nion we have given of the whole. They contain many passages written in the best style of translation. In translating the prophet's annunciation of the coming of the bard who was to sing the delivery of Sion, the very language of Tasso has been employed with great propriety, and much ingenuity. 'L'altro, di tempra tenera e amorosa, Canterà il Capitan, canterà l'arme, Il sangue sparso, ove il suo sparse il Santo, Ravviverà tra i salci del Giordano, Là ve' il suo sangue imporporò la croce, P. 42. No one certainly would have imagined, that the seven concluding verses of the third canto, were written by one who had long passed his grand climacteric. 'La cima verso il ciel l' alpe nevosa Più che vulcan fiammiruttante innalza, *The second, of a tenderer, sadder mood, He, too, shall sing of arms, and Christian blood Revive a song of Sion, and the sharp Conflict, and final triumph of the brave The Alp's snow summit nearer heaven is seen Than the volcano's fierce eruptive crest, Whose splendour from the black abyss is flung, P. 48. BYRON. While the scorch'd mountain, from whose burning breast Our readers will easily pardon one extract more, in which the translator appears to be inspired with all a native's honest enthusiasm, and pardonable pride. Tra il fier clangor de' marziali sdegni, E il rimbombar degli elmi e delle spade E qual cedro in deserto torreggiante, E tempo e tirannia fia che disarmi, P. 54. It was hardly to be expected, that in a translation of so difficult an author as Lord Byron, labouring under the additional restraints we have already alluded to, exact fidelity could always be maintained. We find, accordingly, that the translator has resorted to occasional departures from the meaning of the original; and here and there, has omitted something of his author's, or added something of his own. An enumeration of the instances in which this has been done, will serve to give an idea of the extreme exactness of the rest. A temporary torturing flame is wrung, Shines for a night of terror, then repels Its fire back to the hell from whence it sprung, * Amidst the clash of swords, and clang of helms, Shall be the Age of Beauty, and while whelms The genius of my country shall arise, BYRON. BYRON. Canto I. v. 12. ch'io piangendo invoco ;' not in the original: probably inserted for the sake of the rhyme. v. 87. 'the mind that was temptation proof; translated simply, il senno. translation. v. 104. 'from Minturne's marsh;' omitted in the 6 Canto II. v. 105. Stranier stendardo a te non giunse ancora.' In the original, never shall advance,' which is far more comprehensive and expressive. v. 123. Eng. 'but alone she will not war, Yet aids the warrior worthy of his birth In a soil where the mothers bring forth men.' This passage is unaccountably omitted in the translation. Canto III. v. 17. Il fumo della martire Italia,' instead of the sound of Italy's lamentation, as in the original, is compared to the harpstring stricken by the wind.' v. 20. il più verace;' instead of il più umile. This is, perhaps, the boldest license to be found in the whole work. We must, however, admit, that the expression humblest of thy sons, seems but ill accordant with the high and confident tone of proud indignation which Dante always assumes, when he speaks of his own powers, or Florence's ingratitude. v. 46. Chiari per senno, per dottrina chiari.' This is hardly a fair translation of The 'the wise, gay, the learned, the generous, and the brave.' v. 58. Costui forse gia nacque.' Dante does not say that this mortal Saviour' is perhaps already born, but that he may be born at some future time. v. 101. A remarkable passage, containing a curious allusion to a well known anecdote in the life of Demosthenes, is here omitted. v. 138. We doubt whether any authority for this ellipsis of che or il quale, can be produced from the Testi di lingua. Che molto oprò, would certainly be better. v. 174. benchè il suo Principe de' vati Com' aquila sugli altri l' ali spanda.' This is a beautiful imitation of Dante; but here entirely gratui tous, for the original says, simply, ' though one Of hers be mighty.' Canto III. v. 188. Not in the English. Canto IV. v. 3. 'perchance the best.' An important omission. v. 63. 80. 132. Added by the translator. v. 139 In cio che nasce da delitto e morte.' We are here hardly reminded of the obvious allusion in the English, to Milton's Allegory of Sin and Death Many of these alterations might, no doubt, be defended on various grounds. Some appear to have been introduced in order to preserve the smoothness and harmony of the versification; others to explain some obscurity in the ideas, or some ambiguity in the language of the original. The best evidence, that the translator did not undertake his difficult task without a competent and critical knowledge of our own language, is the fact, that after the strictest examination, we have been able to find but one single instance in which he has misconceived the meaning of his author; an author too, remarkable for the extreme subtlety of his speculations, the originality and profoundness of his reflections, and the frequent intricacy, and occasional obscurity, of his style. This occurs, Canto I. v. 148. of the English, where the translator has evidently supposed that the sense was complete at the end of the 147th verse, and that the two succeeding lines were interrogative, not remarking that "Did not my verse embalm," is equivalent to, "Unless my verse embalmed," &c. The great beauty of the translation of a part of the fourth Canto of Childe Harold, (the apostrophe to Ocean,) makes us regret that it is only a part; a regret, which we hope will be removed by the translation of the entire poem. The poetical part of the translator's letter to Lord Byron, affords ample proofs of his powers in original composition. Of the two versions, one in Latin elegiac verse by the author, the other in English by his daughter, we can hardly say which we prefer; for the terseness and classic propriety of the one, seem equalled, if not surpassed, by the tender and melancholy eloquence of the other. We cannot conclude, without congratulating our readers on this accession to our literary stock; for if the honour of a successful poem belongs in part to the place of its nativity, we may be surely permitted to indulge a sentiment of pride and pleasure, at so novel an occurrence in the annals of our literature, as the publication of the first edition of an Italian poem on this side of the Atlantic; and we feel assured that Lord Byron will be at once gratified, and surprised to find, that America has produced what Europe could not furnish, an adequate translation of his own exquisite poetry. 320 ART. IV. Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind. By DUGALD STEWART, Professor, &c. Edinburgh.* Ir the two sexes now stood upon an equality in point of education, the remarks with which Mr. Stewart's work aboundst concerning the importance of education in general, considered as the means of developing the human faculties and bringing them to perfection, would in the same degree affect the male and female part of society. For no one will deny, that if it is a misfortune to be by ignorance the degraded slave' of the fluc'tuating caprices and fashions of the times, to be haunted by the causeless fears, and groundless apprehensions of the vulgar- it is as much so to one sex as to the other: or if it is a blessing which an enlightened education can bestow, to conduct us to the perfection and happiness of our nature-it is a blessing to each of the sexes alike. But in the present state of society, all remarks on the importance of education in general, have a more interesting relation to the female sex than to the other; because they have hitherto been the neglected part of the community. What our author observes, concerning the propriety of applying endeavours, to improve where a deficiency is most to be apprehended,' is doubtless a correct principle, both as it regards individuals and communities. Every good parent, in looking *The following article was drawn up in the winter of 1821, and derived from the arguments and principles advanced on the examination of a class of female pupils, in the study of Stewart's Philosophy of the mind, at the celebrated Female Institution, then of Waterford, now of Troy, N. Y. A petition was pending before the legislature of New-York, which had been addressed to them two winters before, to obtain their patronage for the plan of female education, sometimes alluded to in this Article. The examination was designed for the presence of a number of the members of that body, then in session, who attended. The learned and accomplished Principal of the Institution, Mrs. Willard, had instructed her pupils in the grounds of her conviction of the justice of the claims she had urged in behalf of their sex, and endeavoured to make those principles so comprehended, as far as consisted with the line of their studies, that they might be prepared to aid her, if she lived, or revive and perpetuate her spirit, if she died. The writer of the article remarks, "that some explanation of this sort seems necessary, that the reader may not expect to find a critique on Stewart; that he may not be surprised, should no other work, however much in point, be alluded to; and that he may not be disappointed if he find some things imperfectly explained, it being supposed that those for whom the essay was written previously understood them." See more particularly the introduction, second part, section 2. |