Author: Bristow, Amelia (dates uncertain; fl. 1810-33)
Title: The Maniac, A Tale; or a View of Bethlem Hospital. And the Merits of Women, a Poem from the French: With Poetical Pieces on Various Subjects, Original and Translated.
Date: 1810
Descriptive Essay
In 1810 Amelia Bristow published The Maniac, a Tale; or, a View of Bethlem Hospital: and the Merits of Women a Poem from the French, with Poetical Pieces on various Subjects, original and translated. In this collection are a wide variety of poetical pieces that differ both tonally and in terms of style. She also includes a translation of “The Merits of Women” from French and“The Rural Sage” from the French of M. L’Abbé De Lille. Before the poem appears a lengthy list of subscribers listed in alphabetical order with characters of importance such as “Edward Jones Agnew Esq.” and “The Right Hon. the Earl of Massereene” beginning each of the sections
The poem “The Maniac” begins with a quotation by Penrose:
“Hail! Awful madness, hail!
Thy realm extends, thy powers prevail
Fas as the voyager spreads his vent’rous sail.
Nor best, nor wisest, are exempt from thee,
Folly-folly sole is free.
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Loud the shouts of madness rise,
Various voices, various cries;
Mirth unmeaning, -- causeless moans;
Bursts of laughter,-- heart-felt groans;
All seem to pierce the skies.”
Bristow follows this with a brief preface in which she acknowledges that what she has written might not be scientifically accurate but “she professes not the capability of diving into the depths of science for illustrations on the subject of the most affecting and most humiliating malady to which our frame and nature are liable”. She then apologizes for “the gloominess of her subject” but also insists that it is “both generally and individually an interesting one”. Bristow creates a frightening atmosphere to introduce “The Maniac” with the introductory quotation, the preface, and the haunting first four lines:
“Tremendous pile! Within whose floomy walls,
Beings whose fate the feeling heart appals,
Drag on life’s load; oft victims of despair;
Of woes, thy lot, Humanity to share! (1)
However, despite the expectation that this piece might take a gothic turn and focus solely on the lunatics at Bethlem Hospital instead Bristow decides to focus on only one character, the maniac, that we are introduced to early on in the piece. In her depiction of “the maniac” Bristow decides to show not a monster, but a human being, saying:
“With every promise smiled his earlier days:
His were admiring friends, and well-earned praise.
His, beauty’s manly form; the polished mind;
Deep science; genius bright; and taste refined: (4)
In rhyming couplets, we now get the story of Albert, later the maniac. Bristow tells the story of a well-off young man with much promise. He has a sister, Emma, and after his parents die he must take care of her. His sister marries Bernardo (6), and later on Albert falls in love with “Matilda’s charms” (6) and they have two children. When Bernardo joins a rebellion (possibly referencing the Irish rebellion of 1798), Bristow obviously disapproves of this calling his actions “mock patriotism” (8). Due to his newfound vigor for change Bernardo must turn against Albert for “his enthusiasm, soared far above/ Ev’n sacred friendship, or fraternal love” (9). Albert is portrayed as honorable for joining the fight against the rebellion, his wife Matilda the speaker states “loved her Albert! But his honour more” (10). Clearly from this language used to define the rebels and what Bristow likely considers to be the real, honorable “patriots”, she has a belief that the rebellion is foolish and toxic. These ideas about the rebellion being abhorrent are seen in the way the poem plays out as Bernardo dies in battle and when Albert goes home to see his wife and children after the battle he finds that they have been slaughtered by the rebels. The grief is too much for Albert as then the speaker states that “that lone cell received a wretch forlorn, / To brightest hopes and happiest prospects born.” (16).
In this poem, Bristow is sympathetic to the “maniac” and also to the “maniacs” of the world. The real madness depicted in the poem is that which the rebels bring, the madness suffered by otherwise sane people is shown as an understandable response to the terrible situation. The piece is surprisingly accessible to the modern reader, and is written in such a way that is encourages intrigue and suspense.
The next piece is a lengthy translation from French entitled “The Merits of Women”. The piece is also written in rhyming couplets but does not have the narrative structure that “The Maniac” has. Instead, this piece contains various examples of women’s power, and is strikingly feminist in its commendation of women. The poem begins by referring to women as God’s “last master-piece” (26). The final page of the poem expresses this same sentiment with the line “Was women formed; Heaven’s last best gift bestowed.” (55). The poem also praises women writers for their unique perspective saying that “Love guides the pencil, whilst they scenes create” (28); in this poem women are not limited by masculinity, they are freed in their writing by their femininity.
The piece also takes time to criticize those who don’t admire women writers, saying “Grave censors of the sex, whose eyes severe/ View these fine talents with contemptuous sneer” (29). Following this admiration of women writers there is a section praising motherhood (“A Mother’s heart dares all! (31)), as well as praising a woman’s overall connectedness to love and sensitivity. The following section praises the women that have been in power and have fought in war:
“When, hero-like, returned, with conquest crowned,
From war’s fierce combats, her glad people saw
Her more than woman’s powers dispense the law.
But not to queens alone this praise is due;
Females uncrowned have worn the laurel too;
Have led the way to conquest, or been led;
Triumphed as generals or as soldiers bled.”(42)
In deadly situations women are not only willing to sacrifice for their country but for their families as well. There are numerous historical examples included to show the broad scope of women’s bravery and sacrifice. This includes a reference to the French revolution (“Frenchmen of Frenchmen seemed the deadliest foe” (50)) where “Women alone, seemed for their succour left;/ Each film collected, active to defend, / Sire, son or husband, brother, lover friend”(51). The final line of the poem asks the reader to “bend in homage low/ To that blest sex to whom you mothers owe” (55). Notes on the various references in the poem follow and include historical descriptions as well as clarification on terms used in the poem.
The following section is a selection of various poetical pieces original and translated. These include poems on love such as “To Mrs. B****e, on the Anniversary of her Marriage”, “Epistle to a Young Lady on her Marriage”, both of which are written in rhyming couplets and focus on portraying the values of marriage. Bristow also includes several poems to feelings and universal themes such as “An Address to Fortune”, “To Joy”, and “To Disappointment”. Included in this selection of poems is a small section including three sonnets, “Sonnet to Fancy”, “Sonnet to the Rising Sun” and “Sonnet to an Infant Godson”. After this there are two particularly interesting poems, one entitled “The Ring” depicts a woman buying a ring for a female friend with an image of Sappho on it which exhibits some lesbian undertones; as well as one entitled “On reading an affecting Account of some domestic Occurrences” which encourages healing for a beaten woman. The poem “Virtue is Sweeter than the Rose” is also worth noting because it holds up the praise of humility and virtue that are present in some of the other pieces. Following these selected poems there are three poetic hymns under a section entitled “Sacred Pieces” which read like prayers to God and are written in a highly religious tone, they each follow an alternating rhyme scheme.
“The Rural Sage” is a translation from the French of M. L’Abbé De Lille. The poem is packed with references and switches topics in an almost dream like state at times, but the key themes presented in the poem uphold nature over all else and condemn pomp and grandeur. The speaker states that “From ostentatious Pomp’s unmeaning noise / How far removed pure Nature’s simple joys! / Pride courts vain Grandeur; that engenders Spleen; / Who spreads her sickly tints o’er each bright scene.”(121). It is important to note the capitalization here, Pomp and Grandeur etc. are capitalized because they are the factions at war with Nature, they are entirely separate entities and cannot exist together. The piece ends with a tremendous depiction of a stag hunt.
The final entry is a translation from the French of Dorat that is a series of fables. There is “The Dove and the Sparrow,” “The Ingot and the Iron Bar,” and “The Glow Worm.” Each of these fables tell a lesson about the virtues of humility and the downfall of pride, they are each also written in the form of rhyming couplets.
Table of Contents from The Maniac, a Tale; or, a View of Bethlem Hospital: and the Merits of Women a Poem from the French, with Poetical Pieces on various Subjects, original and translated
Preface to the Maniac-xv
The Maniac-1
Translator’s Preface to the Merits of Women-21
The Merits of Women-25
Address to Fortune-67
To Mrs. B****e, on the Anniversary of her Marriage-72
Lines sent to a Friend with a Purse-74
Sandy’s Dream-75
Lines composed whilst going a Journey Alone-76
Stanzas on a Pet Bullfinch-78
On hearing a Charity Sermon-79
Epistle to a young Lady on her Marriage-80
On the Departure of three Friends-85
On the Rainbow-87
To Joy-88
To Disappointment-91
Picture of fashionable Life-93
The Elbow Chair-95
Epistle to Miss B****e-98
On the Death of a Lady-102
Sonnet to Fancy-104
Sonnet to the Rising Sun-105
Sonnet to an Infant Godson-106
Virtus Rosa Suavior, Sole Clarior (Virtue is Sweeter than the Rose) -107
The Ring-108
On reading an affecting Account of some domestic Occurrences-110
Sacred Pieces
Life and Immortality, a Sketch-111
Hymn the First-114
Hymn the Second-115
Advertisement ot the Rural Sage-118
The Rural Sage, translated from DeLille-119
Fables from the French of Dorat
The Dove and the Sparrow-137
The Ingot and the Iron Bar-142
The Glow Worm-144
Prepared by Lia Havlena, University of Nebraska, April 2018
© Lia Havlena, 2018