82 AN INTRODUCTORY LECTURE ON POETRY. 



Egean," " Cyclades," and a few others judiciouly interspersed, cannot 

 fail to make a highly spirited poem. 



Poland, again, has been a favourite subject of late years The 

 partition of Poland was a rascally arrangement, no doubt ; but now 

 that it is dismembered, make no bones of the matter, but take it 

 amongst you. You will find that to the construction of a poem under 

 this title the words " Sobieski," Kosciusko," " Vistula," " Polonia," 

 " Warsaw," " Czar," Austria," Liberty," Freedom," " Sacred/' 

 " Lo !" and "Oh !" will be quite indispensable. It maybe well, 

 likewise, to interrogate your own country, touching the hateful op- 

 pression under which that fine country still groans. In that case you 

 will not forget to invoke " Albion," " Ocean-child," and " Britons ;" 

 and with the addition of the " White cliffs," I think I have chalked 

 out for you a sterling performance. 



Let me now, lest I should forget it, remind you of a word which, 

 more there any other in the English language, I take to be of the 

 last importance to the incipient poet. That hallowed word is " spell !" 

 There is a vague, an almost awfully mysterious meaning in the word 

 which never fails in creating a strong sensation. Besides which, its 

 magic power in conjuring up rhymes has long been felt and acknow- 

 ledged. All influences, whether of soul or sense, may be said to 

 operate as spells. " It was a spell," " They wove a spell," and the 

 like, are conclusive. Human reason cannot grapple with spells. 



" Spirit" is also a charming word. When by frequent repetition 

 you are at length almost harassed out of your soul, you may apostro- 

 phize your " spirit." You must often have seen " my vexed spirit," 

 " my lone spirit," " my spirit's wings," " my spirit's love," and many 

 others. You may also liken young ladies to highly rectified spirits. 

 When " angels" begin to flag their wings, which if you are very 

 flighty in the amatory strain, they are almost sure to do, " spirit" is 

 certainly a highly convenient dissyllable. 



Let me recommend " infinity," and " eternity" very strongly to 

 your cultivation. You will probably make choice of " immortality" 

 without much pressing on my part. These words not only suggest 

 sublime ideas to the reader not only send his wits packing to the 

 realms of dream, aspiration, and glorious imaginings, but what is at 

 least of equal importance, they permit you to screw two rhymes out 

 of them. You have them between wind and water. You may not 

 only place them under " sky' 1 but also set them over " sea." Let me 

 exemplify. 



" Long e'er existed you and I, 



Existed old Eternity ; 



Before it ends, Eternite 



Will see the end of you and me." 



Pathos comes very pat and is peculiarly pleasing in poetry. Let 

 me beg of you to set yourselves coolly to work, and get together as 

 much pathos as possible. A tear is the most agreeable drop of com- 

 fort a poet can expect ; if he can raise a sigh in others, he may, per- 

 haps, be enabled to raise the wind for himself; and a snivel is as it 

 were, a swivel upon which his fortunes are accelerated. The most 

 unexceptionable and genuine pathos is that which is comprized in 



