If any, born of kindlier blood, Should ask, What maiden lies below? That tried to blossom in the snow. Lies withered where the violets blow. "His best lines are a series of rhymed pictures, witticisms, or sentiments, let off with the precision and brilliancy of the scintillations that sometimes illumine the northern horizon. The significant terms, the perfect construction, and acute choice of syllables and emphasis, render some passages of Holmes absolute models of versification, especially in the heroic measure. Besides these artistic merits, his poetry abounds with fine satire, beautiful delineations of nature, and amusing caricatures of POE. EDGAR ALLAN POE was born in the city of Baltimore, January, 1811. In early youth he lost both parents, and was adopted by John Allan, a wealthy and generous. hearted merchant of Richmond, Virginia, and by him afforded all the facilities for obtaining a liberal education. In 1816, Poe accompanied his benefactor to England, and remained in London until his eleventh year, attending school. He then returned home, and after spending a short time at an academy in Richmond, entered the university at Charlottesville. Here he speedily became as notorious for intemperate habits as he was distinguished for proficiency in studies and athletic sports. For the former he was shortly expelled from the school. This disgraceful event was followed, at no great interval, by a rupture with Mr. Allan, most probably because the latter's liberality refused to keep pace with his own prodigality; when he left home with the determination, like the illustrious Byron, of assisting the Greeks in their struggle for liberty. His purpose, however—if indeed it was ever anything more than a momentary impulse seems to have readily deserted him; for, although he spent a year in Europe. and traveled extensively, he did not so much as reach Greece. On returning home, Mr. Allan magnanimously received him into former favor, and was instrumental in procuring him a cadetship at West Point. But in less than a year both his tastes and his dissolute habits demonstrated, beyond question, his utter unfitness for this school of stern discipline and practical life. Shortly after, he had a final disagreement with Mr. Allan, and thenceforth was com pelled to rely on his own resources. Between his sixteenth and nineteenth years, Poe wrote verse, which were published in 1829, with the title of Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems. "A certain vague poetic luxury and sensuousness of mere sound, distinct from definite meaning-peculiarities which the author refined upon in his latest and best poems-characterize these juvenile effusions.” * AL AARAAF: AN EXTRACT. YOUNG flowers were whispering in melody "Neath blue-bell or streamer Or tufted wild spray That keeps, from the dreamer, The moonbeam away- With half-closing eyes, On the stars which your wonder Till they glance thro' the shade, and These star-litten hours And shake from your tresses The breath of those kisses That cumber them too * Duyckinck's Cyclopædia of American Literature. (O! how, without you, Love! Could angels be blest?) It would weigh down your flight And true love caresses O! leave them apart! They are light on the tresses, Ligeia! Ligeia ! My beautiful one! Whose harshest idea Will to melody run, O! is it thy will On the breezes to toss? Or, capriciously still, Like the lone Albatross, Incumbent on night (As she on the air) To keep watch with delight Ligeia! wherever Thy image may be, Which thy vigilance keep The sound of the rain Which leaps down to the flower, And dances again In the rhythm of the shower-The murmur that springs From the growing of grass Are the music of things But are modell'd alas! Away, then, my dearest, To springs that lie clearest In its dream of deep rest, That enjewel its breast- Some have left the cool glade, and On moorland and lea- All softly in ear, The musical number They slumber'd to hear For what can awaken An angel so soon Whose sleep hath been taken As the spell which no slumber The rhythmical number Which lull'd him to rest?" In 1833, Poe, through his prize tale, A MS. Found in a Bottle-first published, however, in 1831-made the acquaintance of Mr. Kennedy, the novelist, and, through his influence, shortly afterwards became a regular contributor to the Southern Literary Messenger. His connection with this magazine lasted until 1837, and, though marked with high ability, was, sad to relate! terminated by his irregularities. MS. FOUND IN A BOTTLE (abridged). AFTER many years spent in foreign travel, I sailed in the year 18 from the port of Batavia, in the rich and populous island |