Behold the Dreamer Cometh [pp. 711-713]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
711
WVisdom dotli live with children round her knees,
Books, leisure, perfect freedom and the talk
Man holds with week-day man in the hourly walk
Of the mind's business; these are the degrees
By which true sway doth mount; this is the stalk
True Power doth grow on; and her rights are these."
[Son. ded. to Liberty, part 1. No. 4. p. 118.
But we would never have done, did we attempt to
cite all the beautiful passages and noble sentiments
contained in these remarkable sonnets, which are
throughout of the highest excellence; than which there
is nothing finer of the kind to be met with in the whole
range of English, or anyother literature. Our extracts
have been purposely copious, knowing, as we did, that
the text would prove more grateful than any commentary we could offer, and believing that these sublime
verses, in honor and defence of liberty, are not sufficiently known to the American community. Before
we conclude, however, we cannot refrain fiom presenting to our readers two sonnets, which for splendid diction, classical elegance of style, truth and loftiness of
thought, we venture to say, stand unrivalled. The
germ of Byron's noble apostrophe,
Hereditary bondsmen, know ye not
Who would be free, themselves must strike the blow?
is to be found here, as finely expressed, but with serener
power.
ON A CELEBRATED EVENT IN ANCIENT HISTORY.
"A Roman Master stands on Grecian ground,
And to the concourse of the Isthmian games,
He by his Herald's voice aloud proclaims
The LIBERTY OF GREECE: The words rebound,
Until all voices in one voice are drowned:
Glad acclamation by which Earth was rent!
And birds, high flying in the element,
Dropped to the earth, astonished at the sound!
A melancholy echo of that noise
Doth sometimes hang on. musing Fancy's ear:
Ah that a Conqiteror's word should be so dear!
Ah that a boon could shed such rapturous joys!
A gift of that which is not to be given
By all the blended powers of Earth and Heaven."
[Son. ded. to Lib. part 2. No. 1. p. 121.
UPON THE SAME EVENT.
" When far and wide, swift as the beams of morn
The tidings passed of servitude repealed,
And of that joy which shook the Isthmian field,
The rough Etolians smiled with bitter scorn.
"'Tis known," cried they, "that he who would adorn
His envied temples with the Isthmian crownMust either win through effort of his own
The prize, or be content to see it won
By more deserving brows. Yet so ye prop,
Sons of the Brave who fought at Marathon!
Your feeble Spirits. Greece her head hath bowed,
As if the wreath of Liberty thereon
WVould fix itself as smoothly as a cloud,
Which, at Jove's will, descends on Pelion's top."
[Page 121.
Here we have the noblest poetry, the highest philosophy, the most generous sentiment, united. The
same beautiful spirit animates all these varied productions, whether the poet invoke the ancient glory of
England, or arouse the haughty Spaniard against the
ruthless invaders of his soil, or mourn and exult by
turn with the sturdy Switzer, and Tyrolese patriot; or
teach, as with an inspired tongue, that "from within
proceeds a nation's health," that its reliance must ever
be upon God and upon the virtue of its people, rather
than upon t he "visible power" of armies and of fleets,
or the policy of " o'erweening statesmen." Whatever
be his subject or his aim, the same high reason, exalted
philanthropy, and religious reverence for the rights of
humanity-the same deep conviction that Power Divine
watches, joins in, and overrules the actions of men,
pervade these lofty and beautiful strains. They must
and will be read with unequalled delight by all those
who have correct principles, generous sentiments, and
pure taste-who love liberty and detest tyranny in
every shape, however bright with glory, or resplendent
with fame. This poet should be dear to every man of
an erect and republican spirit. Despite the banner
under which he is enlisted, still, in his own spirited
words
He doth love
The liberty of man.
WVe think we see him seated upon a lonely hill, far
off from the strifes and the turmoil of the world; the
clouds careering above his head; the quiet lake of his
adoption, low down in the vale beneath his feet; the
eagle soaring heavenward on wheeling pinions. We
think we see him, alone with God and with his spirit,
glowing with high thoughts and lofty inspirations, until
his eye kindles, his whole frame expands, and his face
becomes like that of an angel!
"Blessings be with them and eternal praise
Who gave us nobler loves and nobler cares,
The poets who on earth have made us Heirs
Of Truth and pure delight by heavenly lays!"
[.4liscell. Son. part 1. No. 41. p. 1 00.
"BEHOLD THE DREAMER COMETH."'
"And there lay visions swift, and sweet, and quaint,
Each in its thin sheath like a chrysalis;
Somne eager to burst forth, some weak and faint
With the soft burthen of intensest bliss."
Shelley.
I was alone in the dark world!
Had lost my wife and child!
A chilling sense of desolation
Stole o'er my shuddering frame.
My brain was wild by fits-by fits my heart stood still;
As when the sudden tempest sweeps
With rapid wing, o'er Ocean's tranquil breast,
His mighty waves to phrenzy lash'd,
Sport with the roaring winds,
And then, in sullen majesty, subside.
Time waves his magic wand and grief
Discards her sombre robes. The ruler of the winds
Hath given bounds to woe. A gentle calm
Came o'er my troubled soul-my heart
Grew tender as a child's.
A simple tale of sorrow
Would move my breast to pity
And melt my eyes in tears.
My soul had known the charm
Of sweet communion with a kindred soul,