OR, A

DICTIONARY

OF

ARTS, SCIENCES, AND MISCELLANEOUS

LITERATURE;

ENLARGED AND IMPROVED.

THE SIXTH EDITION.

Jllustrated with nearly sir hundred Engravings.

VOL. XVII.

INDOCTI DISCANT; AMENT MEMINISSE PERITI.

EDINBURGH:
PRINTED FOR ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND COMPANY;

AND HURST, ROBINSON, AND COMPANY, 90, CHEAPSIDE,

LONDON.

1823.

HIST Änna.
WALCORD
10-8-68
7I176-129
ADD. VOL.

ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA.

POETRY, Part II. Sect. 2. continued.

,

I 22

I 20

The song.

Of Lyric HE variety of subjects, which are allowed the lyric Longinus has preserved a fragment of Sappho, an an- of Lyric Poetry.

Poetry. poet, makes it necessary to consider this species of cient Greek poetess, which is in great reputation amongst poetry under the following heads, viz. the sublime ode, the critics, and bas been so happily translated by Mr the lesser ode, and the song. We shall begin with the Philips as to give the English reader a just idea of the

The Saplowest, and proceed to that which is more eminent. spirit, ease, and elegance of that admired author , and phic ole.

I. Songs are little poetical compositions, usually set show how exactly she copied nature. To enter into the
to a tune, and frequently sung in company by way of beauties of this ode, we must suppose a lover sitting by
entertainment and diversion. Of these we have in our his mistress, and thus expressing his passion :
language a great number; but, considering that num-

Blest as th' immortal gods is he,
ber, not many which are excellent; for, as the duke of

The youth who fondly sits by thee,
Buckingham observes,

And sees and hears thee all the while
Though nothing seems more easy, yet no part

Softly speak, and sweetly smile.
Of poetry requires a nicer art.

'Twas this depriv'd my soul of rest,

And rais'd such tumults in my breast; The song admits of almost any subject ; but the For while I gaz'd, in transport tost, greatest part of them turn either upon love, contentment,

My breath was gone, my voice was lost. or the pleasures of a country life, and drinking. Be the

My bosom glow'd, the subtle flame subject, however, what it will, the verses should be easy,

Ran quick through all my vital frame : natural, and flowing, and contain a certain barmony, so O'er

my

dim eyes a darkness hung; that poetry and music may be agreeably united. In these

My ears witla bollow murmurs rung.
compositions, as in all others, obscene and profane ex-

In dewy damps my limbs were chill'd,
pressions should be carefully avoided, and indeed every My blood with gentle horrors thrillid;
thing that tends to take off that respect which is due My feeble pulse forgot to play;
to religion and virtue, and to encourage vice and im- I fainted, sunk, and dy'd away.
morality. As the best songs in our language are al-

After this instance of the Sapphic ode, it may not The Ana.
ready in every hand, it would seem superfluous to in-
sert examples. For further precepts, however, as well

be improper to speak of that sort of ode which is called crcontic Anacreontic; being written in the manner and taste of o

code. as select examples, in this species of composition, we may refer the reader to the elegant Essay on Song Anacreon, a Greck poet, famous or the delicacy of his Writing, by Mr Aikin,

wit, and the exquisite, yet easy and natural, turn of his The distin- II. The lesser ode. The distinguishing character of poesy. We have several of his odes still extant, and guishing this is sweetness; and as the pleasure we receive from

many modern ones in imitation of him, which are mostof the lesser this sort of poem arises principally from its soothing and ly composed in verses of seren syllables, or three feet affecting the passions, great regard should be paid to the

and a half. language as well as to the thoughts and numbers.

We shall give the young student one or two examples

of his manner from Mr Fawkes's excellent translation.
Th’ expression should be easy, fancy ligh;

The following ode on the power of gold, which had
Yet that not seem to creep, nor this to fly:

been often attempted but with little success, this gentle-
No words transpos'd, but in such order all,

man bas translated very happily.
As, though hard wrought, may seem by chance to fall.
D. BUCKINGHAM's Essay.

Love's a pain that works our wo;

Not to love is painful too :
The style, indeed, should be easy: but it may

be also

But, alas! the greatest pain
florid and figurative. It solicits delicacy, but disdains Waits the love that meets disdain.
affectation. The thoughts should be natural, chaste, and

What avails ingenuous worth,
elegant; and the numbers various, smooth, and harmo- Sprightly wit, or noble birth ?
A few examples will sufficiently explain what All these virtues useless prove;

Gold alone engages love.
Vol. XVII. Part I.

+
A

May

123

121

ode.

we mean.

Of Lyric
Poetry.

(E) We give this translation, both because of its excellence, and because it is said to have been the production of no less a man than the late Lord Chatham.