ABSTRACT
In this little poem, a poetical spirit struggles against some mechanical difficulties that often give to the lines a prosaic character. The metrical construction is occasionally faulty, and the language is often plain where the image with which the poet is labouring is mystical. Pauline is metaphysical throughout, or is intended to be so. The author is in the confessional, and acknowledges to his mistress the strange thoughts and fancies with which his past life has been crowded. This is not always accomplished with becoming dignity. He does not always speak of his agonies in language worthy of one who evidently understood them so well; he sometimes runs slip-shod through his afflictions. But there are many passages in the piece of considerable beauty, and a few of such positive excellence that we augur very favorably of the genius that produced them.
