I 
POE POI 
and cadence, bnt devoid of the animating Greece; whether we contemplate the North 
spirit wliich characterizes true poetry, are, American Indian, or the wild Arab of the 
like the human body when deprived of the 
principle of life, cold, cheerless, and offen- 
sive. 
He who aspires after the title of poet 
should never, indeed, forget, that the end 
of poetry is to amuse the fancy and power- 
fully to excite the feelings, and that this is 
effected by impressing the tnind with the 
most vivid pictures. In the course of her 
operations, poetry hurries us beyond the 
reach of sober judgment, and captivates by 
rousing the energy of passion. Here then 
we see the cause of the power of verse, nor 
wonder at the efficaciousness which has, 
more especially in early times, been ascrib- 
ed to the muses. For how easily are man- 
kind guided by those who possess the art of 
awakening or of allaying their feelings. 
Though all unconscious of being under the 
guidance of another, they turn obedient to 
the rein. They are roused to insurrection, 
or moderated to peace, by him who can 
touch with a skilful hand the master springs 
that regulate the motions of their minds. 
“ The primary aim of a poet,” says Dr. 
Blair, “ is to please and to move; and 
therefore it is to the imagination and the 
passions that he speaks. He may, and he 
ought to have it in his view, to instruct and 
to reform ; but it is indirectly, and by pleas- 
ing and moving that he accomplishes this 
end. His mind is supposed to be animated 
by some interesting (object, which fires his 
imagination, or engages bis passions; and 
which of course communicates to his style 
a peculiar elevation, suited to his ideas, 
very different from that mode of expression 
which is natural to die mind in its calm 
ordinary state.” 
As then it appears to be the leading end 
of poetry to make a lively impression on the 
feelings, we may judge as it were d priori of^ 
the amazing intenseness of its powers, and 
we shall find cur judgment verified when 
we come to inquire into the fact. In con- 
sequence of the efficacy of poetry upon the 
human feelings, the maxims of early wis- 
dom, the first records of history, the solemn 
offices of religion, nay even the dictates of 
law, were delivered in the poetic dress. In 
the infancy of states, poetry is a method 
equally captivating and powerful of forming 
the dispositions of the people, and kindling 
in their hearts that love of glory which is 
their country’s safeguard in the day of peril. 
Whether we look to the cold regions of 
Scandinavia, or the delicious clime of 
VOL. V. 
desart; we find that when mankind have 
made a certain progress in society they are 
strongly Influenced by a love of song, and 
listen with raptured attention to the strains 
that record the tale of other times, and the 
deeds of heroes of old. They listen till they 
imbibe the enthusiasm of warfare, and in 
the day of battle the hero’s arm has not un- 
frequently been nerved by the rough energy 
of the early bard. It is a well-known fact, 
that the Greeks were accustomed to march 
to the fight while singing in praise of Apollo, 
and that the songs written in honour of 
Harmodius and Aristogiton, by being habi- 
tually recited at their banquets and solemn 
festivals, tended in no inconsiderable degree 
to preserve among the Athenians an enthu- 
siastic love of liberty. Nor is the power of 
the muses done away by the progress of 
civilization. Every nation, at every period 
of its existence, possesses some indigenous 
poetry, which nourishes the flame of patrio- 
tism. 
Such is the wonderful influence of poeti- 
cal composition. Like alt other powerful 
instruments, it may be, and it has been 
abused. But when directed to worthy ob- 
jects, it is one of the most pleasant and 
most efficacious means of forming tiie 
youthful mind, and of exciting the emotions 
and enforcing the principles of virtue. 
POHLIA, in botany, a genus of tlie 
Cryptogamia Musci class and order. Ge- 
neric character: capsule ovate, oblong, 
placed on an obconical, narrower apophy- 
sis; peristome double; outer with sixteen 
broadish teeth ; inner with a sixteen parted 
membrane. Males gemmaceous, on a dis- 
tinct plant. 
POINT, in geometry, as defined by Eu- 
clid, is a quantity which has no parts, or 
which is indivisible. Points are the ends 
or extremities of lines. If a point be sup- 
posed to be moved any way, it will, by its 
motion, describe a line. See Line. 
Point, in physics, the least sensible ob- 
ject of sight, marked with a pen, point of a 
compass, or the like. Of such points all 
physical magnitude consists. This physical 
jioint is the same with what Mr. Locke calls 
the point sensible, and which he defines to 
be the least particle of matter, or space, wo 
can discern. He adds, that to the sharpest 
eye, this is seldom less than thirty seconds 
of a circle, whereof the eye is the centre. 
Point, in grammar, a character used to 
mark tlie divisions of discourse. A point 
Ee 
