The Wilmingtonian, And Delaware Register

For the Wilmingtonian.

"THE COURT OF LOVE."

Mr. Editor—When I declare that I repose implicit confidence in the virtuous and meritorious objects of society, I do nothing more than pay a just tribute to the liberal spirit of our government which tolerates them. I am willing to believe that the same necessity which created society in the infancy of our species, still exists for subdivisions; nay, more, that particular societies are the wheels and springs and nerves of general society. Individual efforts may work much, and this position is forcibly illustrated by Bacon and Madame de Stael, styled the ruling minds of their respective ages; but it is the united exertions of many that produce those results which affect the world at large. I ought not, perhaps, to be guilty of a liberality so unqualified, since some are too sacred to be entered and examined; and, in truth, may be so, only because, like the mysteries of the Bona Dea, their rites are too impure and unholy to be scrutinized. I must recur, however, to my original sentiment: and, for example, I would not denounce Masonry, because an Emperor has proscribed it, or, because a bigoted synod of our country has declared it 'excommunicate'. I take it to be a received political truth, that the British Government is indebted, for its omnipotence, to the Oppositions yet the general principle must partially fail, when we test it by the present example of the United States. "The days of chivalry," it was said no less pathetically than eloquently, "are gone"! But I cannot, in continuation with the illustrious authority, believe that the "same exalted respect and devoted attachment to woman, are gone also." This humiliating truth may exist in some of the empires of the transatlantic world, where political convulsions have enlisted all the energies of man in the service of a more iron-handed deity than the goddess of love. The sentiments inspired and nurtured by the courts of Chivalry and of Honor, changed, on their introduction, every feature of society. To the influence of these institutions were our British ancestors indebted for refinement in manners, delicacy of sentiment, and a heroism, at once, generous and exalted—and it was then, too, that lovely woman assumed that station for which God designed her. When female charms are exerted on the bosom not yet rendered entirely callous by too rough a collision with the world, and beamed on the eye bedimmed with sorrow, their influence is no less active than delightful.

Whether I receive my destiny from the transported Pythoness, or follow the banner of the Maid of Orleans, I welcome and embrace the one, and kindle with martial ardour at the inspiring example of the extraordinary, but unfortunate and lamented heroine. For my own part, I never enter the presence of beauty and virtue, without being sensibly transformed; for then, every unmanly sentiment, and every debasing emotion desert me, and the only tenants of my bosom are a hallowed feeling and reverence for that divinity with which they invest their possession.— Let, then, the days of Chivalry and the court of Love and Honor 'return'; and I will consecrate the temple to beauty, and sacrifice on its altar, the purest and holiest affections of my nature. The preceding observations, Mr. Editor, were suggested by the subsequent part of, my communication, which I have sent to you,—hoping that it may afford you a pleasant moment, and indulging a further hope, that you will extend the same liberality to others.

In one of my respective perambulations' perhaps such as Horace described himself as enjoying in the Sabine grove,

et ultra

Terminum curis vagor expeditus,

nor will I deny but that if the penultimate verse were completed it would describe not the least delightful occupation of my walk also.—I found what I almost ventured to promise would amuse you. This walk, Mr. Editor, partakes of the romantic; and I was not surprised that a member of such a society, given, I suppose, like sir Simon in Bracebridge-Hall, to solitude and sentimentalism, had discovered a retreat so much in harmony with amorous and poetic feelings. Then, as I was walking to the west of our town, on a moss-bank, by the margin of a tributary of the Brandywine, where the disconsolate had, no doubt, been personifying and imploring the sympathy of surrounding objects, and mingling his tears with the murmuring streamlet—a place, indeed, rendered still better calculated, from the vicinity of a grave-yard, to produce those sensations which Ossian says are "pleasant, but mournful to the soul"—here, then, I became possessed of a 'record', a copy of which I send you, 'properly authenticated,' and—Gnarls.

THE COURT OF LOVE

SECOND SESSION.

THE FESTIVAL OF BEAUTY.

The Court having commenced, the President was found wanting; but as the cause was easily conjectured, a President pro tempore, was appointed. The first, and indeed, the only resolution offered, or adopted at the Festival of Beauty—and, Sir, you have only to recur to the singular title of this particular session, to explain —it was, that no member should celebrate the Patroness of the Court of Love, with any thing original." Should you, Mr. Editor, deem any effusion either a little extravagant or eccentric; and should you feel disposed as Menippus was, when contemplating, in the nether world, the skull-bone of the beauteous Helen, and wondering that a thousand ships should be put in requisition from every part of Greece, that Greeks and the barbarians should have waged an exterminating war, and that so many cities should have been hurled from their very foundations, for her, I would repeat the same answer he received from "Harry Mercury," as Mrs. Malaprop in the "Rivals," nicknamed the messenger of the gods, when she happened to misquote the interpreter of nature "you never saw her," Mr. Editor. This 'record'—and you know, Sir, that every record imports absolute verity, nay, incontrovertible truth—signifies that a part of the ceremonies of the Court of Love, consists of vocal music, and you must know, Sir, that music has become vastly fashionable, and has vastly improved withal, since the institution of the Court, Every member, it would soon,
selects some song, expressive of his own feelings and adapted to his own peculiar circumstances. While one "splits the ears of the groundlings" with "My love is like the red, red rose," another rants, "I mey's the old man's god," and "mercenary wedlock murders its offspring's peace," and sings with almost "swimming looks of speechless tenderness," "I'll go and court her for her beauty." A third stung with jealousy at a little, and perhaps only imaginary partiality for the fair Marcello proclaims that she "never called, invited, countenanced or reciprocated the passion of any of her numerous admirers"--chaunts despondingly, "She's ta'en the carle and left her--." A fourth, tenderly, "Come tell me blue eyed Mary," while a fifth, in trembling accents, and with additional solemnity to its already excessive gravity, mourns out Rousseau's "Dream." The other part of the ceremonies of the Court of Love, consists of toasts, and you will be ready to 'suspect,' Mr. Editor, that some of the members of the Court, "have been at a great feast of languages and stolen all the scraps."

All the toasts seemed to have been drunk to the Patroness--and, I am almost disposed to tune up my own "croaking, bellowing, raven-voice" to the notes of "Drink to the lass, I am sure she will prove an 'excuse' for the glass."

She seems, moreover, to have been toasted under various 'characteristics;' as the Fairy Queen, which title appears to have been borrowed from Lindsay in the Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life, the pathetic story of Mark Kerr and Christian but how pertinently, let others decide. Another certainly, she is accommodated with as lovely a favourite appellation, is Blue-eyed Minerva; and pair of 'cerulean' optics as ever illuminated a human head; and perhaps, the comparison, or allusion, might be creditably pursued and sustained throughout.

1. It is the gift of beauty and music to shed a talismanic influence, and "hallow every place in which they move, and to breathe around the heart a perfume more exquisite than the odour of the rose."--Cheers.

2. The omnipotent charms of lovely woman. "like the bones of the prophet created a soul under the very ribs of death." Ha! he is contending for the 'bone', whispered several members--audibly.

3. "Though humorous as Winter" "age cannot wither, nor custom stale her infinite variety".--Unanimous assent.

4. Beauty and music, "like a bright Phoenix shall rise free, unveiled," and re-illuminated from their funeral pyre. and chaunt in their own deathless strains. their own hallowed requiem.--The response to this toast was a shrewd 'guess that he was smitten.

5. "There's one who but to kiss thy cheek, "Would climb the untrodden solitude "Of Ararat's tremendous peak, "And think its way, though dark and steep, "Heaven's pathway, if to thee they led."

A very significant conjecture was made on the strength of this effusion that its author; was at least, nominally' related to arks.

6. Our tutelary saint--"like the master-piece of the Grecian artist. exhibits in one glow of associated love and beauty, the pride of every model, and the perfection of every master."--Universal applause, and some half a dozen' bumpers.

7. Our Patroness--"like the noble sister of Publicola, the moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle that's curded by frost from purest snow and hangs on Diana's temple." --Drunk, standing and in "expressive silence."

8. There is a charm about every place which has once been printed by the footsteps of absent beauty; and consecrated by the inspirations of music that is heightened, rather than impaired by distance and the lapse of time." Gibraltar may be impregnable to the engines of Mars--but "Omnia vincit amor, et nos cedamus amori."--His case. you will readily imagine, was pronounced, 'almost gone:' and in all probability suggested the touching and eloquent tenderness of Ruth.

9 "Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee, for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people, shall be my people, and thy God, my God. Where thou diest, I will die, and there will I be buried."--You will begin to believe, Sir, after this beautiful and pathetic strain, that the Patroness is something more than a creation of fancy; nor will you be surprised to learn that his fellow members at the Court of Love, and of the Festival of Beauty, too, preferred an accusation against him, nemine contradicente, of entertaining sentiments rather different from those which commonly attach themselves to an object of transitory acquaintance. In consequence of it, a trial was instituted; but--wonderful to be told--nay, "credat Judaeus Apella"--he was acquitted!!!

10. "Best and happiest artisan, "Paint my mistress if you can; "Graced with all that charms the heart "Blushing nature, smiling art."

"Thy graceful form instilling soft desire, thy curling tresses," "and locks that Cupid might steal for bow-strings, lips like the damask rose while the morning dew is yet hanging on its rounded surface."--"Sounds seraphic."--Blue eyed Minerva! The quenchless flame and the undying energies of love and Beauty; inconceivable, unchangeable and immortal!--The Court rose to a man, as you, Mr. Editor, have read that assembly once did, with an involuntary and convulsed movement; and in their "pickers and stealers," not 'molliter either, on the unfortunate, but as he thought, happy, author of this tribute to female excellence. Such was the sensation produced that it was resolved, instantaneously, "that the formalities of a trial would be a burlesque on his desperate condition," as this record' further signifies. An orator was immediately appointed, who, with not quite all the accusing and plaintive eloquence of the 'fellow-student' Ambrosio at the grave of Chrysostom, when recounting to the knight of wind-mill memory, the sad catastrophe of that hapless youth, pronounced the following eulogium, if you please, on his "amatorie mortuum" fellow-member. It was intimated, that the author-ess of this calamitous inroad into the Court of Love, was absent. The Orator began, "and passion shook him as he spake, as if 'twould shatter all his frame and end his being"--"Come not hither again. fierce basilisk! to see if the wounds of the unhappy youth whom thy cruelty hath slain, will not bleed afresh at thy approach. ' Or if thou dost come, will it be to rejoice in the exploits of thy barbarity? He loved. and was abhorred: he adored, and was disdained; he implored a savage, he importuned a statue! In short, he perished by thy cruelty, whom he hath eternized in the memory of all the people of this country." Come, not then, chef d'oeuvre' of creation, I beseech thee, by the ineffable anguish of despis'd love, to aggravate the hapless, disconsolate passion of an unfortunate admirer. "Yet if thou wilt return, tell me the cause, and deign to signify thy pleasure," that I, who know how devoutly he adored thee, may, now that he "will never see thee more," myself yield the same, nay, more devoted and delighted adoration.

PHILOGYNIST.