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binations . And they are , in this case , his own conceptions to which the artist gives embodiment . He is not . merely the expositor but the revealer . And his aim is a bold one ; for although these designs were originally only the offerings of individual affection , and treated as trifles in comparison with those of his
productions which were intended to meet the public gaze , and glorify his art , yet do they in fact belong to the highest order of p ictorial composition . Mrs . Jameson trul y describes them as lyric poems . They do not all satisfy us ; tnere is what we take to be both error and failure ; but though not always perfect poetry , they are poetry , and that is glory sufficient The first sketch consists of a group of three children peeping under a hat for the butterfly which they believe to be there , but which has somehow given them the slip , and is off and up in the
air , away to the meadows again . ' It is called Deceived Hope . ' The character of the expectation is beautifully diversified . In the youngest figure of the three , who is standing , and leaning over
towards the supposed prize . , it is a keen , twinkling , gleesome ,, and joyous anticipation ; his muscles are on the spring for a lau gh and a shout as soon as he shall see the captive . He will clap his hands and cut a caper . A very child is he ; but this is a childhood which sometimes lasts through life , and ends in a
simple-hearted and cheerful old age . The disappointments of its hope are not deeply grievous ; it wift always laugh to think of the butterfly which it has under the hat ; and if that be gone , it will catch another . The boy is certainly a twin brother of Tennyson ' s ' Airy , fairy Lilian . ' The next is of stronger mould , and more dangerous temperament . He is kneeling down , with intensely eager gaze , and head and hands stretched towards the object : there is passion in him ; a butterfly to him is more than a
butterfly ; it is his prize : his disappointment will be wrathful . Keep out of reach , pretty little thing ; could he catch you again , he would not be stopped by thinking whether his grasp might not crush you . He would have loved and been proud of you under the hat ; and have rapped the little playful fingers of his gleesome brother , that trembled to touch your wings ; but he will storm at your fli g ht , and spring after you like a tiger . The other is the sweetest face and form ; the soft round figure reclined
at length upon the grass ; the two hands gently raising the verge of the hat ; and as the head rests upon the arm , the half closed e yes , softl y and even fondly falling on the about to be uncovered s pot , to see the beautiful object there , not to see whether it be f nere . That trusting soul will feel the most . Deceived reliance is so much worse than baffled desire , or baulked pleasure . 1
The next in favour with us , is No . 3 , < The Fate of the Poet . A youth of Byronic face , with his harp slung behind him , is attempting to cross a broad stream on a floundering steed , from which the Ondines , or water nymphs , are drawing nim down to
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RelzscKs Fancies . 679
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1834, page 679, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2638/page/3/
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