SATAN came, and whispered treason Then the PASSIONS spurned at REASON, REASON wandered all forsaken: Blind to her celestial beauty, They strolled along the world's drear plains. • REASON, OF RELIGION, calls you, All your influence will be peace. • HOPE and FEAR and ANGER yonder So the MORTAL PASSIONS ever And the DEATHLESS PASSIONS never Cease in heavenly souls to glow.' p. 8–11. We must make room for one more extract, which will amply justify Mr. Edmeston's claim to true poetic feeling: the lines are simple and touching. TO THE MEMORY OF A SISTER. Fair prison of earth's fairest clay, Thy chains are burst, thy bars are broken, Thy cheek is fixed, thy brow is barc, Yet never seemed that face so fair, Though bowered in locks that fancy braided. A smile more sweet, a grace more tender. Where once the flash of pleasure lightned, And pictures hours that thou hast brightened. May give one day a better greeting, But love hath melted it to gladness!' pp. 6-8. The Scripture Melodies were written, not with any distinct view to publication, but rather to relieve the solitude to which an in'firm state of health had condemned' the Author. I know not,' he says, to what species of poetical composition a clergyman could with more propriety devote his leisure." That Mr. Jones's leisure hours have been both beneficially and honourably improved, our readers will, we think, readily admit on perusing the specimens we shall proceed to transcribe from this simple and unpretending volume. But whence the anguish of that hour? And human passions sink to rest: 6 With voice that shook the arch of heaven, And even malice owns his power.' pp. 16-18. "Tis finish'd!"-the Holy sufferer cried, And, obedient still, its Master owns. The sun-he refuses his glowing light, And the Heavens are veil'd in dunnest night; And, opening widely, yawn to Heaven. And the earth is mov'd, convulsed with dread, The veil of the temple is rent in twain, But what was "finish'd?" The wond'rous plan But who the Messiah? who cried "'tis donè,” The greater part of the Notes might have been spared: the Melodies stand in no need of such a commentary, and some of the Author's remarks are of that very obvious kind which are termed truisms. The reader will regret that the space allotted to them, was not occupied with additions to the Melodies. Nearly half of Mr. Hodgson's volume is occupied with two narrative poems, founded on the Biblical subjects of Cain and Abel, and Jonah. The former is in part freely imitated from Gesner's pastoral; so well known as done into English' for the benefit of young persons, by Mrs. Collier. It is in better taste, is less attenuated than the German romance, and is agreeably versified; but, having said thus much, we have little to add in its favour. The incidents are, of all Scriptural subjects, the least susceptible, perhaps, of poetical paraphrase, owing not more to their remote antiquity, than to the extreme conciseness of the inspired record, and the unbounded scope it affords for vague and unauthorised conjecture. Montgomery, in his World before the Flood, has more than rivalled Gesner: his poem serves to shew at once all the capabilities and the incurable disadvantages of the subject. He has not ventured to refer to the story of the death of Abel otherwise than in a brief episode, in which he adheres closely to the Scripture narrative. His conception of the character of Cain, however, amply atones for its boldness by its moral propriety. Mr. Hodgson has been much more successful, we think, in his treatment of his other subject, on which two Cambridge prize poems have already been submitted to the public. The relation of the story is put into the mouth of a Christian of the fourth century, who is supposed to address it to his son. loses nothing in point of effect from adhering with fidelity to the simple statements of the sacred historian. 'buried living ** * But whence is man precluded to pour forth What void in space may not be filled with Prayer? Flame, earth, and sea, all ministers of Prayer, It Thou bind'st the broken heart, thou bidd'st it hope Lo! from his wonderous prison, Jonah pours Sure was the Prophet's trust-behold him laid, Among the shorter pieces, there is a series of very pleasing poems on the leading incidents of our Lord's history. Mr. Hodgson has most laudably abstained from tricking out his subject in the meretricious graces of sentiment; he has not even sought to give effect to his verse by a variety of measure, or any of those rhythmical novelties which have of late been employed in what purports to be sacred poetry. In this he has shewn some courage and more good taste. There is a prevailing chasteness in the style both of thought and of expression, which well accords with the theme; and while he rarely fails of being terse and pointed, he not unfrequently attains a simplicity that partakes of majesty. The following specimens will, we think, justify our commendation. |