And happiness too swiftly flies? Ver. 97. And happiness too swiftly flies.] Optima quæque dies miseris mortalibus ævi 100 Virg. Georg. iii. 66.-WAKEFIELD. Ver. 98. Thought would destroy, &c.] Soph. Ajax, 552.-WAKEFIELD. IV. HYMN TO ADVERSITY a. Ζηνα Τον φρονειν Βροτους όδω σαντα, τον παθη μαθος θεντα κυρίως εχειν. Eschylus, in Agamemnon, ver. 181. DAUGHTER of Jove, relentless Power, a This was the original title given to this Poem by the author, and was only altered by Mr. Mason, as he says, for the sake of uniformity in the page. The piece itself was first published, together with the Elegy in a Country Church-yard, in Dodsley's Collection. Of this piece, at once poetical and rational, I will not by slight objections violate the dignity.-JOHNSON. Ver. 1. Daughter of Jove, relentless Power.] Although the present motto was not at first affixed to this Hymn, yet it may reasonably be supposed that the author, in this line, had his thoughts upon the passage from Eschylus, rather than on the Πρεσβα Διος θυγατηρ Ατη of Homer, which is also quoted by Mr. Mitford, But the allusion to ancient mythology at all, in a Poem of a moral and pathetic character, has surely a chilling and unnatural effect. Verse 35 seems liable to the same objection. Ver. 2. Thou tamer of the human breast.] 66 Then he. Great tamer of all human art." Dunciad, i. 143. Whose iron scourge and tort'ring hour With pangs unfelt before, unpitied and alone. When first thy sire to send on earth 5 10 Ver. 3. Whose iron scourge and tort'ring hour.] There seems to be some little impropriety and incongruity in this. Consistency of figure rather required some material image, like iron scourge and adamantine chain.-WAKEFIELD. If there be any impropriety, says Mr. Mitford, in this, it must rest with Milton, from whom Gray borrowed the verse: "When the scourge Inexorably, and the torturing hour, Par. Lost, ii. 90. Ver. 5. Bound in thy adamantine chain.] Æschyl. Prom. Vinct.-WAKEfield. "In adamantine chains, and penal fire." Milton, Par. Lost, i. 48. "In adamantine chains shall death be bound." Pope, Mess. ver. 47. Ver. 7. And purple tyrants vainly groan.] Purpurei metuunt tyranni." Hor.-WAKEFIELD. Ver. 9. When first thy sire to send on earth.] This stanza is a convincing proof, that Mr. Gray could unite with strength and grandeur, ease, simplicity, and nature.—WAKEFIELD. What sorrow was, thou bad'st her know, 15 And from her own she learn'd to melt at others' woe. Scar'd at thy frown terrific, fly Self-pleasing Folly's idle brood, Wild Laughter, Noise, and thoughtless Joy, And leave us leisure to be good. Light they disperse, and with them go The summer friend, the flattering foe; By vain Prosperity received, 20 To her they vow their truth, and are again believed. Wisdom in sable garb arrayed, Immers'd in rapt'rous thought profound, 25 Ver. 16. And from her own she learn'd to melt at others' woe.] "Whose breasts ne'er learned to glow For others' good, or melt at others' woe." Pope's Elegy on an unfortunate Lady, 45. Ver. 18. Self-pleasing Folly's idle brood.] "Hence vain deluding joys, The brood of Folly.". Ver. 25. Wisdom in sable garb arrayed.] Milton, Il Pens. 1. "O'erlaid with black, staid Wisdom's hue." Milton, Il Pens. 16.-WAKEfield. Ver. 26. Immers'd in rapt'rous thought profound, And Melancholy, silent maid, With leaden eye that loves the ground.] "With even step and musing gait, Thy rapt soul sitting in thine eyes : Forget thyself to marble, till With a sad leaden downward cast Thou fix them on the earth as fast."-Il Pens. 38.-WAK. And Melancholy, silent maid, With leaden eye that loves the ground, Still on thy solemn steps attend: Warm Charity, the general friend, With Justice, to herself severe, And Pity, dropping soft the sadly-pleasing tear. Oh! gently on thy suppliant's head, Dread Goddess, lay thy chastening hand! Not in thy Gorgon terrors clad, Not circled with the vengeful band (As by the impious thou art seen) With thundering voice, and threatening mien, With screaming Horror's funeral cry, 30 35 Despair, and fell Disease, and ghastly Poverty: 40 Thy form benign, oh Goddess, wear, Thy milder influence impart, Thy philosophic train be there To soften, not to wound my heart. The generous spark extinct revive, Teach me to love, and to forgive, 45 Ver. 41. Thy form benign, oh Goddess, wear.] This last stanza breathes a most amiable spirit of benevolence, and dictates a lesson of pure and sublime morality, delivered in the utmost propriety and simplicity of language. It leaves the mind completely satisfied, and finishes with inimitable strength and fulness: What others are to feel, and know myself a Man. WAKEFIELD. |