None need be surprised to see these two false prophets in partnership
or conjunction for an essay, as they may be called brothers, for the
one attests what it pleases and the other takes it for granted.
Criticism is grown a sort of book milliner, who cuts a book to any
pattern of abuse or praise, and Fashion readily wears the opinion.
How many productions whose milk-and-water merits, or unintelligible
stupidity, have been considered as novelties, have by that means
gained the admiration of Criticism and the praise of Fashion, until a
more absurd novelty pushed them from their preferments and caused
them to be as suddenly forgotten! The vulgar, tasteless jargon of
"Dr. Syntax," with all the above-mentioned excellencies to excite
public notice from the butterflies of fashion, soon found what it
sought, though some of the plates or illustrations possess the
disadvantageous merit of being good. Yet the letter-press doubly made
up for all, for it was prose trebly prosified into wire-drawn
doggrel, and consequently met with a publicity and sale
unprecedented. Edition multiplied on edition, till it was found
needless to number the title page, and it was only necessary to say
"A New Edition;" while the poems of Wordsworth scarcely found
admirers enough to ensure a second edition. What will the admirers of
poetry in the next age think of the taste of this, which has been
called "the Golden Age of criticism, poetry, taste, and genius"?
* * * * *
Fashion is like a new book "elegantly bound and lettered." It
cannot endure dust and cobwebs; but true criticism is like a
newly-planted laurel: it thrives with age and gathers strength from
antiquity, till it becomes a spreading tree and shelters the objects
of its praise under its shadow. Just Criticism is a stern but laudable
prophet, and Time and Truth are the only disciples who can discern
and appreciate his predictions.