The Spirit Of Discovery By Sea: A Descriptive And Historical Poem. - Introduction.[1] Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A B C D E F G H I J| I need not perhaps inform the reader that I had before written a Canto on the subject of this poem but I was dissatisfied with the metre and felt the necessity of some connecting idea that might give it a degree of unity and coherence | A |
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| This difficulty I considered as almost inseparable from the subject I therefore relinquished the design of making an extended poem on events which though highly interesting and poetical were too unconnected with each other to unite properly in one regular whole But on being kindly permitted to peruse the sheets of Mr Clarke's valuable work on the History of Navigation I conceived without supposing historically with him that all ideas of navigation were derived from the ark of Noah that I might adopt the circumstance poetically as capable of furnishing an unity of design besides which it had the advantage of giving a more serious cast and character to the whole | B |
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| To obviate such objections as might be made by those who from an inattentive survey might imagine there was any carelessness of arrangement I shall lay before the reader a general analysis of the several books and I trust he will readily perceive a leading principle on which the poem begins proceeds and ends | C |
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| I feel almost a necessity for doing this in justice to myself as some compositions have been certainly misunderstood where the connexion might by the least attention have been perceived In going over part of the same ground which I had taken before I could not always avoid the use of similar expressions | D |
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| I trust I need not apologise for having in some instances departed from strict historical facts It is not true that Camoens sailed with De Gama though from the authority of Voltaire it has been sometimes supposed that he did There are other circumstances for which I may have less reason to expect pardon The Egyptians were never or but for a short time a maritime nation In answer to this I must say that history and poetry are two things and though the poet has no right to contradict the historian yet if he find two opinions upon points of history he may certainly take that which is most susceptible of poetical ornament particularly if it have sufficient plausibility and the sanction of respectable names | E |
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| In deducing the first maritime attempts from Thebes so called from Thebaoth the Ark founded by the sons of Cush who first inhabited the caves on the granite mountains of Ethiopia I have followed the idea of Bruce which has many testimonies particularly that of Herodotus in its favour In making the ships of Ammon first pass the straits of Babelmandel and sail to Ophir I have the authority of Sir Isaac Newton But still these points must from their nature be obscure the poet however has a right to build upon them whilst what he advances is not in direct contradiction to all historical admitted facts He may take what is shadowy if it be plausible poetical and coherent with his general plan Having said ingenuously thus much I hope I shall not be severely accused for having admitted en passant some ideas which may be thought visionary in the notes respecting the allusion to the ark in Theocritus the situation of Ophir the temple of Solomon and the algum tree | F |
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| I must also submit to the candour of the critic the necessity I sometimes felt myself under of varying the verse and admitting when the subject seemed particularly to require it a break into the measure He will consider as this poem is neither didactic nor epic that might lead on the mind by diversity of characters and of prospects it was therefore necessary at least I thought myself at liberty so to do to break the uniformity of the subject by digression contrast occasional change of verse et cet But after all at a time so unfavourable to long poems I doubt whether the reader will have patience to accompany me to the end of my circumnavigation If he do and if this much larger poetical work than I have ever attempted should be as favourably received as what I have before published has been I shall sincerely rejoice | G |
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| At all events in an age which I think has produced genuine poetry if I cannot say Ed Io anchi sono pittore it will be a consolation to me to reflect that I have no otherwise courted the muse than as the consoler of sorrow the painter of scenes romantic and interesting the handmaid of good sense unadulterated feelings and religious hope | H |
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| It was at first intended that the poem should consist of six books one book being assigned to De Gama and another to Columbus These have been compressed I was the more inclined to this course as the great subject of the DISCOVERY OF AMERICA is in the hands of such poets as Mr Southey and Mr Rogers | I |
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| DONHEAD Nov | J |
William Lisle Bowles
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