26 PRESUMPTUOUS POETRY. 



and held it eath 



To soar above the heavens infinite 



Or into central shades, and beneath 



The unfathomable to descend, so he 



Might lead bright honour captive, or redeem 



From durance far remote, obscure and old." 



HEBAUD. 



We are almost tempted to apologize for quoting the well-known 

 boast of Hotspur. 



" By Heaven ! methinks, it were an easy leap 

 To pluck bright honour from the pale-faced moon, 

 Or dive into the bottom of the deep, 

 Where fathom line could never touch the ground, 

 And pluck up drowned honour by the locks, 

 So he that doth redeem her throne, might wear 

 Without co-rival all her dignities." 



We have almost done with Mr. Heraud. But before we dismiss 

 him, we cannot refrain from noting down, perhaps the most shame- 

 ful plagiarism that was ever perpetrated by mortal man upon an im- 

 mortal poet. Mr. Heraud appears to have argued somewhat after this 

 fashion. " Not one in a thousand reads Paradise Lost ; of those who 

 do, not one in ten thinks of looking into Paradise Regained. Few " 

 can detect my plagiarisms from the former, not one, in all probabi- 

 lity will detect me in the robbery I am about to commit upon the 

 latter." 



There is a description in Mr. Heraud's poem of an invading army. 

 In "Paradise Regained" the array of the Parthians against the Scy- 

 thians was a case in point not to be lost by our modern poet. We 

 shall see how he takes advantage of it. 



" War chariot, and war steed, and elephant, 

 To conflict trained, and bearing on his back 

 Turrets of warriors." 



HERAUD. 



" Nor on each horn 



Curassiers all in steel for standing fight, 

 Chariots or elephants endorst with towers.' 



MILTON. 

 " The mailed crowds in military pomp.'' 



HERAUD. 

 "In coats of mail and military pride." 



MILTON. 



" Proud of such pomp, vain shew, though gorgeous, weak, 

 Though seeming strong in multitudes, thence weak, 

 And because weak in multitude arrayed." 



HERAUD. 



" or that cumbersome 



Luggage of war there shewn me, argument 

 Of human weakness, rather than of strength," 



MILTON. 



" With ensigns and with pioneers expert, 

 To push obstruction back of hill or wood, 

 Or raise opposing mountain, where was vale, 

 Or bridge over lake arid chasm, and river broad." 



HERAUD. 





