and free from the chains of party spirit, he is f formed for the Law, giver, not of a single community only, but of nations. Since to know the laws, by which we are governed, and to yield to them a free obedience, is an essential part of the science and duty of life I have thought, that their study ought to be in introduced into our University, and and make part of its liberal institutions. Two of the learned professions receive there all the advantages which can be derived from books, and from Professors, who add to the knowledge of ancient learning the embellishments of modern grace, and elegance. The benefactors, whose names are mentioned with due encomiums on its annual solemnity, have laid rich foundations for the study of the other sciences. Private munificence has recently established ap institution for the culture of Botany. Eloquence likewise, under the auspices of the American Quintilian, the ornament both of the senate and the chair, and able to exhibit a model as well as to give the From Aikin's Annual Review, WE maintain that the poets, who have flourished during the reign of George III, have produced as great a quantity of lasting poetry, as those who flourished during the reign of Elizabeth, or any other half-century of the British annals. The tragedies of that age live; so will the comedies of ours. Our chorus-dramas, and our ballads, are decidedly superiour to those of our ancestors: so are our elegies, and songs,and odes, One good translation, Fairfax's Tasso, has been bequeathed to us from the times of Elizabeth we have Sothe. by's Oberon, and several other masterpieces, whose collective weight makes a counterpoise. And why should a rude age he favourable to the production of good poetry? Rudeness implies a publick of bad criticks; an ignorance of history,of antiquities,, of the limits of nature, likely to tolerate the absurdest violations of truth, costume, geography, and proba precepts of his art, has just joined the fraternity. But when, I ask, are wit, learning, richness of language, harmony of utterance and all the treasures of eloquence, most honourably employed? Surely when defining the boundaries of right and wrong, when defending innocence, when pursuing guilt, when, in fine, they are subservient to that science, "which employs in its theory the noblest faculties of the soul, and exerts in its practice the cardinal virtues of the heart." A new object presents itself for the munificence of our fellow citizens. Can they render a more valuable service to their country, than by contributing to the excellence of its laws, and to the purity of their administration? Soon then may there be enrolled among the publick benefactors of that University some generous patron of Ju risprudence, whose name shall be encircled with wreaths of perpet, ual honour, and from whom there may constantly flow rays of a divine quality for the ornament of the state and for the happiness of the citizens. vol. 4th, page 563. bility. Accordingly, the poets of rude ages, who are no more nor less likely than others to have genius, commonly offend by want of taste: and this frequently in so great a degree, as to condemn their works to be refashioned; in which case,the modernizer runs away with the praise. Homer indeed originated early, but was probably corrected by a good critick, in an age of taste. Tasso, who has produced the next best poem to Homer, flourished in the au tumn, not the spring, of Italian culture. Virgil bloomed in an age of refinement, and Claudian was still a poet. The fu neral song of Hacon is a fine ode: but. so is the bard of Gray. The tragedies of Schiller, the fabliaux of Wieland, were composed at the very close of the eighteenth century; just before the French revolution had blunted the acme of human refinement. The proportion of good specimens of poetry produced in rude times is very small. 1 For the Monthly Anthology. EXPERIENCE ; OR, “ FOLLY AS IT FLIES.” A POEM, DELIVERED Before The BK SOCIETY, AT CAMBRIDGE, AUG, 28, 1806. • BY BENJAMIN WHITWELL. ARGUMENT. PROVIDENCE having directed that man should be ignorant of future events, he is stimulated to proceed through life by the hope of enjoyment still to be at. tained. It is the moral of the poem to represent, if the same motives and passions actuate us which have governed others, that by observation of the course, which they have followed, we may learn where our own will terminate; that similar conduct will produce similar consequences; that neglect and oblivion will be the fate of the indolent and profligate ; fame the reward of 'industry and enterprise. These remarks are intended to be illustrated by an allegory. Life is represented as the journey of a day ; the traveller, man, having passed the stage of infan. cy, and arrived near the close of youth, just verging on manhood, we find him encircled by Health, Love, and Beauty, eager to distribute their blessings. Discontented with his situation, he rejects them all . Care persuades him that he is a slave to the restraint of parental authority, and Hope whispers that Time will bring release. Time arrives, leaves Experience ; the traveller, still advancing, requests Experience to direct his course, who answers, It is only my duty to advise, by the decree of fate ; I must follow where you shall lead, and instruct you in your course, whether you shall yield to the persuasions of pleasure, or obey the dictates of wisdom. Observe this mirrour, oppose it to the past, and the reflection exhibits the future. They differ more in name than in reality, being alike to the eye of Omniscience. The traveller inspects the mirrour, and discovers a concourse of people spread over a flowery plain and a rugged mountain ; the beauty of the plain exclusively engrosses his attention, and, at his request, Experience explains the different objects which it presents. It is inhabited by the proud and indolent, who usurp the honours and rewards due to virtue and industry. Among these are the votarics of wealth and of fashion. After describing the court of Fashion, still proceeding in their journey, they successively view various parts of the plain. The pretenders to science, the literary fop, the itinerant, the lawyer, and the apostate politician described. This last character contrasted with that of the upright statesman, terminating with a respectful tribute to the late President Adams. When Experience ceases, the traveller again examines the objects which wer first presented; he discovers a path leading through the plain to the mountain, on wliich the temple of Fame is erected. He is eager to ascend the summit. Experience replies, You must now be undeceived; having spent the day with Fashion and Folly, your strength is exhausted, and Time, having nearly finished his course, the attempt would be fruitless. It was my duty to teach this lesson, that the future resembles the past. To impress this truth, your senses have been deceived by presenting to your view only the vacant frame of a mir. rour ; objects, which appeared reflected, were represented in distant prospect; you have not been an idle spectator, but an actor in those scenes of vice and pleasure. Had you chosen to have explored the mountain, which promised glory, and not to have wandered through the plain, which offered transient delight, my advice and instruction would have been as readily offered to have cro acquainted you with the various paths which lead to the summit. Farewell; and remember, it is the fate of man, that Time flies too soon, and Experience arrives too late. The traveller, having reviewed his course, observes before him Time, at a distance, on the edge of the horizon, descending with the western sun; not like him again to appear in the east ; for as Time recedes, the eternal night of Death approaches. 'TIS Heaven's decree, in mercy, that mankind Is Life to man the journey of a day? Now Health invites, behold the laughing hours The blush collected from the fernal rose, Whence is the stifled sigh of discontent ? That Time his pinion poised, his sands have stopt, To him the traveller now approaching cried, "^orra For me to follow...thou alone must lead: As we advance, each course shall be displayed Behold this mirrour, whose reflective power, 50 Just like the past, presents the future hour; The opposing figures differ but in name, To the omniscient eye they are the same. The gallant chivalry of England wears ....Like Jove dethroned her sire, she then designed Thus her edict..." a traitor him proclaim, 90 Expelled the demon to the swinish herd... • The cestus, the girdle of Venus, is described in the Iliad, book XV. 1 The Graces, maids of honour to the queen, In graceful folds around her feet they wind, 100 Or fall in flowing negligence behind. Now in transparent drapery displayed, When Vice beneath the mask of Pleasure sways, 110 Indignant Virtue suļlenly obeys. Then mingled ranks no marks distinct express, Then she conceals her wild, licentious air, 120 Her boisterous accent, her intrepid stare, Her rough salute, her cheek with rouge imbued, For when such meteors baneful influence shed, 130 Fools gape and gaze at mischief, wise men dread. Be thou advised ; and if thy curious eye Tired of this prospect, be the scenery changed ; Who scorns in secret her degenerate train, 140 Their wisdom cunning, and their art chicane. |