Norwalk Gazette, Tuesday, January 19, 1836 · page 1

THE NORWALK GAZETTE.

 

VOL. 19.

NORXVALK, CONN. TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1836.

NO. 10.

THE LITERARY CHRONIC LE .

 

The fervor of refined poetic sentiment naturally tends to re-
iigions aspiration ; so true is it that, as the mind enlarges its
sphere ofinquiry, the afiections also expand ; and in the con-
templaton of the beauties ofthe creation, approach their beuifi-
cent author by iusensible degrees, until illumined and rapt in the
effulgence of his glory, the most noble emotions of the soul
leap upward to their source. The poet in all ages, however in-
volved in the mysteries of a false theology, has always, in the
phrenzy of composition, a character of spirituality, which we
shall look for in vain among the men of the world. However
degraded may be his character; however corrupt his princi-
ples; he can only shine in the radiant drapery of virtue, or
kindle admiration in the hearts of his readers by stealing, like
Prometheus, the sacred fire from the skes. ~ For he feels that
man only is truly great in proportion to his goodness ; and that
it is ‘a law of the divine government, by which heaven vindi-
cates its claim to the homage of its subjects, that nothing is
excellent that is not just, and nothing pure that is not elevated.
The greatest poets of antiquity even amid the debasing worship
of the Pantheon, have always appealed to the influences of re-
ligion and virtue, when desirous ofawakening the noble emotions
of the soul. and directing the affections to objects of benevolence
or patriotism. And few modern poets have had the hardihood
to abandon so enobling athemc, or to reject the inspirations of

that true Castaly which contains “the waters of life.” The,

very idea of poetry, is compatible with no other sentiment
than that of an aspiration after a something purer, holier, and
more beautiful than is contained in “ life's dull round,” or the
scope of man's sensual passions.

In turning over the leaves of Blackwood for November, our
attention has been drawn ‘to an article on Strong's Sonnets,
which,‘ though written in a strain of unmitigated eulogy, brings
to light some very good ‘poetry, some better, and some indiffer-
ent—but all rendered attractive by the grace of deep toned piety
and fervor. They are from the pen of a Clergyman, the Rev. Mr
Strong; and although written in the unpopular form of Son-
nets, to the fashion of which they adhere with scrupulous fidel-
ity, will no doubt introduce the poet into public favor. We
select a few, with an introductory paragraph from the critic.

 

“We look upon sonnets. when they are such as sonnets should
he, as cabinet pictures, each one complete in itself. Long poems,
with their episodes, and descriptive interposit.ions, may be whole
galleries ; but the sonnet is one highly finished picture, richly
framed, admitting, strictly speaking, butone promirietit idea, one
subject, every line tending to the point, as all within the frame
would converge to the principal object. They are cabinet pic-
tures, all of a size---the frames bespoken fourteen inehes in the
clear. There must not be severalthings. butone thing express-
ed. One impression alone must be made---and it is not the
arbitary will ofthe of the composer, but the necessity of the sub-
'ch must fix the termination at the fourteenth line. If it

ject, whi _ _
be good, you cannot add another line or thought. though with

A

such evil intention you put your imagination on the rack ; if
good, it will be like an epigram in its completeness; the old
Greek epigram in the modern sense rejecting its smartness,
which, ifit were not an impertinent term, would yet express the
necessity of the termination. It should show the pith and mar-
row of the whole in the concluding line---it is then that the ma-
ker lays down his pen with the dictum ofa master, “ Verbum
non amplius addam.”

BONNET V18.

“ Ocean 3 I love thee in thy boisterous mood,
\Vhen thy strong billows wrestle with the land,

Or with high crest careering o’er the strand,

Leap the dark clili‘, and scare the sea bird's brood ;

I love thee, Ocean, when by Zephyr woo’d

Thy placid waterstremblingly expand,

And his soft whisper greet with smiles, as bland ‘
As thy face were, when God first called thee good ;

Yet most I love thee when from low brow’d cave
I watch, as sheds the moon her golden path,
That leads to heaven across thy slumbering wave ;

But I abhor thee when, in senseless wrath,
Thou swallowest up the gentle and the brave,
In sight of home, and friends, that throng to save.”
soxm-2'1‘ IX.

“ Passing the enclousure where the dead repose
I saw, in sable weeds, a gentle pair

Lingering with fond regard at evening’s close,
Beside a little grave fresh swelling there ;
Silent they stootl---serene their thoughtful air;
There fell no tear, no vain complaint arose ;
Faith seem’d to prompt the unutterable prayer,
And to their view the eternal home disclose.

Next Sabbath brought me where the flow'ret lay,
Record of high descent the marble bore,
Heir ofa noble house, and only stay ;

And these words gather'd from the Bible’s store---
‘ The Lord hath given, the Lord hath ta’en away.
His holy namcbe blessed evermore.’ "

BONNET XIV.
“ \Vould I to healthful sounds reclaim my lyre !
I pierce the green wood to some flowery nook,
There on sweet Spencer cast regardful look ;
He chastens old, and kindles new desire.

Not more were wont the muses to inspire
Dreamers of old with draughtfrom sacred brook
Of Castaly, when strange emotion shook

Their tuneful souls, as winds the trembling wire.

From vain delights, and lay of slothful down,
Bewildercd thoughts, and soft infectious speech,
\Vho would escape must quit the impure town :

Returning, where, beneath the white arm’d beech,
By valley’s stream, or hillock’s verdant crown,
I-Ier simple lesson Nature waits to teach !"

SONNET xxvin.
“ I stood at gaze where the free hills arise
Whence rocks ’mid deepest solitudes are seen,
And glimmering through dark foliage, the blue shes:
Of ocean stained with heaven's own sapphire dyes

Ther. into the deep air I raised my eyes.

The steadfast dome was cloudless and serene,
Fit roof to over-arch so fair :1 scene.

For earth in loveliness, vied with the s i