ON falconer's shipwreck. 161 



remarks that the ^' two great characteristics of Ossi- 

 an's poetry are tenderness and subHmity." Falco- 

 ner's train of thought is uniformly grave and solemn, 

 yet the native tenderness of his feelings breaks, at 

 every turn, through the wild gloom around him. A 

 glance over the character of Albert will illustrate 

 this position. 



And here I must again observe that the " Ship- 

 wreck," is a tale of modern life and manners; as 

 such depriving Falconer of resources open to more 

 ancient poets. Homer, in the simple but melodious 

 language of the Odyssey can describe Eumseus as 

 making his own shoes when Ulysses came to his 

 door ; and this without impairing the dignity of his 

 theme. Falconer had a more difficult task to per- 

 form : — he was to preserve due elevation of thought, 

 and yet be in keeping with the humbler station of 

 his hero — the plebeian ship master. Lord Byron 

 introduces such a personage in one of his dramas, 

 but a foreigner and under the screen of a foreign 

 idiom. 



" How ! did you say the patron of a galley ? '^ 



But to take Albert as he is drawn : and in him 

 we find the qualities of a perfect seaman adorned by 

 the admixture of every social virtue ; — his heart had 

 passed unaffected from the boisterous element in 

 which he had been trained. The poet's art is no 

 where more to be admired than in throwing those 

 soft traits over a spirit that 



" Rose with the storm and all its dangers shared." 

 In every vicissitude his cottage home is still present 

 to him ; his thoughts turn throusfh all to 



" The hope and pleasure of his life, 

 A pious daughter, with a faithful wife." 



Campbell has partly noticed this ruling passion in 

 Albert at the closing moment of his life : — 

 " By Lonna's steep 

 The seaman's cry was heard along the deep : 

 There, on his funeral waters dark and wild, 

 The dying father blessed his darling child." 

 VOL. v.— 1835. w 



