BLOOMFIELD’S POEMS. 
With teeth and nails—when close in view, 
and in 
Each other's grasp, to grin, and hack, and 
stab; 
Then tug his horrid weapon from one breast 
Yo hide it in another ; with clear bands 
He now, expertly poising thy bright tube, 
At distance kills, unknowing and unknown, 
Sees not the wound he gives, nor hears the 
shriek 
Of him whose breast he pierres—gunpowder ! 
(O! let humanity rejoice) how much 
The soldier's fearful work is humanis'd, 
Since thy momentous birth, stupendous 
power!” 
Of this essay, Mr. Capel Lofft says, 
that it displays a greater mastery in the 
mechanism, and greater power of num- 
bers, than he should have almost thought 
possible in the first attempt in blank 
verse, even to a person of the best educa- 
ticn. I regard it, he adds, as a poem of 
extraordinary vigour and originality in 
thought, plan, conduct, language and 
versification; I think it has much indeed 
of the philosophic character, poetic spirit, 
force of colouring, energy and pathos, 
which distinguish Lucretius. I am ei- 
ther ignorant wherein genius consists, or 
it is manifest in the idea, the style and 
numbers, the design and conduct of this 
poem. 
Having read our extract, the. reader 
will see that there needs no waggoner’s 
team to draw theinference. Mr. Capel 
Lofft is ignorant wherein genius consists, 
or this poem has all the charms of thought 
and diction; but this poem has no other 
merit than what it derives from the situ- 
ation of its author. It‘is remarkable, 
that a poor man, labouring at an unheal- 
thy and ignominious business, should be 
able to write verses atall. ‘The reductio 
ad absurdum is mathematical demonstra- 
tion. The poem being bad, Mr. Capell 
Lofft is ignorant, Q. E. D. lamentably 
ignorant, and presumptuously obtrusive 
of his ignorance. 
The other poems have more merit. 
We quote the following stanzas to praise 
them, and are happy that it is in our 
power to praise them. They are the 
advice of an old man toa poor lover:* 
«« Though envious age affects to deem thee 
boy 
Lose not one day, one hour, of profferr’d 
bliss ; . 
In youth grasp every unoffending joy 
Aad wing’d with rapture snatch the bridal 
kiss. 
«« Let not this chief of blessings be deferr’d, 
Vill you your auaible fortune: can improve} 
587 
None’s poor but he, by sordid fears deterr'd, 
Who dares not claim the matchless wealth 
of love. 
«« Virtue can make most rich thy little store ; 
Virtue can make most bright thy lowly 
state ; 
Murmur not then that virtuous thou art poor, 
While prosperous vice can make men rich 
and great. 
#¢ The bad man may, his every sense to please, 
Each soft indulging luxury employ : 
The plenitude of elegance and ease 
He may possess, but never can enjoy. 
«« No, though his goods, and flocks, and 
herds abound, 
His wide demesne to fair profusion grown; 
Though proud his lofty mansion looks around, 
On hills, and fields, and forests, all his own: 
«« Tho’ this may tempt thee, murmuring to 
complain, 
With conscience clear, and life void of of- 
fence, 
‘ Verily, then, I've cleans’d my heart in vain ; 
Invain have wash'd my hands in innocence.’ 
‘© Yet could’st thou closely mark the envied 
man, p 
See how desires ungovern’d mar his peace ; 
Or had’st thou pow’r his inward mind to sean, 
How soon in pity would thy envy cease. 
«* Renine not then, that low thy lotis cast, 
Health gives to life or high or low its zest ; 
Tis appetite that seasons our repast, 
And weariness still finds the softest rest. 
‘« For all thy blessings thankfulness to wake, 
Think of less cultur’d lands, less peaceful 
times :— 2 
Our coarsest fare, when sparingly we take, 
Tis luxury, compar’d with other climes. 
Think of the poor Greenlander’s dismal cayes, - 
Where thro’ their long, long night they. 
buried lie : r 
Or the more wretched lands where hapless, 
slaves ; 
Hopelessly toil beneath the fervid sky. 
‘« Tn Britain, blest with peace and competence, 
Rich fortune’s favours could impartno more: 
Heaven’s blessings equal happiness dispense, 
Believe my word, Ae Iam old and poor. 
** Many who drudge in labour’s roughest 
ways, 
By whom life’s simplest, lowliest walks 
are trod, 
Happily live, to honour'd length of days, 
lessing kind nature, and kind nature’s 
God.” 
Mr.Capell Lofft supposes he has fouind 
a nest of poets. However much he is 
mistaken, the Bloomfields are certainly 
extraordinary men; and it gives us a 
