"To be--this marks the nobler man--this Force, This _visioned_ soul, which sees the shadow cast Of a great Object in its every course, Urging it onward--common men will rest With common things; such spirits are possessed By greater somethings, which will not be hushed With 'lullabys'--which are within the breast _Like inspirations_--sleepless as the rush Of world-surrounding waves, and which no earth can crush!" This is a writer who takes the _Sea_ as the scene of his poem. The style is affected; but much liked. I add below an example of _Blank Verse_, a form greatly in use:-- "The Morn, exultant, on the mountain tops, Leads in the Day--and over all the World Delightful Joy spreads forth his glorious wings!" This appears to be a parody of Shakespeare, who says beautifully:-- "Oh, see where jocund Day stands tip-toe, On the distant, misty mountain tops!" Very much of the poetry is obscured, and spoilt by the influence of the Superstition; and very much by artificiality and affectations. And everywhere there are poor or indifferent imitators of the ancient Greeks and Romans; upon whom the _Literati_ mould their poetic conceits. Of the Comic and common it is well to read little. Coarseness and indecency seem inseparable from all vulgar humour. The Descriptive, tinged with the melancholy of the Superstition and Barbaric gloom, is often fine and smooth--sometimes tender and elegant. I give an extract from an author of no repute, but agreeable; and the more so to me, because inoffensive. It is not defiled by the Idolatry of the Barbarians:-- "_Spring-time_ of life, with open-eyed delight, Wondering at beautiful earth and sky! Budding in sweet expectancy, and bright With smiles and charming grace, and blushingly Unconscious of a Love, just to be born-- A trembling Joy, which smiles and tears adorn!" From the same, written in the open country; which, though obscure sometimes, flows on finely, eloquently:--