The bloom from life away,—
Alas! for love in changeful air,
Where naught beloved can stay!’ etc.
“The recognition of the higher relations of man has given a characteristic to modern poetry, particularly English poetry, through which it has peculiar power over the heart. Expressions and descriptions of human suffering, instead of depressing us with melancholy, become sublime or touching, when that suffering is brought into direct or indirect contrast with man’s nature and hopes as an immortal being, or is represented as calling into exercise those virtues which can exist in such a being alone. There is no pathos in the mere lamentations of an individual over his own particular lot, or over the condition of a race to which he feels it an unhappiness to belong. There is nothing that excites any tender or elevating feeling in such verses as the following from an ancient poet:—
‘Is there a man just, honest, nobly born?
Malice shall hunt him down. Does wealth attend him?
Trouble is heard behind. Conscience direct?
Beggary is at his heels....
... Account that day
Which brings no new mischance, a day of rest.