in the grave.' He therefore proposes in the sequel to 'speak of sleep, and of waking-of death, and of rising again.' The other subjects, which we have not already recited, are the Transfiguration' the State of the Departed' -' the Vanity of Human Wishes' the just Judgments of God'the Foundation and Promise of Christian Hope,' &c. &c. ART. XVI. The Equality of Mankind: a Poem, by Michael Wodhull, Esq. Revised and corrected, with Additions. 8vo. pp. 40. London. 1798. WHEN HEN this poem was first printed by its respectable author, we paid due attention to it, in M. Rev. vol. xxxiv. p. 23. Having then treated the subject as a mere poetic fiction, and delivered our opinion of the impossibility of forming social systems on so Utopian an idea, we shall here abstain from repeating it; choosing rather to refer to sentiments on such a topic which were given by us in a calm, unagitated period:-nor need we repeat our idea of the merit of Mr. W.'s poem as a composition. We shall therefore content ourselves with pointing out the alterations and additions which distinguish this new impression. Poets write more frequently from the head than from the heart, and are not so much bent on making converts as on gaining admirers. Mr.W.'s despair of producing any practical effect, by this effort of his muse, may be inferred from the new motto which he has chosen : "Carmina tantum VIRGIL. Nostra valent, Lycida, tela inter martia, quantum Chaonias dicunt, aquila veniente, columbas." Neither does he seem desirous of provoking controversy, for the short advertisement prefixed thus concludes: Whether the opinions of those to whom the author takes the liberty of sending copies accord with or differ from his own, in regard to the auspicious or malignant influence of those signs which still. continue to retain their ascendant in the political Zodiae, he flatters himself they will be received as marks of personal respect.' The present poem commences with the 7th line of the ori ginal edition; the first six being very properly expunged; Untaught to bend the pliant knee, and join'The passage exten:ling from line 36 to line 44 inclusive in the first edition is transposed, and now follows line 6. The ten lines following line 26 iu the original edition are omitted. For "War a needful trade" in 1. 61. of the original edition, we now read War a licens'd trade.' Re.s. The lines which followed, reflecting on Frederick of Prus sia, are expunged. For (at line 109. original edit.) Soon tam'd the generous fierceness of mankind," "Craft with prowess join'd we now read (see 1. 93. new edit.).. Craft with prowess join'd' Subdued the liberal spirit of mankind.' "Call'd him a King," is altered to Call'd him a Monarch, Line 124 of original edition "Set up a little idol of their own" now stands • Fashion'd these idols to their Sires unknown." For these two lines after line 130 in the first edition, "No; 'twas their baffled pride whose last resource Dragg'd this perdition on their heads by force," we have these four, No; 'twas their pride which knew not how to yield, To slight Heaven's Umpire warp'd th' untoward crew, The word "bewail'd" at l. 171 of the old edition is now judiciously exchanged forbehold.' "Merit a sound" 1. 182, is changed to • Good works an empty sound.' Line 189, for " ruthless joy" we now read matchless joy.' "Murders and sorceries, and men whose heart Ne'er prompted one humane, one generous part," we read at 1. 245 of the present edition, Murders, and sorceries, and th' obdurate heart • While some capricious arbiter of ill Line 278, "Fomenting some unnecessary strife," is chang ed to Impell❜d to perish in some idle strife.' The couplet following line 280 in the original edition, 66 Stoop then, ye sons of reason, stoop, and own is happily exchanged for Stoop then, ye vain Philosophers, and own Line 292, for "Partaking of the soil which gave him birth," we now read • And venerates the soil which gave him birth,' 1. 278, new edit. L. 301. "Where Commerce never rears her impious head," is altered to • Where Rapine never lifts her impious head." After having gone through the several classes of society, and pointed out their dependence on each other, like the several links of what is called an endless chain, where extremities unite, the view in the original edition thus concludes, on describing the Eastern monarch: "Is not a wretch like this, to either side Here to its source the line revolving tends, Here close the points and here the circle ends." we now read (1. 323. new edit.) In ancient days was Monarchy design'd To guard the menac'd rights of Human Kind.' A line or two below, Kings were said, in the old edition, to "vindicate the laws:" the new edition makes them rectify the laws.' For "Stung by a snake, the pious Priest expir'd, we now read By venom'd serpents stung, the Priest expir'd, While Folly gaz'd and awe-struck throngs admir'd.' Clarendon, in his account of Lord Brooke, as the first edition. of this poem tells us, 1. 376, here he "Shews half the Royalist and half the Saint;" Shews half the subtle Lawyer, half the Saint.' Then follow twelve additional lines, containing a spirited comparison between the Hero and the Historian, for which we must refer to the poem. . There are also some additions and alterations in the account of the exertions of Caledonia for her religion. The following couplet (1. 433, 4) 4 "At Truth's historic shrine shall victims smoke, in the present edition stands thus: Then, boldly entering Truth's historic fane, Will Britons ever loathe a Stuart's reign.' 1. 435. The address to perfidious Albemarle,' which concludes with "Shall meet the felon's undistinguish'd fate, Sure of contempt, unworthy of our hate,' I. 442. is altered to • Shall meet the Traitor's doom, borne down by Fate, Sure of contempt, too abject for our hate,' 1. 443At 1. 457 in the first edition we read, "Succeeding Kings extend the generous plan, And Brunswick perfects what Nassau began ;" now it stands, The Brunswick line improv'd each generous plan The author's sentiments respecting the politics of the day are pointedly expressed by the alteration which the following lines have undergone : "But if in Faction's loud and empty strain, (1. 465.) In peace itself ideal dangers find, Provoke new wars and challenge half mankind; Who tho' another Tully at their head From breast to breast the rank contagion spread: In the new edition, we read at 1. 467, But if thy Children, to themselves untrue, With jaundic'd eye, through false perspectives, view O'er long-benighted realms his chearing ray, The sons of Albion are said in the first edition, 1. 484, to be 66 In the present edition, the poet is still more displeased with his countrymen; for he tells them that they are Too proud to serve, too abject to be free.' The poet asks whether the peasant be to rise from his grave to slavery, and the monarch in a future state be to wield a mimic sceptre?-but, not contented, as in the first edition, with proposing these queries, he now adds the two following lines: If on these terms, to thee, O Truth, we live, 25 a • POSTSCRIPT. Long ere the martial progeny of France 'Gainst banded Despots hurl'd th' unerring lance, These artless notes the rustic Muse began, Still sooth'd by Hope, disdaining abject Fears, Nor suffer Statesmen, rancorous, vain, and blind, For Priests, or Peers, or Kings, to sacrifice Mankind.' There is certainly el gance in this rustic muse: but it does not appear, by this specimen, that age has either abated its fire, or taught it prudence and moderation. A great part of the poem has little relevancy to the title; and the motto to the postscript would have served as a motto to the whole : "Quod Regum tumidas contuderit minas." To this poem on the Equality of Mankind, are annexed Verses on Mr. Hollis's Print of the Rev. Dr. Mayhew, the first sketch of which, we are told, was published in the Gentleman's Magazine; and a Poem on the Use of Poetry, part of which has already appeared in the Morning Chronicle, under the title of "The Origin of Fable."-In these, Mr. W.'s prominent sentiments are vigorously expressed: he laments that poetry should ever have wreathed a garland but for the brow of Liberty; and he hopes that, in future, the Muses may only be employed in exalting the fame and embalming the memory of the good and the wise. ART. XVII. An Examination of the leading Principle of the New Is. 6d. T stands Mo..y. |