a connected series of poems in imitation of Herbert's "TEMPLE," and in some editions annexed to it. Are my torn meditations ragged cloathing, Immediately after these burlesque passages I cannot proceed to the extracts promised, without changing the ludicrous tone of feeling by the interposition of the three following stanzas of Herbert's. VIRTUE. Sweet day so cool, so calm, so bright, The bridal of the earth and sky: The dew shall weep thy fall to night, Sweet rose, whose hue angry and brave Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, THE BOSOM SIN: A SONNET BY GEORGE HERBERT. Lord, with what care hast thou begirt us round! The sound of glory ringing in our ears: LOVE UNKNOWN. Dear friend, sit down, the tale is long and sad: And have, of whom some grounds, which may improve, To him I brought a dish of fruit one day But he (I sigh to say) Lookt on a servant who did know his eye, And have good cause: there it was dipt and dy'd, Enforceth tears. Indeed 'tis true. I did and do commit (I sigh to tell) Walkt by myself abroad, I saw a large So I went Thinking with that, which I did thus present, Who was to take it from me, slipt his hand, My heart that brought it (do you understand?) The offerer's heart. Your heart was hard, Ifear. Indeed 'tis true. I found a callous matter Began to spread and to expatiate these: But with a richer drug than scalding water I bath'd it often, ev'n with holy blood, Which at a board, while many drank bare wine, Ev'n taken inwardly, and most divine Unto my house, where to repair the strength But when I thought to sleep out all these faults, I found that some had stuff'd the bed with thoughts, More favour than you wot of. Mark the end! CHAPTER XX. The former subject continued-The neutral style, or that common to Prose and Poetry, exemplified by specimens from Chaucer, Herbert, &c. I have no fear in declaring my conviction, that the excellence defined and exemplified in the preceding Chapter is not the characteristic excellence of Mr. Wordsworth's style; because I can add with equal sincerity, that it is precluded by higher powers. The praise of uniform adherence to genuine, logical English is undoubtedly his; nay, laying the main emphasis on the word uniform I will dare add that, of all contemporary poets, it is his alone. For in a less absolute sense of the word, I should certainly include MR. BOWLES, LOrd BYRON, and, as to all his later writings, MR. SOUTHEY, the exceptions in their works being so few and unimportant. But of the specific excellence described in the quotation from Garve, I appear to find more, and more undoubted specimens in the works of others; for instance, among the minor poems of Mr. Thomas Moore, and of our illustrious Laureate. To me it will always remain a singular and noticeable fact; that a theory which would establish this |