The poetical works of Edgar Allan Poe, with original memoir. Illustrated by F. R. Pickersgill, R.A., John Tenniel, Birket Foster, Felix Darlay [and others]

THE POETIC PRINCIPLE.
upon a work of Art, rather by the impression it makes-by the effect it produces-than by the time it took to impress the effect, or by the amount of
" sustained effort" which had been found necessary in effecting the impression.
The fact is, that perseverance is one thing and genius quite another-nor can
all the Quarterlies in Christendom confound them. By and by, this proposition, with many which I have been just urging, will be received as
self-evident. In the meantime, by being generally condemned as falsities,
they will not be essentially damaged as truths.
On the other hand, it is clear that a poem may be improperly brief.
Undue brevity degenerates into mere epigrammatism. A very short poem,
while now and then producing a brilliant or vivid, never produces a profound
or enduring effect. There must be the steady pressing down of the stamp
upon the wax. De Beranger has wrought innumerable things, pungent and
spirit-stirring; but, in general, they have been too imponderous to stamp
themselves deeply into the public attention; and thus, as so many feathers
of fancy, have been blown aloft only to be whistled down the wind.
A remarkable insteance of the effect of undue brevity in depressing a
poem-in keeping it out of the popular view-is afforded by the following
exquisite little Serenade:
I arise from dreams of thee
In the first sweet sleep of night,
When the.winds are breathing low,
And the stars are shining bright.
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