POETRY AND RELIGION. No. VI. FALSE IMPRESSIONS AS TO THE MORAL INSUBORDINATION OF POETICAL GENIUS, &C.-SAME SUB JECT CONTINUED. Let us return to the hypothesis in question. As to the necessity of moral aberration supposed to be involved in the poetical character, it may be asked, does such a necessity originate in the physical, or the mental organization of the poet? Not, certainly, in the former. For how can a lav so peculiar, be attached to a class so diversified. How can a physical tendency so unique and specific, be affirmed of that endless variety of feature and form, complexion and temperament, displayed in the physical constitution of the poetic tribe? Indeed, poets conform to no specific law of classification, as to their bodily functions. As to those vices, which consist in the indulgence of physical appetites, to which many poets have been addicted, they are by no means peculiar to themselves as a class. Others, besides those distinguished for poetic genius, are guilty of such grovelling excesses. Nay, it will generally be found, that those farthest removed from such a distinction-the ignorant, the rude, the torpid, those in whom the animal part of their nature seems to reign over the mental and the spiritual, are of all others most noted for subjection to brutal propensities and passions. There is nothing consequently in the peculiar physical nature of the poet to distinguish it as a necessary source of such impurities. But vices of this class may perhaps be regarded as habits, formed in consequence of some unhappy state of mind, which seeks relief in opiates administered through the bodily senses, to stapify the pangs of inward anguish. So that to disorders inherent in the mental constitution may be traced these external irregularities of life, as well as those vices of temper and disposition, with which they are often attended. Does there then exist any conceivable necessity in the intellectual nature of the poet as the cause of such results? Here we must insist on a distinction between an absolute necessity of nature and a peculiar liability to temp tation. Even admitting this peculiar liability to exist in the case of the poet, yet the excesses which flow from it may be denied to be the inevitable accompaniments of his genius. For with an exposure to temptation, there are the means of resistance, and a negleet of the one will not justify a submission to the other. But this peculiar liability to temptation itself arises from previous defects of character, which are not the constitutional or necessary ingredients of poetical genius. It springs from an antecedent nature, and not to the original force and tendency of genius, that we are to attribute all his way. wardness and guilt. moral perversity, which claims no affinity or connection with the elements of poetry; but which, on the contrary, whenever constrained into such an unnatural association, ensures a tendency to dete- We are aware, that in making this admission of rioration and decay. In such cases, the high au- a peculiar liability to temptation in such cases, we thority of religious principle is first rejected, the seemingly give sanction to a prevalent pretext emharmonizing influence of Christian faith is discard-ployed by depraved pretenders to genius, to vindied, the charities, the consolations and the hopes, cate and encourage their abominable profligacy. which attend a spirit of humble and fervent piety, With such a warrant to foster presumption, many are forsaken; and the character of the poet, thus ambitious aspirants after literary fame, who hold rendered destitute both of defence and support ad-forth no higher claim to such a distinction than equate to its position, and left alone to the lower that displayed in habits of reckless dissipation, are motives and restraints of human society, with its enabled to avail themselves of a condition of greatvivid powers, refined sensibilities and glowing emo-ness, which is both cheap and agreeable. There tions, will of course be more liable to break be- is discovered an easy ascent to that eminence, yond such limits, than others who are equally alien "where Fame's proud temple shines afar." By a to the spirit of religion, but who are not distin- process, which has the threefold advantage of grat guished by the same elevation and force of men-ifying a corrupt taste, soothing a guilty conscience tal faculties. Exalt the intellectual powers, en- and flattering a stupid pride, the man rises in his large the capacities of the soul, quicken its sensi- own estimation to the attitude of one endowed with bilities, intensify its emotions, and etherealize its superhuman faculties and begins to figure before aspirations, and unless controlled by Christian the world in those peculiar eccentricities, which principle in the lofty sphere of true virtue, it will are conceived to be appropriate to such a characbe perpetually liable to run wild by the force of its ter. If society should prove blind to the imposing impulsive and unbalanced powers. While genu- demonstration, he looks with contempt on its heartine religion comprehends all true virtue and holds less stupidity, and scowls with misanthropic defiforth the highest necessity for social order: Yet ance in return for its envy and malice. Should there may be a degree of outward propriety and a it still remain unimpressed, after these additional species of inferior consistency maintained from attestations of his inspired mission, he then lamere selfish and secular motives, where the loftier ments the tyranny of circumstances and sighs over principle of religious obligation is habitually dis- the mournful fatality of gifted minds, under which carded. Such virtues, however, are merely nega- they are doomed to desolation by their own contive in their character. As the world is, even they vulsive energies; and, despairing of other methare not to be depreciated. Verily they have their reward. They secure present quietude and afford the opportunity to those who may be impelled by noble motives, of ascending, without conflict or injury, to a purer element. But in such cases an exemption from wayward impulses results from a partial deprivation of inward life. An avoidance of vice is owing to the absence of temptation, and not to the ascendency of virtue. The surface of life is calm and smooth, because the current is It is true some highly gifted poets have been the contracted to a pool and covered with ice. In victims of such wayward and ruinous propensities. many instances a partial compliance with the stand- And there is no human history which should be traard of social order is indebted to no higher cause ced with a more sorrowful sympathy, than the dark than spiritual decrepitude and depression; and and downward career of perverted genius. But there may be cases in which the soul has just vigor generally the shallow pretenders to the possession of and energy enough to break the bondage of ordi- superior gifts, who are instigated solely by the imnary influences, without wisdom and purity suffi- pertinent presumption of diseased vanity, will be cient to lead it to the freedom and harmony of a most liable to such demoralizing tendencies, and most higher element. It may disown the sway of Mam-prone to seek refuge in the seeming shelter of so mon and dissolve the apathy of stoicism, but fail baseless a pretext for their indulgence. As to the to subject itself to the legitimate control of moral latter it is useless to expostulate. And even with the principle and religious truth. If such be the position and character of the poet, there will be of course with him a peculiar liability to temptation. But his position is previously wrong. His character is swayed by an antecedent perversion. And it is to this perverted and vitiated condition of lus moral ods of demonstration, he determines to become a martyr of genius, plunges onward to greater excesses in pollution, until he falls a wreck of shame and guilt, and crowns the proof of his preeminence by consummating a career, which had already impressed the world as both foolish and wicked-a career which depravity first instigated, and vanity subsequently encouraged under the charm of a fascinating, but wilful delusion. former there will be a pertinacity in clinging to so flattering a delusion. That it is a delusion, must be manifest to all capable of reflection, and dispo sed to rectitude. Otherwise, moral obligation and religious truth, the sources of piety, are opposed to beauty and sublimity, the fountains of poetry; and will stand the investigation of a higher tribunal, when the secret springs of human conduct are unveiled in the light of eternity. Nor is there any evasion of such a prospect in the sentiment sung by an unhappy poet-so true in itself, and so tenderly consoling to the sincere and suffering -"Who made the heart, 'tis He alone both being emanations of the Deity, we must sup- be exercised between man and man in society; yet pose a contrariety in his plans, a discordance in in the discernment of an enlightened conscience, his works, to justify us in embracing the one and true to its office of self scrutiny, still higher oblidiscarding the other. But to be more minute.-gations should be regarded, and the spiritual eleLet it be considered that the tendency to licen-ments of faith and piety should be held essential tionsness, which is supposed to exist, is directly to the production of genuine moral worth and the contrary to the legitimate tendency of the element development of a consistent and perfect character. of poetry, and cannot therefore be justly attributed At least we are assured that such conditions alone to it as a source. It is a physical, brutal, stupifying, degrading tendency, manifested, it is true, by some eminent poets, but manifested equally by the most obtuse and torpid of the race, and manifested in its perfection by the beasts that perish. But the elements of poetry are refined, ethereal, elevating and spiritual. Their legitimate tendency leads the soul upward in its aspirations. They cannot, therefore, be justly regarded as the direct causes of a tendency so manifestly opposite. Again, let it be remembered, that this peculiar liability to temptation, which we have admitted conditionally to exist, does exist only on condition of a previous defect of character, for which the poet is responsible-a defect of moral principle, a destitution of religious life. This deficiency is radical and essential in its nature. It is no mere innocent misfortune, which serves to palliate all the consequences which flow from its existence. Even under the unalleviated doom of original apostacy, a moral agent would be culpable in acting according to those depraved propensities to which our fallen nature is heir. But under the provisions and remedies of divine mercy, such reckless infatuation is without the shadow of an apology. He knows each chord, its various tone- Admit every palliation, which is supposed to be derived from the natural tone and bias of character, from constitutional temperament and tendency, from the force of circumstances and the power of temptation; and at the same time admit that the obligations of faith and piety are as direct and urgent, as those of social virtue—that inward religion is as much a duty as external propriety in life; and we ask, will any plea, however derived, suffice to extenuate the guilt of a radical destitution of religious life in the soul? In the case of the poet, the force of any argument drawn from the tone and bias of character, the endowment of rare gifts and faculties, the possession of refined tastes and etheThere is a proneness to regard the prevalent real aspirations, would only bring to bear upon his standard of social virtue, as an exclusive test of conscience an increased power of obligation, conmoral integrity-to look no higher as a source of straining him to a pious life-for which he is more obligation and to consider nothing beyond in the fully equipped and furnished by nature than others— light of a duty. The spiritual elements of reli- to which he is attracted by more congenial tastes gion are ordinarily discarded from our estimate of and tendencies, urged by stronger motives, and imhuman character, and we regard the visible de- pelled by a deeper sense of duty. If the propenportment of man in the relations of society as alone sities of nature are to have any weight in deteramenable to praise or blame. Such a system of mining the measure of personal obligation, and calculation is admissible, perhaps, when we con- modifying our estimate of human character, we sider the incapacity of man as a judge of the in- are forced to the conclusion, that he who is endowward motives and purposes of his fellow creatures, ed with the genius of a poet, is of all others most and the great importance of even the outward as strongly bound to be a pious man, and consequently pect of such virtues to the peace and order of so- most culpable in assuming an opposite character. ciety. But it is obvious that the ordinary rela- But if the element of true religion secures the tions of life may, to a certain passable extent, be consistency of social virtue; and if the waywardfulfilled in the visible deportment, while the most ness of poetical character is owing to a primary selfish and sordid purposes reign in the heart. deficiency in this respect; then those consequent Moreover, there may be an abs inence from certain immoralities, which incur the censure of society, vicious excesses secured, as before stated, from an cannot be palliated as the necessary appendages of inward contraction of soul-a distinction, (not cen- genius. If destitute of piety, the poet may be surable, of course, as to the form in which it is more liable to temptations, to reckless abandonmanifested,) which arises solely from a want of ment; but he is more culpable than others for that intellectual and moral capacity for any higher dis- antecedent destitution, which occasions such a liatinction. But while such conditions are sufficient bility. His waywardness is owing, not to qualities under the jurisdiction of human law, and should possessed, but to qualities discarded—not to the for the most part satisfy the charitable judgment to presence of the elements of poetry, but to the ab very structure, demands some object to sustain its branches in their vigorous growth. It entwines its tendrils around the massive and towering oak; and thus upborne from the earth, it flourishes unharmed amid warring elements, strong in its dependence, and beautiful in its security. But let it be rudely severed from its support, and trailing helplessly in the dust, it is tossed and torn by every fitful breeze, and crushed and mangled by every passing foot. The worthless weed that shoots forth its stiff and meagre stalk from the earth, escapes without injury. The vine suffers, not from its luxuriance, but from its severance from the oak, by which it should have been sustained. sence of the elements of religion, which exhibit a insures a distortion of its faculties and a deterioracongenial affinity, and demand an inseparable union. tion in its tastes. The presiding influence of reliThe tame and the torpid may be equally destitute gion would harmonize the powers of the mind, of religious principle, and yet less liable to exter- correct its vacillations, and guide its ardent imnal impropriety. While they deserve no greater pulses aright. The character, thus equipped with credit for their abstinence, he can demand no lighter appropriate armor, (not clogged and crippled with condemnation for his excesses. As to the higher oppressive incumbrance, but "shielded and helmed purposes of existence, both are abortive, although and panoplied in truth,") goes forth not only less from different causes. Both fail to reach the prize exposed to danger, but also provided with remeof immortality, while one lingers listlessly around dies for every injury experienced in the conflict. the shores of time, and the other drives madly be- For while religion prepares the soul for security in fore the tempest, amid vacancy and darkness, to its earthly career, it exerts a modifying power over meet the doom of shipwreck. A frail pleasure- all external influences. It blunts the shafts of adboat may escape the agitation of the waves and the versity, sooths the pangs of sorrow, and amid all fury of the storm, by clinging near the quiet shore; the agitations of this world, sustains the soul in but it moulders away in its contracted position, and tranquillity and peace by the steadfast anchor of a never crosses the mighty deep to anchor on the heavenly hope. We repeat, it is by a process of coast of another hemisphere. The nobler vessel, perversion that the nature of the poet is thus cut built for a deeper element and a more distant voy-loose from such a support, and all his peculiar liaage, may lose its course. be driven by the tempest bility to vacillating waywardness arises from this on quick-sands and rocks, and finally float a dismal fatal dislodgment of his spirit from its appropriate wreck on the stormy sea. But, if at the outset, reliance and refuge. The luxuriant vine, by its it was unprovided with helm and compass and anchor-if these indispensable provisions for security were recklessly thrown away-shall the final catastrophe be charged upon the lofty dimensions of the vessel, the wide expanse of its sails, or the fury of the wind and tide, which swept it onward to its doom? Yea, the poet, destitute of the guiding and sustaining influences of religion, is swift to brave the storms of life. But wherefore? Not because he is a poet; but because he is not a Christian. Without the panoply needful for the contest, when he encounters the stern realities of experience, it is not surprising if he be wounded and conquered. Sensitive, impulsive, and aspiring, the very superiority of his nature, which lifts him above the tame and sluggish security of ordinary minds, renders him exposed to peculiar dangers. The energies which nerve his character are prone to wayward excess, and the very excellencies which adorn it, are liable, under the fatal reaction of disappointment, to be transformed into bitterness and gloom. The unshielded soul, pierced and bleeding in the conflict of life, often completes its inisery, thrown loose from so salutary a connection, in orby sinking under the shelter of physical propensider to give scope to their expansive luxuriance. ties, and administering the poison of lust as a balm The pure and lofty spirit of religion, which lifts to its wounds. Besides these ruinous propensities the soul in its security above surrounding evils, within, there is an array of adverse external influ- does not at the same time impede the growth of ences, which combine their power in hastening on its higher faculties. Such a supposition is as reso dire a catastrophe-the sway of fashion, the pulsive to reason, as it is false to history. Is the current of popular prejudice, the force of evil ex- vigorous vegetation of the vine arrested by its conample, and the contagion of corrupt society. But tact with the tree, around which its tendrils are all this exposure to danger arises from a primary entwined? Is the majestic ship encumbered in its destitution in the character of the poet. This des- motions, by being provided with helm and compass titution moreover implies, by necessity, a process and anchor? Does it glide less swiftly or graceof perversion. The absence of religious qualities fully over the heaving billows, when thus shielded not only leaves the native elements of poetry na- against the dangers of the deep? And when the ked and defenceless, under the power of tempta-dependent spirit of man entwines its confidence tion, but the very void in the soul, thus occasioned,' around the throne of God, and sends up its devout By observing the vices to which poets are most liable, it will be seen that they arise from the perversion and abuse of qualities, which, if corrected and sustained by religious principle, would have secured the greatest excellence of character. But such a perversion is not necessary to the growth and vigor of poetical genius. It is from no native tendency in the elements of poetry, that they are leads-a light born of pollution and springing from contact with foul and turbid elements. It is owing not to the rare gifts of his nature as they came originally "a light from heaven," but to their subsequent and congenial combination with corruption and lust, that the poet is led astray. Such a doom is not the native destiny of genius. Such a desolating career is not its original orbit. Religion holds forth its inviting prospects, its purifying and restraining influences, its precious consolations and immortal hopes. This true light from Heaven shines over the darkness of earth, dispels its delusions and leads the human mind in the line of rectitude to the port of peace. Shall fitful meteors, exploding in a corrupt atmosphere, be responsible for all the dire evils of shipwreck, when the steadfast firmament is gemmed over with the guiding stars of heaven? Shall impure hallucinations, kindled in the diseased imagination of the poet, be chargeable for his guilty aberrations, when the divine precepts and holy influences of religion are aspirations to Heaven, is its life impaired—are its touching extenuation, uttered by the poet, from a calamity! W. C. S. THE MAGIC MIRROR; OR LADY OF THE CRYSTAL SPRING. PART FIRST. But Aileen disregarded her mother's comfort : she had all day anticipated an evening walk, and a walk she resolved to have. The literal import of this apology, if we apprehend aright, amounts to this-Those qualities, which constituted him a poet, impelled him to vice. His ardent temperament, his brilliant imagination, his glowing emotions, were the light from Heaven, "My dear Aileen," said her mother, "I do not which led astray. His merit, as a poet, conse- wish you to walk this evening; I am too unwell quently cancelled his demerit as a man. In a cer- to accompany you, and the intense anxiety I shall tain sense, all high gifts and faculties may be traced feel in your absence will, I fear, greatly increase to a heavenly origin, but this is strictly true only this dreadful headache," and she pressed her finwhen regarded in their original purity, as exempt gers to her throbbing temples. from a state of subsequent corruption, which arises from an opposite quarter, and springs from an admixture with the impure elements of earth. Thus natural light may be traced to the sun as its origin. But light undergoes a thousand modifications as to its appearance and results, from its combination with foreign qualities. From the stormy cloud there is emitted a lurid glare, to terrify and consume. From the putrid vapors of the marsh, there is sent forth an ignis fatuus to bewilder the rents. Like the uncultivated vine, she had been gaze. And from the impure and turbid atmosphere above, brilliant meteors are enkindled, to dazzle and lead astray. Ah! the faithful phrase ology of the poet betrays the lurking delusion of his pretext. It is a "meteor-ray," which mis She was a very headstrong little Miss, and pretty much governed by self-love. Was she to blame? No, she was yet in that state of negative innocence which belongs to the infantile character, and to which no positive blame can be attached. The fault belonged to her pa permitted to follow the spontaneous bent of her own degenerate nature, until the delicate tendrils of her mind were warped and overrun by the pernicious growth of passion and wilfulness. "Oh, mamma," she said with an imploring look, |