CHAPTER XIX.-Origin of Plays on Religious Sub- jects. Sacred Dramas, Ancient and Modern.- Ill adapted to the Stage.-Account of "Cain, a Mystery." Dedication. Bayle.-Manicheism.—In- decency. Præ-Adamites.-Cuvier.-The Piece pi- rated. Injunction refused.-Milton justified.-Con- duct of the Publisher.-Anecdote of Curll.-Lord CHAPTER XX.-Spanish Proverb.-Lord Byron's At- tacks on Mr. Southey.-Reply of the latter, in his "Vision of Judgment.” Term of the "Satanic School."-Retort of Lord Byron.-His Opinions on the French Revolution-On Politics and Religion.— Mr. Southey's Letter.-Parody on the "Vision of CHAPTER XXI.-Anecdote of Dryden.--His conduct contrasted with that of Lord Byron.-Projected Literay Institution at Pisa.-Anecdote of Voltaire.- The Associates of Lord Byron.-The writings of Shelley recommended by him.-English Journal at Pisa.-Lord Byron's Liberality.-Increase of his Fortune.-Law suit.-Impropriety of his conduct.- INTRODUCTION. "POETRY, especially heroical," says the great Bacon, "seems to be raised altogether from a noble foundation, which makes much for the dignity of man's nature. For, seeing this sensible world is in dignity inferior to the soul of man, Poesy seems to endow human nature with that which History denies, and to give satisfaction to the mind with at least the shadows of things, where the substance cannot be had. For if the matter be thoroughly considered, a strong argument may be drawn from Poesy, that a more stately greatness of things, a more perfect order, and a more beautiful variety, delight the soul of man, than any way can be found in nature since the Fall. Wherefore, seeing the acts and events which are the B subjects of true History, are not of that amplitude as to content the mind of man, Poesy is ready at hand to feign acts inore heroical. Because true History reports the successes of business not proportionable to the merit of virtues and vices, Poesy corrects it, and presents events and fortunes according to desert, and according to the law of Providence. Because true History, through the frequent satiety and similitude of things, works a distaste and misprision in the mind of man, Poesy cheereth and refresheth the soul, chanting things rare and various, and full of vicissitudes. So as Poesy serveth and conferreth to delectation, magnanimity, and morality; and therefore it may seem deservedly to have some participation of divineness, because it doth raise the mind, and exalt the spirit with high raptures, by proportioning the shows of things to the desires of the mind, and not submitting the mind to things, as reason and history do; and by these allurements and congruities, whereby it cherisheth the soul of man, joined also with concert of music, whereby it may more sweetly insinuate itself, it hath won such success, that it hath been in estimation even in ruder times, and barbarous nations, when other learning stood excluded." Poetry, therefore, being the highest effort of original genius, may justly claim for its professors, what indeed has always been conceded to them, the foremost rank in the temple of literary fame. To the powerful influence of this fascinating art on language and opinion, the experience of all ages, and the history of every country, bear abundant testimony; but on the utility of poetry to any great moral purposes, there is a diversity of judgment among the wisest men of ancient and modern times. While Aristotle went so far as to say, of poetry, that it is better adapted for instruction than history; Plato, who was more of a harmonist than his pupil, and whose works are full of poetic beauty, denounced Homer as dangerous because he dealt in fiction; and in the same spirit of scrupulous morality, the same great philosopher, when framing an ideal republic of perfection, expressly banished all poets from it, as professing an art inimical to truth. However strange and severe this censure may seem, it has been countenanced by a sage of our own, who, at the very time that he was employed in immortalizing the bards of his country, and in forming a body of criticism more valuable than the Poetics of Aristotle, ventured to remark on the amiable character of West, the translator of Pindar, that he was one of the few poets to whom the grave might appear without its terrors. Plato has been animadverted upon in many elaborate dissertations, and Johnson has suffered much reproach for a reflection which it were well if the history of letters could prove to be unjust; but until that is the case, the main question in regard to the superior moral efficacy of the poetic art must remain unsettled. Poesy, however, has its various and commanding excellencies; for besides "raising the mind and exalting the spirit with high raptures," as Bacon observes, it brings out innumerable beauties from the immense storehouse of nature, that would otherwise have lain concealed, or been passed over without producing the least emotion: it also creates new beings and associations, which, if they cannot be identified with any realities in the external world, serve at least to excite astonishment at the power of the human intellect; and though it originates and centres solely in the imagination, it contributes material aid to the reasoning faculty by the force of illustration and comparison. |