Poets of the South

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Title: Poets of the South
Author: F.V.N. Painter
Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7274]
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POETS OF THE SOUTH
A SERIES OF BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL STUDIES

WITH TYPICAL POEMS, ANNOTATED
BY
F.V.N. PAINTER, A.M., D.D.
_Professor of Modern Languages in Roanoke College
Author of "A History of Education" "History of English Literature,"
"Introduction to American Literature" etc._
PREFACE
The poets of the South, who constitute a worthy galaxy of poetic talent
and achievement, are not sufficiently known. Even in the South, which
might naturally be expected to take pride in its gifted singers, most of
them, it is to be feared, are but little read.
This has been called an age of prose. Under the sway of what are
regarded as "practical interests," there is a drifting away from poetic
sentiment and poetic truth. This tendency is to be regretted, for material
prosperity is never at its best without the grace and refinements of true
culture. At the present time, as in former ages, the gifted poet is a seer,
who reveals to us what is highest and best in life.
There is at present a new interest in literature in the South. The people
read more; and in recent years an encouraging number of Southern
writers have achieved national distinction. With this literary
renaissance, there has been a turning back to older authors.
It is hoped that this little volume will supply a real need. It is intended
to call fresh attention to the poetic achievement of the South. While

minor poets are not forgotten, among whose writings is found many a
gem of poetry, it is the leaders of the chorus--Poe, Hayne, Timrod,
Lanier, and Ryan--who receive chief consideration. It may be doubted
whether several of them have been given the place in American letters
to which their gifts and achievements justly entitle them. It is hoped
that the following biographical and critical sketches of these men, each
highly gifted in his own way, will lead to a more careful reading of
their works, in which, be it said to their honor, there is no thought or
sentiment unworthy of a refined and chivalrous nature.
F. V. N. PAINTER.
SALEM, VIRGINIA.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. MINOR POETS OF THE SOUTH
II. EDGAR ALLAN POE
III. PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE
IV. HENRY TIMROD
V. SIDNEY LANIER
VI. ABRAM J. RYAN
ILLUSTRATIVE SELECTIONS
NOTES

CHAPTER I
MINOR POETS OF THE SOUTH

The first poetic writer of this country had his home at Jamestown. He
was GEORGE SANDYS who came to Virginia in 1621, and succeeded
his brother as treasurer of the newly established colony. Amid the
hardships of pioneer colonial life, in which he proved himself a leading
spirit, he had the literary zeal to complete his translation of Ovid's
Metamorphoses, which he had begun in England. After the toilsome
day, spent in introducing iron works or in encouraging shipbuilding, he
sat down at night, within the shadow of surrounding forests, to
construct his careful, rhymed pentameters. The conditions under which
he wrote were very far removed from the Golden Age which he
described,--
"Which uncompelled
And without rule, in faith and truth, excelled."
The promise of this bright, heroic beginning in poetry was not realized;
and scarcely another voice was heard in verse in the South before the
Revolution. The type of civilization developed in the South prior to the
Civil War, admirable as it was in many other particulars, was hardly
favorable to literature. The energies of the most intelligent portion of
the population were directed to agriculture or to politics; and many of
the foremost statesmen of our country--men like Washington, Jefferson,
Marshall, Calhoun, Benton--were from the Southern