Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

shudder at owning our fellow nature with a being so degraded.

But among a people, whose progress towards civilization, is so far advanced, that the feelings of the heart, and the powers of the imagination have been called forth, preceding the light of science, as the morning star and the dusky dawn do the effulgence of the sun. Among such people, the mind finds something to dwell an that is soothing and satisfactory. We contemplate nations in this state, with a feeling like that which every unspoilt mind derives from the innocent prattle. of such children as are not confined in artificial trammels, but allowed to express their own thoughts in their own words. We feel all the comparative consciousness, that we can think deeper, and express ourselves better; yet, making the due allowances, we wonder how they think so soundly, and speak so well.

To this wonder is added the never

failing charm of simplicity, and the delight we take in detecting the first motions as they arise in the untutored breast; and assisting the retrograde view, we love to indulge of our own feelings and opinions, during that guileless period.

These nearly resemble the general motives, that prompts us to explore with a curiosity, ardent and not useless, the characters and manners of nations such as I have described. The philosopher and politician may be stimulated in their researches by many other causes; but these are the leading sentiments of those who merely wish to be pleased and informed.

Whoever has observed the very great pains taken by men of capacious mind and enlightened curiosity, to. trace the progress of mind in remote and uncivilized countries, as well as through the remote and obscure periods of local

history or natural records, must wonder at our countryinen in particular. Their diligent search of what is remote, and in a great measure unattainable in the history of mind and manners, and total neglect of what is obvious and within reach, nay, concealed in the recesses of their native country,-is not merely strange, but altogether unaccountable. They have bewildered themselves in endless and fruitless researches, regarding the ancient Scythians and modern Tartars, the Belgæ, the Gauls, the Goths, the more modern Danes. I speak at random, and merely repeat a string of names of which I know very little, and they cannot know very much. In the mean time, their curiosity seems very moderately excited by the greatest of possible curiosities-even by the remains of the most ancient, unmingled, and original people in Europe : of a people who, surrounded by strangers, have preserved

for a series of ages, which no records can trace, their national spirit, their national language, their national habits, their national poetry, and, above all, their national mode of thinking and expressing their thoughts; their stile of manners, and strain of conversation, and still more their local traditions, and family genealogies in one uninterrupted series.

Why has not this wide field for speculation been explored. Why have the lovers of useful knowledge neglected to dig into a mine so rich in science; even that most valuable science, the knowledge of human nature.

But the lovers of this coy science, have too long delayed to follow her to her retreat. In the deep recesses of our Alpine glens, they might have wooed and won the nymph who presides over the hidden treasures of antique lore. In the Celtic Muse, they would have foundan Egeria, who would have enlight

ened them by her mystic counsels, and told them the secrets of other times, now doomed to long oblivion. Now it is too late.

"Tha, caimine Malmhine gu dian.”*

The fair form, where inspiration has for so many ages, awaked the bard, animated the hero, and soothed the lover, is fast gliding into the mist of obscurity, and will soon be no more than a remembered dream," When the hun"ter awakes from his noon-day slumber, " and has heard in his vision the spirits "of the hill."

The neglect of pretenders to science, in omitting to acquire a language, through which so much is to be known, and the apparent indifference of natives, in not producing at an earlier period, in

The literal translation of these words is, "The steps of Malvina drew near. But the metaphorical signification is more properly, The steps of Malvina are departingthey drew near to the awful forms of her fathers, to the "Cloudy Tabernacles," of souls escaped from suffering and from sorrow.

« ElőzőTovább »