 | The progress of refinement |  |
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BOOK II.
INFLUENCE OF THE FINE ARTS.
ARGUMENT.
MAN, having gained Ideas of different Prospects in Nature, proceeds to works of Invention and Imitation. —Origin of the Fine Arts, according to their natural order.—Their Design; to give Pleasure by exciting ideas of Beauty, Grandeur, and Novelty.—The influence of Each in exciting Emotions.—Emotion and Passion distinguished.—Their Analogy to the Natural World.—The Dissocial Passions bear resemblance to the warring elements.—The Influence of the Fine Arts, by refining the Mind, and softening the Affections, destroys the balance between the Turbulent and Milder Exercises, and, deciding in favour of the Latter, incline the Heart to Humanity and Virtue.
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The forms of nature, through the visual sense,
Having now stole, and taught the observing mind
Sweet beauty's sway, the curiosity
That novelty excites, and how sublimity
To high astonishment elates the thought;
The aspiring genius, with unfolding powers,
Daring above the passive state ascends,
And by reflection acts in finer spheres.
Not satisfied with nature's prospects, strowed
In negligence profuse, o'er all the globe,
Diversified and wild, man fains to eclipse
Her influence by invention's skilful works;
Or strives to raise them to the sense refined,
By the nice touch of rosy-fingered art.
Inflamed he lets imagination loose,
Pregnant with gairish schemes, solicitous
To please. High notions rise; ambition wakes;
And taste, luxuriant, leads refinement on.
Having now stole, and taught the observing mind
Sweet beauty's sway, the curiosity
That novelty excites, and how sublimity
To high astonishment elates the thought;
The aspiring genius, with unfolding powers,
Daring above the passive state ascends,
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Not satisfied with nature's prospects, strowed
In negligence profuse, o'er all the globe,
Diversified and wild, man fains to eclipse
Her influence by invention's skilful works;
Or strives to raise them to the sense refined,
By the nice touch of rosy-fingered art.
Inflamed he lets imagination loose,
Pregnant with gairish schemes, solicitous
To please. High notions rise; ambition wakes;
And taste, luxuriant, leads refinement on.
Inwrapped in wonder at the view of things,
Or with sublime conceptions fired, or touched
With admiration, in primeval times,
When scarce the mind had oped its infant powers;
When scarce the tongue was modelled to the sweets
Of language, man his ravished soul poured forth,
In broken numbers and in figures wild.
The flights of sentiment, and different tones
Of intellect, inspired by nature, gave
Measure to speech, and music to the voice.
Soon grew refined the auditory nerve;
And, as each prospect, striking, touched the sense,
Poetic feelings tuned the enraptured breast,
And prompted magic melody of phrase.
Genius, aspiring to renown, to great,
To wonderful invention stretched her powers;
And taste, ambitious of refinement nice,
In beauteous imitation shed her plumes
Descriptive, dressed in elegance of mode.
She learned to relish delicacy's sweets,
The power of figures, the delights of verse,
And all the genuine harmony of sounds.
Or with sublime conceptions fired, or touched
With admiration, in primeval times,
When scarce the mind had oped its infant powers;
When scarce the tongue was modelled to the sweets
Of language, man his ravished soul poured forth,
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The flights of sentiment, and different tones
Of intellect, inspired by nature, gave
Measure to speech, and music to the voice.
Soon grew refined the auditory nerve;
And, as each prospect, striking, touched the sense,
Poetic feelings tuned the enraptured breast,
And prompted magic melody of phrase.
Genius, aspiring to renown, to great,
To wonderful invention stretched her powers;
And taste, ambitious of refinement nice,
In beauteous imitation shed her plumes
Descriptive, dressed in elegance of mode.
She learned to relish delicacy's sweets,
The power of figures, the delights of verse,
And all the genuine harmony of sounds.
Thus rose the sister graces, mutual rose,
And told the flame divine, that in the breast
Enkindled, as perception looked abroad
The face of nature, and from prospect gained
Impressions various. Then 'twas fancy's task,
By judgment guided, to control the wilds
Of language, and the sentiment to dress
In tuneful numbers and the flowers of phrase.
It was the work of art, to modulate
The untutored voice, and call, to union, harsh,
Discordant sounds; which, stealing through the sense,
Thrill in each nerve, and rule the yielding soul.
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Enkindled, as perception looked abroad
The face of nature, and from prospect gained
Impressions various. Then 'twas fancy's task,
By judgment guided, to control the wilds
Of language, and the sentiment to dress
In tuneful numbers and the flowers of phrase.
It was the work of art, to modulate
The untutored voice, and call, to union, harsh,
Discordant sounds; which, stealing through the sense,
Thrill in each nerve, and rule the yielding soul.
From music poetry has borrowed sweets,
Harmonious sweets; and still possesses charms
Innate, and powers peculiarly her own.
To her has nature yielded the command
Of rich description, given exalted turns
Of phrase, and power to incite emotions sweet,
Wonderous, or grand in every feeling breast.
While the musician is to tones confined,
Adapted only but one sense to please;
The poet ranges o'er the vast of things,
Objects controls far distant from the view,
The finest features from creation culls,
Liveliest of prospects, suited best to move,
And still, with melody, can charm the car.
In fair resemblance images to paint,
And all the different passions of the breast,
Hatred or love; grief, joy, or sympathy;
Or envy, anger, jealousy, or pride,
And show them obvious to the glowing mind,
Is poetry's distinguishing delight.
While she unfolds the page of character,
Informs the ear of harmony, and fills
The intellect with sentiment refined,
At once she touches, raptures, and illumes.
Harmonious sweets; and still possesses charms
Innate, and powers peculiarly her own.
To her has nature yielded the command
Of rich description, given exalted turns
Of phrase, and power to incite emotions sweet,
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While the musician is to tones confined,
Adapted only but one sense to please;
The poet ranges o'er the vast of things,
Objects controls far distant from the view,
The finest features from creation culls,
Liveliest of prospects, suited best to move,
And still, with melody, can charm the car.
In fair resemblance images to paint,
And all the different passions of the breast,
Hatred or love; grief, joy, or sympathy;
Or envy, anger, jealousy, or pride,
And show them obvious to the glowing mind,
Is poetry's distinguishing delight.
While she unfolds the page of character,
Informs the ear of harmony, and fills
The intellect with sentiment refined,
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Music can charm, can swell the breast to rage,
Or drown the spirits in a sad delight.
Music assuages grief, or heightens joy,
Softens the feelings, meliorates the heart,
Impure desire corrects, sedition quells,
Raises or calms the passions, prompts to deeds
Humanely virtuous, or to fury fires.
Enchanting is its power; and its effects
Are various. When its soft respiring strains
And plaintive numbers solemnize the soul,
Calling our sorrow forth, we instant feel
A pain beguiling, blended with an ease,
We fondly wish to indulge. But other airs,
Alert and lively, steal us from ourselves,
And raise us sudden to the heights of joy.
Or drown the spirits in a sad delight.
Music assuages grief, or heightens joy,
Softens the feelings, meliorates the heart,
Impure desire corrects, sedition quells,
Raises or calms the passions, prompts to deeds
Humanely virtuous, or to fury fires.
Enchanting is its power; and its effects
Are various. When its soft respiring strains
And plaintive numbers solemnize the soul,
Calling our sorrow forth, we instant feel
A pain beguiling, blended with an ease,
We fondly wish to indulge. But other airs,
Alert and lively, steal us from ourselves,
And raise us sudden to the heights of joy.
Music to pity melts the stubborn heart,
Or kindles soft desire. Its power has quelled
Fell fury's flame, the monarch's madness calmed,
Given to humanity the breast, and called
The drops of sympathy from pity's eye.
Lovers oft languish to its dying strains,
Or even in its ravishments expire.
Music aroused an Alexander's rage;
Then gently soothed his bosom to a calm.
Hark! the musician animates the string;
Now gives a higher, now a lower tone;
Now gaily-brisk, now deeply-solemn, slow;
And see, the wild emotions instant rise!
Distraction mad, ah, seizes on the soul!
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Fell fury's flame, the monarch's madness calmed,
Given to humanity the breast, and called
The drops of sympathy from pity's eye.
Lovers oft languish to its dying strains,
Or even in its ravishments expire.
Music aroused an Alexander's rage;
Then gently soothed his bosom to a calm.
Hark! the musician animates the string;
Now gives a higher, now a lower tone;
Now gaily-brisk, now deeply-solemn, slow;
And see, the wild emotions instant rise!
Distraction mad, ah, seizes on the soul!
Music can things inanimate inspire,
And make to tremble every particle.
When the full organ breathes a shriller tone,
In undulation moves the startled air;
The wide void swells; concussions rend the walls;
From arch to arch responses echo round;
The temple shakes; runs cold the thrilling blood;
And, as though frightened, stands the hair all wild.
Such power has music, fascinating power,
To set in agitation lifeless things,
To rouse the varied movements of the breast,
Or soothe and lull them to a state serene.
And make to tremble every particle.
When the full organ breathes a shriller tone,
In undulation moves the startled air;
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From arch to arch responses echo round;
The temple shakes; runs cold the thrilling blood;
And, as though frightened, stands the hair all wild.
Such power has music, fascinating power,
To set in agitation lifeless things,
To rouse the varied movements of the breast,
Or soothe and lull them to a state serene.
Revolving on the past, man now recals
To mind the observations made on things
External; and, while reigns serenity
Within his breast, and every passion sleeps,
Lost to imaginations flowery phrase,
His diction moderates to simple prose,
Reflection's language. But soon fancy gay,
To enliven converse, wakes her fervid train,
Strows blossoms round, and courts the storid aid
Of figures, to invigorate the style.
Then hear the golden periods as they flow,
Arousing, or pathetic, to instruct,
Persuade, and move. With varying voice well tuned,
With gesture natural, and replete with sense,
Comes every sentence missioned to the heart.
In copious streams the rich ideas roll,
And, by the force of reason and of truth,
Joined with the suasive tone of eloquence,
Sway the inflamed passions, and o'erpower the mind.
The hand, in bold expression, wakes the breast
To patriot ardour; or from every eye,
Effusive, calls meek pity's crystal tear.
Now dealing in simplicity of thought,
Led through the native wilds of episode,
With artless ornament and language pure,
Potent persuasion hangs upon the tongue,
To inform, illustrate, bias, and enforce.
Now in a loftier style, with figures bold,
Expressions rich, and sentiments sublime,
The orator darts lightning through the soul,
The attention ravishes, the audience rules,
And leads through many scenes the astonished mind.
He traverses creation through, rich tropes
To gather; makes them speak his cause, and teach,
With energy, how novelty affects,
How beauty pleases, and how grandeur sires.
To mind the observations made on things
External; and, while reigns serenity
Within his breast, and every passion sleeps,
Lost to imaginations flowery phrase,
His diction moderates to simple prose,
Reflection's language. But soon fancy gay,
To enliven converse, wakes her fervid train,
Strows blossoms round, and courts the storid aid
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Then hear the golden periods as they flow,
Arousing, or pathetic, to instruct,
Persuade, and move. With varying voice well tuned,
With gesture natural, and replete with sense,
Comes every sentence missioned to the heart.
In copious streams the rich ideas roll,
And, by the force of reason and of truth,
Joined with the suasive tone of eloquence,
Sway the inflamed passions, and o'erpower the mind.
The hand, in bold expression, wakes the breast
To patriot ardour; or from every eye,
Effusive, calls meek pity's crystal tear.
Now dealing in simplicity of thought,
Led through the native wilds of episode,
With artless ornament and language pure,
Potent persuasion hangs upon the tongue,
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Now in a loftier style, with figures bold,
Expressions rich, and sentiments sublime,
The orator darts lightning through the soul,
The attention ravishes, the audience rules,
And leads through many scenes the astonished mind.
He traverses creation through, rich tropes
To gather; makes them speak his cause, and teach,
With energy, how novelty affects,
How beauty pleases, and how grandeur sires.
When oral language and poetic phrase
In just description fail; to other means,
More efficacious, genius has recourse.
Imagination paints the forms to view,
That, by perception, on the mind impressed
Their genial aspect; while the pencil draws,
In sweet resemblance on the parchment blank,
A beauteous offspring of the original.
The skillful touch recals the withered flower
To life, immingled with well shaded grace,
And shows it blooming in its mimic pride;
Or vernal scenes depicts, when winter reigns,
Which, sparkling to the enraptured eye, the power
Of intimation, in their charms, display.
To represent Apollo with his lyre,
In car, refulgent, drawn by prancing steeds;
Or the bold orator with lifted arm,
And language speaking eyes; or virgin nymphs,
With snow white bosoms naked, and their robes
Loose floating, while the shepherd tunes his pipe;
Or mighty Jove, with right hand thunder armed,
Soaring on eagle's wing aloft; to draw
Or real or imaginary scenes,
As fancy dictates, is the painter's skill.
In just description fail; to other means,
More efficacious, genius has recourse.
Imagination paints the forms to view,
That, by perception, on the mind impressed
Their genial aspect; while the pencil draws,
In sweet resemblance on the parchment blank,
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The skillful touch recals the withered flower
To life, immingled with well shaded grace,
And shows it blooming in its mimic pride;
Or vernal scenes depicts, when winter reigns,
Which, sparkling to the enraptured eye, the power
Of intimation, in their charms, display.
To represent Apollo with his lyre,
In car, refulgent, drawn by prancing steeds;
Or the bold orator with lifted arm,
And language speaking eyes; or virgin nymphs,
With snow white bosoms naked, and their robes
Loose floating, while the shepherd tunes his pipe;
Or mighty Jove, with right hand thunder armed,
Soaring on eagle's wing aloft; to draw
Or real or imaginary scenes,
As fancy dictates, is the painter's skill.
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Still, specimens of imitation fair
Genius displays in other striking views.
The chisel, from the quarry rough, unfolds
The attitude well-softened into flesh.
By artful sculptor's foaming stroke transformed,
Erect the marble stands, and feigns to breathe.
It veils its senseless self in mimic life,
All freshly blooming, shows the rosy cheek,
Looks eager forth, and, by similitude
Exact, illudes and cheats the flattered eye.
Surprise awakes; yet the beholder scarce
Can realize the guile. He thinks it still
A living object; yet remains, with doubts,
Perplexed; and eager looks; till vanishes
The seeming animated form, and turns
A breathless statue. Wonderous counterfeit!
How it deceives the thought, and fascinates
The mind, with wakened senses, to admire
Its likeness, fancying it reality!
Such are the stratagems of art! Wherein
Its genuine imitations it displays,
How pleasing to observe it! To compare
The ingenious offspring with the original,
Inspires emotions, not unlike those raised
By scenes contrasted. While the mind partakes,
By mere perception, the delights of each,
And feels the force of their inherent charms;
Pleasures of livelier vigour it imbibes,
From contrariety and changeful views.
So, from expressive likeness in the arts,
Enchantment steals, unnoticed, on the mind,
By curiosity awakened; which,
Revolving inward, finds itself alarmed
With ravishments peculiar and intense.
Genius displays in other striking views.
The chisel, from the quarry rough, unfolds
The attitude well-softened into flesh.
By artful sculptor's foaming stroke transformed,
Erect the marble stands, and feigns to breathe.
It veils its senseless self in mimic life,
All freshly blooming, shows the rosy cheek,
Looks eager forth, and, by similitude
Exact, illudes and cheats the flattered eye.
Surprise awakes; yet the beholder scarce
Can realize the guile. He thinks it still
A living object; yet remains, with doubts,
Perplexed; and eager looks; till vanishes
The seeming animated form, and turns
A breathless statue. Wonderous counterfeit!
How it deceives the thought, and fascinates
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Its likeness, fancying it reality!
Such are the stratagems of art! Wherein
Its genuine imitations it displays,
How pleasing to observe it! To compare
The ingenious offspring with the original,
Inspires emotions, not unlike those raised
By scenes contrasted. While the mind partakes,
By mere perception, the delights of each,
And feels the force of their inherent charms;
Pleasures of livelier vigour it imbibes,
From contrariety and changeful views.
So, from expressive likeness in the arts,
Enchantment steals, unnoticed, on the mind,
By curiosity awakened; which,
Revolving inward, finds itself alarmed
With ravishments peculiar and intense.
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Next agriculture, rustic art and rough,
Advancing, opes the way for other arts
To flourish. Forests disappear; and fields,
All blooming, intimate fine views to man.
Advancing, opes the way for other arts
To flourish. Forests disappear; and fields,
All blooming, intimate fine views to man.
Hail agriculture! nurse of elegance
And grace, tho' rude thyself. Even kings renowned,
Famed sages, and philosophers have held
The inuring plough; have made the stubborn earth
Yield to the polish; and the barren glebe
Submissive to manure. The liberal hand
Of industry, with patient diligence,
Sweeps off the rubbish of the field, and lends
A nutriment, that mollifies the soil,
And rears a growth, rotund, of luscious crops.
While agriculture, spring to polished life,
Demands the attention of the generous brave,
Let not America's aspiring sons,
To independent greatness born, to arts
Refined, and virtue eminent, deserve
The imputation low of idle clowns.
To make the towering forest to the axe
Submit, to pile the enormous log, apply
The fire, subdue and cultivate the land,
Is no mean labour of the ambitious swain.
And grace, tho' rude thyself. Even kings renowned,
Famed sages, and philosophers have held
The inuring plough; have made the stubborn earth
Yield to the polish; and the barren glebe
Submissive to manure. The liberal hand
Of industry, with patient diligence,
Sweeps off the rubbish of the field, and lends
A nutriment, that mollifies the soil,
And rears a growth, rotund, of luscious crops.
While agriculture, spring to polished life,
Demands the attention of the generous brave,
Let not America's aspiring sons,
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Refined, and virtue eminent, deserve
The imputation low of idle clowns.
To make the towering forest to the axe
Submit, to pile the enormous log, apply
The fire, subdue and cultivate the land,
Is no mean labour of the ambitious swain.
Who tills, not only benefits himself;
But to community gives sustinence.
His actions breathe benevolence to men,
Who move in other spheres, and make the means,
Of him received, contribute a return:
And all, performing their allotted part,
Become shrewd artists at their work, expert,
Exact; and, by the mutual talk of all,
Society, just like an instrument,
With various unisons, which harmonize
In concord sweet, and breathe the general song,
Is to perfection reared, to wealth, and fame.
Obtains utensils for convenient life,
Reaps high emolument, and in the tide
Of honour riots, while kind fortune smiles.
But to community gives sustinence.
His actions breathe benevolence to men,
Who move in other spheres, and make the means,
Of him received, contribute a return:
And all, performing their allotted part,
Become shrewd artists at their work, expert,
Exact; and, by the mutual talk of all,
Society, just like an instrument,
With various unisons, which harmonize
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Is to perfection reared, to wealth, and fame.
Obtains utensils for convenient life,
Reaps high emolument, and in the tide
Of honour riots, while kind fortune smiles.
With a good zest the labourer relishes,
His meals, and many a sweet participates.
But sluggard indolence in listlessness
Repines, becomes debilitate of mind,
Sickens with life, and time drags heavy on.
Sloth on his temples strows untimely snow,
And soon, ah, sudden, gives him to the tomb!
His meals, and many a sweet participates.
But sluggard indolence in listlessness
Repines, becomes debilitate of mind,
Sickens with life, and time drags heavy on.
Sloth on his temples strows untimely snow,
And soon, ah, sudden, gives him to the tomb!
Polished by culture, now the plains, hills, vales,
In verdure shine; and flowers profusely bloom.
The florist ranges over the scenery
Of nature, culls themes comely to the sense,
Of colours various, exquisite perfumes,
To please or sight or smell; and places them
In most agreeable variety,
As freakish fancy dictates is the mode.
Then blooms the flower garden in its pride,
Opening its beauties in assemblage fair,
To raise the delicate delights of soul.
There, scenes contrasted, regular with wild,
Lively with melancholy, grand with neat,
Bedecked with rosy fingers, charm the view,
And prove a sphere of innocence and mirth.
The gently gliding crystal rivulet
Meandrous, murmuring by the bowery walk,
Betrays its progress through the lowly mead;
Through winding vallies, to the distant main.
The gardener skilfully arranges scenes,
Forms to his taste peculiar, and bestows
All for amusement fine. Each hour, there spent,
Flies swiftly as the rosy zephyrs bland,
Which kiss the lip of Flora as she smiles,
And waft her spicy odours to the sense.
In verdure shine; and flowers profusely bloom.
The florist ranges over the scenery
Of nature, culls themes comely to the sense,
Of colours various, exquisite perfumes,
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In most agreeable variety,
As freakish fancy dictates is the mode.
Then blooms the flower garden in its pride,
Opening its beauties in assemblage fair,
To raise the delicate delights of soul.
There, scenes contrasted, regular with wild,
Lively with melancholy, grand with neat,
Bedecked with rosy fingers, charm the view,
And prove a sphere of innocence and mirth.
The gently gliding crystal rivulet
Meandrous, murmuring by the bowery walk,
Betrays its progress through the lowly mead;
Through winding vallies, to the distant main.
The gardener skilfully arranges scenes,
Forms to his taste peculiar, and bestows
All for amusement fine. Each hour, there spent,
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Which kiss the lip of Flora as she smiles,
And waft her spicy odours to the sense.
The flower garden, where shines every grace,
In nice proportion or disorder wild,
With beauteous imagery diversified,
Mixture of scenes, where sweet emotions glow,
Where curiosity gains new desire;
Where swells the poet's bosom into bliss;
Where sage philosophy more wisdom learns;
Where wonder brightens; where refinement wins
Propitious influence o'er the ingenious mind;
The flower garden is the haunt, beloved,
Of gaiety, of sweetness, and delight.
There undulating bowers breathe o'er our limbs
Fresh coolness, as beneath their shades we sit;
There, the delicious essence floats diffuse,
And the wild stream emits soft symphony
Delighting; while inspiring visions rise,
Ravish the view; and music's dulcet sounds
Benignly vibrate on the enchanted ear,
Prompting sensations exquisitely sweet,
In delicacy's gentle breast. How love,
Peculiarly, the softer sex, to walk
In such embellished spheres! with images
To associate, so congenial with their minds,
That raise emotions, pure and delicate
As nature's tinge, and sweet as her perfume!
While thus conversant with such scenes, the heart,
Auspicious moulded for the finer joys
Of life domestic, triumphs in its gains.
In nice proportion or disorder wild,
With beauteous imagery diversified,
Mixture of scenes, where sweet emotions glow,
Where curiosity gains new desire;
Where swells the poet's bosom into bliss;
Where sage philosophy more wisdom learns;
Where wonder brightens; where refinement wins
Propitious influence o'er the ingenious mind;
The flower garden is the haunt, beloved,
Of gaiety, of sweetness, and delight.
There undulating bowers breathe o'er our limbs
Fresh coolness, as beneath their shades we sit;
There, the delicious essence floats diffuse,
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Delighting; while inspiring visions rise,
Ravish the view; and music's dulcet sounds
Benignly vibrate on the enchanted ear,
Prompting sensations exquisitely sweet,
In delicacy's gentle breast. How love,
Peculiarly, the softer sex, to walk
In such embellished spheres! with images
To associate, so congenial with their minds,
That raise emotions, pure and delicate
As nature's tinge, and sweet as her perfume!
While thus conversant with such scenes, the heart,
Auspicious moulded for the finer joys
Of life domestic, triumphs in its gains.
Behold proud architectures splendid domes
Arise in florid grandeur! See, sublime,
The collonade arrest the ravished sight;
And the projection, vast and high, endowed
With elegance and majesty august,
O'erlook the country round! The columned arch
Swells on the gaze, and, like the concave skies,
To grand conception elevates the mind.
Art, there, its standards of sublimity
Displays; which, suited both for useful ends
And intellectual, for the purposes
Of life and mental pleasures, intimate
Capacious powers in man. His energy
Inventive, his expanded views, and taste
Discerning, that with skill embellishment
Confers, there shine conspicuously grand,
Bespeak his nature, dignity, and fame.
Arise in florid grandeur! See, sublime,
The collonade arrest the ravished sight;
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With elegance and majesty august,
O'erlook the country round! The columned arch
Swells on the gaze, and, like the concave skies,
To grand conception elevates the mind.
Art, there, its standards of sublimity
Displays; which, suited both for useful ends
And intellectual, for the purposes
Of life and mental pleasures, intimate
Capacious powers in man. His energy
Inventive, his expanded views, and taste
Discerning, that with skill embellishment
Confers, there shine conspicuously grand,
Bespeak his nature, dignity, and fame.
Of the fine arts the origin thus traced
In order, as kind nature gave them birth;
The muse anticipates her rising themes,
And, still assiduous, calls them to her toil.
By charmful imitation to awake
The mind to fervid exercise of thought,
To emotions such as natural prospect wakes,
Refining human nature, human bliss;
The pleasing power of beauty, novelty,
And grandeur, o'er the intellect of man,
To show, is the display, most eminent,
Of genius, and the end of arts refined.
In order, as kind nature gave them birth;
The muse anticipates her rising themes,
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By charmful imitation to awake
The mind to fervid exercise of thought,
To emotions such as natural prospect wakes,
Refining human nature, human bliss;
The pleasing power of beauty, novelty,
And grandeur, o'er the intellect of man,
To show, is the display, most eminent,
Of genius, and the end of arts refined.
The thoughts and exercises, prevalent
In man, form the complexion of his powers,
And give to character its general traits.
The mind, that most the beautiful admires
In prospect; that delights in gentler scenes,
Where, in sweet graces, delicacy shines;
That at the softer strains of melody,
Feels finer charms, is genuinely formed
For friendship's clime, and for the sympathies,
The tender sympathies of nuptial life.
In man, form the complexion of his powers,
And give to character its general traits.
The mind, that most the beautiful admires
In prospect; that delights in gentler scenes,
Where, in sweet graces, delicacy shines;
That at the softer strains of melody,
Feels finer charms, is genuinely formed
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The tender sympathies of nuptial life.
Beauty, thou paragon of nature! all
Thy features, singularly fair, display
Attractions, which enkindle flames divine.
A cherished fondness for thy pleasing train,
Sweetness, simplicity, and gaiety,
Thy favourite graces, with a love to scan,
Minutely, thy perfections, and admire,
In every shape, thy image, indicates
A mind, complexioned with refinement nice,
Of delicate sensations, and a heart
Trained to the gentler feelings. Where thy charms
And lineaments are seen, they operate
To instil their magic through the partial breast.
Whoever cherishes thy influence sweet,
Retains thy fine impressions, and becomes
Engaging, pleasing, delicate like thee.
Engaging in demeanour, delicate
In sentiment, and pleasing in the traits,
Humane, of genius, character, and heart.
Thy features, singularly fair, display
Attractions, which enkindle flames divine.
A cherished fondness for thy pleasing train,
Sweetness, simplicity, and gaiety,
Thy favourite graces, with a love to scan,
Minutely, thy perfections, and admire,
In every shape, thy image, indicates
A mind, complexioned with refinement nice,
Of delicate sensations, and a heart
Trained to the gentler feelings. Where thy charms
And lineaments are seen, they operate
To instil their magic through the partial breast.
Whoever cherishes thy influence sweet,
Retains thy fine impressions, and becomes
75
Engaging in demeanour, delicate
In sentiment, and pleasing in the traits,
Humane, of genius, character, and heart.
But the sublime, with magnitude august
Endowed, of wonderous power to captivate,
Darting sometimes chill terrour through the soul,
Different effects produces. It inspires
With dignity and nobler turn the thought.
The mind, conversant with its scenes, expands
To vast designs, with enterprising acts,
Seeks daring ends, and, rather than the abodes,
Endearing of connubial life, prefers
Heroic virtue, scorns the frowns of war,
Danger provokes, encounters hardy toils,
And all to gain the palm, or find a grave,
That fame deems glorious. Magnanimity
To acquire, and to maintain a temper calm,
In the vicissitudes of changeful fate,
Prosperous or sad, converse with the sublime.
Cherish its inspirations in thy breast,
And it will stamp its nobler image there.
Endowed, of wonderous power to captivate,
Darting sometimes chill terrour through the soul,
Different effects produces. It inspires
With dignity and nobler turn the thought.
The mind, conversant with its scenes, expands
To vast designs, with enterprising acts,
Seeks daring ends, and, rather than the abodes,
Endearing of connubial life, prefers
Heroic virtue, scorns the frowns of war,
Danger provokes, encounters hardy toils,
And all to gain the palm, or find a grave,
That fame deems glorious. Magnanimity
76
In the vicissitudes of changeful fate,
Prosperous or sad, converse with the sublime.
Cherish its inspirations in thy breast,
And it will stamp its nobler image there.
Still, other prospects, scenes of novelty,
To sweet sensations wake the mind of man,
And stimulate in search of knowledge, new
And wonderous. Geniuses inquisitive
The strange and marvelous admire, and take
Delight peculiar, to investigate
The secret springs of ingenuity,
In human nature, actions, and effects.
To sweet sensations wake the mind of man,
And stimulate in search of knowledge, new
And wonderous. Geniuses inquisitive
The strange and marvelous admire, and take
Delight peculiar, to investigate
The secret springs of ingenuity,
In human nature, actions, and effects.
Thus, by the different prospects we behold,
Emotions different, in the breast, are raised;
And an attachment to peculiar sights
Distinguishes the genius and the heart.
To impressions of external images
Exposed, man feels their energetic power,
And, with partiality for favourite scenes,
Cherished in early youth, imbibes their stamp,
And genial tincture. His identic turn
Of mind, of manners, and affections, bears
A likeness to the livery they assume.
Emotions different, in the breast, are raised;
And an attachment to peculiar sights
Distinguishes the genius and the heart.
77
Exposed, man feels their energetic power,
And, with partiality for favourite scenes,
Cherished in early youth, imbibes their stamp,
And genial tincture. His identic turn
Of mind, of manners, and affections, bears
A likeness to the livery they assume.
But other movements in the human breast,
Are roused to exercise, beside those caused
By prospect. The dissocial passions there,
And social, are predominant in turn,
As moral causes vex or please the mind.
With rational sense endowed, from faleshood man
Distinguishes the truth; and actions right
From wrong; propriety in inference
Discerns; and his esteem of social worth,
Of actions virtuous; and dislike to vice,
Sanctions with passion. When the suppliant hand
Of injured innocence bespeaks its wrong,
And insolence and cruelty appear,
Can anger slumber in the feeling breast?
Where is the generous but would lend relief?
Or when benevolence and virtue kind
Confer their favours, liberal, on mankind,
Cherish and bless, what bosom is not warmed?
The mind of moral excellence possessed,
Of lovliness, humanity, and truth,
The social passions claim of kindred souls.
But the deformities of vice, disgust
Excite in every amiable mind.
All moral actions cause dislike or love.
Are roused to exercise, beside those caused
By prospect. The dissocial passions there,
And social, are predominant in turn,
As moral causes vex or please the mind.
With rational sense endowed, from faleshood man
Distinguishes the truth; and actions right
From wrong; propriety in inference
Discerns; and his esteem of social worth,
Of actions virtuous; and dislike to vice,
78
Of injured innocence bespeaks its wrong,
And insolence and cruelty appear,
Can anger slumber in the feeling breast?
Where is the generous but would lend relief?
Or when benevolence and virtue kind
Confer their favours, liberal, on mankind,
Cherish and bless, what bosom is not warmed?
The mind of moral excellence possessed,
Of lovliness, humanity, and truth,
The social passions claim of kindred souls.
But the deformities of vice, disgust
Excite in every amiable mind.
All moral actions cause dislike or love.
Emotion is the effect of things impressed,
The pleasures of perception: and the sweets
Of scenery, the vast magnificence
Of objects striking, and the novelty
Of curious unfamiliar images,
United with the liveliness of view,
Determine its degree of pleasantry.
But passion is desire. The cordial glow
Of approbation, followed by a wish
Of goodness; or aversion's vengeful flame,
Mark its complexion. By its vicious cause
Or virtuous, is its kind and nature known.
'Tis moral evil prompts to exercise
The passions, turbulent, in human minds:
Which, when let loose, unduely bridled, cause
Confusions dreadful in the mental world,
Like those, by warring elements produced,
Wide-spreading desolation o'er the globe.
But social passions of a gentler mould,
Resemble summer with its genial warmth
Prolific, brilliancy, and tranquil skies.
The pleasures of perception: and the sweets
Of scenery, the vast magnificence
79
Of curious unfamiliar images,
United with the liveliness of view,
Determine its degree of pleasantry.
But passion is desire. The cordial glow
Of approbation, followed by a wish
Of goodness; or aversion's vengeful flame,
Mark its complexion. By its vicious cause
Or virtuous, is its kind and nature known.
'Tis moral evil prompts to exercise
The passions, turbulent, in human minds:
Which, when let loose, unduely bridled, cause
Confusions dreadful in the mental world,
Like those, by warring elements produced,
Wide-spreading desolation o'er the globe.
But social passions of a gentler mould,
Resemble summer with its genial warmth
80
As man more fondly cherishes a love
Of scenes, which sweetly ravish and exalt,
More perfect grows the standard of fine arts.
Genius' warm efforts skilfully succeed,
And give them happier influence o'er the mind.
As taste improves, susceptibility
Of beauty, elegance, and harmony
Increases, and the emotions are possessed
Of livelier mood to please: and while, with them,
The social feelings in refinement vie;
Dissocial passions lose their rougher sway,
And grow more mild, pacific, and humane.
Of scenes, which sweetly ravish and exalt,
More perfect grows the standard of fine arts.
Genius' warm efforts skilfully succeed,
And give them happier influence o'er the mind.
As taste improves, susceptibility
Of beauty, elegance, and harmony
Increases, and the emotions are possessed
Of livelier mood to please: and while, with them,
The social feelings in refinement vie;
Dissocial passions lose their rougher sway,
And grow more mild, pacific, and humane.
Reared by ingenious man whose taste improved
Conducts to pomp of thought, to pleasures fine,
And elegance of life, the liberal arts
Thus beam their lavish honours. They diffuse
Their charmful influence o'er the mental powers,
Sweet as the spicy gales, all hovering round
With recent coolness, and allure the mind,
Auspicious, from its rustic mood. They quell
Its stern ferocity; and, by their charms,
They soften and refine. 'Tis not for thought
Uncultured, nor for unharmonious sounds,
To harmonize the passions, or beguile,
Into the maze of musical delight,
The finer ear. But when the mind expands,
And fairer genius blossoms, human works
Receive the touch of beauty, elegance,
And power, like nature's scenes, to move; to inspire
Emotions delicate, sublime, or rare.
Then thought refined can sweetly harmonize
The passions, and well modulated voice,
Into the maze of musical delight,
The finer ear beguile. Man then, elate,
Prides in refinement; and society
Is high, polite, and happy. Far emerged
From rudeness, with benevolence' brightening ray
His heart distends; the social passions rule
The breast; and virtue, generous virtue reigns.
Conducts to pomp of thought, to pleasures fine,
And elegance of life, the liberal arts
Thus beam their lavish honours. They diffuse
81
Sweet as the spicy gales, all hovering round
With recent coolness, and allure the mind,
Auspicious, from its rustic mood. They quell
Its stern ferocity; and, by their charms,
They soften and refine. 'Tis not for thought
Uncultured, nor for unharmonious sounds,
To harmonize the passions, or beguile,
Into the maze of musical delight,
The finer ear. But when the mind expands,
And fairer genius blossoms, human works
Receive the touch of beauty, elegance,
And power, like nature's scenes, to move; to inspire
Emotions delicate, sublime, or rare.
Then thought refined can sweetly harmonize
The passions, and well modulated voice,
Into the maze of musical delight,
82
Prides in refinement; and society
Is high, polite, and happy. Far emerged
From rudeness, with benevolence' brightening ray
His heart distends; the social passions rule
The breast; and virtue, generous virtue reigns.
| The progress of refinement | |