*
* The expression "woven air," much insisted upon by the friends of
Drake, seems to be accredited to him as original. It is to be found in
many English writers- and can be traced back to Apuleius, who calls
fine drapery ventum textilem.
Niagara is objectionable in many respects, and in none more so
than in its frequent inversions of language, and the artificial
character of its versification. The invocation,
Roar, raging torrent! and thou, mighty river,
Pour thy white foam on the valley below!
Frown ye dark mountains, &c.
is ludicrous- and nothing more. In general, all such invocations
have an air of the burlesque. In the present instance we may fancy the
majestic Niagara replying, "Most assuredly I will roar, whether, worm!
thou tellest me or not."
The American Flag commences with a collection of those bald
conceits, which we have already shown to have no dependence whatever
upon the Poetic Power- springing altogether from Comparison.
When Freedom from her mountain height
Unfurled her standard to the air,
She tore the azure robe of night
And set the stars of glory there.
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes
The milky baldric of the skies,
And striped its pure celestrial white
With streakings of the morning light;
Then from his mansion in the sun
She called her eagle bearer down
And gave into his mighty hand
The symbol of her chosen land.
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