RobertMontgomery’slogic。Heinformsusthatlightningisdesignlessandself—created。Ifhecanbelievethis，wecannotconceivewhyhemaynotbelievethatthewholeuniverseisdesignlessandself—created。Afewlinesbefore，hetellsusthatitistheDeitywhobids"thunderrattlefromtheskieydeep。"
Histheoryisthereforethis，thatGodmadethethunder，butthatthelightningmadeitself。
ButMr。RobertMontgomery’smetaphysicsarenotatpresentourgame。HeproceedstosetforththefearfuleffectsofAtheism"Then，blood—stain`dMurder，barethyhideousarmAndthou，Rebellion，welterinthystorm:
Awake，yespiritsofavengingcrime;
Burstfromyourbonds，andbattlewiththetime！"
Mr。RobertMontgomeryisfondofpersonification，andbelongs，weneednotsay，tothatschoolofpoetswhoholdthatnothingmoreisnecessarytoapersonificationinpoetrythantobeginawordwithacapitalletter。Murdermay，withoutimpropriety，bareherarm，asshedidlongago，inMr。Campbell’sPleasuresofHope。
ButwhatpossiblemotiveRebellioncanhaveforwelteringinherstorm，whatavengingcrimemaybe，whoitsspiritsmaybe，whytheyshouldbeburstfromtheirbonds，whattheirbondsmaybe，whytheyshouldbattlewiththetime，whatthetimemaybe，andwhatabattlebetweenthetimeandthespiritsofavengingcrimewouldresemble，wemustconfessourselvesquiteunabletounderstand。
"AndhereletMemoryturnhertearfulglanceOnthedarkhorrorsoftumultuousFrance，Whenbloodandblasphemydefiledherland，AndfierceRebellionshookhersavagehand。"
WhetherRebellionshakesherownhand，shakesthehandofMemory，orshakesthehandofFrance，orwhatanyoneofthesethreemetaphorswouldmean，we，knownomorethanweknowwhatisthesenseofthefollowingpassage"LetthefoulorgiesofinfuriatecrimePicturetheraginghavocofthattime，WhenleaguedRebellionmarch’dtokindleman，Frightinherrear，andMurderinhervan。
Andthou，sweetflowerofAustria，slaughter’dQueen，Whodropp’dnotearuponthedreadfulscene，Whengush’dthelife—bloodfromthineangelform，Andmartyr’dbeautyperish’dinthestorm，Onceworshipp’dparagonofallwhosaw，Thylookobedience，andthysmilealaw。"
Whatisthedistinctionbetweenthefoulorgiesandtheraginghavocwhichthefoulorgiesaretopicture？WhydoesFrightgobehindRebellion，andMurderbefore？WhyshouldnotMurderfallbehindFright？Orwhyshouldnotallthethreewalkabreast？Wehavereadofaherowhohad"Amazementinhisvan，withflightcombined，AndSorrow’sfadedform，andSolitudebehind。"
Gray，wesuspect，couldhavegivenareasonfordisposingtheallegoricalattendantsofEdwardthus。Buttoproceed，"FlowerofAustria"isstolenfromByron。"Dropp’d"isfalseEnglish。
"Perish’dinthestorm"meansnothingatall;and"thylookobedience"meanstheveryreverseofwhatMr。RobertMontgomeryintendstosay。
Ourpoetthenproceedstodemonstratetheimmortalityofthesoul:
"Andshallthesoul，thefountofreason，die，Whendustanddarknessrounditstemplelie？
DidGodbreatheinitnoetherealfire。
Dimlessandquenchless，thoughthebreathexpire？"
Thesoulisafountain;andthereforeitisnottodie，thoughdustanddarknesslierounditstemple，becauseanetherealfirehasbeenbreathedintoit，whichcannotbequenchedthoughitsbreathexpire。Isitthefountain，orthetemple，thatbreathes，andhasfirebreathedintoit？
Mr。Montgomeryapostrophisesthe"Immortalbeacons，——spiritsofthejust，"——
anddescribestheiremploymentsinanotherworld，whicharetobe，itseems，bathinginlight，hearingfierystreamsflow，andridingonlivingcarsoflightning。Thedeathbedofthescepticisdescribedwithwhatwesupposeismeantforenergy。WethenhavethedeathbedofaChristianmadeasridiculousasfalseimageryandfalseEnglishcanmakeit。Butthisisnotenough。
TheDayofJudgmentistobedescribed，andaroaringcataractofnonsenseispouredforthuponthistremendoussubject。Earth，wearetold，isdashedintoEternity。Furnaceblazeswheelroundthehorizon，andburstintobrightwizardphantoms。Racinghurricanesunrollandwhirlquiveringfire—clouds。Thewhitewavesgallop。
Shadowyworldscareeraround。TheredandragingeyeofImaginationisthenforbiddentopryfurther。ButfurtherMr。
RobertMontgomerypersistsinprying。Thestarsboundthroughtheairyroar。Theunbosomeddeepyawnsontheruin。ThebillowsofEternitythenbegintoadvance。Theworldglaresinfieryslumber。Acarcomesforwarddrivenbylivingthunder，"Creationshudderswithsublimedismay，Andinablazingtempestwhirlsaway。"
Andthisisfinepoetry！Thisiswhatranksitswriterwiththemaster—spiritsoftheage！Thisiswhathasbeendescribed，overandoveragain，intermswhichwouldrequiresomequalificationifusedrespectingParadiseLost！Itistoomuchthatthispatchwork，madebystitchingtogetheroldoddsandendsofwhat，whennew，wasbuttawdryfrippery，istobepickedoffthedunghillonwhichitoughttorot，andtobehelduptoadmirationasaninestimablespecimenofart。Andwhatmustwethinkofasystembymeansofwhichverseslikethosewhichwehavequoted，versesfitonlyforthepoet’scorneroftheMorningPost，canproduceemolumentandfame？Thecirculationofthiswriter’spoetryhasbeengreaterthanthatofSouthey’sRoderick，andbeyondallcomparisongreaterthanthatofCary’sDanteorofthebestworksofColeridge。Thusencouraged，Mr。RobertMontgomeryhasfavouredthepublicwithvolumeaftervolume。WehavegivensomuchspacetotheexaminationofhisfirstandmostpopularperformancethatwehavenonetospareforhisUniversalPrayer，andhissmallerpoems，which，asthepuffingjournalstellus，wouldaloneconstituteasufficienttitletoliteraryimmortality。Weshallpassatoncetohislastpublication，entitledSatan。
Thispoemwasusheredintotheworldwiththeusualroarofacclamation。Butthethingwasnowpastajoke。Pretensionssounfounded，soimpudent，andsosuccessful，hadarousedaspiritofresistance。Inseveralmagazinesandreviews，accordingly，Satanhasbeenhandledsomewhatroughly，andtheartsofthepuffershavebeenexposedwithgoodsenseandspirit。Weshall，therefore，beveryconcise。
OfthetwopoemsweratherpreferthatontheOmnipresenceoftheDeity，forthesamereasonwhichinducedSirThomasMoretorankonebadbookaboveanother。"Marry，thisissomewhat。Thisisrhyme。Buttheotherisneitherrhymenorreason。"Satanisalongsoliloquy，whichtheDevilpronouncesinfiveorsixthousandlinesofbadblankverse，concerninggeography，politics，newspapers，fashionablesociety，theatricalamusements，SirWalterScott’snovels，LordByron’spoetry，andMr。Martin’spictures。ThenewdesignsforMiltonhave，aswasnatural，particularlyattractedtheattentionofapersonagewhooccupiessoconspicuousaplaceinthem。Mr。Martinmustbepleasedtolearnthat，whatevermaybethoughtofthoseperformancesonearth，theygivefullsatisfactioninPandaemonium，andthatheistherethoughttohavehitoffthelikenessesofthevariousThronesandDominationsveryhappily。
ThemottotothepoemofSatanistakenfromtheBookofJob:
"Whencecomestthou？Fromgoingtoandfrointheearth，andwalkingupanddowninit。"AndcertainlyMr。RobertMontgomeryhasnotfailedtomakehisherogotoandfro，andwalkupanddown。Withtheexception，however，ofthispropensitytolocomotion，SatanhasnotoneSatanicquality。MadTomhadtoldusthat"theprinceofdarknessisagentleman";butwehadyettolearnthatheisarespectableandpiousgentleman，whoseprincipalfaultisthatheissomethingofatwaddleandfartooliberalofhisgoodadvice。ThathappychangeinhischaracterwhichOrigenanticipated，andofwhichTillotsondidnotdespair，seemstoberapidlytakingplace。Badhabitsarenoteradicatedinamoment。Itisnotstrange，therefore，thatsooldanoffendershouldnowandthenrelapseforashorttimeintowrongdispositions。Buttogivehimhisdue，astheproverbrecommends，wemustsaythathealwaysreturns，aftertwoorthreelinesofimpiety，tohispreachingstyle。WewouldseriouslyadviseMr。
Montgomerytoomitoralteraboutahundredlinesindifferentpartsofthislargevolume，andtorepublishitunderthenameofGabriel。Thereflectionsofwhichitconsistswouldcomelessabsurdly，asfarasthereisamoreandalessinextremeabsurdity，fromagoodthanfromabadangel。
Wecanaffordroomonlyforasinglequotation。Wegiveonetakenatrandom，neitherworsenorbetter，asfaraswecanperceive，thananyotherequalnumberoflinesinthebook。TheDevilgoestotheplay，andmoralisesthereonasfollows:
"MusicandPomptheirminglingspiritshedAroundme:beautiesintheircloud—likerobesShineforth，——ascenicparadise，itglaresIntoxicationthroughthereelingsenseOfflush’denjoyment。InthemotleyhostThreeprimegradationsmayberank’d:thefirst，TomountuponthewingsofShakspeare’smind，AndwinaflashofhisPrometheanthought，Tosmileandweep，toshudder，andachieveAroundofpassionateomnipotence，Attend:thesecond，areasensualtribe，Convenedtohearromanticharlotssing，Onformstobanquetalasciviousgaze，WhilethebrightperfidyofwantoneyesThroughbrainandspiritdartsdeliciousfireThelast，athrongmostpitiful！whoseem，Withtheircorrodedfigures，raylessglance，Anddeath—likestruggleofdecayingage，LikepaintedskeletonsincharnelpompSetforthtosatirisethehumankind！
Howfineaprospectfordemoniacview！
’Creatureswhosesoulsoutbalanceworldsawake！’
MethinksIhearapityingangelcry。"
Hereweconclude。IfourremarksgivepaintoMr。RobertMontgomery，wearesorryforit。But，atwhatevercostofpaintoindividuals，literaturemustbepurifiedfromthistaint。And，toshowthatwearenotactuatedbyanyfeelingofpersonalenmitytowardshim，weherebygivenoticethat，assoonasanybookshall，bymeansofpuffing，reachasecondedition，ourintentionistodountothewriterofitaswehavedoneuntoMr。RobertMontgomery。
INDEXANDGLOSSARYOFALLUSIONS
ABSOLUTE，SirAnthony，aleadingcharacterinSheridan’splayofTheRivalsAdarkerandfiercerspirit，JonathanSwift，thegreatTorywriter（1667—1745）
AgbarusorAbgarus，theallegedauthorofaspuriouslettertoJesusChrist。EdessaisinMesopotamia。
Alboin，KingoftheLombards，561—573，heinvadedItalyasfarastheTiberAlcina，thepersonificationofcarnalpleasureintheOrlandoFuriosoAldus，thefamousVenetianprinter（1447—1515），whoissuedtheAldineeditionsoftheclassicsandinventeditalictypeAlfieri，Italiandramatist，andoneofthepioneersoftherevoltagainsteighteenth—centuryliteraryandsocietymodels（1749—
1803）
Algarotti，Francesco，alitterateur，friendofVoltaire。Fredericmadehimacount（1764）
Alnaschar，see"TheHistoryoftheBarber’sFifthBrother，"
intheArabianNightsAlva，Dukeof，theinfamousgovernoroftheNetherlands（1508—
82）
Amadeus，Victor，"thefaithlessrulerofSavoy，"whoforabribedesertedAustria，whosetroopshewascommander—inchiefofforFrance，in1692
Arbuthnot，Dr。，authoroftheHistoryofJohnBull，friendofSwiftandPope（1679—1735）
Arminius，aGermanwho，asahostage，enteredtheRomanarmy，butafterwardsrevoltedandledhiscountrymenagainstRome（d。23
A。D。）
Armorica，FrancebetweentheSeineandtheLoire，BrittanyArtevelde，Von。，Jacobv。A。andPhilip，hisson，ledthepeopleofFlandersintheirrevoltagainstCountLouisandhisFrenchsupporters（fourteenthcentury）
Ascham，Roger，andAylmer，John，tutorsofQueenElizabethandLadyJaneGreyrespectivelyAthalie，Saul，Cinna，dramasbyRacineAlfieri，andCorneillerespectivelyAtticus，Sporus，i。e。AddisonandLordJohnHervey，satirizedinPope’sEpistletoDr。ArbuthnotAttila，KingoftheHuns，the"ScourgeofGod"whooverrantheRomanEmpirebutwasfinallybeatenbythealliedGothsandRomans（d。453）
Aubrey，John，aneminentantiquarywholostanumberofinheritedestatesbylawsuitsandbadmanagement（1624—97）
BADAJOZandSt。Sebastian，townsinSpaincapturedfromtheFrenchduringthePeninsularWarBastiani，wasatfirstoneofthebigPotsdamgrenadiers;
FredericmadehimAbbotofSilesiaBayes，Miss，withreferencetothenameusedinTheRehearsal，byGeorgeVilliers，DukeofBuckingham，tosatirizeDryden，thepoet—laureateBayle，Pierre，authorofthefamousDictionnaireHistoriqueetCritique;professorofphilosophyatPaduaandatRotterdam（1647—1706）
Beauclerk，Topham，Johnson’sfriend，"thechivalrousT。B。，withhissharpwitandgallant，courtlyways"（Carlyle），（1739—80）
Beaumarchais，seeCarlyle’sFrenchRevolution。AsacomicdramatistherankssecondonlytoMoliere。HesupportedtheRevolutionwithhismoneyandhisversatilepowersofspeechandwriting。HeeditedaneditiondeluxeofVoltaire’sworks（1732—
99）
Behn，Afra，thelicentiousnovelistandmistressofCharles11。
（1640—89），who，asaspyinHolland，discoveredtheDutchplansforburningtheThamesshippingBelle—Isle，Frenchmarshal;f...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：