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16
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
The Spy and Cadet, August eighteenth, 1821, gives their signatures and indicates their characteristics:
The first to notice is " Ohio's bard,"[1]
Who, with the love of deathless glory smitten.
Labored—how long I know not, nor how hard—
Until a certain poem he had written;
And, scorning to accept the least reward
In useless cash, a novel scheme he hit on—
To let it run its own road, helter skelter;
When lo! it took to Lethe's banks for shelter.
Who, with the love of deathless glory smitten.
Labored—how long I know not, nor how hard—
Until a certain poem he had written;
And, scorning to accept the least reward
In useless cash, a novel scheme he hit on—
To let it run its own road, helter skelter;
When lo! it took to Lethe's banks for shelter.
When warmed and dazzled by some darling theme,
He writes with ardor and poetic passion,
But wild as if the whole he did but dream
(A mode of composition much in fashion),
Contented if but now and then a gleam
Of light illume his wanderings, to dash on
The best he may do, and improve the season.
With or without the aid of "rhyme or reason."
He writes with ardor and poetic passion,
But wild as if the whole he did but dream
(A mode of composition much in fashion),
Contented if but now and then a gleam
Of light illume his wanderings, to dash on
The best he may do, and improve the season.
With or without the aid of "rhyme or reason."
Proceed, great bard! for though your first essay
May raise the fool's derision—never heed it;
Still travel on the muses' turnpike way.
And write a better book (for much we need it),
In which your genius may have ampler play;
E'en learned reviewers then will deign to read it.
And not, like all youi' former critic-sages.
Just name the title and amount of pages.
May raise the fool's derision—never heed it;
Still travel on the muses' turnpike way.
And write a better book (for much we need it),
In which your genius may have ampler play;
E'en learned reviewers then will deign to read it.
And not, like all youi' former critic-sages.
Just name the title and amount of pages.
The next in course is "Blunderbuss Esquire,"
Who, like the fever, comes amongst us yearly
To hurl about his wild poetic fire.
Until some of us have been scorched severely;
But should he ever fairly raise our ire.
He'll pay for all his sneers and satires dearly;
Through every alley, street, and lane we'll dog him;
And if we catch him, ten to one we'll flog him.
Who, like the fever, comes amongst us yearly
To hurl about his wild poetic fire.
Until some of us have been scorched severely;
But should he ever fairly raise our ire.
He'll pay for all his sneers and satires dearly;
Through every alley, street, and lane we'll dog him;
And if we catch him, ten to one we'll flog him.
On this, my scale, the "Bard of Locust Grove "
May, if he pleases, stand the third in number;
If not, 'twill be my task ere long to prove
He ne'er wrote aught but trash and useless lumber;
And if he upward aim one peg to move.
He must not let his muse profoundly slumber,
As wont—save just to wake and chant a ditty.
On every New-Year's day, to please the city.
May, if he pleases, stand the third in number;
If not, 'twill be my task ere long to prove
He ne'er wrote aught but trash and useless lumber;
And if he upward aim one peg to move.
He must not let his muse profoundly slumber,
As wont—save just to wake and chant a ditty.
On every New-Year's day, to please the city.
In truth, I scarce know how to make report
Of one who writes, 'tis known, so very little;
But if his lays are not the best, they're short,
And, therefore, suit most readers to a tittle;
And though his muse may kick, and rear, and snort,
And show on some occasions too much mettle,
Yet were she oftener saddled, backed, and ridden,
She'd move superbly wheresoever bidden.
Of one who writes, 'tis known, so very little;
But if his lays are not the best, they're short,
And, therefore, suit most readers to a tittle;
And though his muse may kick, and rear, and snort,
And show on some occasions too much mettle,
Yet were she oftener saddled, backed, and ridden,
She'd move superbly wheresoever bidden.
- ↑ Gorham A. Worth.
