poem which is now under my view, is, in the least degree, infe riour to his other Seasons, for that inferiority (which I do not venture to suppose, without an humble veneration of the Manes of this divine poet) two reasons may be assigned. A muse, of whom it may be said, with a far juster encomium than of that wild rhapsodist, PINDAR, that she sails, with supreme dominion, through the azure deep of air; -the muse, who can soar with such majesty, reverses her direction, in the poem which is now before me, and dives, perhaps, with too much diligence, and minuteness, into the depths of our globe; into the arcana of Nature. As soon as a poet becomes scientifick, he rather forgets, and leaves his province; because he ceases to address the common knowledge, and the common sentiments of mankind. Hence, the Loves of the Plants, surveyed by Dr. DARWENT, with the microscopick eye of a naturalist, are one of the most improper, and absurd subjects for poetry that can be imagined.-Perhaps no poet could have been equal to THOMSON, in the eloquent, and interesting manner in which, in his Autumn, he has brought science to the attention of his readers :—his philosophical poetry is as superiour to that of LUCRETIUS, as the theory of the Caledonian Poet is superiour to that of the Roman.-This Poem may not affect, and strike the mind of the reader so forcibly as the other three, for another reason: he inferiority, if there is any, may be imputed to the subject.-Autumn, perhaps, has not such bold, and various characteristicks, as nature, and (consequently) art have given to Spring, to Summer, and to Winter. In his description of the fate of the Savage, the following lines must be very pathetically expressive to every feeling mind, which, in civilized, and polite society, is unsupported by the dearest ties of human life: "Home he had not; home is the resort "Of love, of joy; of peace, and plenty; where "Supporting, and supported, polished friends, "And dear relations, mingle into bliss.”—V. 65. V. 81. "Gave the tall, ancient forest to his ax”— This is a harsh word for the conclusion of a verse: it is to be regretted that THOMSON (who, when he pleases, can be most delightfully harmonious) did not oftener close his verse, especially where the mind was, naturally, to make a pause, with an easy, liquid, and flowing flowing word, that might have corresponded with the soft, and temporary intellectual repose. This observation may seem trivial, or whimsical, to those who have not maturely considered the nature of poetry, or whose souls may not be formed for all the pleasure which it affords. HORACE tells us, that to put the merit of poetry to an infallible test, we must throw it into a prosaick order: and Dr. WARton has adopted the rule of the great Roman critick. In experience, however, this rule by no means holds good. Poetical sound, melody, harmony, have effects, in a certain manner, and proportion, similar, and analogous to those of musick. And these combinations, and effects are essential to poetry; it is not poetry without them. The influence of a number of fine verses on the mind of the elegant reader, will be greatly enforced, or enfeebled, by the happy, or unfortunate choice, and station, of a single word. The stream of THOMSON'S poetry is always clear, and vigorous; but it is too disdainful of an easy flow. V. 140." Forming art, imagination-flushed." The epithet is expressive: but the compound is harsh; the bold, and abrupt sound, too, grates the ear; and therefore hurts, and repells the mind, when, at the end of this energetick paragraph, it wished to melt away, with the Poet, down a more gentle, and dying fall. V. 177. "The lovely, young LAVINIA," &c.-Simplicity, elegance, pathos, and the humane, and generous virtues, mark this charming tale. When our Poet wrote it, his fancy must have been warmly impressed with the beautiful history of RUTH. That his tory presents to us a most engaging picture of primitive manners, and virtues. It's simplicity steals upon, and captivates the mind.—How affecting are the following artless, and easy expressions; because they convey all the sincerity, and tenderness of the soul !" And RUTH “said [to NAOMI] intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from "following after thee; for whither Thou goest, I will go; and where "Thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people; and thy "God, my God :—where Thou diest, will I die; and there will I be "buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death δε part thee, and me!"-Ruth, chap. 1st. v. 16—What a pleasing description of early times does the following verse contain "And "behold BOAZ came from BETHLEHEM, and said unto the reapers, "the Lord be with you. And they answered him; the Lord bless "Thee!" Ruth, chap. 2d. v. 4th.—The reciprocal language of modern christian farmers, and their reapers, is, I fear, very different from +2 that that of these good old Jews. The fine spirit of the Hebrew narrative lost nothing while it was transfused by THOMSON. V. 350. THOMSON. "Clamant children dear:"-a word made by V. 379. and v. 426. begin paragraphs which do great, and equal honour to the genius, and to the heart of the authour. The interest which he takes in the fate of the animal creation, strongly recommends his poetry to every good, and truly religious man, If a soul disgraced, and debased with hunting, had any feeling left, what answer would it make to this address of our poet to beasts of prey? "Upbraid, ye ravening tribes, our wanton rage; "For hunger kindles you, and lawless want; "But lavish-fed, in Nature's bounty roll'd, "To joy at anguish, and delight in blood, V. 396. "Is what your horrid bosoms never knew. His description of the persecuted stag is, all, in his own warm sentiment, and fine colouring. These lines are remarkably beautiful, and pathetick; while the stag is persued, and harrassed, "He sweeps the forest oft, and sobbing sees The glades mild-opening to the golden day; "Where, in kind contest with his butting friends, "He wont to struggle, or his loves enjoy." V. 441. If the Ethiopian could change his skin, or the leopard his spots; or if a NIMROD could be humanized, the following picture of the last distress, and death of this beautiful animal would make him feel something like sympathy. "What shall he do? his once so vivid nerves, "So full of buoyant spirit, now no more "Inspire the course; but fainting, breathless toil, "Sick, seizes on his heart: he stands at bay; "And puts his last weak refuge in despair. "The big, round tears run down his dappled face; "Blood-happy, hang at his fair, jutting chest; "And mark his beauteous, checquered sides, with gore." V. 449. "But if the rougher sex by this fierce sport V. 483. "Is hurried wild," &c. Here, in forty eloquent, and persuasive lines, he shows how abhorrent the natural softness of the fair sex is from the sports of the field; and he strongly inculcates to that sex an undivided attention to their proper duties, and accomplishments. Nothing can be more disgusting disgusting than a HARPALYCE, to a man of experience, and reflection. The character includes indifference to her husband, and children, a general depravity, and barbarity of heart:-roughness of disposition, in a man, may be combined with some generous, and noble qualities; for in him, the influence of reason is vigorous, and not easily eradicated: but when woman, in any instance, habitually violates humanity, she gradually loses all sentiment: or, in other words, the foundation of her virtues. V. 881. THOMSON, undoubtedly, with the strictest truth, here describes the tenour, and habit of his poetical life: "I solitary court "The inspiring breeze; and meditate the book "Of Nature, ever open; aiming, thence, "Warm from the heart, to learn the moral song." V. 915. "He comes, he comes; in every breeze, the power "Of PHILOSOPHIC MELANCHOLY Comes!" Here, two passages, or paragraphs, which consist of seventy-three ines, are highly distinguished by poetical spirit, and fire; by invention; and by a glorious eulogy on the illustrious father of our present minister. V. 1083. "Ah! see, where robbed, and murdered," &c. A beautiful complaint over the destruction of a bee-hive. Such a master of the pathetick is THOMSON, that he actually excites a very lively compassion, in the breast of the reader, for the fate of these little people! V. 1146. "Oh! knew He but his happiness," &c. From this line to the end of the Autumn, flows a strain of moral, and philosophical poetry, which, perhaps, was never excelled. It woos every heart which is not corrupted by bad habits, and passions, to innoxious rural pleasures, and to rural tranquillity; to that know. ledge which purifies, and exalts the heart, and mind; and rivets the invaluable principles of virtue, and religion. WINTER. On a careful re-perusal of this Season, it seems to deserve all the distinguished admiration, and praise which it has received. It's unrivalled excellence, was, perhaps an effect which was produced in the mind of THOMSON by the Season itself, parsimonious of the productions of the earth, but fruitful of poetry.-The objects of Winter peculiarly strike sensibility, and sentiment, with the Solemn, and the Awful; we are, then, deeply affected with the tremendous Majesty of the Divine Maker of Winter ;—and hence, the true poet, will, at this Season, if he takes it for his subject, display the noblest excellences of his powerful art; his strains will be, naturally consecrated to the Grave, the Moral, and the Sublime. This Season presents no gay, flourishing, and sportive scenes;-consequently the bard retires more into himself, now, than at other times; owes more to his own faculties, and acquirements; is more intent on the works, and atchievements, of the human, and eternal mind. These remarks, I hope, will be thought to have some foundation, by him who reads the poem of Winter, with that close, and warm attention which it highly deferves. His address to the Season, and to the Earl of WILMINGTON, at the beginning of Winter, is extremely pathetick, and harmonious. V. 118. "When from the pallid sky," &c. The various presaging marks of the storm, and the description of the storm itself, are equally distinguished by their accuracy, and by their force; they are striking characteristicks of their great object: they form one of the many eminent examples of that penetrating, and indefatigable attention to nature, and of those astonishing pow ers to paint her, in which THOMSON is without a rival. In the following lines, popular superstition, and credulity, are converted into fine poetical machinery : "Then, too, they say, through all the burdened air, "Warn the devoted wretch of woe, and death.” V. 205 |