1828.] 503 Eranvi quei, ch' amor si lieve afferra L'un Pietro e l'altro. thus. “Ma se pur piace voi, che perder deggia, vinto di cio mi chiamo; The notes appended to his letters e non solamente essa moneta più vi by Giovanni Bottari, in the edition of dimando, ma l'autra, che m'è rimasa them printed at Rome in 4to. 1745, e m'è appresso, prometto al piacere would have done credit to the dilis vostro, servendo voi; che il pregio gence and learning of a Tyrwhitt. del valor vostro, m'ha sì congiunto a There is no need to repeat here sè, non puomi dispiacere cosa, che what is said of Guittone by Dante piaccia a voi voler di me.” P. 49. and Petrarch. Little is known of his * But yet if it please you that I history, but that he founded a monasshould be at the loss, I give up my tery at Florence, and died in 1294. claim; and am so far from demand- Bottari speaks of one manuscript ing this money of you more, that the in the Vatican, which contains thirtyrest which remains with me I proffer four of his canzoni, and seventy-five to your service and pleasure ; for so of his sonnets; and adds, that if all bound am I unto you for your wor- his unpublished works were collected, thiness, that the thing cannot dis- they would form a large volume. Í please me, which it may please you know not whether this has been to desire of me.” The 25th, a long since done at Florence, where a few letter to Messer Cacciaguerra, is in years ago there was a design of puba fine strain of morality finely ex- lishing their ancient poets, GREEK TRAGIC SCENES. No. III. EURIPIDES. FROM THE ORESTES. The personal introduction of the in its simplicity, and the little cirFuries, which the vigorous and bold cumstances of pathetic tenderness in fancy of Æschylus enabled him to which Euripides delights. Laharpe attempt and achieve, was an expe- is, however, mistaken when he says riment that could never be repeat- that affecting pathos is the single ed. “Within that circle none durst department of tragedy in which walk but he.” Euripides wisely Euripides can be said to counterstruck out a different track, and balance the superior advantages of made the ministers of retribution in- Sophocles : he is infinitely the most visible to the eye of the spectators. copious, and commands the greatest We are left in doubt as to their bodily variety of powers, of all the three presence, or their sole existence as great dramatists of Greece. No sinphantoms of a haunted conscience. gle extract can ever convey an adeThis is managed with no little poeti- quate and entire impression of his cal sublimity: but the scene is chiefly genius. His reasoning or argumen, remarkable for the touches of nature tative speeches have been copier? much by the French tragic poets: though with the latter we have usually the poet saying ingenious things, and displaying his knowledge of the effect of antithesis and epigrammatic point: with Euripides our attention is engaged by the sin cerity and earnestness with which ELECTRA watching by the couch of ORESTES. Helen. Daughter of Clytemnestra and Atrides, How fares it with thee now, and with thy brother, Yet must I mourn the fate of Clytemnestra, Helen. How long Has he thus lain thrown prostrate on the bed? O lost man! Electra. My mother's wouldst thou say? and what thy purpose? Helen. I blush to show my person to the Greeks. Electra. Too late discreet, for shameless thy elopement. Electra. Why should'st thou blush to meet the Mycenaeans? Electra. The Argives too cry terribly against thee. Thy sister Helen sends thee these grave-offerings: 1823. ] She ventures not t’ approach thy monument Upon the tomb, retrace thy footsteps quickly, (They go out.) Healthful to those alone who use you well. a Chorus of Young Damsels, the Friends of Electra. Let our sandals press the floor, Light and noiseless be our tread: Far, far off-avoid the bed. Whisper low As the sounds that lull to sleep. Silent come, and silent go. Long he slumbers, as you see. But mishap, a tale of death? Still he breathes, but pants for breath. He dies As lapt in sweetest sleep he lies. Thou hast done, by heaven decreed ; That bereave thee of repose! When unrighteous prophesy, The lawless murder of a mother. See, he moves the covering vest, Tossing in his broken rest. Luckless woman! thou hast spoken Chorus. See, ye Electra. Will ye not depart at last, Treading softly as ye go? Aye-'tis so. That sheddest sleep We are consumed, consumed away! break the silence. Chorus. Nay. Dearest friend that not a word Leave him-leave him to repose. Bread, that should his life sustain. Chorus. Death appears before his eyes. Electra. We are fall’n a sacrifice To the God who doom'd to flow Her blood that laid our father low. My father's blood, and thou art dead. See ! what a wretched life I drag for ever. The couch on which he lies : 'he may be gone Where the stretch'd limbs hang loose as those I ser. Orestes. O sleep! O friendly balm! relief from pain! How pleasant is thy seasonable coming ! come hither? Shall I now touch thee tenderly and raise thee? Orestes. Yes—raise me, raise me: wipe the clammy foam From my spent lips; the moisture from my eyelids. Electra. See'tis my pleasant duty: nor refuse I To tend thy person with my sister hands. Orestes. Lie down beside me: part the matted hair That hides my face: I scarce can see the light. Electra. How thy poor head is tangled with its locks! How haggard look'st thou, to the bath a stranger! Orestes. Lay me again upon the couch: the fit Of frenzy leaves me weak, and my limbs fail me. Electra. See how his bed is welcome to the patient! With slow alternate steps? change best refreshes. His galley anchors in the port of Nauplia. Orestes. Ha! comes he as a light to our misfortunes, Electra. He comes: that you may trust my tidings, know Orestes. Were he alone he might be envied more: Leading his wife he brings a mischief with him. Orestes. Be thou unlike those vile ones, for thou mayst: Those snake-hair'd women dabbled all with blood: Electra. Rest thou, poor sufferer! tranquil in thy bed: Thou think'st thou clearly seest them, yet seest nothing. Orestes. They'll kill me, Phœbus !—those grim Goddesses, Dog-visaged, gorgon-eyed, Hell's priestesses! Electra. I will not let thee go, but twine my hands Orestes. Ha! loose me-thou art one of those my furies; In his distress? the God is most unfriendly. To drive the Furies, when they scared me, hence. Hear ye not? see ye not how the notch'd arrow Ah! wherefore do I faint? why does my breath Wide from the couch ?-The storm subsides-'tis calm. Within my bosom's vesture? I am shamed To make thee share my sufferings, and afflict Thy virgin softness with my malady. Pine not for what I suffer: thou indeed Giving me mere lip-comfort, and none else: I could have ask'd if I should slay my mother, * He would have clasp'd my knees with many prayers, * In the original “ adjured me by my beard.” |