Music, when combined with a
pleasurable idea, is poetry- music, without the idea, is simply music;
the idea, without the music, is prose, from its very definitiveness.
What was meant by the invective against him who had no music in
his soul?
doubt, perceive, for the metaphysical poets as poets, the most
sovereign contempt. That they have followers proves nothing-
No Indian prince has to his palace
More followers than a thief to the gallows.
THE CULPRIT FAY, AND OTHER POEMS
Joseph Rodman Drake
ALNWICK CASTLE, AND OTHER POEMS
Fitz-Greene Halleck
BEFORE entering upon the detailed notice which we propose of the
volumes before us, we wish to speak a few words in regard to the
present state of American criticism.
It must be visible to all who meddle with literary matters, that
of late years a thorough revolution has been effected in the
censorship of our press. That this revolution is infinitely for the
worse we believe. There was a time, it is true, when we cringed to
foreign opinion- let us even say when we paid most servile deference
to British critical dicta. That an American book could, by any
possibility, be worthy perusal, was an idea by no means extensively
prevalent in the land; and if we were induced to read at all the
productions of our native writers, it was only after repeated
assurances from England that such productions were not altogether
contemptible.
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