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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 1816, Edition 1 of 1, Page 161

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    • REVIEW. * Still pleased to praise, yet not afraid to blame."—Pope. » ^^v^^tf^^^^v*^^
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      Aut . T . —Poems , by William Coivper , of the Inner Temple , Esq . Vol . III . containing his Posthumous Poetry * and a Sketch of his Life . By his kinsman , John Johnson , LL . D ., Rector of Yaxham with Wei borne ,

      in Norfolk . London : Printed for Rivingtons , &c \ &c- 1815 . 8 vo . pp , 484 . « V 1 THAT is Poetry ? " inquired tf Boswell * of his guide , philosopher and friend . "Why , Sir , " answered Johnson , * ' it is much easier to say what it is not . We all know what

      light is j but it is not easy to tell what it is . " To hazard a definition of Poetry , after such a judgment , might be presumptuous : let us satisfy ourselves with the account given of it by this great writer . * Poetry / ' he observes , f * ' is the art of uniting pleasure with

      truth , by calling imagination to the help of reason . " If , by this statement , he intended to define the exalted art of which he speaks , some critical objections might be taken to bis language ; which , nevertheless , is for all useful purposes sufficiently exact .

      That poetry may communicate pleasure , two objects must be kept in view by the poet : he must raise his diction above mean and ordinary modes of speech ; and , at the same time , he must address himself to the

      associations of ideas existing in the minds of those readers whose approbation is substantial praise . Many of our poets and critics have been extravagant in their respective efforts and decisions . Some of them have

      beitowed a disproportionate care on splendid images and a well-poized and agreeable versification . Others have become vulgar and insipid , through an affectation of simplicity : it 13 not h

      tat they are destitute of genius , but that they fail in taste * We may adniit , though not without obvious exceptions and qualifications , tfrat the " materials" of poetry are to be found in &very subject which can

      in-Uf&of Johnson . 8 vo . ( ed . 3 rd . ) Vol . * t ^ qft / . ( Mwp&p '» Ed . ) ix . } 60 . it ** . ** T

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      terest the human mind . " J Yet , surely , it will not follow that " the language of conversation in the middle and lower classes of society is adapted to the purposes of poetic pleasure . " To afford pleasure , poetry must call imagination to the aid of reason : fancy must create , or at least combine *

      arrange and select the ** materials . " The votary of the muse may avoid " the gaudiness and inane phraseology of many modern writers , " without deviating , however , into rusticity and \ childishness . Facts disprove the proposition that the customary style of conversation in the humbler ranks of

      life is calculated for poetic uses .. We are silent concerning recent exemplifications of this doctrine . From instances more remote it certainly re-: ceives no support . In what estimation do we hold the pastorals of Ambrose Philips \\} By whom will SwifV

      " humble petition of Frances Harris to the Lords Justices of Ireland ' be dignified with the name of Poetry ? We could refer to many metrical compositions which as pictures of ancient manners are highly attractive , but Df

      which the dialogue would otherwise be disgusting . For the poet , like the painter , must copy genet : al % not individual , nature . His employment supposes discrimination : he must elevate what is mean , he must softea what is harsh ; and these objects he will not reach if his style is familiar and provincial . The poetry of a

      cultivated age , must itself be cultivated ; since it can yield no delight unless it correspond with the habits of thought and feeling , of taste and reading , which distinguish the times and the people to whom its productions are submitted . ^ Fai thfulness in the " delineation of human passions , human characters and human incidents ' mav

      exist iu combination with lofty , and harmonious numbers , beautiful and

      % Lyrical Ballads ( 1798 ) t Advertise ment . I ) Guardian , No . XL . % Poetry -should be something aoifcra than true eloquence in metre . Seei » ou ' g Gray , ( 1778 ) Vol . iv . 32 . N # ti .

      Review. * Still Pleased To Praise, Yet Not Afraid To Blame."—Pope. » ^^V^^Tf^^^^V*^^

      REVIEW . * Still pleased to praise , yet not afraid to blame . " —Pope . » ^^ v ^^ tf ^^^^ v *^^

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  • Citation
    • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1816, page 161, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2450/page/33/