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It is, perhaps, some alleviation of the blunder committed by the committee, that they adjudged the piece which immediately follows to be the next in merit to that which gained the prize.

AN ADDRESS,

FOR THE OPENING OF THE CHATHAM GARDEN THEATRE,
NEW-YORK.

Triumphant power!-whose potent witchery,
From its clay temple, bids the Soul be free:
Whose wand'ring Minstrels, range with noiseless tread
Through sunless caves, and regions of the dead;

Or, from the World, borne in thy winged car,
'Rapt in soft visions, rove from star, to star,-
IMAGINATION! be thou Priestess here!-

Old Care, away! Hence! every sordid Fear.

Call from bright climes, Enchantment's glitt'ring throng,
To grace the palace of the sons of Song!

Taste rear'd the Stage; and hither Mem'ry brings
Those gilded scenes, of Youth's imaginings,
When Life is young, and glorious scenes arise,
Of flower-strew'd path's, and Summer evening skies;
When Love, and Hope, awake the bosom's glow,
And Time's swift waters, sparkle as they flow.

The bloody scenes that crimson Hist'ry's page,
The hand of Genius fashions for the Stage;
That the stern lessons which the dead impart,
May quell the passions, and amend the heart.
Loud rings the bugle; and in mortal strife,
Some strive for conquest, and some strike for life;
A brother's dagger, meets a brother's side,-
One plunge--and spouting pours the purple tide;
He reels-dark shadows circle round his head-
Shrieks shrill in death-and gasps on glory's bed.

What bosom thrills not, when immortal lyres
Breathe the sad dirge, when liberty expires?
What eye is tearless, when unholy power
Tramples in blood, fair Virtue's opening flower?
Or views unmov'd, the spectres of the grave,
Wake to Remorse, Ambition's royal slave?-
When Superstition guards a tyrant's throne,
And proud Oppression chides a nation's groan,
Who but exults, when some delivering arm,
Strikes home the poinard and dissolves the charm?

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POETRY.

AN ADDRESS

WRITTEN FOR THE SAME OCCASION.

By a young Lady of Philadelphia, not quite 14 years of age.

WHEN Athens mourn'd the chains her children wore,
When valor sunk and Nicias was no more;

When Grecian hearts felt galling slavʼry's pain,

And Victor Syracusa forged their chain;

When they who suffered death enjoyed relief,
And they who lived endured the greater grief.

'Twas then to soothe the woes their hearts that rung,
Strains of Euripides the Grecians sung:

The thrilling numbers their proud foes inspire,
Raise with their force, enrapture with their fire;
The Syracusans set their captives free,*
Such is the power of heavenly Poesy!

Her spells with undiminished force extend,
Where taste exists or learning claims a friend;
Thy sons, Columbia! now her influence own,
And bend before th inspiring Muse's throne;
For still, where freedom's smiles their charms diffuse,
The heart is most devoted to the Muse.

Here no oppressive impious power pollutes
Fair Freedom's shrine, nor Freedom's law disputes;
But learning's torch, and Freedom's lambent flame,
The same their worshippers, their vows the same,
Burn on one altar in one holy pyre-

Heroes prepared the rite; 'twas heaven that lit the fire.

Though here no patriots, sinking in despair,
Demand inspiring lays to bid them dare

A tyrant's hosts. and with avenging hand,

Hurl them to death, or sweep them from the land;
Yet there are feelings in the human reast,
That must be cherished or must be represt.
This to perform with just discerning art,
The Drama claims as her peculiar part;

She shows the paths where godlike wisdom smiles¿
Or Vice lies hid in Pleasure's treacherous wiles;

Gives the young mind the snares of vice to shun,

Points to the joys that wait on duty done;

Inspires the soul with heroes deeds to glow,
Joy in their triumphs, sorrow in their wo;

With taste refined, bids Shakspeare's magic page
Charm all the fancy, all the heart engage;
For fair Cornelia swells the gushing tear,
And the long sigh of sympathy for Lear.

• "Many of those who were preserved, after they got home, went to Euripides, telling him they had been released out of slavery for having taught their masters passages out of his writings." PLUTARCH.-Life of Nicias.

For you, ye fair, whose smiles attract our gaze,
Whose beauties in yon semi-circles blaze,
While we the banquet of the soul with care,
Chaste ev'n as Dian or yourselves, prepare,
Be it our boast that we ne'er caused to flame,
On beauty's modest cheek the blush of shame.

Ah! come each care-worn soul! with grief oppressed,
'Come to our shrine, forsaken and distressed.
Come, who the pain of faithless friends have proved,
Or borne th' insulting scorn of her you loved,
Here you shall griefs of sterner nature find,
More faithless friend, and mistress more unkind;
And learn when dangers, and when woes are past,
The honest heart is happy at the last.

While others faults we censure or deride, Be virtue's laws our own unerring guide,

And favoured by the good and wise, the STAGE,

Bright as our country's fame, shall live through every age.

FOR THE AMERICAN MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

SPRING-A SONG,

Along the dasied mead and plain,
Once more I meet the spring,
Her fav'rite tree is green again,
The red-breasts sweetly sing.

Again, the playful lambkins bleat
Delights the shepherd's ear;
And in the hawthorn bower I meet
The firstlings of the year.

But ah! no more the fond, the sweet
Enchanting tender smile,

The converse soft, no more I meet,
That charmed my soul the while.

No more I meet the dear warm heart
Whose welcome was divine,

ANNA.

Those looks! that told me without art
'Twas mine, and only mine!

J. La

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RETROSPECT OF POLITICS.

The political philosophers of the day seem to be in the full flow of disquisition on the great question of international law concerning the right of any third power to interfere in the quarrel between Spain and the government of South America. That celebrated political hair-splitter, George Canning, the most ingenious detector of minute distinctions that ever promulgated opinions, has started this question, by his efforts to theorise the world into a belief that the measures he has lately pursued in regard to Spain, have resulted from no selfish and sinister motives, but from a pure and pious desire to observe rigidly the duties imposed on him by the laws of nations. Liberal minded men in all countries, feel warmly in favour of the Southern patriots, and the British Islands abound with such men. Some of these have in parliament demanded of their government an explanation of its conduct and intentions respecting the patriots. Lord Liverpool, with considerable talent, replied to this demand in the House Lords. But his reply was unsatisfactory. It was a lorldy reply; full of assertions as to facts which might be true, but which he took no pains to prove, and of assumptions as to principles which might be correct and just, but which, from the indifference with which he advanced his reasons in their support, he seemed careless whether the world thought so or not. The world, in consequence, seems to have paid little attention to his explanation. His colleague, Mr. Canning, however in the house of commons, made ample amends for his Lordship's want of condescension. He there came forward bowing to the majesty of the people, acknowledging their right to inquire into the proceedings of the government, and professing himself happy in having the honour to satisfy them on the subject. Then did he launch forth his full powers on the subject, with all the zeal of a forensic advocate. Desirous of producing conviction, and perhaps full as ambitious of acquiring fame, he put into requisition all the resources of his powerful mind in order to produce an impression, and an impression almost to the extent of his wishes, he did produce. He poured the stream of his eloquence not only forcibly and fluently, but variously, into different channels, so

that it might reach every species of disposition, capacity and feeling that he wished to assail. His metaphors, his similies, and the rotundity of his diction delighted some; the profundity and novelty of his ratiocination enchanted others; while his opponents shrunk from the shafts of his ridicule; and his friends exulted merrily, and the walls of Saint Stephen's rang with frequent laughter at the drollery of his jokes, and the poignancy of his satire. His success was triumphant; opposition was quelled, and all who were not convinced were confounded; and parliament voted that he and his measures were every thing they pretended to be, namely, wise, just, generous, and honourable.

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The plausibility of his doctrines, is indeed well calculated to produce on the minds of superficial reasoners an acquiescence in their truth; and they carry with them an air of disinterestedness and forbearance which has caused them to be eulogized for generosity. The quarrel," says he, "in which the whigs wish us to involve ourselves, is one with which we have no right to interfere. It is between a neighbouring and friendly nation, and certain countries over which she long possessed a jurisdiction, which she has lately lost, but which she wishes to reposses. This she cannot do by persuasion. She has, therefore, a right to try force; and if she has that right, we can have none to prevent her. It is granted that it would be our interest to prevent her, for we derive immense pecuniary benefit from the disconnection that has taken place between her and her provinces. But let us show ourselves a generous and just nation; let us soar above avaricious and selfish considerations. What, if on a former occasion, we were treated differently by this very nation? Is it not the more glorious for us now to exhibit forbearance? Will it not crown us with immortal honour to fulfil, in the face of the world, that most difficult, but most godlike of all christian precepts which enjoins us to love our enemies, and to render good for evil. It is true, it would be unwise to carry our forbearance farther than right and justice require. Spain has a right to reconquer South America, if she can do so with her own forces, but she has no right to ask assistance. At all events, no vation has a right to lend her any. The whigs may, therefore, VOL. I.-No. VI.

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