inspired his song; when in the divine spirit of his art he has arrayed

The thing he doats upon, with colouring

Richer than roses, brighter than the beams
Of the clear sun at morning"-

when he has decked out the idol of his imagination in all the pomp of words, and similes culled from whatever is sweetest and loveliest in creation-the bloom of flowers, the freshness of the dawn, the breathings of the spring, and the sparkling of the stars-he has but given us the elements, out of which we compose a beauty, each after a fashion and fancy of our own. Painting alone can place before us the personal identity of the poet's divinity-made such by the superstition of love.

Mrs. Jameson.

COMPARISON OF BEAUTY.

A MAN, who has had no opportunity of comparing the different kinds of beauty, is indeed totally unqualified to pronounce an opinion with regard to any object presented to him. By comparisons alone we fix the epithets of praise or blame, and learn how to assign the due degree of each. The coarsest daubing contains a certain lustre of colours and exactness of imitation, which are so far beauties, and would affect the mind of a peasant or Indian with the highest admiration. * ** One accustomed to see, and examine, and weigh the several performances, admired in different ages and nations, can alone rate the merits of a work exhibited to his view, and assign its proper rank among the productions of genius.

Hume.

TO GENEVRA.

THINE eyes' blue tenderness, thy long fair hair,
And the wan lustre of thy features-caught
From contemplation-where, serenely wrought,
Seems sorrow's softness charmed from its despair—
Have thrown such speaking sadness in thy air,
That but I know thy blessed bosom fraught

With mines of unalloyed and stainless thought— I should have deemed thee doomed to earthly care. With such an aspect, by his colours blent,

When from his beauty-breathing pencil born, (Except that thou hast nothing to repent,) The Magdalen of Guido saw the morn―

Such seemed thou-but how much more excellent! With naught remorse can claim-nor virtue scorn. Byron.

ANOMALY.

MAN obviously stands pre-eminent among sublunary objects, and is distinguished by remarkable endowments above all other terrestrial beings. Nevertheless, no creature presents such anomalous appearances as man. Viewed in one aspect, he almost resembles a demon; in another, he still bears the impress of the image of God. Seen in his crimes, his wars, and his devastations, he might be mistaken for an incarnation of an evil spirit; contemplated in his schemes of charity, his discoveries in science, and his vast combinations for the benefit of his race, he seems a bright intelligence from heaven.

G. Combe.

Ingenious Art, with her expressive face,
Steps forth to fashion and refine the race;
Not only fills necessity's demand,
But overcharges her capacious hand;
Capricious taste itself can crave no more
Than she supplies from her abounding store;
She strikes out all that luxury can ask,
And gains new vigour at her endless task.
Hers is the spacious arch, the shapely spire,
The painter's pencil, and the poet's lyre;
From her the canvass borrows light and shade,
And verse, more lasting, hues that never fade.
She guides the finger o'er the dancing keys,
Gives difficulty all the grace of ease,
And pours a torrent of sweet notes around,
Fast as the thirsting ear can drink the sound.

These are the gifts of Art, and Art thrives most
Where commerce has enriched the busy coast.

Cowper.

WEALTH.

WEALTH is nothing in itself—it is not useful but when it departs from us; its value is found only in that which it can purchase, which, if we suppose it put to its best use by those that possess it, seems not much to deserve the desire or envy of a wise man. It is certain that, with

regard to corporal enjoyment, money can neither open new avenues to pleasure, nor block up the passages of anguish. Disease and infirmity still continue to torture and enfeeble, perhaps exasperated by luxury, or promoted by softness. With respect to the mind, it has rarely been observed that wealth contributes much to quicken the discernment, enlarge the capacity, or elevate the imagination; but may, by hiring flattery, or laying diligence asleep, confirm error and harden stupidity. Wealth cannot confer greatness, for nothing can make that great which the decree of nature has ordained to be little.

Johnson.

MENTAL MIRROR.

WOULD that there were mirrors for the mind, as well as for the face. The understanding is often deceived, because there is nothing to represent it truly; and every judge of himself, being seduced by inclination, will always find some loop-hole or other to evade censure. Self-love makes us put on spectacles, to see the things larger than concern ourselves.

J. Northcote.

WINTER.

LET winter come! let polar spirits sweep The darkening world, and tempest-clouded deep! Though boundless snows the withered heath deform! And the dim sun scarce wanders through the storm; Yet shall the smile of social love repay, With mental light, the melancholy day!

And, when its short and sullen noon is o'er,
The ice-chained waters slumbering on the shore,
How bright the faggots in his little hall

Blaze on the hearth, and warm the pictured wall!

Campbell.

DILIGENCE.

THE certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be much shorter than nature allows, ought to awaken every man to the active prosecution of whatever he is desirous to perform. It is true that no diligence can ascertain success; death may intercept the swiftest career; but he who is cut off in the execution of an honest undertaking, has at least the honour of falling in his rank, and has fought the battle, though he missed the victory.

Johnson.

BEAUTY.

Nor faster in the summer's ray
The spring's frail beauty fades away,
Than anguish and decay consume

The smiling virgin's rosy bloom,

Some beauty's snatched each day, each hour;

For beauty is a fleeting flower;

Then how can wisdom e'er confide

In beauty's momentary pride?

Elphinston.