The Southern Literary Messenger, Volume I., 1834-35Various
General
The Southern Literary Messenger, Volume I., 1834-35
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
We intended to have quoted other passages, in which our fair authoress
sketches with striking eloquence, the exhibitions of _Sestine_, one of
that extraordinary race called _Improvvisatori_--a race which seems to
be almost peculiar to Italy; and which, far from being extinct, are
still to be found in almost every town from Florence to Naples. Her
description too of a splendid illumination at St. Peter's, and her
just observations upon the works of the great masters, particularly of
the _Divine Raffaelle_, are worthy of particular designation; but it
would be an almost endless task to select passages from a work, which
from beginning to end, and through almost every page, is a volume of
thrilling interest. We shall content ourselves with one or two
beautiful extracts distinguished for their deep moral tone, and
somewhat connected, as we suppose, with that all-engrossing and
mysterious source of melancholy which seems to have imbittered the
peace and hastened the dissolution of this interesting female.
"It is sorrow which makes our experience; it is sorrow which teaches
us to feel properly for ourselves and for others. We must feel deeply
before we can think rightly. It is not in the tempest and storm of
passions, we can reflect--but afterwards, when the _waters have gone
over our soul_; and like the precious gems and the rich merchandise
which the wild wave casts on the shore out of the wreck it has
made--such are the thoughts left by retiring passions."
Again; what can be more affecting than her final adieu to Naples.
"When we turned into the Strada Chiaja, and I gave a last glance at
the magnificent bay and the shores all resplendent with golden light;
I could almost have exclaimed like Eve, 'must I then leave thee,
Paradise!' and dropt a few natural tears--tears of weakness, rather
than of grief: for what do I leave behind me worthy one emotion of
regret? Even at Naples, even in this all-lovely land, 'fit haunt for
gods,' has it not been with me as it has been elsewhere? as long as
the excitement of change and novelty lasts, my heart can turn from
itself 'to luxuriate with indifferent things:' but it cannot last
long; and when it is over, I suffer, I am ill: the past returns with
tenfold gloom; interposing like a dark shade between me and every
object: an evil power seems to reside in every thing I see, to torment
me with painful associations, to perplex my faculties, to irritate and
mock me with the perception of what is lost to me: the very sunshine
sickens me, and I am forced to confess myself weak and miserable as
ever. O time! how slowly you move! how little you can do for me! and
how bitter is that sorrow which has no relief to hope but from time
alone!"
We shall quote only one of the many interesting specimens of poetry
with which the volume is interspersed. It is an extempore translation
of a beautiful sonnet of Zappi, an Italian poet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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