misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写)-第43章
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going about the dirty streets on his velocipede； he will be enabled to set up
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his balloon。
The character of this noble poem will be so finely and justly given in
the Tombuctoo Review for April 2825； that I cannot refrain from
translating the passage。 The author will be our poet's old preceptor；
Professor Kissey Kickey。
〃In pathos； in splendour of language； in sweetness of versification； Mr
Quongti has long been considered as unrivalled。 In his exquisite poem on
the Ornithorhynchus Paradoxus all these qualities are displayed in their
greatest perfection。 How exquisitely does that work arrest and embody
the undefined and vague shadows which flit over an imaginative mind。
The cold worldling may not comprehend it； but it will find a response in
the bosom of every youthful poet； of every enthusiastic lover； who has
seen an Ornithorhynchus Paradoxus by moonlight。 But we were yet to
learn that he possessed the comprehension； the judgment； and the fertility
of mind indispensable to the epic poet。
〃It is difficult to conceive a plot more perfect than that of the
'Wellingtoniad。' It is most faithful to the manners of the age to which it
relates。 It preserves exactly all the historical circumstances； and
interweaves them most artfully with all the speciosa miracula of
supernatural agency。〃
Thus far the learned Professor of Humanity in the university of
Tombuctoo。 I fear that the critics of our time will form an opinion
diametrically opposite as to these every points。 Some will； I fear； be
disgusted by the machinery； which is derived from the mythology of
ancient Greece。 I can only say that； in the twenty…ninth century； that
machinery will be universally in use among poets； and that Quongti will
use it； partly in conformity with the general practice； and partly from a
veneration； perhaps excessive； for the great remains of classical antiquity；
which will then； as now； be assiduously read by every man of education；
though Tom Moore's songs will be forgotten； and only three copies of
Lord Byron's works will exist： one in the possession of King George the
Nineteenth； one in the Duke of Carrington's collection； and one in the
library of the British Museum。 Finally； should any good people be
concerned to hear that Pagan fictions will so long retain their influence
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over literature； let them reflect that； as the Bishop of St David's says； in his
〃Proofs of the Inspiration of the Sibylline Verses；〃 read at the last meeting
of the Royal Society of Literature； 〃at all events； a Pagan is not a Papist。〃
Some readers of the present day may think that Quongti is by no
means entitled to the compliments which his Negro critic pays him on his
adherence to the historical circumstances of the time in which he has
chosen his subject； that； where he introduces any trait of our manners； it is
in the wrong place； and that he confounds the customs of our age with
those of much more remote periods。 I can only say that the charge is
infinitely more applicable to Homer； Virgil； and Tasso。 If； therefore； the
reader should detect； in the following abstract of the plot； any little
deviation from strict historical accuracy； let him reflect； for a moment；
whether Agamemnon would not have found as much to censure in the
Iliad；Dido in the Aeneid；or Godfrey in the Jerusalem。 Let him not
suffer his opinions to depend on circumstances which cannot possibly
affect the truth or falsehood of the representation。 If it be impossible for
a single man to kill hundreds in battle； the impossibility is not diminished
by distance of time。 If it be as certain that Rinaldo never disenchanted a
forest in Palestine as it is that the Duke of Wellington never disenchanted
the forest of Soignies； can we； as rational men； tolerate the one story and
ridicule the other？ Of this； at least； I am certain； that whatever excuse we
have for admiring the plots of those famous poems our children will have
for extolling that of the 〃Wellingtoniad。〃
I shall proceed to give a sketch of the narrative。 The subject is 〃The
Reign of the Hundred Days。〃
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BOOK I。
The poem commences； in form； with a solemn proposition of the
subject。 Then the muse is invoked to give the poet accurate information
as to the causes of so terrible a commotion。 The answer to this question；
being； it is to be supposed； the joint production of the poet and the muse；
ascribes the event to circumstances which have hitherto eluded all the
research of political writers； namely； the influence of the god Mars； who；
we are told； had some forty years before usurped the conjugal rights of old
Carlo Buonaparte； and given birth to Napoleon。 By his incitement it was
that the emperor with his devoted companions was now on the sea；
returning to his ancient dominions。 The gods were at present； fortunately
for the adventurer； feasting with the Ethiopians； whose entertainments；
according to the ancient custom described by Homer； they annually
attended； with the same sort of condescending gluttony which now carries
the cabinet to Guildhall on the 9th of November。 Neptune was； in
consequence； absent； and unable to prevent the enemy of his favourite
island from crossing his element。 Boreas； however； who had his abode
on the banks of the Russian ocean； and who； like Thetis in the Iliad； was
not of sufficient quality to have an invitation to Ethiopia； resolves to
destroy the armament which brings war and danger to his beloved
Alexander。 He accordingly raises a storm which is most powerfully
described。 Napoleon bewails the inglorious fate for which he seems to
be reserved。 〃Oh！ thrice happy；〃 says he； 〃those who were frozen to
death at Krasnoi； or slaughtered at Leipsic。 Oh； Kutusoff； bravest of the
Russians； wherefore was I not permitted to fall by thy victorious sword？〃
He then offers a prayer to Aeolus； and vows to him a sacrifice of a black
ram。 In consequence； the god recalls his turbulent subject； the sea is
calmed； and the ship anchors in the port of Frejus。 Napoleon and
Bertrand； who is always called the faithful Bertrand； land to explore the
country； Mars meets them disguised as a lancer of the guard； wearing the
cross of the legion of honour。 He advises them to apply for necessaries
of all
