Famous Reviews by Unknown
page 48 of 625 (07%)
page 48 of 625 (07%)
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When he gets in, he finds himself in a large hall, decorated with trophies, and pictures, and statues, commemorating the triumphs of British valour, from Aboukir to Waterloo. The room, moreover, was filled with a great number of ladies and gentlemen very finely dressed; and in two chairs, near the top, were seated the Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold. Hitherto, certainly, all is sufficiently plain and probable;-- nor can the Muse who dictated this to the slumbering Laureate be accused of any very extravagant or profuse invention. We come, now, however, to allegory and learning in abundance. In the first place, we are told, with infinite regard to the probability as well as the novelty of the fiction, that in this drawing-room there were two great lions couching at the feet of the Royal Pair;--the Prince's being very lean and in poor condition, with the hair rubbed off his neck as if from a heavy collar-- and the Princess's in full vigour, with a bushy mane, and littered with torn French flags. Then there were two heavenly figures stationed on each side of the throne, one called Honour, and the other Faith;--so very like each other, that it was impossible not to suppose them brother and sister. It turns out, however, that they were only second cousins; or so at least we interpret the following precious piece of theogony. Akin they were,--yet not as thus it seemed, For he of VALOUR was the eldest son, From Areté in happy union sprung. But her to Phronis Eusebeia bore, She whom her mother Dicé sent to earth; What marvel then if thus their features wore Resemblant lineaments of kindred birth? Dicé being child of Him who rules above, VALOUR his earth-born son; so both derived from Jove. |
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