Love and Poetry [pp. 76]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
They both enlarged the limits of Science. Before
the time of the Swedish philosopher, Botanists had
arisen in different countries; and from the earliest
periods, studies based on the objects of nature must
have drawn attention both for ornament and use.
Lord Bacon, from the elevation which hlie occupied
above the rest of his species, looked far into the wonders of Natural History; but Linnaeus took entire possession of the green and flowery land, and led ill the
tribes of men to enjoy its fragrance and pluck its firuit.
The poetical affections have from the infancy of time
been associated with vernal buds and flowers. Poetry,
when it assumes the form of language, is the melody
which the mind makes when the imagination is excited
by objects in the frame-vwork of nature, or by events
susceptible of picturesque representation. In the floral
games men were acting from ideal impulses, and they
were doing the same through the ages of chivalry.
They thus furnished materials out of which Tasso
reared his immortal work. But it is one thing to look
at objects as they sparkle through the medium of the
imagination, and another to open on the same objects
the eye of science. Many have celebrated the loves of
the Shells who have not understood Conchology, and
Darwin understood Plants scientifically without comprehending them poetically. But Linnmus possessed
astonishing invention, and he easily detected the errors
of ancient systems, and convinced mankind of the superiority of that system which bore the seal of his own
imperishable mind. In like mnianner the Ornithologist
did not strike out into ways entirely novel, but he extended paths on which men had hitherto gone for the
acquisition of knowledge. He has greatly enlarged
our views of the history and habits of the feathered
race. From the mountain's height, as well as in the
deepest recesses of the wilderness, hlie stretched out his
hand and clasped the blue and purple bird, that our
intellectual pleasures might be augmented.
Of these distinguished men, the success of Linneus
in life was by filr the more conspicuous. He eventually
reached every desire which he could at any time have
cherished. His Professorship at Upsal yielded him a
revenue equivalent to his wants. He thrust forth from
thence pupils in successive companies; but distance did
not diminish the veneration in vwhich they held his
person. Foreign countries sent him the symbols of
admiration-literary associations vied with each other
in doing him honor-and kings bestowed on him the
title of nobility. But it is probable that the rural life
of Tully and Pliny strongly impressed his imagination, for his highest ambition was to possess a villa.
He purchased Hammarby, which, under his direction,
became stocked with the productions of every clinime.
Here he held a kind of rural court, and, to use his own
language, was happier than any Eastern Sultan. Kings
and nobles sent presents to his villa, whilst pilgrim students detached for his use twigs from the Sabine farni,
and leaves from the tomb of Pausilippo. The Celtic
flower and the Turkish vine met in his green-house,
and the bird marked by the hues of the Tropics, found
a home on his lawn. But there is a contrast to this in
the circumstances of the Ornithologist too painful to
be distinctly traced; and he was one of the few who
have lived for that gratitude which reaches its object
only in the grave.
In that piety due from a creature to his Maker, Linneeus appears to have surpassed the Ornithologist.
The Swedish naturalist was remarkable for his gratitude, and he often mentioned in glowing words the
way in which he had been led to results and discoveries
so important. He felt his dependence when buried in
the solitude of the desart-nor did he forget to rear an
altar at Hammarby. But the Ornithologist probably
excelled him in some moral qualities, and among them
was disinterestedness. The love of money was a passion too strong with Linnmus, and too feeble for his
own comfort with Wilson-and neither of them, in
this particular, struck the golden medium. The sensibility of the Ornithologist was likewise more refined
than that of the Botanist. Linnwsus was buried in the
Cathedral of Upsal, with a pomp which kings alone
could bestow; but Wilson was not indifferent to the
spot in which he should repose. In going into battle
an Admiral once thought of a tomb in Westminster
Abbey-and Napoleon wished to lie on the Seine,
among the French people whom he had loved so well;
but the Ornithologist desired to be buried where the
birds could find access to his grave.
Each of these distinguished men created an wera in
Natural History. Some philosophers have associated
their names with the heavenly bodies, and we- are
reminded of them whenever we lift our thoughts to the
milky way, or to the planets as they turn in on their
bright pilgrimage to share the evening repose of our
world. Of some we are reminded by the balmy air,
or by the insects which make it vocal; and we call
others to remembrance when we look on the Peruvian
Lama, or the stately Lion: but so long as the earth
shall evolve its Plants, the Swedish sage cannot be forgotten-and so long as the birds can chant a note, the
Druid of Ornithology shall not want a requiem.
LOVE AND POETRY.
They bid me Poetry resign-the mandate I obey:
Farewell, forever then farewell, to the inspiring lay.
I go to other happiness-in a bright and sunny clime
I'll roveamid the orange groves, the olive, and the vine.
I'll sing and dance to merry strains of sonicme Italian
bandI'll dream- no more of Poetry, nor of" my native land;"
And as the gondolier doth guide me home from mirth
and song,
My thoughts shall with the gondola glide undisturbed
along.
I'll live for fetes and operas-I'll haunt the masquerade,
And all sweet visions of the Lyre shall from my memory
fade;
And Love-(for that were Poetry)-I must resign:
apart
The Lyre and Love can ne'er exist within the human
heart.
And now once nmore I bid adieu to all thy tender joys
Sweet Muse, and fly to festive scenes-to folly, mirilh
- and noise;
But ne'er amid these labyrinths, do I expect to find
A solace for the loss of Love and Poetry ecmibiled.
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