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CRITICAL SEVERITY.

Happier specimens of precocious talent will not indeed be easily found in the history of poetry; and yet one of the first literary journals of the day fell with unaccountable ferocity upon the infant muse, which it attempted to strangle in the cradle. A similar act of barbarity was practised, with more success, against that amiable son of genius and virtue, Henry Kirke White, whose mind certainly suffered seriously from the lacerations inflicted upon it by the fangs of critical malevolence. In the present instance, the malignity of the criticism roused energies far superior to the power which provoked them into retaliation; and the Edinburgh Reviewer, while triumphing in the wanton insolence of assumed authority over a stripling, found himself locked in an Herculean grasp, from whence there was no escape without indelible disgrace.

As an article of curiosity, and showing what little respect is generally due to periodical criticism, where conceited ignorance, clad in a coat of darkness, may with deadly effect aim the poisoned arrow of defamation at solid learning and brilliant genius; the Edinburgh review of Lord Byron's "Hours of Idleness"

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is here inserted. It forms indeed an essential part of the literary history of this noble writer; for though talents like his could hardly lie dormant, it may be reasonably doubted whether he would have put them forth so effectively and speedily as he did, had not the northern Zoilus held him up to unmerited ridicule, in the twenty-second volume of the Review for the

year 1808.

Nothing can be well conceived more ludicrously pompous than the opening of the criticism which is couched in the technical jargon of legal sophistry; but, to make amends for this solemn foolery, the reviewer takes care to close his judicial sentence in the language of a buffoon,

"The poesy of this young Lord," says he, " belongs to the class which neither Gods nor man are said to permit. Indeed, we do not recollect to have seen a quantity of verse with so few deviations in either direction from that exact standard. His effusions are spread over a dead flat, and can no more get above or below the level, than if they were so much stagnant water. As an extenuation of this offence,

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the noble author is peculiarly forward in pleading minority. We have it in the title-page, and on the very back of the volume; it follows his name, like a favourite part of his style. Much stress is laid upon it in the preface; and the poems are connected with this general statement of his case, by particular dates, substantiating the age at which each was written. Now, the law upon the point of minority, we hold to be perfectly clear. It is a plea available only to the defendant; no plaintiff can offer it as a supplementary ground of action. Thus, if any suit could be brought against Lord Byron, for the purpose of compelling him to put into court a certain quantity of poetry, and if judgment were given against him, it is highly probable that an exception would be taken, were he to deliver for poetry the contents of this volume. To this he might plead minority; but as he now makes voluntary tender of the article, he hath no right to sue, on that ground, for the price in good current praise, should the goods be unmarketable. This is our view of the law on the point, and we dare to say, so will it be ruled. Perhaps, however, in reality, all that he tells us about his youth, is rather with a view to increase our wonder, than to soften our censures.

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He possibly means to say,See how a minor can write! This poem was actually composed by a young man of eighteen, and this by one of only sixteen!'But, alas, we all remember the poetry of Cowley at ten, and Pope at twelve; and so far from hearing with any degree of surprise, that very poor verses were written by a youth from his leaving school to his leaving college inclusive, we really believe this to be. the most common of all occurrences; that it happens in the life of nine men in ten who are educated in England; and that the tenth man writes better verse than Lord Byron.

"His other plea of privilege, our author rather brings forward in order to wave it. He certainly, however, does allude frequently to his family and ancestors; sometimes in poetry, sometimes in notes: and while giving up his claim on the score of rank, he takes care to remember us of Dr. Johnson's saying, that when a nobleman appears as an author, his merit should be handsomely acknowledged. In truth, it is this consideration only, that induces us to give Lord Byron's poems a place in our review, beside our desire to counsel him, that he do forthwith

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abandon poetry, and turn his talents, which are considerable, and his opportunities, which are great, to better account.

"With this view, we must beg leave seriously to assure him, that the mere rhyming of the final syllable, even when accompanied by the presence of a certain number of feet, nay, although (which does not always happen) these feet should scan regularly, and have been all counted accurately upon the fingers, is not the whole art of poetry. We would entreat him to believe, that a certain portion of liveliness, somewhat of fancy, is necessary to constitute a poem ; and that a poem in the present day, to be read, must contain at least one thought either in a little degree different from the ideas of former writers, or differently expressed. We put it to his candour, whether there

is

any thing so deserving the name of poetry in verses like the following, written in 1806, and whether, if a youth of eighteen could say any thing so uninteresting to his ancestors, a youth of nineteen should publish it.

"Shades of heroes, farewell! your descendant, departing

From the seat of his ancestors, bids you adieu ! Abroad, or at home, your remembrance imparting New courage, he 'll think upon glory and you.