MRS. NORTON. CAROLINE ELIZABETH SARAH SHERIDAN is the granddaughter of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, and was born about the year 1808. She early showed that she inherited the genius of her celebrated ancestor, and in her seventeenth year composed her poem "The Sorrows of Rosalie." "Bereaved by death," as it has been said, "of one to whom she had given her heart, she became, in an unpropitious hour, the wife of the Hon. George Chappel Norton." The union proved a most unhappy one, and was dissolved in 1840, Mrs. Norton having been, for many years, the object of suspicion and persecution of the most mortifying and painful character. That her husband's treatment of her was most unjustifiable, no one who is acquainted with the history of this most unfortunate union for a moment doubts; but that in such cases the fault is all on one side, the world rarely, if ever, believes. It is certainly much in Mrs. Norton's favor that she has not forfeited the confidence of her most intimate friends, and that in the darkest hour of her persecution she enjoyed the esteem of some of the first personages in England. Mrs. Norton's next work was a poem founded on the ancient legend of the "Wandering Jew," which she termed "The Undying One." A third volume appeared from her pen in 1840, entitled "The Dream, and other Poems." These have given her a very high rank among the female poets of England. The "Quarterly Review" says that "she is the Byron of our modern poetesses. She has very much of that intense personal passion by which Byron's poetry is distinguished from the larger grasp and deeper communion with man and nature of Wordsworth. She has also Byron's beautiful intervals of tenderness, his strong practical thought, and his forceful expression. It is not an artificial imitation, but a natural parallel." For the honor of the sex, I hope the "natural parallel" cannot be carried any further. Indeed it cannot. Much of Byron's poetry is "earthly, sensual, devilish ;" while the moral tone of all that Mrs. Norton has written is pure and elevated. Her poetic powers, naturally of a high order, have been greatly cherished and improved by education and culture, and by a careful study of the best models. But she can speak best for herself. The following impassioned verses aro addressed by Mrs. Norton to her to whom she has dedicated her poems : TO THE DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND. Once more, my harp! once more, although I thought A wandering dream thy gentle chords have wrought, And unto thee-the beautiful and pure- To thee-whose friendship kept its equal truth Through the most dreary hour of my imbitter'd youth I dedicate the lay. Ah! never bard, In days when poverty was twin with song, Nor wandering harper, lonely and ill-starr'd, Cheer'd by some castle's chief, and harbor'd long; Not Scott's "Last Minstrel," in his trembling lays, Woke with a warmer heart the earnest meed of praise i For easy are the alms the rich man spares To sons of Genius, by misfortune bent; But thou gav'st me, what woman seldom dares, From those whose bounded power hath wrung, not crush'd, mert. Thou, then, when cowards lied away my name, And some, who might have battled for my sake, Stood off in doubt to see what turn the world would take Thou gav'st me that the poor do give the poor, Kind words, and holy wishes, and true tears; The loved, the near of kin could do no more; Who changed not with the gloom of varying years, But clung the closer when I stood forlorn, And blunted Slander's dart with their indignant scorn. For they who credit crime are they who feel Memory, not judgment, prompts the thoughts which steel But like a white swan down a troubled stream, And mar the freshness of her snowy wing- To crimson with a faint false-hearted shame; To thee the sad denial still held true, For from thine own good thoughts thy heart its mercy drew. And though my faint and tributary rhymes Add nothing to the glory of thy day, Yet every poet hopes that after-times Shall set some value on his votive lay; And I would fain one gentle deed record, Among the many such with which thy life is stored. So when these lines, made in a mournful hour, Shall pause, to conjure up a vision of its grace! "A fine proof of Mrs. Norton's wide range of sympathy is to be found in the poem descriptive of an Arab's farewell to his horse. The enthusiastic regard, which it is well known the Arab always entertains for his steed, finds a most eloquent expositor in our author. The feeling is a beautiful one, and it is beautifully rendered." THE ARAB'S FAREWELL TO HIS STEED. My beautiful! my beautiful! that standest meekly by, With thy proudly-arch'd and glossy neck, thy dark and fiery eye- Farewell! those free untired limbs full many a mile must roam, Yes! thou must go! the wild free breeze, the brilliant sun and sky, Ah, rudely then, unseen by me, some cruel hand may chide, Return? Alas, my Arab steed, what shall thy master do, When thou, who wert his all of joy, hast vanish'd from his view? Where with fleet step and joyous bound thou oft hast borne me on: When last I saw him drink! Away! the fever'd dream is o'er ; A MOTHER. Ah! bless'd are they for whom, 'mid all their pains, Who, Life wreck'd round them-hunted from their rest- Claim, in one heart, their sanctuary and shrine- By that deep wretchedness the lonely know: Conn'd by unwilling lips, with listless air; Enduring sorrow, not by fits and starts, Alone amidst thy brood of careless hearts! The young rebellious spirits crowding round, Who saw not, knew not, felt not for thy pain, And could not comfort-yet had power to wound! With riper judgment looking to the past, Stamps with remorse each wasted hour of time, SONNET-TO MY BOOKS. Silent companions of the lonely hour, Refresh my mind with many a tranquil thought, My native language spoke in friendly tone, SONNET THE WEAVER. Little they think, the giddy and the vain, Where droops complainingly his cheerless head: Nor by what nerveless, thin, and trembling hands, The devious mingling of those various dyes Were wrought to answer Luxury's commands: But the day cometh when the tired shall rest Where weary Lazarus leans his head on Abraham's breast! COMMON BLESSINGS. Those "common blessings!" In this checker'd scene Is it, in truth, a privilege so mean To wander with free footsteps o'er the sod, They who have rarest joy, know Joy's true measure; Heavy the curtains feasting Luxury draws, To hide the sunset and the silver night; While humbler hearts, when care no longer gnaws, And some rare holiday permits delight, Lingering, with love would watch that earth-enchanting sight. |