Thomson, James

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

James (1700-1748), a British author. He was a native of Scotland and was educated at Edinburgh for the ministry. He soon gave up his profession, however, to devote himself to literature. His first poem, Winter, was published in 1726. A year later Summer appeared, then Spring; and finally, in 1730, The Seasons, Thomson's most noted work, was complete. The Castle of Indolence, published in 1748, is well known also. The Seasons is of special interest as marking a decided change in the fashion of English poetry. Toan age when poetry meant the artificial verse of Pope, or the brilliant satire of Dryden, or the burlesque of Butler, or even the lofty rendering of classic lines--meant in fact all that is remote from everyday life--The Seasons, dealing directly and simply with that which is close at hand, came as a surprise and charmed by its very novelty. Thomson, in his "fresh treatment of a simple theme," not only hit upon something new, but he taught those who came after him to "meditate the book of Nature, ever open," as is evidenced by Cowper and Gray, and, above all, by Wordsworth. Lines from The Seasons are still frequently quoted, as: Come, gentle Spring! ethereal Mildness! come. Delightful task! to rear the tender thought, To teach the young idea how to shoot. The meek-ey'd Morn appears, mother of dews. But yonder comes the powerful king of day, Rejoicing in the east. Autumn nodding o'er the yellow plain. See, Winter comes to rule the varied year. Cruel as death, and hungry as the grave.