1821 .] 
News from Parnassus ... No . XII. 
it is our wish, as far as we are able, to 
encourage merit and to check presump¬ 
tion. But care must be taken lest the 
critic’s undiscerning or unskilful hand 
should pluck up the wheat with the 
tares. Better, far better, would it be 
to let them grow together till the har¬ 
vest— till the period when popular 
opinion, which, in exercising jts judg¬ 
ment^ is rarely to be biassed, and al¬ 
most never to be corruptly perverted, 
shall assign to every one bps reward, 
according to his deserts/ 
It is really delightful to consider the 
vast quantity of poetic talent which 
exists in the country, and the liberal en¬ 
couragement which it receives from the 
public. To what cause, we would en¬ 
quire, shalbthese effects, so glorious, and 
so honourable, be attributed by the calm 
and philosophical enquirer? To the 
freedom of the press, and to the diffu¬ 
sion, now general, of the rudiments of 
education among, what are commonly 
called, the 44 lower orders.” No one, 
we believe, will deny that freedom is 
essentially necessary to the very exis¬ 
tence ot a literary character among the 
people. At what period did the polite 
arts, the liter ce hwnaniores , flourish 
with the greatest lustre among the Ro¬ 
mans? Surely not under the domi¬ 
nation ot the despotic emperors. No : 
from the age of Augustus, who, like 
our Elizabeth, indluit esse quant videri 
4 potens ,’ and exercised the absolute au¬ 
thority with which lie was in reality in 
vested, only upon considerable occa¬ 
sions ; and who, though he took care 
that the senatdsrconsidta , should ever 
be conformable to the Imperial Ora- 
hones , yet, in appearance, ever acted in 
conformity with tlieir advicefrom 
this period till the fall of the empire 
we scarcely discover six names worthy 
to be rescued from the waters of obli¬ 
vion. True it is, indeed, that as an ex¬ 
ception, but one which most completely 
proves the rule, under the effeminate 
and contemptible Honorius the spirit 
of poetry did break forth in the pro¬ 
ductions of a Claudian, like the depart¬ 
ing glory of a setting sun, but it was 
only to 
Give one bright glance, then total dis¬ 
appear 5 
and by the contrast with its superlative 
* See some remarkably beautiful and 
spirited remarks upon this subject in the 
article upon John Dennis’s Works, in the 
first volume of the Retrospective Review, 
p. 317—322. ’ 
brilliancy, to render that “ darkness” 
which followed its departure more 
u visible,” and more painful. 
Our preliminary remarks have al- 
ready run out to an extent far beyond 
what We had in any manner prepared 
for and intended, and it is now time to 
direct our attention to the publication 
before us. This, as Ave have already 
intimated, is evidently the production 
of a young and inexperienced writer. 
His errors are those of youth, and not 
of dullness, while his merits are such 
as induce us to look for much improve¬ 
ment from his future exertions. The 
contents are classed under the various 
heads of Pastoral, Narrative, Episto¬ 
lary, &c. (we would call them Miscel¬ 
laneous,) and poems on Particular Oc¬ 
casions, to which are to be added 
Translations from Ovid, Virgil, Ho- 
lace, and Martial. Of each of these, 
save the Narrative, w T e propose to ex- 
1 1 act a specimen. There is nothing very 
i emarkable in the style of his poetry. 
It has none of those fiery flashes, those 
extravagant eruptions, which, in oppo¬ 
sition to the practice of the most ap¬ 
proved poets, characterize too large a 
portion of the productions of the present 
day; but it possesses much that 'is gen¬ 
tle, sweet, and harmonious, resembling 
more strikingly the placid rippling of the 
softly flowing rivulet than the headlong, 
hut tremendous and unequal thunder¬ 
ing of the boisterous cataract. 
Our first extract will be from (lie 
pastoral poetry. The poem selected 
is that entitled 44 A Wish,” which, 
though it does not so nearly resemble 
the melody and naivete of Shcnstonc, 
as some other pieces of this class, is yet 
highly creditable to Mr. Bonney’s ge¬ 
nius ; and as it is not too Jong for ex¬ 
traction as a whole, we give it file pre¬ 
ference to others, perhaps more deserv 
ing of our notice. 
Oft let me wander through the lonely 
dell, 
Where silence calm and contemplation 
dwell; 
Secluded tar from all the world’s alarms. 
To revel unrestrain’d in Nature’s charms 
Through woods impervious to the sultry 
. ray, 
W hile softest music charms from ev’ry 
spray; 
Where flow’rs around a thousand sweets 
exhale, 
And health and vigour breathe in ev’ry 
gale ; 
Where fruits that perfect form and taste 
combine, 
7 
Tne velvet peach, transparent nectarine, 
And 
