University of Virginia Library

In Fancy's day-dream, over classic ground
Oft have I wander'd, where, of old, the sons
Of patriot freedom, with extatic bliss
Imbib'd, fair Eloquence! thy sweetest tones,
And prov'd thy voice was virtue's. From the scenes
Ennobled by thy worth, as I with-drew
My ardent gaze to Albion, I have mourn'd
Thy slighted honors in my native Isle;
And fondly judg'd it no ungenial spot
For thy sublime exertions, would the race
Of Britons, thine auspicious aid implore.

Spirit of Athens, o'er my Albion breathe
The charms of genuine oratory! Here,
Here only, flourish those protecting laws,
In which the freeborn triumph! Here alone
The senate in that threefold power exists
Once deem'd chimerical! Religion, here,
Sheds her pure beams! Hence Eloquence may soar
To heights, which Rome or Athens never knew.

Since, then, the temporal good of man requires
The skill of the forensic tribes; and claims
From legislative wisdom, the rever'd,
The guardian voice; since higher interests ask
The preacher's warning; come, Preceptive muse,
And teach, how varied language may affect
The listening audience with persuasion's force;
Where, eloquent in law, the bar displays
Its council; where the senate boasts its chiefs,
Nobles or delegates; and where, devote
To heaven, the pulpit animates its sons!

Proceed, my song: And thou, ingenuous youth,
To whom thy native talents point the path
Which TULLY trac'd, attend!—for vain the toil
Unblest by Nature. What tho' he, whose voice
Shook PHILIP's throne, had power to brace the nerve
Of faultering speech, as to the dashing waves
With harsh and painful utterance he declaim'd;
Yet in his first wild efforts shone the flame
Of genius, heaven-inspir'd. With kindred powers
Endued, (perhaps inferior) mock not those
Who hold, that classic science best improves
The mental vigor. For, unless thou meet
The eye of wisdom 'midst her olive shade
Where PLATO rov'd; or view the trophied fields
A LIVY painted; or, in fancy, feel
Elysian raptures, such as MARO sung;
Ah! vainly wilt thou boast that polish'd taste—
That knowlege, which, effusing light and warmth,
Charms and invigorates the soul intent
On high pursuits, ambitious to command
Applause, and eager to bid myriads hang
In mute suspension, on attractive sound.

Nor, vers'd in classic volumes, may'st thou scorn
The geometric symbol, fittest found
To rein careering fancy, and the mind,
Tho' wavering, fix to its important aims.

Meanwhile, my British pupil, Albion's tongue
Merits thy study; whether, at its roots
Saxon or Celtic, thou commence thy search,
Or mark its Roman offspring, or observe
Its manly force and copiousness, that seem
To rival energetic Greece; tho' oft
The hissing syllables and uncouth sounds
Its barbarous origin to memory call.

Thus with preparatory knowlege stor'd,
Thy favorite object vig'rously pursue
Thro' regions, where the masters of thy art
Nurture the shoots of blooming genius. There,
The first in critic wisdom shall repress
Each scion's wild exuberance, and prune
Its richly-vegetative growth: tho' harsh
His frowning features, yet, awhile, restrain
Within the limits of his hallow'd walks
Thy footsteps; ere thy far-excursive mind
Wing'd from the portico to distant scenes,
Amidst the turrets of Palmyra, pant
To meet her daring critic, and admire
His animated form! I see—I see
His fervid soul exulting, as he fires
With all the blaze of coloring, at a stroke,
Each image that a rhetor would express
With cold deliberate pencil, less obscure.

But, not impatient of restraint, still yield
Thy genius to the rhetor's forming hand,
Submissive: and, if fair Lyceum's shade
Hath long detain'd thy steps, go, turn thy view
To where the bowers of Tusculum receive
Their liberal father, from a world's applause
Retiring oft, to taste the placid joy
Of philosophic silence. O revere
That spot, where many a salutary rule
Of oratorial wisdom, from his pen
Flow'd in clear sense and harmony of style;
Whose more diffusive elegance shall gain
Thy pleas'd attention; and refresh thy mind
Strengthen'd by argument, and vers'd in laws
Of rigid definition. Nor in vain
Shall he, of later age, whose science strove
To raise the drooping art, while pallid Rome
Cursd her last CÆSAR, claim thy listening ear
Full oft, as studious fancy points the way,
Enter his school with reverence, and attend
His fluent lecture, rising from the source
Of genuine sense—the fountain of thy art.

For deem not these are arbitrary laws
Of vanity, self-plum'd: 'twas Nature's self
Bade them from truth and oratory rise!
To artifical rules, by critics drawn,
Long pre-existent, eloquence o'erwhelm'd
With rapid force the million!—Yet the few,
Whose judgment with a calm undazzled eye
Could note the impetuous energies, resolv'd
Its various form, and trac'd its secret springs
Dispelling wide the obscurity, that veil'd
Its origin, erewhile but dimly seen!

Hence, then, the laws to govern all, but those
Whom liberal nature bids disdain controul,
Pre-eminent in genius. Now, more free,
From rules to models thy attention turn—
Mirrors of imitation! Now releas'd
From frigid rhetors, catch the sacred fire
Of the bright orator, that, rising, steals
With gradual inspiration, thro' the frame!
Mark, how he throws with graceful air, the veil
Of modesty, o'er merits he disclaims
With all the diffidence of eyes afraid
To meet the favouring audience! Mark, how clear,
Concise and unadorn'd the simple facts
He states with seeming artlessness! And, see,
In subtleties of logic how he weaves
The various texture! Mark, how strong, he rolls
Sudden, his awful eloquence; or winds,
How smooth, the soft insinuating stream!
And, lo, the passions his dominion own
In many a quick emotion, while they dart
Electric thro' the crowd, that rous'd, impell'd,
Feel, as he feels; and practice, as he wills!

Thus, while the proud democracy of Greece
Foster'd the flame of liberty; her tribe
Of heroes and of legislators, flush'd
With glory, felt the oratorial strain
Inspire their breasts! Then each emotion throbb'd
Decisive of his patriot worth, who breath'd
In manly phrase that energy of truth—
That greatness which o'ershoots all vulgar aim!

Thus thro' the forum the contagion ran
Where TULLY spoke, who, as each heart disclos'd
Strait at his bidding all its secret views
And sentiments and passions, could address
Its various feelings; soothe its cares; and seem,
Tho' every thought he moulded at his will,
To echo but opinions freely-form'd,
And voluntary wishes!—while he past
In rich diffusion, from the simple strain
To figurative beauties; from the flash
Of sportive wit, to bosom-thrilling tales
Of pathos; master of the melting soul!

Not so the Speakers of our isle command
Their auditors; tho' some may justly claim,
Young Orator, thine imitative toil;
Whether thy ripening genius would explain,
Or frame, the laws, and guard the fleeting forms
Of property; or open, by the keys
Of evangelic writ, the gates of heaven!

Whate'er thy destin'd province, note the modes
Of those who, long conspicuous there, adorn
Solidity of matter, with the grace
Of unaffected eloquence; who, pleas'd
By no adulterate colors, would disdain
The florid decoration: thither turn
Attentive, and observe their beauteous dress
Of thought; yet dare not imitate, ere vers'd
In law's abstruser volume, or the tome
Of sacred wisdom. Rather pause, awhile,
Amid the rich materials that may yield
Thy memory stores of knowlege, to assist
Thy future action: hence the willing words
In just expression never cease to flow,
And luminously paint the living thought!

Instructed in variety of rules
And perfect models, see thy gradual art
Developing her end, persuasion, points
Thy ceaseless studies, to her object, man.

Fix, therefore, on the ways of man, thine eye;
While, at thy voice, philosophy undraws
The mystic curtain, that from vulgar sight
Conceals the springs of action; and explore
The cause of every visible effect
Which strikes the sense, in all the varying modes
Of countenance or mien. The internal mind
Unveil'd, pursue it thro' its outward forms;
Studious to catch the Proteus, as it shifts
In wild variety. But, lest thy search
Obscur'd by complicated views, in vain
Essay from genuine nature to detach
Those adventitious qualities, produc'd
By fashion or by art,—go seek the scenes
Of barb'rous life: survey the uncultur'd breast
How simple in its energies—how pure
From artificial tincture! See yon chief
Beneath his plantain-canopy of shade,
(The hoary father of his Indian tribe)
In attitude to speak! And hark—his voice,
Rude Orator! awards in solemn tones
The fearful sentence; or announces, urg'd
By social spirit, the decrees of law;
And now, in milder strain, of other days
Recounts traditionary tales, well vers'd
In oral lore; or points, while nature glows
Thro' all his artless gestures, to the hills
Whose horizontal azure skreens his heaven!

Meantime the untutor'd hearers, with rude signs
Not inexpressive of the moral sense
Stamp'd on each heart—of fancy tho' enclos'd
By narrow boundaries—of the affections, wild
In native force; the veteran chieftain hail
Their judge, their legislator, father, friend.

And yet, within a space how small, comprest
His various office lies! For few the wants,
Desires, pursuits of life, where nature reigns
Sole arbitress! External objects there
Of good and evil, thinly-scatter'd, give
Few images to sense; while judgment views
The ideas faintly; or young fancy forms
The blissful or the heart-appalling dream;
Or, in alternate hues, the passions throw
The light and shade of pleasure and of pain,
Harsh and unblended, o'er the barb'rous breast;
Whose every vehement emotion speaks
The impulses of love, hope, hatred, fear,
As savage nature dictates, unrestrain'd.

While, thus, the rising image of thy art
Cöeval with the social spirit, dawns
On the rude mind, whose inward motions strike
The sense, in forms unvaried, undisguis'd—
Lo, where refinement spreads, in mingled hues,
Her varnish o'er the character, and opes,
Amidst her world of manners, the warm source
Of nicer feelings! Hence unfolding, start
Such objects into life, as oft defy
Intractable, the whole collected powers
Of eloquence. The self-complacent air
As conscious of equality; the eye
Of critic sapience glanc'd, superior, down;
The coldness, that contemns the richer vein
Of glowing thought; the speculative views
Of reason, too refin'd; the sceptic's doubt
Perplexing truth; and each illusive art
Of specious casuistry, “whose melting tongue,
While all is false and hollow,” soothes the ear;
And penetration's insight that detects
The Orator's design, tho' deeply plann'd;
And interest's venal offspring; and the race
Of prejudice; and all the lurking spawn
Of dark suspicion—these full oft prevail
And “dash maturest counsels.” Nor, meantime,
Doth fancy, vitiated and vain, applaud
Pure unobtrusive elegance, or feel
Simplicity's attractions; and a taste
Too delicately-sensitive, shrinks back
From spots invisible to common eyes!

Here, too, the affections spring from fashion's mould,
How chang'd their features! the constraint, that checks
The fervor of expression nature loves,
And smothers feeling; the deceitful front
Whose eye-brow shews emotions which the heart
Disclaims; and all the variegated train
Of passions in assemblage; such are seen
In polish'd life, requiring the controul
Of energetic genius, that alone
Raises to high pre-eminence thy art.

Yet, who, while such a meed awaits his toil,
Would fly to shades inglorious; idly there
To waste his talents in the lap of ease?
Who, while so great the triumph, would forego
Powers, that might crush corruption; or exalt
The passions into dignity and worth!

Turning from general picture, where appears
The savage haunt or soften'd scene; observe,
How meliorated life o'er Albion's isle
Streams its peculiar colors;—fond to trace
Amid these shores, the wonders of thy art,
That fires the frigid genius of the north
With quick enlivening spirit; can correct
With lenient charm its irritable nerve;
On inborn valor stamp the sterling worth
Of noble sentiment; repress the hopes
And fears of fond credulity; improve
To charity divine the generous bent
Of British tempers; and expand the love
Of freedom, more than patriot, into views
Of universal liberty! Tho' rare
Effects so splendid, yet the impanell'd train,
The conscript worthies, and the mingled race
That catch the sacred oracles, have own'd
Such wonders; while their Orator's keen eye
Search'd, thro' each scene, the little world of man.

And, now, contract thy survey, and approach
The varied manners, as they mark the bar,
The senate, and the fane; and see, from each
Distinct, the essentials of the oration rise.

If, then, within the precincts of the bar,
Intelligence display the simpler lines
Of reas'ning in the Jury, as, intent
On points of property or life that teem
With various facts, and studious to collect
Unvarnish'd proof, they trace the maze of law;
Here, o'er the mental powers the judgment rules,
In all the sober gravity of thought.

If, too, the senate's dome its gates unbar,
And, opening wide its glories, bid the view
Refinement o'er its elevated sons
Effuse its brilliant polish, and illume
The mind, that orders the domestic cares
Of Albion—that deliberately weighs
The fate of empires—that adjusts the scale
Of universal politics; here smiles
The lively taste! In friendly concord here,
With judgment, glow the imaginative powers!

And, if the vault of gothic gloom o'erarch,
In pillar'd majesty, a mingled crowd
Imprest with characters of various teint,
But, chief, the features of the unletter'd mind;
Who, tho' unform'd to reason, or discern
Truth's star-crown'd summit, or pursue the paths
Of speculative faith, or taste the charms
Of elegance (howe'er their preacher shine
In oratorial gracefulness) yet feel
The light'ning flash—the vehemence of thought—
Yet feel religion's fervors—feel their hopes—
Their fears all trembling, as his voice displays
Her menaces and blessings; here, 'tis here,
Passion, the soul of oratory, reigns!

Since, therefore, evident distinctions mark
These varying provinces, thy threefold art
Bids its discriminated sons inform
The judgment, or delight the keener sense
Of fancy and of taste, or move the springs
Of passion: hence, to each appropriate, flows
Perspicuous argument; fair ornament;
Or pathos, energetic every tone!

Yet, as unaided logic, tho' it link
Its truths in strictest series, but appears
Inanimate and mean; as every show
Of elegance, undignified by sense,
Is but the specious harlotry that shines
To catch, with transitory glare, the sight;
And, as impassion'd accents, that convey
An indistinctive imag'ry untried
By reason, perish like the cymbal's sound;
Still must each orator, with just degrees
Adapted to his proper sphere, unite
Those grand essentials, in one perfect whole!

HASTE, then, my liberal pupil, to unfold,
In full display, the essentials; thro' the means
Of sentiment, invented and arrang'd;
Of language modulated and adorn'd;
And of the voice, the looks, the gesture, wak'd
To high impulsive fervors! Here appears
Invention—with the shadowy tribes of mind
Innumerous! Here, arrangement gives them form;
And elocution, grace; and action, fire!

O come, wherever thou hast fix'd thine aims,
While knowlege bids thee, with an eagle eye
(The master of thy subject) pierce thro' all
Its just divisions, whose assemblage springs
Created at a glance—in transport feel
The lively vigor of invention pour,
As if spontaneous, to thine aid, the stores
Of sentiment, in varying weight and force
Supported, as the oration's topic tends;
In varying aspect model'd, as its parts
Incipient, or in mediate order, flow;
Or, closing, constitute a finish'd whole!

And, strait, arrangement, rising at thy call,
Distributes every sentiment, that sprung
Rich from invention. Hence, concise and clear,
Proceeds the exordium: hence narration links
Perspicuous action, in unbroken chain:
Hence, confirmation gives its argument
To prove each proposition; and repel,
By refutation's power, the casuist's pleas;
Whether, as issuing from the internal fount
Of independent reason, or, deduc'd
From high authority's extrinsic source,
It borrow plain induction's form; or gain,
In shape of enthymeme, the assenting soul:
And, hence, the thoughts that in diffusion flow'd,
Amid the peroration re-appear
In one full view. Thus oft the judgment yields
Convinc'd, to oratory's artless sway.

But, tho' man's judging faculty may feel
Conviction's deep impression, thro' the force
Of argument, in simpler dress; behold,
Thy animated art here scorns to rest—
Ambitious of effects beyond the reach
Of cold conviction, to whose guidance bends
The judgment only, that, too oft o'erborne
By fancy or the passions, owns the truth,
Yet sleeps inactive. No—she rests not here—
Impatient to disclose the means to touch
The imaginative sense, and please the taste.

See, while arrangement regulates the thought
Invention furnish'd; elocution hastes
To decorate the language with the charm
Of periods flowing into rhythm, and give
The embellish'd grace that rises from the source
Of figures and of tropes—the richest fund
Of oratorial beauty! To the scenes
Of classic fame, already, generous youth!
Thy mind recurs; where harmony divine,
With every sweet variety of tone,
To heavenly rapture sooth'd the Grecian ear;
Where DIONYSIUS or DEMETRIUS taught—
And smooth ISOCRATES display'd the power
Of modulated cadence! There alone
Thy art was music! Nor enamour'd Rome
Was idly charm'd by TULLY's tuneful strain,
While, as she listen'd, from his tongue she caught
A softer language, tho' inferior far
To the sonorous melodies of Greece!

If, then, thy art require thee to convey
Its polish'd numbers thro' the finer ear
To fancy's seat;—to chuse appropriate words,
And place them in meet order, be thy care;
Such as, of smoother, and of liquid sounds,
Glide in soft lapse—that, duly cull'd to round
The period, and distributed aright
Thro' all its members, musically rest
At every pause, proportionately-true,
And fill with dignity the swelling close!

Yet, vain each effort, should thine ear, too dull
To feel the varying tones, disown the force
Of musical construction—vain thy toil
To suit the expressive cadence to the parts
The oration opens. But the curious choice,
And apt diffusion of melodious sound,
Govern'd by thy percipient ear, create
That harmony of words, “the numerous style.”

And now, more ardent, elocution pours
O'er the smooth language, that embellish'd grace
Which glows amidst variety of tropes—
Which lives in figures! Fancy paints their hues—
For they are fancy's offspring! Yet are those
Her more peculiar race, whose power transfers
Words newly-plac'd, from their first simple sense
To import, that, analogously-just
Diversifies the style, and throws fresh light
On each conception. Thus the trope displays
The mind's abstracted images transform'd
To sensible ideas, and relieves
Bold as the magic of the clear-obscure
Their heighten'd shapes; while, richest of the train,
And suited to the subject it adorns,
Drawn from a bright and obvious source, yet free
From every mean allusion, unobscur'd
By wild incongruous mixture, nor pursued
Too far, the metaphor its lusture spreads,
Itself a picture!—Passing hence, the mind
Expatiates, where fair allegory robes,
Amid her rich creation, every form
With visionary vesture! But beware
Of charms, that, ill-adapted to the strain
Of graver eloquence, might best inspire
The poet's day-dream! There may fancy sport
On wanton wing—yet o'er thy chaster theme
She scatters all her graces; and to tropes
Adds the strong figures, that contrast, compare,
Heighten by just degrees the rising thought,
Address the dead, or animate still life
With sense and motion, or that paint the past
Distinct before our eyes! Hence language blends
(To modulation's sweetest tone refin'd)
In concert with the numerous, every charm
Of figurative style. Thus taught the means
Of ornament, be sedulous to fix
Its due degrees, as suited to thy sphere,
Thy subject, and thine audience, and the parts
Congenial with its essence; bid it steal
From nature all her negligence of air;
Give it to please the fancy and the taste,
And with persuasive music win the soul!

And yet, tho' more seducing than the sounds
Whose silver sweetness soothes the zephyr, flow
Those strains of elegance and rhythm, thy art
Hurries their melting harmony away,
To where, in all its fervors, passion rolls
Its torrent stream—to agitate—impel
And whelm the ravish'd audience! Every grace
Which softest elocution had effus'd—
(The numerous and the figurative) breathes
New life, as animation's kindling light
Shoots thro' the bloom of beauty! And behold
Action, with sudden energy, calls forth,
Bursting upon the scene, its powers of voice,
Of countenance and gestures, to transfuse
The soul of pathos, thro' the oration, rich
With amplifying swell! The emphatic stress,
The awakening pauses, and pathetic tones,
That mark the speaker's various voice, demand
Thy unrelax'd attention. If he feel
The spirit of the sentiment that springs
From nature and conviction; if he speak
With unaffected efforts to persuade,
Fir'd by the passions, by the truth he strives
To impress upon his audience; (from himself,
From his own soul transmitted into theirs)
Know, all his emphases precisely fall
On each full word, that gives the proper strength
To changeful sentiment; know, every pause
Dwells at distinctive intervals, to point
The lucid sense; or, riveting the mind
To ought of deeper moment rests awhile
Solemnly still; or in suspense retains
The trembling expectation it arous'd
Prelusive: and, assur'd that all his tones
Echoing variety of passion, note
The figures each created; go—nor blush
To emulate a voice whose compass holds
Music's whole melodies! Go—steal his looks,
His gestures, in their every varying mode,
In all their fine transitions, from the calm
To vehement expression; while thy frame,
Strung to spontaneous unison, accords
Responsive, to his feelings! Such the force
Of sympathy, transfus'd into a heart,
Unconscious of the visible effect
That imitation's ductile power displays,
At NATURE's bidding. Yet must she avoid
Those habits of peculiar cast, that, long
Adhesive to her form, too oft betray
Strange quaintness; and, unmeaningly-combin'd
With passion's air, obtrude upon its warmth
Amid its brightest fervors. Hence, correct
The unseemly gesture, not misdeem'd the bane
To pathos, in its eloquent career!

Thus, while a spirit and a manner, caught
From perfect models, into nature's ease,
Assimilating, flow; be thine to suit
The powers of action to the oration's parts:
Whether the exordium bid thy low-key'd voice
Accordant with the tremulous air and eye
O'eraw'd of downcast modesty, deserve
The praise a CRASSUS ev'n from TULLY gain'd
Of unassuming merit; or more calm
Narration lead thy steady tones to meet
A gesture gradually-compos'd and free,
A dignity of attitude, and looks
Of manly candor, and that open brow
Where beams the lov'd sincerity of truth
Anticipating proof. If, here, thou give
In living portraiture, the past event
Full to the sense; the comment of a glance,
And motions fraught with meaning, and a voice
More rais'd, express the vision of the scene.

Still varying, confirmation would adapt
To all the stronger cadences of sound,
Its nervous proofs; while, consonantly-grave,
The speaker's firm demeanor, and his air
Of self-collected wisdom, ev'n imprint
Conviction on his audience. As he reads
Decision in their quick assent, he shews,
Oft by a more majestic port, assum'd
Insensibly, the triumph he foresees.
Then comes the impersonated form; and bold
The climax, heightening the progressive force
Of action, in its native strength ascends!

But if the Peroration, more inspir'd,
In the full energy of pathos rise—
Say, can poetic pencil trace the modes
Of action, spreading o'er the enthusiast's frame;
While the soul rushes thro' the vivid eye;
And while in every motion it appears
Irradiating the gestures; and, as charm
Of wizard spell, the wonders of thy voice
Strike deep persuasion? Then—tis then alone,
The penetrating mind enkindled sees
Its object cloath'd in greatness; and conceives
In all the bold felicity of thought,
The high design; and raises its whole powers
To a proud height of glory not their own!
'Tis then the genius of thy art descends
In rapid light; and, waving o'er the crowd
Its magic effluence, darts thro' ev'ry breast,
Or hatred, as abhorrent of the form,
The averted action loaths; or anger, caught
From the fir'd eye, and agitated air;
Or fear's blank wildness! 'Tis at such an hour,
That quiver ev'n a CÆSAR's pallid lips
In terror, and his palsied hand lets drop
Its papers, vainly-grasping; while the tones
Of TULLY's voice unman the intrepid soul,
That, 'midst the shock of armies, cou'd command
Destruction drench'd in carnage! Then alone—
Then many a passion hovers o'er the fate
Of patriots,—such as tremble in thy traits,
Great artist, where, in all the mellow light
Of glory and of years, a CHATHAM falls;
Still strenuous with his dying voice to save
His Albion's fame, and eloquent in death!
Lo! through the senate glides the pale alarm
In each gradation of distress—the muse
Would feebly copy from the melting teints
The pencil breathes; tho' emulous to draw
Thy shade of filial anguish from the groupe,
Ingenuous YOUTH, as sinks the expiring flame
Of patriot spirit that, erelong, shall burn
Reviv'd in thee! O destin'd soon to rise
With eloquence surpassing ev'n thy sire's,
The saviour of thy country; while no more
The venal hydra fronts thy manly strain,
Thy dignity of aspect, and dismay'd
The host of democratic faction flies!

Meanwhile, can heaven-taught inspire
The gentler tones of gratitude; or raise
The sweet, the smiling aspect of esteem,
In every face; as delicately-touch'd
Thy portrait, meek benevolence, appears;
Or, public virtue, thine! Nor steals in vain
The soft infection thro' the feeling crowd,
When all the sympathizing action pleads
For the poor captive, who in dreary gloom
Pines life away—full many a lingering year
Shut from the light of heaven! There no cool breeze
Refreshes the faint air; nor evening-ray
Gilds his pale cell! Yet pity crowns the strain,
The lusture of her cherub eye suffus'd
With tears! Yet hope o'er all thy audience breathes
(As if the chain of misery were their own)
Ambrosial balms; and bids the lovely scene
Of liberty and life, expanding, hail!
And, often, have the assembled tribes confest
Effects more animating, when, in aid
Of oratorial talents, is unveil'd
The speaker's own peculiar fate, that falls
In nature's tone, and heighten'd by the force
Of corresponding objects, on the sense;
In each fine attitude and air, to strike
The mingling chords of passion! Such the strings
Where quick vibration ran thro' every note;
When, erst (her kingdom tottering) when, pursu'd
By hostile powers, the fair THERESA fled
Amidst the Hungarian council; and display'd
(With all the eloquence of youthful charms
Touch'd by distress) her infant, of her griefs
Unconscious, yet more eloquent than all!
'Twas then, the affections, blending as they rose,
Rush'd forth! Then pity throbb'd in every breast—
And love, dissolving at the sparkling glow
Of beauty's tears—and reverence for the form
Of royalty—(its hallow'd purple rent
Thus rudely) and fierce anger at her foes;
While, drawn aloft to vengeance, in one blaze
The lightning of their fabres flash'd around!
And, “Let us die”—(unanimous they cried)—
“For our THERESA!” Triumph open throws
The sounding portals; as persuasion's voice
The hostile spirit rousing, bids it seize
The plumed casque; and blow the trump of war!

But not restrain'd (tho' high the power) to raise
The affections, either in their simple shape
Or variously-combin'd; thy art aspires
To quench the emotions of the soul—to calm
The turbulence of passion. Many a tale
Of old, will give to thee the million's rage
Charm'd into peace! Thy necromantic wand
Arrests the madness of the monster-crowd;
And lo, as lightning-struck, sedition dies.

And, still, thy art, more potent, (as allay'd
The tumult sinks) can breathe into the soul
Affections that contrast their hues with those
It erst subdued; turn sorrow to delight,
Perplexity to confidence; and soothe
Ev'n vengeance into mercy, while it steals
The ruthless dagger from the despot's grasp!

Yet, as the christian orator unfolds
The radiance of sublimer views to point
Aspiring faith, and (kindling in the soul
The sacred passions) banish earth-born care;
See, where a RAPHAEL paints the uplifted hand
And attitude, alluring to the skies—
See, in the Athenian multitude, the race
Of prejudices, vanity, disdain,
And sceptic wisdom fly! And lo, a band
With cinctures floating in heav'n's light, appears—
Humility; fair hope, that gilds the scene
Of paradise in prospect; holy joy;
And admiration fix'd in eager gaze;
While every pagan from the death of sin
Wakes to new life, and hails the Christian God!

Such are the effects of action, in the fields
Of oratorial fame! And such the powers
(Pure or from foreign or theatric air)
Which nature gives her children; whilst a look,
A tone, can oft transfix the conscious heart.
But if the force of sentiment arrang'd
In beauteous order, and of language drest
In elegant attire, with those combine;
'Tis then, exalted oratory sways,
Wrought to its perfect form, the willing world!

Thus, then, the essentials hath the muse unveil'd
Perceptive:—Studious thou, meanwhile, to trace
Their union and their order, as thy sphere
And genius of the just oration wills;
Except where versatile occasion's turn,
Or sudden impulse of thy audience points
A devious course. For oft, their due degrees
Abandon'd, one essential ev'n excludes
The rest; or argument, perhaps, usurps
The throne of pathos; or the passions, free
From previous forms, as great emergence calls,
Burst on a CATILINE's devoted head
Impetuous. Thus, my liberal youth, thy art
Uunravelled and illustrated, erelong
Shall bid thee seize the moments to persuade,
Soon as thy persevering practice adds
To knowledge, vigor; and to nervous strength
Adroit activity. And now survey
The high importance of persuasion's power—
The power of human conduct! Awful trust!
Yet haply thine! And O! if doom'd to guide,
Blest arbiter of good, the moral scale;
Whether thy care to vindicate the rights
Of outrag'd innocence, and crush the fiends
That weave the specious artifice; or stem,
In evil hour, corruption's torrent tide;
Or shine the sacred delegate of heaven;
O! be thy study to impress on all
The features of thy honest worth, and gain
The fame of virtue! Hence persuasion draws
New dignity and grace! Attention hangs
Enamour'd, on the music of a voice
Inspir'd by genuine probity; and breath'd
From unaffected goodness! Charms, like these,
Are virtue's!—Yet her semblance, uninform'd
By the warm heart, how vain! O feed the fires
That glow in generous bosoms! Be thy care
To give each exemplary deed the force
Of truth, and plain sincerity of soul!
For there's an energy in conscious worth—
A noble daring that excites the flame
Of emulative merit, spreads around
A kindred feeling, and impels the mind
To all that high activity, the source
Of happiest execution. Such the fire
Of ancient days, while Greece survey'd her sons
Crown'd, awful victors, with the double wreath
Of eloquence and virtue! With an eye
Prophetic of its quick-rekindling beams,
Thy Albion to effulgent glory weaves
That wreath: And—“Be it thine, (she raptur'd cries)
“Auspicious youth, to nobler deeds foredoom'd,
“To merit all the renovated rays;
“And, thus, reflected from thy brighter brows,
“Beyond the boast of Greece be Albion's fame!”