Inthesecasesthepunishmentwasexcessive;buttheoffencewasknownandproved。ThecaseofLordByronwasharder。TrueJedwoodjusticewasdealtouttohim。Firstcametheexecution，thentheinvestigation，andlastofall，orrathernotatall，theaccusation。Thepublic，withoutknowinganythingwhateveraboutthetransactionsinhisfamily，flewintoaviolentpassionwithhim，andproceededtoinventstorieswhichmightjustifyitsanger。Tenortwentydifferentaccountsoftheseparation，inconsistentwitheachother，withthemselves，andwithcommonsense，circulatedatthesametime。Whatevidencetheremightbeforanyoneofthese，thevirtuouspeoplewhorepeatedthemneitherknewnorcared。Forinfactthesestorieswerenotthecauses，buttheeffectsofthepublicindignation。TheyresembledthoseloathsomeslanderswhichLewisGoldsmith，andotherabjectlibellersofthesameclass，wereinthehabitofpublishingaboutBonaparte;suchasthathepoisonedagirlwitharsenicwhenhewasatthemilitaryschool，thathehiredagrenadiertoshootDessaixatMarengo，thathefilledSt。CloudwithallthepollutionsofCapreae。Therewasatimewhenanecdotesliketheseobtainedsomecredencefrompersonswho，hatingtheFrenchemperorwithoutknowingwhy，wereeagertobelieveanythingwhichmightjustifytheirhatred。LordByronfaredinthesameway。Hiscountrymenwereinabadhumourwithhim。Hiswritingsandhischaracterhadlostthecharmofnovelty。Hehadbeenguiltyoftheoffencewhich，ofalloffences，ispunishedmostseverely;hehadbeenover—praised;hehadexcitedtoowarmaninterest;andthepublic，withitsusualjustice，chastisedhimforitsownfolly。TheattachmentsofthemultitudebearnosmallresemblancetothoseofthewantonenchantressintheArabianTales，who，whenthefortydaysofherfondnesswereover，wasnotcontentwithdismissingherlovers，butcondemnedthemtoexpiate，inloathsomeshapes，andundercruelpenances，thecrimeofhavingoncepleasedhertoowell。
TheobloquywhichByronhadtoendurewassuchasmightwellhaveshakenamoreconstantmind。Thenewspaperswerefilledwithlampoons。Thetheatresshookwithexecrations。Hewasexcludedfromcircleswherehehadlatelybeentheobservedofallobservers。Allthosecreepingthingsthatriotinthedecayofnoblernatureshastenedtotheirrepast;andtheywereright;
theydidaftertheirkind。Itisnoteverydaythatthesavageenvyofaspiringduncesisgratifiedbytheagoniesofsuchaspirit，andthedegradationofsuchaname。
Theunhappymanlefthiscountryforever。Thehowlofcontumelyfollowedhimacrossthesea，uptheRhine，overtheAlps;itgraduallywaxedfainter;itdiedaway;thosewhohadraiseditbegantoaskeachother，what，afterall，wasthematteraboutwhichtheyhadbeensoclamorous，andwishedtoinvitebackthecriminalwhomtheyhadjustchasedfromthem。Hispoetrybecamemorepopularthanithadeverbeen;andhiscomplaintswerereadwithtearsbythousandsandtensofthousandswhohadneverseenhisface。
HehadfixedhishomeontheshoresoftheAdriatic，inthemostpicturesqueandinterestingofcities，beneaththebrightestofskies，andbythebrightestofseas。Censoriousnesswasnottheviceoftheneighbourswhomhehadchosen。Theywerearacecorruptedbyabadgovernmentandabadreligion，longrenownedforskillintheartsofvoluptuousness，andtolerantofallthecapricesofsensuality。Fromthepublicopinionofthecountryofhisadoption，hehadnothingtodread。Withthepublicopinionofthecountryofhisbirth，hewasatopenwar。Heplungedintowildanddesperateexcesses，ennobledbynogenerousortendersentiment。FromhisVenetianharam，hesentforthvolumeaftervolume，fullofeloquence，ofwit，ofpathos，ofribaldry，andofbitterdisdain。Hishealthsankundertheeffectsofhisintemperance。Hishairturnedgrey。Hisfoodceasedtonourishhim。Ahecticfeverwitheredhimup。Itseemedthathisbodyandmindwereabouttoperishtogether。
Fromthiswretcheddegradationhewasinsomemeasurerescuedbyaconnection，culpableindeed，yetsuchas，ifitwerejudgedbythestandardofmoralityestablishedinthecountrywherehelived，mightbecalledvirtuous。Butanimaginationpollutedbyvice，atemperembitteredbymisfortune，andaframehabituatedtothefatalexcitementofintoxication，preventedhimfromfullyenjoyingthehappinesswhichhemighthavederivedfromthepurestandmosttranquilofhismanyattachments。MidnightdraughtsofardentspiritsandRhenishwineshadbeguntoworktheruinofhisfineintellect。Hisverselostmuchoftheenergyandcondensationwhichhaddistinguishedit。Buthewouldnotresign，withoutastruggle，theempirewhichhehadexercisedoverthemenofhisgeneration。Anewdreamofambitionarosebeforehim;tobethechiefofaliteraryparty;tobethegreatmoverofanintellectualrevolution;toguidethepublicmindofEnglandfromhisItalianretreat，asVoltairehadguidedthepublicmindofFrancefromthevillaofFerney。Withthishope，asitshouldseem，heestablishedTheLiberal。But，powerfullyashehadaffectedtheimaginationsofhiscontemporaries，hemistookhisownpowersifhehopedtodirecttheiropinions;andhestillmoregrosslymistookhisowndisposition，ifhethoughtthathecouldlongactinconcertwithothermenofletters。Theplanfailed，andfailedignominiously。Angrywithhimself，angrywithhiscoadjutors，herelinquishedit，andturnedtoanotherproject，thelastandnoblestofhislife。
Anation，oncethefirstamongthenations，pre—eminentinknowledge，pre—eminentinmilitaryglory，thecradleofphilosophy，ofeloquence，andofthefinearts，hadbeenforagesboweddownunderacruelyoke。Alltheviceswhichoppressiongenerates，theabjectviceswhichitgeneratesinthosewhosubmittoit，theferociousviceswhichitgeneratesinthosewhostruggleagainstit，haddeformedthecharacterofthatmiserablerace。Thevalourwhichhadwonthegreatbattleofhumancivilisation，whichhadsavedEurope，whichhadsubjugatedAsia，lingeredonlyamongpiratesandrobbers。Theingenuity，oncesoconspicuouslydisplayedineverydepartmentofphysicalandmoralscience，hadbeendepravedintoatimidandservilecunning。Onasuddenthisdegradedpeoplehadrisenontheiroppressors。
Discountenancedorbetrayedbythesurroundingpotentates，theyhadfoundinthemselvessomethingofthatwhichmightwellsupplytheplaceofallforeignassistance，somethingoftheenergyoftheirfathers。
Asamanofletters，LordByroncouldnotbutbeinterestedintheeventofthiscontest。Hispoliticalopinions，though，likeallhisopinions，unsettled，leanedstronglytowardsthesideofliberty。HehadassistedtheItalianinsurgentswithhispurse，and，iftheirstruggleagainsttheAustrianGovernmenthadbeenprolonged，wouldprobablyhaveassistedthemwithhissword。ButtoGreecehewasattachedbypeculiarties。Hehadwhenyoungresidedinthatcountry。Muchofhismostsplendidandpopularpoetryhadbeeninspiredbyitssceneryandbyitshistory。Sickofinaction，degradedinhisowneyesbyhisprivatevicesandbyhisliteraryfailures，piningforuntriedexcitementandhonourabledistinction，hecarriedhisexhaustedbodyandhiswoundedspirittotheGreciancamp。
Hisconductinhisnewsituationshowedsomuchvigourandgoodsenseastojustifyusinbelievingthat，ifhislifehadbeenprolonged，hemighthavedistinguishedhimselfasasoldierandapolitician。Butpleasureandsorrowhaddonetheworkofseventyyearsuponhisdelicateframe。Thehandofdeathwasuponhim:heknewit;andtheonlywishwhichheutteredwasthathemightdieswordinhand。
Thiswasdeniedtohim。Anxiety，exertion，exposure，andthosefatalstimulantswhichhadbecomeindispensabletohim，soonstretchedhimonasick—bed，inastrangeland，amidststrangefaces，withoutonehumanbeingthathelovednearhim。There，atthirty—six，themostcelebratedEnglishmanofthenineteenthcenturyclosedhisbrilliantandmiserablecareer。
Wecannotevennowretracethoseeventswithoutfeelingsomethingofwhatwasfeltbythenation，whenitwasfirstknownthatthegravehadclosedoversomuchsorrowandsomuchglory;somethingofwhatwasfeltbythosewhosawthehearse，withitslongtrainofcoaches，turnslowlynorthward，leavingbehinditthatcemeterywhichhadbeenconsecratedbythedustofsomanygreatpoets，butofwhichthedoorswereclosedagainstallthatremainedofByron。Wewellrememberthatonthatday，rigidmoralistscouldnotrefrainfromweepingforonesoyoung，soillustrious，sounhappy，giftedwithsuchraregifts，andtriedbysuchstrongtemptations。Itisunnecessarytomakeanyreflections。Thehistorycarriesitsmoralwithit。Ouragehasindeedbeenfruitfulofwarningstotheeminentandofconsolationstotheobscure。Twomenhavediedwithinourrecollection，who，atthetimeoflifeatwhichmanypeoplehavehardlycompletedtheireducation，hadraisedthemselves，eachinhisowndepartment，totheheightofglory。OneofthemdiedatLongwood;theotheratMissolonghi。
Itisalwaysdifficulttoseparatetheliterarycharacterofamanwholivesinourowntimefromhispersonalcharacter。ItispeculiarlydifficulttomakethisseparationinthecaseofLordByron。Foritisscarcelytoomuchtosay，thatLordByronneverwrotewithoutsomereference，directorindirect，tohimselfTheinterestexcitedbytheeventsofhislifeminglesitselfinourminds，andprobablyinthemindsofalmostallourreaders，withtheinterestwhichproperlybelongstohisworks。Agenerationmustpassawaybeforeitwillbepossibletoformafairjudgmentofhisbooks，consideredmerelyasbooks。Atpresenttheyarenotonlybooksbutrelics。Wewillhoweverventure，thoughwithunfeigneddiffidence，tooffersomedesultoryremarksonhispoetry。
Hislotwascastinthetimeofagreatliteraryrevolution。ThatpoeticaldynastywhichhaddethronedthesuccessorsofShakspeareandSpenserwas，initsturn，dethronedbyaracewhorepresentedthemselvesasheirsoftheancientline，solongdispossessedbyusurpers。Therealnatureofthisrevolutionhasnot，wethink，beencomprehendedbythegreatmajorityofthosewhoconcurredinit。
Whereinespeciallydoesthepoetryofourtimesdifferfromthatofthelastcentury？Ninety—ninepersonsoutofahundredwouldanswerthatthepoetryofthelastcenturywascorrect，butcoldandmechanical，andthatthepoetryofourtime，thoughwildandirregular，presentedfarmorevividimages，andexcitedthepassionsfarmorestronglythanthatofParnell，ofAddison，orofPope。Inthesamemannerweconstantlyhearitsaid，thatthepoetsoftheageofElizabethhadfarmoregenius，butfarlesscorrectness，thanthoseoftheageofAnne。Itseemstobetakenforgranted，thatthereissomeincompatibility，someantithesisbetweencorrectnessandcreativepower。Werathersuspectthatthisnotionarisesmerelyfromanabuseofwords，andthatithasbeentheparentofmanyofthefallacieswhichperplexthescienceofcriticism。
Whatismeantbycorrectnessinpoetry？Ifbycorrectnesshemeanttheconformingtoruleswhichhavetheirfoundationintruthandintheprinciplesofhumannature，thencorrectnessisonlyanothernameforexcellence。Ifbycorrectnessbemeanttheconformingtorulespurelyarbitrary，correctnessmaybeanothernamefordulnessandabsurdity。
Awriterwhodescribesvisibleobjectsfalselyandviolatestheproprietyofcharacter，awriterwhomakesthemountains"nodtheirdrowsyheads"atnight，oradyingmantakeleaveoftheworldwitharantlikethatofMaximin，maybesaid，inthehighandjustsenseofthephrase，towriteincorrectly。Heviolatesthefirstgreatlawofhisart。Hisimitationisaltogetherunlikethethingimitated。ThefourpoetswhoaremosteminentlyfreefromincorrectnessofthisdescriptionareHomer，Dante，Shakspeare，andMilton。Theyare，therefore，inonesense，andthatthebestsense，themostcorrectofpoets。
WhenitissaidthatVirgil，thoughhehadlessgeniusthanHomer，wasamorecorrectwriter，whatsenseisattachedtothewordcorrectness？IsitmeantthatthestoryoftheAeneidisdevelopedmoreskilfullythanthatoftheOdyssey？thattheRomandescribesthefaceoftheexternalworld，ortheemotionsofthemind，moreaccuratelythantheGreek？thatthecharactersofAchatesandMnestheusaremorenicelydiscriminated，andmoreconsistentlysupported，thanthoseofAchilles，ofNestor，andofUlysses？Thefactincontestablyisthat，foreveryviolationofthefundamentallawsofpoetrywhichcanbefoundinHomer，itwouldbeeasytofindtwentyinVirgil。
TroilusandCressidaisperhapsofalltheplaysofShakspearethatwhichiscommonlyconsideredasthemostincorrect。Yetitseemstousinfinitelymorecorrect，inthesoundsenseoftheterm，thanwhatarecalledthemostcorrectplaysofthemostcorrectdramatists。Compareit，forexample，withtheIphigenieofRacine。WearesurethattheGreeksofShakspearebearafargreaterresemblancethantheGreeksofRacinetotherealGreekswhobesiegedTroy;andforthisreason，thattheGreeksofShakspearearehumanbeings，andtheGreeksofRacinemerenames，merewordsprintedincapitalsattheheadofparagraphsofdeclamation。Racine，itistrue，wouldhaveshudderedatthethoughtofmakingawarrioratthesiegeofTroyquoteAristotle。
Butofwhatuseisittoavoidasingleanachronism，whenthewholeplayisoneanachronism，thesentimentsandphrasesofVersaillesinthecampofAulis？
Inthesenseinwhichwearenowusingthewordcorrectness，wethinkthatSirWalterScott，Mr。Wordsworth，Mr。Coleridge，arefarmorecorrectpoetsthanthosewhoarecommonlyextolledasthemodelsofcorrectness，Pope，forexample，andAddison。ThesingledescriptionofamoonlightnightinPope’sIliadcontainsmoreinaccuraciesthancanbefoundinalltheExcursion。ThereisnotasinglesceneinCato，inwhichallthatconducestopoeticalillusion，alltheproprietyofcharacter，oflanguage，ofsituation，isnotmoregrosslyviolatedthaninanypartoftheLayoftheLastMinstrel。NomancanpossiblythinkthattheRomansofAddisonresembletherealRomanssocloselyasthemoss—troopersofScottresembletherealmoss—troopers。WatTinlinnandWilliamofDelorainearenot，itistrue，personsofsomuchdignityasCato。Butthedignityofthepersonsrepresentedhasaslittletodowiththecorrectnessofpoetryaswiththecorrectnessofpainting。WepreferagipsybyReynoldstohisMajesty’sheadonasignpost，andaBordererbyScotttoaSenatorbyAddison。
Inwhatsense，then，isthewordcorrectnessusedbythosewhosay，withtheauthorofthePursuitsofLiterature，thatPopewasthemostcorrectofEnglishPoets，andthatnexttoPopecamethelateMr。Gifford？Whatisthenatureandvalueofthatcorrectness，thepraiseofwhichisdeniedtoMacbeth，toLear，andtoOthello，andgiventoHoole’stranslationsandtoalltheSeatonianprize—poems？Wecandiscovernoeternalrule，norulefoundedinreasonandinthenatureofthings，whichShakspearedoesnotobservemuchmorestrictlythanPope。Butifbycorrectnessbemeanttheconformingtoanarrowlegislationwhich，whilelenienttothemalainse，multiplies，withoutashadowofareason，themalaprohibita，ifbycorrectnessbemeantastrictattentiontocertainceremoniousobservances，whicharenomoreessentialtopoetrythanetiquettetogoodgovernment，orthanthewashingsofaPhariseetodevotion，then，assuredly，PopemaybeamorecorrectpoetthanShakspeare;and，ifthecodewerealittlealtered，ColleyCibbermightbeamorecorrectpoetthanPope。Butitmaywellbedoubtedwhetherthiskindofcorrectnessbeamerit，nay，whetheritbenotanabsolutefault。
Itwouldbeamusingtomakeadigestoftheirrationallawswhichbadcriticshaveframedforthegovernmentofpoets。Firstincelebrityandinabsurditystandthedramaticunitiesofplaceandtime。Nohumanbeinghaseverbeenabletofindanythingthatcould，evenbycourtesy，becalledanargumentfortheseunities，exceptthattheyhavebeendeducedfromthegene...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：