sufficiently consulted my parents on the steps I was about to take, and, moreover, that I ought to reckon on their tenderness; and by their superior experience to regulate my intentions. It is true that I am contented with acquainting my mother and brother of my intentions without asking their opinion; for I think it would be useless to do so, my resolution being fixed-I should have deceived them if I had asked their advice in the full determination not to follow it. If they had thought as I did, things would have gone on just the same; if their ideas had not agreed with mine, I should have been sorry I could not have yielded to their wishes-I had rather be guilty of a little want of form, than to de. ceive them or openly fly in their face. Of two unequal evils, you know which we ought to choose. But, perhaps, there is no occasion to form so decided a resolution. Are we masters best benefactor. I answered that th "So much, and enough concerning the situation I am about to quit; let us consider now that I am going to embrace. Now I will confess wherein I am wrong. You are but too well acquainted, my dear friend, with my natural wildness of disposition, and I have no occasion to remind you of my follies. Το give you an idea of them, it is sufficient only to call to your remembrance what I drew upon myself by the songs I composed on the Isle of Adam, and how shocking it was thought at both Versailles and Paris, that a man who wore the clerical habit should make such indelicate couplets, which would be scarce pardonable in any one in whatever situation. Those who accused me at court, took very good care to be silent on my, having taken too much cham of our will? Can we weaken or strengthen it at pleasure? And man, the inboru slave of bis most absurd fancies-can he command those desires which his reason approves ?— But ought we not always to obey our parents? The respect we owe our parents has no term; but obedience has one marked by nature:it is that when the organs of our bodies and the faculties of our mind are entirely deve-paign, which, together with my natural levity, loped. At that moment, we enter, as we may say, on possession of ourselves; the helm of our actions is placed in our own hands, and after having been taught by others how to live, we begin to live for ourselves. But do not we owe at all times an unlimited confidence in a mother? It is this confidence to which I attended, in informing my mother of my intentions in your hearing. The pain it seemed to give her, made me cautious of speaking to her again on the subject, but did not prevent my following my plans; the happiness of my life was concerned in it, and that, I am sure, she would not wish me to sacrifice. made me scarce comprehend the sense the next day of what I had composed only the evening before. I was condemned unanimously, and, I must confess, but too justly. I tried, however, to reinstate myself in the good opinion of the Dauphin, which I knew I had lost. He told the person who spoke in my favour,and who read to him a letter I had written on the subject, that he wished to interest himself for me, and that he should be truly glad to see me in a situation more conformable to my character and the turn of my mind. This reason was what chiefly determined me to enter the service; a reason which I dare not confide to the King, as much on account of the shame I would feel in confess "Secondly, you ask me if the King is informed of my change of condition? The Kinging my fault, as from a fear of afflicting him, has often questioned me on the plan of life I meant to adopt, and I always had the courage to answer him, for the last eighteen months, that I did not wish for promotion in my present way of life; that what I had now was quite sufficient for me; that my desires were rather to be happy than great. Thereupon the King was desirous of speaking to me on some projects he had conceived on my account, and which were enough to dazzle || any one who had not taken his lessons from that wholesome philosophy taught me by my when he should learn how unworthy I am of his kindness. "I shall not undertake to answer those people, who accuse me of ingratitude towards my benefactor; I fear no reproaches on that head-my heart will always speak louder than the tongues of my calumniators, and I can safely say, that amidst every one of those moments, which they employed in uttering against me the most horrible things, my thoughts dwelt with tender recollection on the benefits I received from the King, and Thining which, the author has proved nese self to be endowed with very superior events. A To give an outline of this voluminous work cannot be expected from a periodical publication, open too, as our's always is, to every meritorious effort of genius; suffice it to say, that the author evinces great historical knowledge, while a fertile and strong imagination, conveyed in the most correct and beautiful style, entitles him to a conspicuous place amongst the best modern Poets. Prefixed to this work is a dedication to the Pope; which being a true multum in parvo, we have translated, for the benefit of those readers who may not be conversant in the French language. To preserve the beauty of the Poem we are compelled to give the extracts in their native dress: however great may be the skill of a translator, the original must lose much of its native energy, and peculiar idiom, when put into a foreign language : 66 "DEDICATION. TO HIS HOLINESS POPE PIUS VII. "MOST HOLY FATHER,-Divine Providence, after four years of captivity, again leads me to the feet of your Holiness. During those years of trial I have finished the long Poem, the first stanzas of which you so benevolently and graciously were pleased to approve. I am now permitted again to lay this work before the pontifical throne of Rome; my sojournment in that city, for several years, has given your Holiness as opportunity of being acquainted with my sentiments. Your remembrance, and your valuable letters, have supported me, together with my wife and children, in the hour of adversity, even when the hope of beholding you again seemed for ever shut out. At length restored to our home, under your fatherly protection, how can we sufficiently express what we owe you? In allowing me to mention only those benefits which, for ten years, you unceasingly showered on us, and in deiguing to accept this dedication, your Holiness has, if possible, augmented my gratitude. Permit me now, Holy Father, > renew to you the oath of that fidelity and evotedness which can only end with my life, and to kiss your feet as I fervently implore your blessing. "Of your Holiness, "The most faithful and devoted son in J. C. "LUCIEN BONAPARTE." No. 66.-Supplement. HISTORICAL EVENTS ON WHICH THE STORY OF THE POEM IS FOUNDED. In the eighth century the Emperors of Constantinople had lost their former power in Italy: King Luitprand had possessed himself of the Pentapolis, and, in this revolution, the city of Rome resolved to own no power but that of the Pontiffs. Pope Gregory III. implored the assistance of Charles Martel, Prince and Duke of the French; the menaces of this Prince caused Luitprand to cease from his enterprise. Astolpho, his successor, besieged Rome, and Pope Stephen III. took refuge with Pepin, the son of Charles Martel, and King of France. Pepin in parliament declared war against the Lombards; crossed the Alps, and vanquished Astolpho, at whose death the Pope and the King of France united, in order to place the crown of the Lombards on the head of Didier; but scarce were the eyes of Pepin closed, when Didier revived the pretensions of the Lombards in Rome. The Greek Emperors, Leon IV. and Constantine, his son, had embraced the new heresy, and had been excommunicated by the church. Didier made an alliance with Constantine; he married his two daughters, one to Tassillon, Duke of Bavaria; the other to Es selin, Duke of Benevento: but Didier thought he should sooner attain his views by allying himself to Charlemagne, the oldest of Pepin's sons, and he offered this Prince his third daughter, Hermengarda, or Armelie; Charles accepted his offer, and abandoned the wife he had taken during the lifetime of his father. Pope Adrian expressed his displeasure at this scandalous conduct, but Charles persisted in his error, and Didier, hastening his preparations against Rome, invaded the duchy of Spolletto. Here commences the action of the Poem. Charles Martel and Pepin had always been at war with the Princes of Aquitain, who, descended from Clovis, pretended to the throne: an alliance, however, was formed, by giving a daughter of the Duke of Aquitain in marriage to one of the adverse Chiefs. Vaitire, a son of Hunaud, of Aquitain, again revolted, and made several incursions on the French territories. Pepin defeated him in a memorable battle, and Tt Aquitain became united to France; but Gaiffre, the son of Vaiffre, nourished in his heart a deadly hatred against Pepin; united with the Saracens, they rendered them Un nuage poudreux, descendu des montagnes Obscurcit les campagnes: Dix mille Grecs armés franchissent les coteaux: leur tête, selves masters of the passage of the Py-Ils s'approchent des murs. Longin marche à rennees, and the famous Roland, nephew to Charlemagne, perished at Roncevalles, through their treachery. The dying Pepin divided his states bebetween his two sons, Charles and Carloman; they joined their forces to appease the troubles which had again broke out in Aquitain; but they disagreed, and the discord between the two Kings augured badly || for France, when Carloman died in the flower of his youth, leaving two children, Siagre and Pepin, under the tutelage of their mother, Gerberge, called in the Poem, Laurentia: the nobles, dreading a minority, offered their crown to Charles, which he accepted, to the prejudice of his nephews. The widow of Carloman, seeing her sons dethroned, trembling for their safety, fled with them into Italy. Siagre, the eldest, was made Bishop of Nice, and it was imagined that Pepin also had embraced an ecclesiastical life. But in order to be acquainted with those foregoing events, and those which accompanied the destruction of Lombardy as a kingdom, it is requisite to read the history of Charlemagne. An Epic Poem is often known to depart from the rules of chronology; and some anachronisms are found in this relative to the war of Charles with the Saxons, and also of his expedition in Italy, which the author has previously acknowledged. Longin, dont l'esprit sombre et fertile en complots De Rome et des Lombards médite la défaite." THE ATTACK ON SPOLLETTO. "Viens embraser mon âme, esprit sacré du Viens, redis-nous des Grecs l'attentat sacrilége. Il n'est point de souffrance sa Dont l'horreur ne se calme aux accents de sa voix; De tous les malheureux abordant la chau mière, Sur eux le saint vieillard répandait à la fois Et les trésors du Ciel et les biens de la terre. Quand les soldats lombards envahirent Spo- Vilfrid osa braver le glaive du vainqueur. Le roi Didier sentit son courroux enchaîné: Il révoqua soudaiu les ordres du carnage. vaincus. Vilfrid sacrifioit au milieu des Latins. This poem opens with the following Il n'entend ni la voix, ni les pas des mutins. beautiful invocation: Au centre de l'autel et sur la croix domine "Muse céleste! viens seconder mon génie : C'est l'image du Christ souffrant pour les L'ange du crime en vain lève son front rebelle: A cet aspect les Grecs courent vers les autels; THE TOMBS OF THE APOSTLES, PARTICU LARLY ST. PETER, WITH THE STRIKING "Des apôtres du Christ c'est ici le tombeau. C'est là que de Byzance il attend les drapeaux. Sans cesse on offre ici quelque tribut nouveau. Les marbres précieux, l'agathe diaprée, De la tombe sacrée. Décorent à l'envi les parois somptueux; Les miracles des arts, chefs-d'œuvre du génie, Autrefois profanés au culte des faux dieux, Ornent de l'Eternal la demeure chérie. A droite sous la nef s'élève une statue, Des chrétiens empressés le flux continuel Le peuple se livrant aux transports de son zele Baise le pied d'airain de son premier pasteur; Le temple dans son sein déjà ne reçoit plus Le vicaire du Christ s'avance lentement: L'œil fixé vers le ciel, le pontife descend: Il marche, dans ses mains tenant la sainte hostie. Des prêtres revêtus d'une robe éclatante Le précèdent: l'encens qui s'élève autour d'eux A voilé le pontife en montant vers les cieux; Mais du saint sacrement la sphère étincelante, Des parfums consacrés perce les tourbillons Et s'échappé en rayons— Moins pur et moins divin, l'astre de la lumière Triomphe quelquefois des nuages divers: Au milieu de leur ombre il poursuit sa carrière: Voilé, mais lumineux, il règne dans les airs." INVOCATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. "Viens ranimer ma voix, remplis-moi de tes feux, Esprit saint! ouvre-moi les voutes éternelles; Prête à mes faibles sens le secours de tes ailes, Et souffre qu'un mortel ose parler des Cieux. Quand la nuit dans les airs a replié ses voiles, La clarté des étoiles S'efface aux premiers feux de l'astre étince lant: Un seul rayon sorti de la divine sphère Et sous un voile d'or cacherait sa lumière." PRAYER TO THE VIRGIN MARY. "Toi! dans qui l'Eternel as mis sa complaisance ! Reine! source de grace! étoile du matin ! A ton nom, Vierge-mère! amour, gloire, sans fin! 'Et la terre et le Ciel bénissent ta puissance. Tu foulas sous tes pieds l'audace des Enfers; Et le triste univers A puisé dans tes flancs une nouvelle vie. Les doctrines de sang, les dogmes criminels Rends un esprit docile Aux chrétiens égarés rebelles à la foi. sauvage, Que tout du Dieu de paix reçoive enfin la loi. O mère des humains! achéve ton ouvrage." DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLE OF ST. LOUIS, BURIAL PLACE OF THE KINGS OF FRANCE. "Dans les murs de Paris la Seine forme une ile Autrefois consacrée aux tombeaux de nois rois. Là, parmi les cyprès s'élevait une croix : Les hommes et le temps Construisirent depuis une nouvelle ville; Lutece dans ses flancs a renferme ces lieux; Et son peuple aujourd'hui foule d'un pas tranquille Les tombeaux inconnus des rois de nos aïeux. On avait élevé sur le sol consacré Un monument pieux d'une noble structure, Qui paraissait du temps devoir braver l'injure; Charles souvent errait dans ce lieu révéré. Jadis dans son enceinte, à l'ombre paternelle, D'un souvenir fidele Il offrait tous les jours quelques gages nou. veaux; Loin des flatteurs ici recueillant sa pensée, Le monarque trouvait aux pieds de ces tombeaux Le vérité, des rois trop souvent repoussée. A tout autre mortel l'ile était défendue: Lui seul pouvait franchir son ténébreux contour; Mais depuis qu'il suivait un criminel amour De l'enceinte funèbre il détournait la vue. Des manes offensés il redoutait l'aspect: Frappé d'un saint respect Il fuyait du tombeau l'enceinte solitaire. S'écoulait à grand bruit le torrent de ses jours." The following description of Charlemagne and Adelinda is strikingly beautiful: "Adelinde atteignait à sa quinzieme année. Charlemagne comme elle entrait dans son printemps: Et l'amour et la paix, des augustes amants Reçurent en ce jour le signe salutaire. La naissance d'Emma, dans le cœur de Pepin Osa, depuis, former les sacriléges nœuds; Charle, à l'aspect d'Emma, sent d'une pure flamme Renaître dans son cœur les souvenirs heureux. 'Lui dit il, va s'ouvrir, Chère Emma, pour ta mère en peu d'in stants l'aurore Paraîtra dans les Cieux-Emma, viens sur mon sein; • Adelinde gémit; mais elle peut encore Retrouver tout l'éclat de son premier destin.' Il dit: la jeune Emma lève ses yeux touchants Où l'éclair du bonheur brille au milieu des larmes. Les accents de son père ont calmé ses alarmes: Son cœur est inondé de doux pressentiments. Tels furent ses accents. Je vais quitter la France. 'O fille de mon roi, recevez mes adieux.' La fille de Didier élève vers les cieux Des regards enflammés de haine et de vengeance: Moi! demeurer ici! non, non, brave Aripert; 'Chaque moment est cher, 'Dit-elle; suivez-moi : c'est sous votre bannière Que je veux m'éloigner d'un époux inhumain. 'Armez vos chevaliers: fuyons de cette terre Où je ne veux rentrer que la flamme à la main." MATERNAL FEELINGS OF LAURENTIA. "Laurence prosternée, écoute avec douleur Du vicaire de Dieu la volonté suprême. Ce n'est que pour ses fils, et non pour ellemême, Que d'un second exil elle craint la rigueur. |