The very yew formality had train'd The fountain was a-dry-neglect and time The statue, fallen from its marble base, On every side the aspect was the same, For over all there hung a cloud of fear, * Hood. MAY MORNING.1 Now the bright morning-star, day's harbinger, Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire Milton. (1) Not the least charm of this graceful salutation to May morning is the sudden change of the metre in the fifth line, which seems as it were to introduce us at once into the presence of the fair vision, whose approach is indicated by the previous passage. (2) Green lap-Spenser describes "faire May" as "throwing flowers out of her lap around." (3) Woods and groves, &c.-i. e. thou deckest them with verdure. LAVINIA. THE lovely young Lavinia once had friends; Like the gay birds that sung them to repose, (1) Dejected-cast down, referring to the eyes, not to the feelings; a very peculiar application of the term. (2) Polished-Dr. Johnson has proposed a critical canon, which though not universally true, may perhaps be considered as applicable here. It is that “an epithet or metaphor drawn from nature ennobles art; an epithet or metaphor drawn from art degrades nature." As in1 the hollow breast of Apennine, Thomson. STONEHENGE.2 THOU noblest monument of Albion's isle! 6 We muse on many an ancient tale renowned.7 Thomas Warlon. (1) As in, &c.—Compare this beautiful passage with Gray's lines, beginning "Full many a gem," p. 62. (2) This word, though the name of an ancient British memorial, seems to be Anglo-Saxon, and signifies hanging, or hung up stones. See Philological Society's Journal, No. 130. (3) Merlin-a renowned enchanter, as he was called, who lived in the times of King Arthur, and who is fabulously said to have transported these stones from Africa, first to Ireland, and thence to Salisbury Plain. (4) Amber's fatal plain-so called from Ambrose, the uncle of King Arthur; styled "fatal" from the massacre of the Britons, which is said to have taken place here. (5) Pendragon-Dragon's head-a name of office; here probably meant for Uther Pendragon, the father of Arthur. (6) Brutus-The great-grandson of Æneas, who is fabulously said to have landed at Totnes, in Devonshire, and made himself king of the island, giving it the name of Britain from his own. See Milton's "History of Britain." (7) "Nothing can be more admirable than the learning here displayed, or the inference from it, that it is of no use but as it leads to interesting thought and reflection."-Hazlitt. H THE FIRMAMENT.1 WHEN I survey the bright So rich with jewels hung, that night My soul her wings doth spread, The Almighty's mysteries to read So silent, but is eloquent No unregarded star Into so small a character, Removed far from our human sight; But if we steadfast look, We shall discern In it, as in some holy book, How man may heavenly knowledge learn. BEES.2 Habington. YE musical hounds of the fairy king, Who hunt for the golden dew, Who track for your game the green coverts of spring, With the peal of your elfin3 crew! (1) These fine lines-and the first four especially deserve the epithet-were written in the early part of the seventeenth century. (2) This little poem presents a new and graceful handling of a trite subject. The first and last stanzas are original and striking. (3) Elfin-from the Anglo-Saxon alf, an elf, fairy. The Anglo-Saxons had their dun, or inountain elfs, wood elfs, water elfs, &c. How joyous your life, if its pleasures ye knew, Ye wander the summer year's paradise through, But unenvied your joys, while the richest you miss, Who would part with his cares for enjoyment like this, MUSIC ON THE WATERS.? THE foot of music is on the waters, Now it lingers among the billows, Oft she flies, and her steps though light And the flood is unstirred as the calm blue ether. (1) The tears, &c.-i. e. the sorrows of earth may be appointed by God, as the very means of fixing the affections on heaven. (2) The measure of these lines very aptly illustrates their subject; this is effected by an artful and ingenious intermingling of various metrical feet. The following scheme of the first stanza will exemplify the remark. The points out the accented syllables. 100-1 The advancing and receding in the last line are most skilfully represented. (3) Orestes' daughters-It is difficult to say who Orestes' daughters were; probably the Oreads, or mountain nymphs are meant. |