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National Music of the World. |
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had as close an intimacy with the stately groves and temples of Greek and Roman art, as was ever enjoyed by thoze to whom they may be said to have been household words and home associations—the first could write his freshest verse concerning the sweet season of Spring, with its fresh May blossoms ; the second had eyes to note the habits c f
The temple-haunting martlet as well as the moonlight sleeping on the bank at Portia's Eelmont; the third could paint the Den of Error; the fourth, besides commemorating in a line of rare music, the
Autumnal leaves of Valliombrosa, could produce the gallery of landscapes in 'L'Allc-gro,' the like of which exists not in all the picture galleries of Italian poetry. If these mighty men were aware of Parnassus and Tempe, they knew no less lovingly and well the secrets of moorland and meadow; the wonders of the deep; the visionary glories of the firmament. And the case is still more strongly made out, if, from the trained masters of poetry, we turn to the rude, popular ballad-mongers of this island. Let us look (as the first illustration which comes to hand) at the songs of Scotland; and we shall find the braes of one locality, and the shaws of |
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