Page images
PDF
EPUB

for extracts, but we must crave the indulgence of just introducing the heroine. Both hero and heroine have lost their mothers. The touching dedication prefixed to the poem shows how deeply Mr. Mant feels a similar bereavement, a feeling which seems to have suggested several passages of much beauty. After an engaging portrait of Marion's person and loveliness of character, and an allusion to the death of her mother, we haye the following just observation :

"Well it is by Heaven design'd,
That in mortal scenes of sorrow,
Ever the elastic mind
May in occupation find
Soothing comfort, and may borrow
Even from the source of grief

That which gives the heart relief.
Thus it was with Marion's heart."-

Her "occupation" was to supply, so far as she could, the place of her mother in the care of her father and his family.

"And, except that somewhat slower
Was her foot upon the green,
And her voice was somewhat lower,
Somewhat sadder was her mien,
Scarcely could the world have known,

That affliction's wintry hour

With so keen a blast had blown

On so delicate a flower,'

[ocr errors]

All readers must have remarked, that it is the usual practice of our ablest writers of fiction, whether in poetry or prose, to introduce their most bustling and stirring events by some picture of calmness and quiet. The following picture of Marion, in her lonely seclusion, is followed by an animating scene of excitement, turmoil, and alarm:

"Skilfully fashion'd by Marion's side,
Frame of embroidery work was spread!
But carelessly there her fingers plied

With listless needle the silken thread;
And slowly and slowly formed to view,
Figures and faces and landscapes grew.
For Marion's thoughts were far away

From silken thread of embroidery frame,
And sometimes she thought of battle fray,

And sometimes of one she dared not name;

And her form that trembled, her cheek that glowed,
The varying tone of her visions shewed.

For sometimes her small white hands were clasped
Over her knees in calm distress;

And sometimes her silken thread she grasp'd,
But the needle's point was motionless:
And within her blue eyes' liquid cell

The tear drops trembled, but never fell.
And then she sung some mournful air,
Scarce knew the maiden what she sung;
But the music, like a secret prayer,

Soothed the heart as it flowed along:
And then she smiled on her saddening strain,
And strove to bend to her task again.
And then did her taper fingers range
Over the web so light and fast,
As if she thought to work a change

In her mournful thoughts: and it came at last."

In describing the spoil and devastation perpetrated on the churches of this country by the misguided zeal and ignorant fanaticism of the Puritans, Mr. Mant draws largely upon Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, and in the notes are given many curious and interesting facts from that valuable book. Perhaps some persons may be of opinion that those religionists are treated with too much caustic severity, and that in sometimes adopting the metre of Hudibras, Mr. Mant has caught something of its spirit. We are persuaded that such an opinion is unfounded. The poem is pervaded by a tone of deep religious feeling, and we think that a really irreverent expression is not to be found in it. It must be remembered, that Napper is a Jesuit in the disguise of a Puritan ; and that though among the Puritans there were very many men actuated by sincere and fervent zeal, yet there were many also influenced by a wild and misdirected enthusiasm; many also who made religion a cloak for maliciousness.

As

It has occurred to us, from some features in the poem, to suspect that Mr. Mant may at some time have contemplated taking a wider range, and constructing a more extended narrative. ground for this suspicion we would mention the very spirited description of the rapid progress, the almost railroad speed, of the express sent by Napper to Rome, which reminded us of the fiery cross of Sir Walter Scott. The description is given with great force and vivacity, and the despatch is delivered, but nothing seems to come of it. Quid dignum tanto?

But we must draw to a close. We have little hesitation in expressing our opinion, that Reginald Vere is a very interesting tale, the work of a well-informed and highly poetic mind, actuated by the kindliest of human sympathies, and ever alive to all

the beauties of external nature. It abounds in passages of great beauty, and of great vigour and animation; and many of those of a more meditative or moral cast might be beneficially stored up in the memory. The writer is evidently thoroughly conversant in the history of the time in which the events of his poem are supposed to have taken place. Our readers will not be the less disposed to think favourably of the poem, if we add, that it appears from every part of it, that Mr. Mant is most zealously and devotedly attached to the religion which it is his duty to teach, and to the Apostolical Church, of which he is a minister.

ART. IV.-Loss and Gain. London: Burns. 1848.

WHO could affect to deny that allurements for some minds are possessed by the Church of Rome in the present day, in which the Church of England is deficient, and which may form a trial to the faith of those who suffer themselves to be guided by impulse, or impelled by an impatient craving for the ideal? Let us enumerate some of the specific attractions which operate variously on various dispositions. First, then, the tendency of the humble and faithful heart to implicit confidence in its teacher, this, in itself, most Catholic instinct, is encouraged and developed to the utmost possible extent by the system of Romish infallibility. And this obedience, we may remark, is not alone to be tendered to the Roman Church, as a whole, but further to every individual priest as its representative or embodiment, who may be consulted in all cases of difficulty as an oracular voice which must yield "right counsel." We have said that there is a certain charm in this possibility of unrestricted reliance and obedience, for many humble hearts; and that a Catholic instinct prompts the desire for it: yet assuredly, there may be a sinful excess in such desire, even in the pure of heart, if it be carried to the limit of self-abandonment: for each man must answer for himself to his God," and not another;" and Scripture expressly charges us to call no man "father," in the sense of infallible judge and absolute lord and master.

But the attraction in this case is perhaps even stronger for the mind which has lost all hold on objective truth, or which is at least tossed about on the waves of every controversy, than it has been acknowledged to be, for the lowly of spirit and pure of heart. Those, who have argued and worked themselves out of their nearest and dearest convictions; who, by indulging a controversial habit of mind, combined with irreverence towards their mother church, have finally arrived at a state of indefinite negation; who no longer realize the primary verities of Christianity; these, we know, feel attracted by the prospect of an external and visible infallibility, under which they can take refuge: they exaggerate the difficulties of their own position; they even resolve to doubt all things, and persuade themselves that they act virtuously in so doing, in order to constitute a necessity for flight to this presumed external certainty claimed

by Rome. But whatever be the motives of those attracted, the attraction exercised by the assertion of infallibility and absolute dominion, over humble hearts and servile hearts, vacillating minds and weak minds, is certainly not to be questioned.

Again, an attraction of another order possessed by Rome, is the external splendour of her rites and services; what may, at first sight, appear "the beauty of holiness." To the class mainly assailed by temptations to apostasy, Rome proffers Daily Communion, or, more correctly perhaps, daily reception of the Mystic Presence of our Lord and Saviour. This alone constitutes a mighty charm for many spirits. Every morning this wondrous visitation of the Lord of glory is renewed, accompanied by all external symbols of power and majesty. The host is uplifted, the incense ascends on high, the worshippers kneel as in awe-struck terror, the presence is received. Further, all appliances to the senses are in these services combined; music, painting, splendour of the altar, dimness of the aisle ; and again, constant variety in the form and nature of the services constituting a possible medium for perpetual excitement. We can only indicate the chief allurements pertaining to this class; yet, enough has been said, even here, to warrant us in the assertion, that Rome does externally possess such pomp of public worship, as may possibly attract even simple hearts to her communion; but cannot fail to operate by way of magnet on all those who think more of form than of reality, and are easily dazzled by glitter and glare.

Once more, Rome, through the forbidden medium of creatureworship, encourages and further developes, to an excess, that admiring love for saints and martyrs, which is in itself most catholic and praiseworthy. By directing our attention to the special virtues of holy men she affords so many channels of devotional feeling; she yields, at the same time, so many sources of recreation and delight. Much of evil, of deadly evil, is blent with this, we know: but we speak at present with reference to the actual temptations presented to unsound Anglicans, by those attractions of the Church of Rome, of which we do not wish to question her possession. And we repeat therefore, that the development of love for the Virgin and saints, which appears naturally to accompany creature-worship, or what we cannot but designate idolatry (though it may undoubtedly, and does exist without it), is another source of allurement to those, who have never fully realized the gifts and graces of their own spiritual mother.

Finally, for we must not linger longer over this branch of our subject, the medieval character of the Romish Church consti

« PreviousContinue »