SURVIVING SWEETHEART -FELON'S DREAM. Lively he seem'd, and spoke of all he knew, But she has treasur'd, and she loves them all; I go!' he said; but, as he spoke, she found 66 She plac'd a decent stone his grave above, She would have griev'd, had friends presum'd to spare Here will she come, and on the grave will sit, Folding her arms, in long abstracted fit; But if observer pass, will take her round, Then come again, and thus her hour employ, 309 While visions please her, and while woes destroy. — p. 23 — 27. There is a passage in the same tone, in the letter on Prisons. It describes the dream of a felon under sentence of death; and though the exquisite accuracy and beauty of the landscape painting are such as must have recommended it to notice in poetry of any order, it seems to us to derive an unspeakable charm from the lowly simplicity and humble content of the characters - at least we cannot conceive any walk of ladies and gentlemen that should furnish out so sweet a picture as terminates the following extract. It is only doing Mr. Crabbe justice to present along with it a part of the dark foreground which he has drawn, in the waking existence of the poor dreamer. 310 CRABBE'S BOROUGH BEAUTIFUL RETROSPECTIONS. He takes his tasteless food; and, when 'tis done, Whether he brings us Joy or Punishment. "Yes! e'en in sleep th' impressions all remain; 66 The house, the chamber, where he once array'd 66 Yes! all are with him now, and all the while Then 'cross the bounding brook they make their way The waves that faintly fall and slowly run- THE WORKHOUSE. And search for crimson weeds, which spreading flow, Tokens of bliss!". p. 323-326. 311 If these extracts do not make the reader feel how deep and peculiar an interest may be excited by humble subjects, we should almost despair of bringing him over to our opinion, even by Mr. Crabbe's inimitable description and pathetic pleading for the parish poor. The subject is one of those, which to many will appear repulsive, and, to some fastidious natures, perhaps, disgusting. Yet, if the most admirable painting of external objects -the most minute and thorough knowledge of human character and that warm glow of active and rational benevolence which lends a guiding light to observation, and an enchanting colour to eloquence, can entitle a poet to praise, as they do entitle him to more substantial rewards, we are persuaded that the following passage will not be speedily forgotten. with a number you "Your plan I love not: Which few inhabit without dread or shame.". Alas! their sorrows in their bosoms dwell, for 'tis there they live! Widows are here, who in their huts were left, 66 Who can, when here, the social neighbour meet? Who to the long-known intimate impart 66 'Tis cheerless living in such bounded view, p. 241-244. These we take to be specimens of Mr. Crabbe's best style; but he has great variety; and some readers may be better pleased with his satirical vein which is both copious and original. The Vicar is an admirable sketch of what must be very difficult to draw;-a good, easy man, with no character at all. His little, humble vanity; - his constant care to offend no one; his maw kish and feeble gallantry-indolent good nature, and love of gossiping and trifling --are all very exactly, and very pleasingly delineated. To the character of Blaney, we have already objected, as offensive, from its extreme and impotent depravity. The first part of his history, however, is sketched with a masterly hand; and affords a good specimen of that sententious and antithetical manner by which Mr. Crabbe sometimes reminds us of the style and versification of Pope. "Blaney, a wealthy heir at twenty-one, At twenty-five was ruin'd and undone : These years with grievous crimes we need not load, Gam'd without skill, without inquiry bought, Gamblers and grooms, what would not Blaney do?" Cruel he was not. If he left his wife, He left her to her own pursuits in life; Deaf to reports, to all expenses blind, Profuse, not just — and careless but not kind."-p. 193, 194. Clelia is another worthless character, drawn with infinite spirit, and a thorough knowledge of human nature. She began life as a sprightly, talking, flirting girl, who passed for a wit and a beauty in the half-bred circles of the borough; and who, in laying herself out to entrap a youth of better condition, unfortunately fell a victim to his superior art, and forfeited her place in society. She then became the smart mistress of a dashing attorney - then tried to teach a school — lived as the favourite of an innkeeper-let lodgings- wrote novels - set up a toy-shop-and, finally, was admitted into the almshouse. There is nothing very interesting perhaps in such a story; but the details of it show the wonderful accuracy of the author's observation of character; and give it, and many of his other pieces, a value of the same kind that some pictures are thought to derive from the truth and minuteness of the anatomy which they display. There is something original, too, and well |