494 



ON PATHOGNOMY, &c. 



from the features of her person, but from the subject of her song, the 

 whisper of promised pleasure, the hail of distant scenes. I say not this, 

 however, as a proof of the imperfection of the artists, but of the art 

 itself. 



Let us try another description from the same captivating production. 

 The mellow horn having just been sounded and laid down by melancholy, 

 the poet proceeds as follows : 



But O how alter'd was its sprightlier tone 

 When Cheerfulness, a nymph of healthiest hue^ 

 Her bow across her shoalders slung. 

 Her buskins gemm'd with morning dew, 

 Blew an inspiring air, that dale and thicket rung, 

 The hunter's call, to Faun and Dryad known. 

 The oak-crown'd sisters and their chaste-eyed queen/ 

 Satyrs and sylvan boys were seen 

 Peeping from forth their alleys green ; 

 Brown Exercise rejoiced to hear, 

 And Sport leap'd up, and seized his beechen spear. 



The remark I have just made will apply to the whole of this admirabie 

 group, than which a finer or more correct and accordant was never offered 

 to the world. The passion of cheerfulness gives, indeed, a specific ex- 

 pression and character to the countenance that sufficiently identifies it to 

 the beholder, and is sufficiently capable of being seized and fixed by the 

 painter ; but it is not calculated for poetry, and the only feature Mr. Col- 

 lins has copied into his description is that of a healthy hue. But he has 

 admirably atoned for this poverty of his art by the picturesque scenery and 

 associates with which he has surrounded her, and in which the province of 

 poetry has an inexhaustible mine of wealth ; and as much exceeds that of 

 painting as painting exceeds poetry in the delineation of specific features 

 and attitudes. Cheerfulness, though not distinguishable by the features 

 of her person, is sufficiently made known to us by the company she keeps, 

 by her attire, her manner, and her accoutrements. 



One of the finest pictures and sweetest groupings of this allegorical 

 kind to be met with in our own language, is contained in the following 

 verses of Dr. Darwin's ode to May in his Botanic Garden. They are 

 worthy of Anacreon or Pindar. 



Born in yon blaze of orient sky. 



Sweet May, thy radiant form unfold ; 

 Unclose thy blue, voluptuous eye. 



And wave thy shadowy locks of gold. 

 For thee the fragrant zephyrs blow ; 



For thee descends the sunny shower ; 

 The rills in softer murmurs flow. 



And brighter blossoms gem the bower, 

 Light Graces, dress'd in flowf^ry wreaths, 

 ' And tip-toe joys their hands combine ; 



While Love the fond contagion breathes, 



And, laughing, dances round thy shrine. 



The subject is a pleasing one ; but it swells before me to infinity, and I 

 must drop it. In the lecture for next week, we shall enter upon the doc- 

 trine of physiognomy, or the permanent influence of the mind upon the 

 exterior of the body. 



