The Mask of the Red Death - Graham's Magazine, May 1842 — reading text

ASIP LEE TRIO IRAE ETI £25 which beset our literature, and whose pretensions it is our full purpose to expose at the earliest opportunity; but question.  390 GRAHAM’S MAGAZINE. “With adark flush of wrath upon his brow they saw the It bears the impress of the true spirit upon every line; but general draw his sword and advance to meet the figure in appears to be carelessly written ~ cloak before the latter had stepped one pace upon the oor. The occasional Poems are scarcely more beautiful, but, isVillain, unmuffle yourself,’ cried he, ‘ you pass no far- in general, are more complete and polished. Now and ther. then, however, we observe, even in these, an inaccurate ‘‘The figure, without blenchinga hair’s breadth from the sword which was pointed at his breast, made a solemn rhythm. Here, for example, in ‘“‘Moonlight on the Hud- pause, and lowered the cape of the cloak from his face, yet son,’ page 63, we note a foot too much— not sufficiently for the spectators to catch a glimpse of it. But Sir Willaim Howe had evidently seen enough. The sternness of his countenance gave place toa look of wild ‘“‘ Or cradle-freighted Ganges, the reproach of mothers.” amazement, if not horror, while he recoiled several steps from the figure, and let fall his sword upon the floor.””»—See vol. 2, page 20. This line is not used as an Alexandrine, but occurs in the body of a stanza. Mr. Hoffman is, also, somewhat too The idea here is, that the figure in the cloak is the phan- fond of a double rhyme, which, unduly employed, never tom or reduplication of Sir William Howe; but in an ar- fails to give a flippant air toa serious poem. It is not im- ticle called ‘‘ William Wilson,’ one of the “‘ Tales of the probable that we shall speak more fully of this really beau- Grotesque and Arabesque,’? we have not only the same tiful volume hereafter. Its external or mechanical appear- idea, but the same idea similarly presented in several re- ance excels that of any book we have seen for a long time. spects. We quote two paragraphs, which our readers may compare with what has been already given. We have italicized, above, the immediate particulars of resemblance. The Life of Lorenzo de’ Medici, called the Magnificent. ‘¢' The brief moment in which I averted my eyes had By William Roscoe. From the London Edition, Cor- been sufficient to produce, apparently, a material change in the arrangement at the upper or farther end of the room. rected. In Two Volumes. Carey § Hart: Philade’phia. A large mirror, it appeared to me, now stood where none had been perceptible before: and as I stepped up to it in The genius of Lorenzo de’ Medici has never, perhaps, extremity of terror, mine own image, but with features all pale and dabbled in blood, advanced with a feeble and tot- been so highly estimated, as his exertions on behalf of tering gait to meet me. Italian literature. Yet he was not only an author unsur- ‘‘'Thus it appeared I say, but was not. It was Wilson, passed by any of his illustrious contemporaries, but, as a who then stood before me in the agonies of dissolution. Not a line in all the marked and singular lineaments of that statesman, gave evidence of profound ability. A work face which was not even identically mine own. His mask illustrating the value of his character and discussing his and cloak lay where he had thrown them, upon the floor.”— vast influence upon his age, has been long wanting, and Vol. 2. p. 57. no man lives who could better supply the desideratum than Here it will be observed that, not only are the two Mr. Roscoe. In republishing these volumes Messieurs general conceptions identical, but there are various points Carey & Hart have rendered a service of the highest im- of similarity. In each case the figure seen is the wraith or portance to the reading public of America. duplication of the beholder. In each case the scene is a masquerade. In each case the figure is cloaked. In each, there is a quarrel—that is to say, angry words pass be- tween the parties. In each the beholder is enraged. In The Poets and Poetry of America. With an Historical In- each the cloak and sword fall upon the floor. The ‘ villain, troduction. By Rufus W. Griswold. Carey § Hart: unmuffie yourself,’ of Mr. H. is precisely paralleled by a Philadelphia. passage at page 56 of “‘ William Wilson.” In the way of objection we have scarcely a word to say This is a volume of remarkable beauty externally, and of these tales. There is, perhaps, a somewhat too general of very high merit internally. It embraces selections from or prevalent tone—a tone of melancholy and mysticism. the poetical works of every true poet in America without The subjects are insufficiently varied. There is not so exception; and these selections are prefaced, in each in- much of versatility evinced as we might well be war- stance, with a brief memoir, for whose accuracy we can ranted in expecting from the high powers of Mr. Haw- vouch. We know that no pains or expense have been thorne. But beyond these trivial exceptions we have spared in this compilation, which is, by very much indeed, really none.to make. The style is purity itself. Force the best of its class—affording, at one view, the justest abounds. High imagination gleams from every page. Mr. idea of our poetical literature. Mr. Griswold is remark- Hawthorne is a man of the truest genius. We only regret ably well qualified for the task he has undertaken. We that the limits of our Magazine will not permit us to pay shall speak at length of this book in our next. him that full tribute of commendation, which, under other circumstances, we should be so eager to pay. Beauchampe, or The Kentucky Tragedy. A Tale of Passion. The Vigil of Faith, and Other Poems. By C. F. Hoffman, By the Author of ‘‘ Richard Hurdis,” “ Border Beagles,” Author of ‘ Greyslaer,”’ §c. S. Coleman: New York. ete. Two Volumes. Lea § Blanchard: Philadelphia. Mr. Charles Fenno Hoffman is well known as the author Tire events upon which this novel is based are but too of several popular novels, and as the quondam editor of real. No more thrilling, no more romantic tragedy did the ‘¢ American Monthly Magazine ;”’ but his poetical abili- ever the brain of poet conceive than was the tragedy of ties have not as yet attracted that attention which is in- Sharpe and Beauchampe. We are not sure that the author IOTOT E ORI IN RE PRE INE ROT CYAN OTN dubitably their due. of ‘* Border Beagles”’ has done right in the selection of his ‘‘The Vigil of Faith,’ a poem of fifty-two irregular theme. Too little has been left for invention. We are stanzas, embodies a deeply interesting narrative supposed sure, however, that the theme is skilfully handled. 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