A very graceful fragment describes the toilet of Venus:

"Her vesture then the rapid Hours and lovely Graces brought,
O'er which bright wreaths of vernal flowers they curiously had wrought,
Such as adorn the sunny Hours ;-the crocus and the rose
Twin'd with the modest violet, the sweetest flower that blows,
The hyacinth, and campanel, that hangs in clustering bells,
And bright narcissus, where the trace of youthful pride still dwells,
Their beauties wreath'd, their sweets combin'd, pour'd forth their fragrant

store,

To decorate the flowing robe which smiling Venus wore."

The Iliad was placed next to the Cyprian songs in the great cycle of Troy's romantic history. It was followed by the Æthiopis; from which some critics have supposed that the twenty-fourth book of the Iliad, and some episodes, including that of Dolon, were taken by the diaskenasts and added to the Homeric series, for the purpose of completing the artificial number of twenty-four books. Next came the little Iliad, by some ascribed to Homer, but of which most of the ancients declare that Lesches was the author. It brought down the narrative to the capture of Troy; but the destruction of the city was related in a separate series of songs by Arctinus. From the poem on the destruction of Troy we learn that the medical profession in that age was distinguished from the surgical, and deemed the higher branch of science. Arctinus thus speaks of Podalirius and Machaon :

"Their father, Neptune, on them both illustrious gifts bestow'd,
But those of Podalirius the more important show'd.
Machaon got a skilful hand to heal a wounded part,

To soothe its pain, and extricate from flesh the barbed dart;
But Podalirius was taught the secret ills to scan

Which work unseen within the frame, and waste the inner man.
'Twas he who first the symptoms knew of fatal rage reveal'd
In Ajax, son of Telamon, lord of the seven-fold shield."

The Nostoi, in which the Odyssey was included, related the various calamities which befel the Grecian chiefs during their voyage homewards, and after their return. In the fifth book of the Iliad there is a very distinct allusion to one of these ballads which described the fate of Diomede; indeed it has all the appearance of being a quotation from one of the Nostoi as a popular and well-known poem. The cycle was completed by the Telegoniad, which described the fate of Ulysses. It is supposed that some portions of it have been incorporated with the later books of the Odyssey.

Though the Homeric poems were included in the romantic cycle, they certainly belong to an earlier school of poetry. The difference between the two is not very unlike that between the ballad and the metrical romance. The cyclic poets, like the writers of the old metrical romances, generally gave to their productions a biographical or historical unity; they begin with the birth of a hero, or the commencement of a war, and carry on the tale to the death of the one or the termination of the other. The Homeric unity, like that of the ballad of Chevy-chase, is dramatic: it refers to one great event, and makes the relations of time and place subservient to the development of action. But the cyclic poets were the successors of the Homerida; and the Hesiodic writers and the authors of the Homeric hymns may be regarded as subaltern intermediates in the degenerate descent.

A CAMPAIGN WITH THE CHRISTINOS,

IN 1838 AND 1839.

BY CHARLES F. FYNES-CLINTON.

CHAPTER IV.

Balls and parties. Harassing marches. A disappointment. - Taking of Los Arcos.-March across the country to Jaca.

It must not be supposed that we had nothing but marching, fighting, and knocking about at the period at which I write. Like good and valiant knights, we also had our gay dances, with music, and the bright eyes of ladies to welcome us after our toils, and to stimulate us to fresh actions. Such has ever been the received custom amongst gallant gentlemen, as all chroniclers, from the days of Sir J. Froissart to the present, do fully testify. After several weeks spent in the field, our gay general would march us into Pamplona, where he would give us a rest of a couple of days, and then nothing but gaiety went forward. The mornings would be passed in a grand full-dress review, to amuse the ladies; while the evenings were filled up with balls and lively parties; and there was to be seen Don Diego, with aides-du-camp, brigadiers, colonels, and a host of gallant officers, who, having thrown aside their rough and war-stained garb, shone out in all the brilliancy of the gayest uniforms, while ribands and crosses fluttered in profusion. But what jewels could glitter so brightly as the black eyes of the ladies, whose smiles welcomed the weather-beaten soldier after his toils? These little pauses in our labours, hallowed as they were by female society, were very agreeable to us all.

The time not spent at Pamplona was occupied in the usual way, -that is to say, in marching continually from one place to another, as the movements of the enemy, the escort of convoys, or the procuring of forage required. Cold winds, with snow or rain, were our companions on the march: forlorn and ruinous villages received us at night: rooms bare of furniture, and paved with stone, -windows without glass,-beds (when they were to be met with) dirty in the extreme; such were our quarters. An account of our marches would only be a dry catalogue of the various towns and villages of western Navarre; nevertheless such journeys and events as present any variety to the general routine I will describe.

On the 6th February we marched out of Tafalla, and out of Barasoain on the 7th, and slept that night in Salinas de Monreal, a wild village which I have described before. On the 8th we marched to Lumbier. The scenery on the road between Monreal and Lumbier is very fine, and from a high point a league from the latter town is a magnificent view. Lumbier, with its works and towers, lay in the plain beneath us, dimly seen through the grey morning mist that still hung over the low ground. The river Aragon waters and fertilizes the plain, which is surrounded by mountains_rough with tangled forests. Far above all towered the snowy Pyrenees,-a bright, glittering wall of mountains.

On the 23rd, while we halted in the great plain between Caparoso and Peralta, we first heard that Maroto had shot five Carlist generals at Estella. These (who were leading men among the Carlist party) were Basques, and men who were determined never to make peace with the Queen, but to carry on the war to the last. Maroto was aware that as long as they lived he should never be able to carry into effect his object of making terms with the Queen's government; so he took the bold measure of executing them, without trial or prelude of any kind to his barbarous act, in the Plaza of Estella; then turning to the assembled troops and to the astonished people, he said, "La guerra esta terminada !"-the war is finished. Thus did he by a bloody deed begin those schemes, which ended in an act of cool perfidy and treason; for, six months after this he sold his sovereign, and passed over with his army to the Queen. Maroto is a Catalan, or native of Cataluña, and much hated by the Basques. He is a man of talent, and must have a cool, daring, and sagacious mind to have contrived and brought to maturity a plan directed against his king, against all the leading men of the Basques, and against the prejudices of that people and the priesthood. The natives of Cataluña generally are more resolute, sullen, and constant in their purpose than the other Spaniards-witness Cabrera and Maroto. When a man is ill-natured and obstinate, they say of him in Spain, "Es muy duro, como un Catalan," he is very austere, like a Catalan.

On the evening of the 23rd we lay in Marcilla, a village near Peralta, where I had not been quartered before. There is a very large

modern castillo of some nobleman here, who is lord of this and the surrounding villages. In the house are many pictures and much old armour. The building forms a quadrangle, with a square tower at each corner, and is surrounded by a moat: in front of the entrance is a barbican. The windows look into the court within. In almost every village in Spain is to be found the house of some grandee, resembling more or less the one I have described. The rooms are spacious and lofty, and the buildings of very good and solid masonry. Those, however, which we saw in Navarre were deserted by their owners, and most of them ruinous. The one at Marcilla was inhabited by a tenant, and looked more comfortable.

Strange rumours continued to arrive from the enemy's country, and all men seemed to think that a crisis was at hand.

On the 25th the column lay at Carcar and Andosilla, while Espartero was at Lodosa and Alcanadre. On the 26th the division was formed upon the plain between Carcar and Lodosa, to be reviewed by Espartero. After waiting some time, Brigadier Picéro informed us in a short speech that Maroto and his staff had passed over to us, and were then in Pamplona, and that a factious squadron had entered Larraga, and surrendered to the governor of that town. Great was the joy at this intelligence. The Spaniards, officers and men, were to be seen embracing one another, beside themselves with joy. We marched to Larraga in high spirits, but next morning learned that the whole was a lie from beginning to end. How or why this extraordinary falsehood was propagated I have never discovered. Certain it is that it was announced by telegraph at head-quarters, and transmitted to Madrid.

On the 27th the division broke up from Larraga, and was cantoned in Carcar, Lerin, Artajona, and the villages of the Carrascal.

My own squadron, with that of the grenadiers of the guard and two battalions, was in Tiebas,-a wretched place, consisting of a church and a dozen ruinous houses, upon the side of a mountain ten miles south of Pamplona.

March 3rd. We were all united again at Carcar and Andosilla. Espartero having also come up to Lodosa, a force of thirty thousand infantry, two thousand cavalry, and thirty guns, was now united upon this part of the Ebro. This looked like business; but, on the 4th, that active chief, Balmaseda, having gone into Castile with some cavalry, Espartero fell back to Logroño.

6th. The orderly sergeant called me this morning at half-past one. No general orders had been issued; but, on getting into the street (in Andosilla), I found the troops turning out without the sound of drum or trumpet, and we marched in silence and darkness to Carcar, four miles, where, after halting a long time, we were joined by Leon and the troops who were in that place. Marching along the plain, we formed in order of battle upon a height overlooking Sesma, and the scene of our former glory. The enemy's videttes appeared along the opposite hills. The general and his escort entered Sesma, and, after keeping us in position two hours in the rain, he marched us into Lodosa, leaving seven battalions, four squadrons, and four guns in Sesma.

Every one expected a general action on the morrow, as Leon had sent to Maroto informing him that he intended to enter Los Arcos, and the Carlist general replied that he was ready for him. Before daybreak on the 7th, Espartero arrived, having marched all night from Logroño; and, when the sun rose, we saw his battalions pouring over the bridge of Lodosa. He brought eleven strong battalions, seven squadrons, and six mountain-guns. In front of Sesma we were joined by the troops who had passed the night there, and the whole army formed in line, amounting to about twenty-two thousand bayonets, one thousand six hundred sabres, and sixteen guns. The order of march and of battle was then issued, and the cavalry were strictly enjoined to keep together after a charge; an allusion, probably, to the affair of the 3rd December, where the squadrons scattered much after breaking the enemy. The army thus formed in battle-array looked very well; and the general's eye glanced with pleasure along the ranks of armed men, who in perfect silence, and motionless as statues, but full of eagerness and spirit, waited the signal to advance.

At length we moved off the ground, and directed our course towards Los Arcos, the enemy's horsemen retiring as we advanced. On reaching some high ground, we came in sight of Los Arcos, which was still about eight miles from us. Between us and the town was a swampy plain of corn-land, intersected by brooks and ditches, which flooded the country in many parts. The town itself lay under the side of a high ridge, which had an old tower upon the highest part of it, just above the town. A couple of miles behind this was a loftier ridge, upon which stood the fortified and impreg nable convent of San Gregorio. Rocky mountains towered behind all, the town being surrounded by gardens and inclosures; and the hill, with its sides covered with tangled vineyards, formed an excellent position for light troops like those of the enemy: thence the retreat was open to the mountain of San Gregorio ; and, if dislodged

from this, the sierras and forests in the rear offered a secure retreat. Upon the whole, we expected a formidable resistance.

Crossing the swamps with great difficulty, we halted upon a rising ground, about a mile from the town, to close up the column. We could now distinguish the enemy's movements. He had some cavalry in the open ground in front of the town; some battalions occupied the hill where the old tower stood; while a column was seen advancing on the road from Estella upon our right.

PLAN OF THE TAKING OF LOS ARCOS, MARCH 7, 1839.

Carlists.

Christinos.

1. San Gregorio. 2. Old Tower. 3. Farm-house. 4. Road to Viana. 5. Road to Estella. 6. Leon attacking. 7. Espartero in reserve.

Everything being prepared, Leon began the attack. A mass of infantry, with some cavalry and guns, was thrown out to the right to hold in check the hostile line upon the Estella road. A column of infantry assailed the enemy's left, while Leon, with the heavy cavalry, some battalions, and the British guns, crossed the swampy ground, and marched directly against the town. The general-inchief held his division in reserve. The rain, which had begun to fall when we left Sesma, now came down in torrents, and, as we were not permitted to cloak, (being in presence of the enemy,) we were of course well soaked. We formed again in the swampy fields in front of the town, the enemy retiring through the town as we approached.

Meanwhile the infantry who attacked the hill advanced steadily