Where wonders wild of Arabesque combine Who, for the cap of steel and iron mace, Go, seek such theme!"-The Mountain Spirit Where ivory quivers ring in the broad falchion's place. said: With filial awe I heard-I heard, and I obey'd.' The Visian of Don Roderick. I. REARING their crests amid the cloudless skies, As from a trembling lake of silver white. Of the broad burial-ground outstretch'd below, II. All save the rushing swell of Teio's tide, Or, distant heard, a courser's neigh or tramp; between. III. But of their Monarch's person keeping ward, The post beneath the proud Cathedral hold: 1 "The Introduction," we confess," says the Quarterly Reviewer, "does not please us so well as the rest of the poem, though the reply of the Mountain Spirit is exquisitely written." The Edinburgh critic, after quoting stanzas ix. x. and xi. says "The Introduction, though splendidly written, is too long for so short a poem; and the poet's dialogue with his native mountains is somewhat too startling and unnatural. The most spirited part of it, we think, is their direction to Spanish themes." 8 MS." The haughty monarch's heart could evil brook." 9 The Quarterly Reviewer says,-" The moonlight scenery of the camp and burial-ground is evidently by the same powerful hand which sketched the Abbey of Melrose; and in the picture of Roderick's confession, there are traits of even a higher cast of sublimity and pathos." 2 The Monthly Review, for 1811, in quoting this stanza, says "Scarcely any poet, of any age or country, has excelled Mr. Scott in bringing before our sight the very scene which he is describing-in giving a reality of existence to every object on which he dwells; and it is on such occasions, especially suited as they seem to the habits of his mind, that his style itself catches a character of harmony, which is far from being universally its own. How vivid, yet how soft, is this pic-the other the recent occurrences which have since signalized ture!" MS.-"For, stretch'd beside the river's margin damp, 4 MS." Bore javelins slight," &c. 5 The Critical Reviewer, having quoted stanzas i. ii. and iii. says "To the specimens with which his former works abound, The Edinburgh Reviewer introduces his quotations of the i ii., v., and vi. stanzas thus,-"The poem is substantially divided into two compartments;-the one representing the fabulous or prodigious acts of Don Roderick's own time,-and the same quarter of the world. Mr. Scott, we think, is most at home in the first of these fields; and we think, upon the whole, has most success in it. The opening affords a fine spe cimen of his unrivalled powers of description." The reader may be gratified with having the following lines. from Mr. Southey's Roderick, inserted here: "Then Roderick knelt Before the holy man, and strove to speak: A human eye upon his shame- Thou seest To tell the whole abhorred history: He not the less pursued,-the ravisher, In the same posture motionless he knelt, Arms straiten'd down, and hands outspread, and eyes Raised to the Monk, like one who from his voice Mr. Southey, in a note to these lines, says, "The Vision of Don Roderick supplies a singular contrast to the picture which is represented in this passage. I have great pleasure in quoting the stanzas (v. and vi.); if the contrast had been intentional, it could not have been more complete." 1 The predecessor of Roderick upon the Spanish throne, and slain by his connivance, as is affirmed by Rodriguez of Toledo, the father of Spanish history. 2 MS." He spare to smite the shepherd, lest the sheep be lost." 3 MS." And guide me, prelate, to that secret room." 4 See Appendix, Note F. 5 MS." Or pause the omen of thy fate to weigh! Bethink, that brazen portal would afford." And gave to Roderick's view new sights of fear and Now, God and Saint Iago strike, for the good cause wonder. XVII. of Spain ! XXI. For they might spy, beyond that mighty breach, Realms as of Spain in vision'd prospect laid, Castles and towers, in due proportion each, As by some skilful artist's hand portray'd: Here, crossed by many a wild Sierra's shade, And boundless plains that tire the traveller's eye; There, rich with vineyard and with olive glade, Or deep-embrown'd by forests huge and high, Or wash'd by mighty streams, that slowly murmur'd by. XVIII. And here, as erst upon the antique stage, Pass'd forth the band of masquers trimly led, In various forms, and various equipage, While fitting strains the hearer's fancy fed; So, to sad Roderick's eye in order spread, Successive pageants fill'd that mystic scene, Showing the fate of battles ere they bled, And issue of events that had not been; "By Heaven, the Moors prevail! the Christians yield! Lo! where the recreant spurs o'erstock and stone! Curses pursue the slave, and wrath divine! [tone, Rivers ingulph him!"-" Hush," in shuddering The Prelate said ;-"rash Prince, yon vision'd form's thine own." XXII. Just then, a torrent cross'd the flier's course; And, ever and anon, strange sounds were heard be- And for the bondsmen base the freeborn natives tween. brand. And flanks incarnadined, his poitrel smear'd SOUTHEY'S Roderick. "The manner in which the pageant disappears is very beautiful."-Quarterly Review. 2" We come now to the Second Period of the Vision; and we cannot avoid noticing with much commendation the dexterity and graceful ease with which the first two scenes are connected. Without abruptness, or tedious apology for transition, they melt into each other with very harmonious effect; and we strongly recommend this example of skill, perhaps, exhibited without any effort, to the imitation of contemporary poets."-Monthly Review. 3" These allegorical personages, which are thus described are sketched in the true spirit of Spenser; but we are not sure that we altogether approve of the association of such imaginary beings with the real events that pass over the stage: and these, as well as the form of ambition which precedes the path of Bonaparte, have somewhat the air of the immortal of the Luxemburg gallery, whose naked limbs and tridents. thunderbolts and caducei, are so singularly contrasted wit) the ruffs and whiskers, the queens, archbishops, and cardinals of France and Navarre."-Quarterly Review. |