THE AUTHOR'S JEWEL, NUMBER VIII. THE NAPOLEONAD.- AN EPIC POEM. "Milton's the p ince of poets-so we say; Learn'd, pious, temperate in love and wine.” WHEN I mention the term Napoleonad, as the title of the Epic poem, to which we would invite the genius of Lord Byron, as one equal to the grandeur and magnificence of his powers; the imagination of the reader will naturally hasten to anticipate the wonderful subject, on which it is proposed to found it. The life, genius, and career of Napoleon Bonaparte, surpass every story both ancient and modern, which forms the ground-work and superstructure of an Epic poem. As it relates to the dignity, nobleness and elevation of the theme, as well as the design, unity, and denouement, nothing can exceed it In point of magnificence and grandeur, what can compare to the grand project of the Conquest of the World? What a sublime and congenial work for a poet of Byron's stupendous powers! To trace the progress of this colossal conqueror, from victory to victory; from his annihilation of armies to his thraldom of the globe, nation after nation, till he felt the world struggling in his unequal gripe, and panting to regain its Liberty: To describe in the glowing lan guage of poetry, the march of desolation, the death of thousands, the sack of cities, and the conflagration of capitols, would form but one part of this sublime and interesting topic, which swells the mind to wonderful dilation, even by the conception of its immensity. When we consider in another point of view the wonderful achievements of France under his aus. pices, in science, arts, agriculture, and all that advances a great nation in the road of felicity and gran. deur, the character of Napoleon presents a complete picture of a poetical Hero. As the patron of Literature he stands pre eminent. France is indebted to him for her architecture, her great and Roman-like roads, her elegant and permanent bridges, her canals, her polytechnic schools, her botanic gardens, her Louvre, which all had their birth and progres. sive existence with him, and which have almost perished with him. Napoleon was emphatically the Protector of every branch of science and art, that exalts an empire in the moral and political scale of excellence. He was truly the Father of France, and the wonder of the Age. Liberal philosophy and bold, dauntless research take their origin from his era. In magnanimity, that first quality of heroic minds, what personage of ancient or modern history, has excelled him? His conduct towards the various Monarchs whom he successively subjugated, speak volumes in favour of his clemency and greatness of soul His contempt of every thing of a pecuniary nature, bespeaks a towering and extraordinary mind, elevated above the grovelling conceptions of a sordid and selfish nature.-While all around him were engrossed in accumulating wealth, Napoleon was satisfied with Fame. Napoleon was a husband and a father! Let not his great remoteness from us, lead us to imagine that he wanted conjugal tenderness, or was deficient in parental affection Still his heart was the heart of a Hero rather raised above, than insensible to the domestic sympathies. We do not presume to give a complete analytical view of the diversified features of such a poem ; but merely to show, how fully competent the subject is to the dignity of the Epopee, and how worthy of all the powers of the most stupendous genius First, as it respects the Man! Napoleon the favourite child of genius, and of Fortune; in his intellect great, sublime, and capable of conceiving with distinctness, and planning with systematic precision, the subjugation of Europe and Asia to his individual sway! This in itself, stamps the grandeur of his intellect, without pointing to that searching penetration, and quick, overreaching sagacity, which anticipated the designs, and frustrated the councils of his foes.- It may possibly be objected, that he was destitute of piety and religion, and wanted the soft endearments of a good heart Let us grant this. In my judgement, the first objection forms the brightest trait of sublimity; it gives a daring and uncontroulable sweep to the energies of his mind, and recommends him as the Hero of an Epic, where the great, not the good, is the characteristic quality demanded by the subject. The same observation will apply with equal force, to the want of goodness of heart, even allowing what might be questioned, in point of historical veracity. Epic heroes are not required to be philanthropists, or Howards. Take for example the person just named, as the hero of an Epic poem; and the mere mention of the fact reveals the absurdity of such an uncritical opinion. All that is grand, splen. did, and wonderful, is found in the character of Napoleon Bonaparte; and the single object of his public life, universal dominion, presents us with that unity of action, which constitutes one of the chief beauties of the Epic. Let us now consider the age in which he flourish. ed, and the theatre on which he acted, in relation to the peculiar fitness of this subject for an Epic poem. The age of Napoleon was the most extraordinary and astonishing in the annals of mankind. It sur passes all that is ancient, and stands by itself in the modern world. One event, that of the Revolution in France, would be sufficient to stamp it with this character. The birth day of Liberty to Europe, is a sublime and fruitful source, of the noblest sentiments and most exalted passions. This may be termed the commencement of the age of Napoleon, when Reason assumed the majesty of Empire, and Priestcraft sink. ing with the Kings that supported it, left the mind unfettered by superstition and bigotry After that grand event, we find the Hero creating his own Age, |