Where, on the trunk reclin'd, the guardian dame
Rais'd her dread eyes, and met the mirror frame.
But not as erst appear'd that magic face
With roseate beauties crown'd and angel grace;
The guileful glass deform'd each feature fair
And twin'd with snakes her hyacinthine hair
That, panic struck, no more she thought to guard
The treasures trusted to her powerful ward,
But shrinking from th' invulnerable knight
To distant regions sped her hasty flight.
Then, when her sounding wings Prasildo heard,
Nor more the perils of her aspect fear'd,

He dropp'd his Shield; and in the conquer'd charms
View'd the sure passport to Tisbina's arms.
Quick severing with his falchion from the stem
One spreading branch, that burnt with many a gem,
He took the forward. path, and sought the gate
Where Wealth with her pernicious courtiers sate.
• Of Loadstone was the pile: around it plied
Deep Fraud and Toil, th' approaching step to guide:
For many tread the path of tempting gold,
But none the stubborn portal can unfold,
Till Fame before him with resistless breath

Burst the firm bolts, and clear th' obstructed path.
But open flew the gates with hideous din
What time Prasildo broke the spell within;
And when, low bending to the gorgeous throne,
He offer'd half the spoil his shield had won,
With greedy hand the Port'ress caught the prey,
And pointed out the road, and sped him on his way.'

The more we feel disposed to commend the general merits of these anglicized Fables, the more we regret the too frequent recurrence of false rhymes, such as death and breathe, death and path, breath and path, held and shield, sins and screens, near and fare, Dead and deed, breed and sped, &c. The following lines are harsh and hobbling:

Yet, if what I may tell you shall give birth.'
For ev'n at that same time this rite arose.'
•And Aquilant helm, scull, and body clove.'

A few others we might quote as prosaic: but we are by no means anxious to unveil every blemish which a strict examination might detect in such a respectable performance.

Muir

ART..

ART. XIII. Amadis de Gaul; a Poem in Three Books; freely translated from the First Part of the French Version of Nicolas de Heberay, Sieur des Essars; with Notes: by William Stewart Rose, Esq. Crown 8vo. pp. 220. 6s. Boards. Cadell and

Davies. 1803.

ΤΗ THE French version of Amadis de Gaul, executed in the reign of Francis I. by Herberay, (not Heberay, as erroneously printed in the title of this volume) is one of those literary curiosities which have become valuable from their scarcity. Mr. Rose, therefore, would probably have rendered a more acceptable service to the learned world than he has now performed, had he edited and commented on the original, and translated only a few of the most striking passages with all the fidelity which is compatible with the difference of idiom. The first three books, so far as they regard the conduct of the story, are perhaps the least exceptionable of this antiquated romance; yet, when reduced into the modish form of regular English verse, the result must appear somewhat motley and incongruous. The occasional introduction of extraneous ornament, the suppression of some offensive passages, a few alterations in the arrangement, and the hackneyed expedient of interlarding the narrative with obsolete phraseology, may palliate the improbability of the incidents, the extravagance of the machinery, and other defects inherent in the texture of the fable: but they cannot obliterate intrinsic deformity, nor reconcile a reader of modern taste and sentiments to absurdity and dulness.

With the exception of a want of interest, which is not imputable to the translator, but to his subject, the present poem has claims on our favourable notice. The versification is in general characterized by ease and elegance; and a few passages would not discredit a poet of considerable rank. We shall quote only two:

Scarce had the youth dismiss'd the conquer'd feers,
When a loud noise of steeds invades his ears.

He sees two damsels o'er the laire advance,

Borne on fair palfreys; one sustain'd a lance.

White was her bounding horse, and swift his pace,
He seem'd a courser of unearthly race.

Towards the wondering knight their way they speed:
Then thus the lady of the snowy steed:

"Accept this gift, which, ere to morrow's sun
"Thro' the bright firmament his course has run,
"Shall prove resistless in a threatening hour,
"And save thy noble house in deadly stow'r."
Then

gave the lance. "Whoe'er, bright dame," said he,
"Thou art, that know'st me, better than 1 thee,

"Add to thy gift another grace, and teach
"The secret meaning of thy mystic speech!"
He ended: no reply the damsel made,

But spurr'd her snowy palfrey thro' the glade.'-
Well wist the damsel, who the succouring knight:
Yet pale and breathless with her wild affright,
Around his neck her snowy arms she threw,
And with fond transport to his bosom grew.
There first, 'tis said, in many a thrilling kiss
He took sweet earnest of a dearer bliss.
Then on his steed the lovely burden flung,
And lightly in the lofty saddle sprung;
Clasp'd in his folding arms the blushing maid,
And urg'd his steed towards a gloomy shade.
There his faint courser's faltering vigor plains,
And with dissembled sorrow checks the reins.
Then, lighting from his sell, the damsel press'd
In that choice spot to woo the sweets of rest.
With loitering steps the lovely princess stray'd
Thro' the thick covert of a shadowy glade.
On a soft bank, where flowers of various hue
Mix'd their gay tints, her dainty limbs she threw.
Soft breath'd the damsel, and refreshing sleep
Seem'd her bright eyes in balmy dew to steep:
Her arms, which all that sculptors feign, surpass'd,
With sweet neglect amidst the flowers were cast;
And, for no zephyr slack'd noon's sultry tide,
Her mantle, gay with fur, was thrown aside:
While her transparent wimple wray'd to view
Her breast of loveliest form and fairest hue.
O'er the sweet maid the prince enamour'd hung,
Then round her waist, in speechless rapture, flung
His arms encircling; at the strict embrace,
Pass'd a soft blush across her lovely face.
Again his eager arms enfold the maid,
And his warm lips each tempting charm invade :
Broke from her heaving breast a smothered sigh,
But still soft slumber seal'd each drooping eye..
Or slept the damsel still, or paus'd the knight,
I wot not, I: woe worth the daring wight,
Who steals on Hymen's joys, and boldly wrays
Fond Love's mysterious rites to vulgar gaze!
But, sooth to say, if still soft slumber weigh'd
The drooping eyelids of the royal maid,
A dream of more than mortal joy, I wiss,
Lapt the sweet damsel's every sense in bliss."

We have remarked a few false rhymes, as air and near, pro

trudes and floods, tears and prepares, brake and shriek, &c.

A garland of o'ershadowing flowers place'

is a heavy line; while

• Full

* Full well she knows whose dear commands she bears,'

is surfeited with monosyllables.

The clashing termination of the following is hardly excuseable:

And night around her friendly shadows shed.'

We have likewise to advert to the improper interchange of the singular and plural pronouns of the second person:

Felon, thy sand is run, this hour ye die.'

"Freely with me, he answered, may'st thou wend'
But tell, fair damsel, whence and where ye stray.'
What, and whence art thou, slave, the ruffian cried'.
'Defenceless, unappointed, as ye are.'

The translator's preface and notes discover an acquaintance. with the manners of the middle age and the tales of chivalry. Prefixed to this version, are two epistles in Latin elegiac verse, by the Hon. William Herbert; the first, founded on an incident in the first book of Amadis de Gaul, is intitled Elisena Perioni;' and the second, borrowed from the 10th canto of the second book of Spenser's Faerie Queen, is intitled Guendolena Locrino.' Both are creditable to Mr. H.'s intimacy with the Roman muse.

ART. XIV. Patriotism; or, the Love of our Country: an Essay, illustrated by Examples from Ancient and Modern History; dedicated to the Volunteers of the United Kingdom. By William Frend, Esq. 8vo. pp. 312. 75. Boards. Mawman. 1804.

E need not introduce Mr. Frend to our readers as a novus W homo; though he is less known to them as a political than as a polemical writer, and a mathematician. In the present volume, he directs his talents to the discussion of topics of immediate interest. He traces patriotism to its first principles as they exist in the nature of man, describes its operation and effects in Societies variously constituted, and then takes occasion to state the conduct on the part of governments which is best adapted to generate, foster, and extend the sentiment. The work is nervously and eloquently penned; it glows with benevolence, and breathes a mild and amiable spirit; it blends the temper of the Christian with the views of the philosopher, and unites an ardent regard for the public welfare with genuine loyalty. In every view, it reflects great credit on both the head and the heart of the writer; and it abounds with hints and reflections which deserve consideration from governors and governed, in times like those in which we live.

REV. DEC. 1804.

Ee

Applaud

Muir.

Applauding the author's aim throughout, it is with pain that we make exception to some of his counsels, which are in our judgment not only erroneous, but such as may be attended with danger. We are persuaded that, if they appeared in the same light to the ingenious writer, he would not only retract them, but strenuously combat them.

It is observed by Mr. Frend that

The equal and impartial administration of justice is another essential requisite for the security of patriotism. And this subject cannot be mentioned without gratitude to our ancestors, for their anxious labour to secure to their descendants this inestimable advantage. The trial by jury is so precious a relique, that when an Englishman becomes dastard enough not to prize it according to its worth, or to depreciate its merits, he sinks below the level of a slave; he deserves every degree of oppression, which the malice or the caprice of tyranny can suggest. By this admirable institution every man becomes acquainted with the laws; he is admitted to the participation of the most sacred office of government; he feels that he is a member of the state; he lives secure that his character and his property will be protected under the fair and equitable decision of his equals. That this true mode of trial should in any case whatsoever be infringed on, even in the case of arrests for debt, I most sincerely lament: and I am convinced, that I consult equally the interest of government and the people, in recommending, that upon no account whatsoever, sentence of deprivation of personal liberty should pass without the verdict of twelve men, who have tried the offence. The deprivation of personal liberty for the purpose of bringing an offender to justice is an exception to the general rule: but this deprivation should be confined to the highest offences; since, if a person quits his country to avoid the consequences of trial, the end of justice is in many cases as well answered as if the country was at the expence of transporting the miserable offender. If there is no country in the world, where justice is upon the whole exercised with equal impartiality, England ought to excel others in its patriotism.'

Inconveniences doubtless accompany the detention of which the author speaks: but if his notion were put in operation, offences would multiply, and it would be impossible to bring offenders to justice; they would not in general quit the country, as is here supposed, but would seek hiding-places within its limits. Besides, to make voluntary flight the only punishment of serious violations of law, would in many cases be to propose a premium on the commission of crimes. The practice of giving credit, which it is now too late to alter, renders arrest also indispensible in civil cases; and without the check arising from the inconvenience and shame with which it is attended, it would be impracticable to carry on the transactions of the world.