Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/318

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
302
CRITICAL STUDIES

text; while in many cases the themes appear to be the choice of the writer, being concerned with his family and friends, or such as would be naturally suggested by his studies. Thus we have "W. M. W.," beginning, "Brownness of autumn is around thee, brother;" "A little message for my wife" (to whom the volume is dedicated); "M. J. W.: her tenth birthday;" "E. M. N.;" "William S.;" "Mary S.;" and of the latter class, "Hahnemann;" "Mesmer;" "Turner: Painter: His State;" "Turner: Painter: His Art;" "Thorvaldsen;" "Tegnér;" "Immanuel Kant;" "Charles Fourier;" "Dalton;" "Berzelius: his Laboratory;" "Chatterton;" "Edgar Allan Poe;" "Charlotte Brontë;" "John Flaxman;" "The tears of Swedenborg." In connection with this last title it may be remarked that several of the pieces, though not entitled "Tears," have verses affixed so specifying them. Thus, at the end of "Patience":—

"Herbert's sphere
Beareth here
Patience tear," &c.

At the end of "Sand-Eating":—

"It is the sphere
Of Cowper's tear."

At the end of "The Proud hath said in his heart, There is no God" (Mark, The Proud; not The Fool):—

"It is the sphere
Of Shelley's tear,
That wanders by
In fruitless sigh,
And asks the wind
To ease his mind."