The Rolliad, in Two Parts. George Ellis

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      The alternate alliteration of the second line, in this instance, seems an improvement upon the art, to the whole merit of which Mr. Cumberland is himself unquestionably entitled.

      Afterwards we read,

      ———Treasures hoarded up,

       With carking care, and a long life of thrift.

      In addition to the alliterative merit, we cannot here fail to admire the judiciously selected epithet of “carking;” and the two lines immediately following, although no example of that merit, should not be omitted:

      Now, without interest, or redemption swallow’d,

       By the devouring bankrupt waves for ever.

      How striking is the comparison of the ocean, to a bankrupt swallowing without interest or redemption, the property of his unfortunate creditors! Where shall we find a simile of equal beauty, unless some may possibly judge the following to be so, which is to be found in another part of the same sublime work, of two persons weeping—

      ———We will sit

       Like fountain statues, face to face oppos’d,

       And each to other tell our griefs in tears,

       Yet neither utter word———

      Our readers, we trust, will pardon our having been diverted from the task we have undertaken, by the satisfaction of dwelling on a few of the many beauties of this justly popular and universally admired tragedy, which, in our humble opinion, infinitely surpasses every other theatrical composition, being in truth an assemblage of every possible dramatic excellence: nor do we believe, that any production, whether of antient or modern date, can exhibit a more uncommon and peculiar selection of language, a greater variety of surprising incidents, a more rapid succession of extraordinary discoveries, a more curious collection of descriptions, similies, metaphors, images, storms, shipwrecks, challenges, and visions, or a more miscellaneous and striking picture of the contending passions of love; hatred, piety, madness, rage, jealousy, remorse, and hunger, than this unparalleled performance presents to the admiration of the enraptured spectator. Mr. Cumberland has been represented, perhaps unjustly, as particularly jealous of the fame of his cotemporaries, but we are persuaded he will not be offended when, in the ranks of modern writers, we place him second only to the inimitable author of the ROLLIAD.

      To return from the digression into which a subject so seducing has involuntarily betrayed us. The reader will recollect, that in our last we left MERLIN gratifying the curiosity of ROLLO, with a view of that Assembly of which his Descendant is one day destined to become so conspicuous an ornament. After having given the due preference to the India-Bench, he proceeds to point out to him others of the most distinguished supporters of the present virtuous administration. Having already mentioned the most confidential friends of the minister, he now introduces us to the acquaintance of an active young Member, who has upon all occasions been pointedly severe upon the noble Lord in the blue ribbon, and who is remarkable for never having delivered his sentiments upon any subject, whether relating to the East-Indies, the Reform of Parliament, or the Westminster Election, without a copious dissertation upon the principles, causes, and conduct of the American war.

      Lo! BEAYFOY rises, friend to soft repose;

       Whose gentle accents prompt the house to dose:

       His cadence just, a general sleep provokes,

       Almost as quickly as SIR RICHARD’s jokes.

       Thy slumbers, NORTH, he strives in vain to break,

       When all are sleeping, thou would’st scarce awake;

       Though from his lips severe invectives fell,

       Sharp as the acid he delights to sell.

      In explanation of the last line, it may be, perhaps, necessary to apprise our readers, that this accomplished orator, although the elegance of his diction, and smoothness of his manner, partake rather of the properties of oil, is in his commercial capacity, a dealer in vinegar. The speaker alluded to, under the name of Sir Richard, is probably the same whom our author, upon the former occasion, stiled—

      Sleep-giving poet of a sleepless night.

      The limits of our plan will not allow us to enlarge upon the various beauties with which this part of the work abounds; we cannot, however, omit the pathetic description of the SPEAKER’s situation, nor the admirable comparison of Lord MAHON preying on his patience, to the vulture devouring the liver of Prometheus. The necessity of the Speaker’s continuing in the chair while the House sits, naturally reminds our author of his favourite Virgil:

      ———sedet æternumque sedebit

       Infelix Theseus.

      There CORNEWELL sits, and, oh unhappy fate!

       Must sit for ever through the long debate;

       Save, when compell’d by Nature’s sovereign will,

       Sometimes to empty, and sometimes to fill.

       Painful pre-eminence! he hears, ’tis true,

       FOX, NORTH, and BURKE, but hears SIR JOSEPH too.

      Then follows the simile—

      Like sad PROMETHEUS, fasten’d to his rock,

       In vain he looks for pity to the clock;

       In vain the’ effects of strengthening porter tries,

       And nods to BELLAMY for fresh supplies;

       While vulture-like, the dire MAHON appears,

       And, far more savage, rends his suff’ring ears.

      * * * * *

       NUMBER X.

      Amongst the various pretensions to critical approbation, which are to be found in the excellent and never-sufficiently to be admired production, which is the object of these comments, there is one that will strike the classical observer as peculiarly prominent and praise-worthy:—namely, the uncommon ability shown by the author, in the selection of his heroes. The personæ that are introduced in the course of this poem, are characters that speak for themselves. The very mention of their names is a summons to approbation; and the relation of their history, if given in detail, would prove nothing more than a lengthened panegyric. Who that has heard of the names of a Jenkinson, a Robinson, or a Dundas, has not in the same breath heard also what they are? This is the secret of our author’s science and excellence. It is this that enables him to omit the dull detail of introductory explanation, and to fasten upon his business, if one may use the expression, slap-dash and at once.

      Semper ad eventum festinat, et in medias res,

       Non secus ac notas auditorum rapit. HOR.

      Homer himself yields, in this respect, to our author; for who would not perceive the evident injustice done to the modern bard, if we were to place the wisdom of an Ulysses on any competition with the experience of a Pitt; to mention the bully Ajax, as half so genuine a bully, as the bully Thurlow; if we were to look upon Nestor as having a quarter of the interesting circumlocution of the ambiguous СКАЧАТЬ