Memoir of Henry Augustus Ingalls

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846 Excerpt: ...for this is not the prime object of the poet; his object is to please; and as this is his object, says Dr. Blair, "it is to the imagination and the passions that he addresses himself." What are the feelings with which we generally read poetry? Do we read it to gain elevating ideas, nobler conceptions of humanity, or that the mere fancy may be pleased? When we study a piece of poetry, do we feel, on arising from such study, as though our ideas were more elevated than before, --as though there were that within us which partook not of the nature of earth, but belonged to an higher and nobler region? How rarely is it that such thoughts of the nature of the mind, or lessons that all things teach, are diffused by the reading of poetry! On the contrary, there is diffused throughout the reader, a feeling of lassitude and languor, little favorable to elevating ideas. But what are the feelings with which we pursue the study of philosophy, of which, and of Newton, the poet has used the following language: "Philosophy, baptized In the pure font of eternal love, Has eyes indeed; and, viewing all she sees As meant to indicate a God to man, Gives Him his praise, and forfeits not her own. Learning has borne such fruit in other days On all her branches; piety has found Friends in the friends of science; and true prayer Has flowed from lips wet with Castalian dews. Such was thy wisdom, Newton, child-like sage, Sagacious reader of the works of God, And in his word sagacious. Such, too, thine, Milton, whose genius had angelic wings, And fed on manna." To the poet we go to obtaih relief from the weary hour, in harmonious numbers, and measured cadences, --a momentary and short-lived pleasure. But the natural feeling with which we go to the philosopher, is to ob...