Course of Genius. With feeling heart attune his melting strain, 300 Say in what clime does Genius love to dwell, Where sounds the sweetest her enchanting shell? Do climates change the bias of the mind, Are all her powers by earth or air inclin'd? ---Seldom will Genius dwell with unsun'd snows, Or on the lap of burning heat repose; Seldom she seeks the deep terrific shade, Where Culture's footsteps never press'd the glade, Incessant cold chills her impetuous course And melting suns destroy her active force. In endless solitude her powers decay Imagination sickens, dies away: To social life Man every comfort owes, There Fancy brightens, Emulation glows. 310 There Joy is born and Friendship's healing charm, The Same. A rugged race the cliffs and mountains bear, 320 And clamber heights to seek their bearded flock. 330 They call'd to arms their sanguine flag unfurl'd And spread their conquests o'er the wondering world *The German nations, who bordered on the Baltic coast, have always been distinguished for their emigration and warlike disposition. The classical reader will recollect the Teutones and Cimbri who united their forces, which amounted to 300,000 men, and invaded the Roman territories; Ariovistus and his German bands, the invaders of Gaul; the Suevi, the Goths, the Vandals, and the Lombards, who made numerous irruptions into the Roman empire. + The climate of the Tartars, and their mode of life were such as to harden and invigorate their constitutions: their disputes for water in a country without land-marks, the skirmishes between the rival clans, taught them skilfulness in war. Rural Scenery---Contrast. green. 340 -Where spreads the quiet and luxuriant vale, For ever fann'd by Spring's ambrosial gale, Where over pebbles runs the limpid rill And woods o'er-shade the wildly-sloping hill: There roves the swain, all-gentle and serene, And guards his sheep while browsing on the He leads the dance by Cynthia's silver light And lulls with sport the dusky ear of Night; Breathes from his pipe the dulcet strain of Love And warbles Ellen thro' the mead and grove. In those drear climes where scorching suns prevail, And Fever rides the tainted burning gale; Where draws the giant-snake his loathsome train, And poisons with his breath the yellow plain; There languid Pleasure waves her gilded wings And slothful Ease the mental power unstrings. ----Where Iceland spreads her dark and frozen wild On whose fell snows no cheering sun-beam smil'd, There in their stormy, cold, and midnight cell 351 The cheerless fishermen with Stupor dwell, Wrapt in their furs they slumber life away And mimic with their lamps the light of day--Chill thro' his trackless pines the hunter pass'd, His yell arose upon the howling blast: Before him fled with all the speed of fear His wealth and victim, yonder helpless deer. Picture of the Savage. 361 Saw you the savage-man, how fell and wild, When Winter hurls his tempests thro' the sky. 370 And cheer those wilds where he is wont to roam; 381 And the mild tabor warble thro' his hall, Invocation to Genius. Genius awaken in this new-born land, Hold o'er these climes thy sceptre of command; Thy wreaths of laurel round his temples bind! 390 |