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SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
pathy. This is the reason why men of warm imaginations so seldom fully relish a poem when read alone.
Robert Hall, in one remarkable passage, says, that the
most ardent admirer of poetry or oratory would not
consent to witness their grandest display on the sole
condition that he should never reveal his emoitions.
It is also generally, and perhaps always, joined wvith
a thirst of fame. This feeling impels the poet to make
arduous exertions. It is the passion wlichl, as meCtaphysicians say, is implanted in the human breast as an
incentive to deeds beneficial to society. -Whether it be
in its nature culpable or not, is perhaps a difficult question. Quintiliati says that if it be not itself a virtue, it
is certainly often the cause of virtuous actions; and
this assertion few will venture to question. And at all
events, this passion has ever been a characteristic of the
greatest men. Few have risen to eminence without its
aid. It existed largely in Byron. In verses writteni
shortly after the publication of his English Bards and
Scotch Reviewers, he says:
" The fire in the cavern of 2tna concealed,
Still mantles unseen in its secret recess;
At length in a volumne terrific revealed,
No torrent can quench it, no bounds can repress.
Oh, thus the desire in my bosom for fame
Bids me live but to hope for posterity's praise:
Could I soar with the Phoenix on pinions of flame,
With him I could wish to expire in the blaze."
How happy for the world had his genius led him to
seek applause in works designed for the good of man..
kind-in recommending religion and virtue by the melody of his verse and the influence of his life, instead of
adorning vice with the beauties of poetry!
When the thirst of glory is disappointed, the aspirant is apt to become a gloomy misanthropist, who
envies others the reputation which he cannot attain.
Much of the sullen melancholy shown by men of genius
may doubtless be ascribed to the perverted operation of
this principle. The portion of fame which falls to their
share is not sufficient to satisfy their wishes.
But after all, the most brilliant genius will avail
nothing without study. No illiterate man ever gained
renown as a writer. Some have become great without
the aid of foreign learning; but all have read and
thought. No man is born a poet in the ordinary sense
of the word. Whatever his own conceptions may be,
he cannot reveal them without the use of words; and
this knowledge can be acquired only by diligent study.
In all time it has been true that they who have read and
thought most, have made the greatest writers, whatever
line of science or literature they pursued. Or perhaps
there ought to be exceptions made in cases where the
mind has been misdirected, as among the schoolmen,
who spent their lives in perplexing themselves and
others with subtle questions which it was of no use to
solve. But however fruitless such labors as wasted
their energies may be, this at least is certain, that with out study no man will become great, whatever be his
natural talents. Even such towering geniuses as Ho mer, Aristotle, Cicero, Virgil, Shakspeare, Bacon, New ton, and Byron were not exempt from this necessity.
To conclude: Locke has sufficiently proved that all
our ideas are originally derived from the senses. These
first impressions form the basis of all human know ledge. General conclusions drawn from comparison of
such sensations are abstract thought. Reasoning and
reflection on these abstract ideas thus obtained, constitute speculations of still greater refinement. Comparing
and combining ideas in the mind, for the purpose of discovering relations as they exist in nature, is argument.
Such comparisons and combinations made for the purpose of pleasing, are works of fancy, or poetry. He
then wiho most carefully preserves his impressions, most
attentively considers and revolves his ideas, and most
closely and accurately compares them for the purpose
of discovering such combinations as nature has made,
or of combining anew the separate images into such
grand and beautiful fabrics as may suit the taste of
fancy, is likely to make the best philosopher or poet, as
his attention is mainly turned to one or the other.
Some difference in natural faculties no doubt exists, but
this is probably small.*
A LOAN TO THE MESSENGER.
No. I.
Here is a scrap fiom another of my poetical friends,
which has never seen the light, and which I will lend to
the readers of the Messenger for the month. I give it
as it came to me, apology and all, and doubt not it will
be well received by those to whom I now dedicate it.
J. F. 0.
3ly Dear 0,-Instead of writing something new for
your collection, I copy a few lines from a bagatelle,
written a few days ago to a woman who is worthy of
better verses: and, as they will never be published, of
course, they may answer your purpose.
Very truly yours, WILLIS.
Boston,.I/ugst, 1831.
TO -
Lady! the fate that made me poor,
Forgot to take away my heart,And'tis not easy to immure
The burning soul, and live apart:
To meet the wildering touch of beauty,
And hear her voice,-and think of duty:
To check a thought of burning passion,
When trembling on the lip like flame, And talk indifferently of fashion,A language choked till it is tame!
Oh God! I know not why I'm gifted
With feeling, if I may not love!
I know not why my cup is lifted
So far my thirsting lips above!
My look on thine unchidden lingers,
My hand retains thliy dewy fingers,
Thy smile, thy glance, thy glorious tone
For hours and hours are mine alone:
* Of course no Editor is responsible for the opinions of his contributors-but in the present instance we feel called upon in selfdefence to disclaim any belief in the doctrines advanced-and,
moreover, to enter a solemn protest against them. The Essay
on Genius is well written and we therefore admitted it. While
many of its assumptions are indisputable-some we think are
not to be sustained-and the inferences, generally, lag far behind
the spirit of the age. Our correspondent is evidently no phrenologist. —Ed.
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