Had the rest of the poem been laboured with equal care and success, we should have dwelt on the consideration of it with more complacency. In the smaller pieces, we find little to commend: the measure of some of them is unhappily chosen, particularly that of the Morla chian Funeral Song; and there is a great want of melody in such Lincs as these; • Short time elaps'd ;- -scarce seven days were over, And one, the greatest, was IMOSKI'S CADI; Fix'd to Imoski's Cadi to betroth her. Then she besought him- Send a leaf of paper, Inscrib'd with these words, to Imoski's Cadi: "Thee the young Widow greets, and thus she prays thee: Experiments of this kind have not succeeded in our language. For writers who wish to try new measures in verse, the best source. of variety will be found in Quarles's Emblems: but the lines quoted above have no poctical character whatsoever. Art. 22. The Thirteenth Satire of Juvenal: intended for a Specimen of a Translation of his Satires. 8vo. IS. Cadell jun, and Davies. 1802. This gentleman has taken for his motto the concluding line of Ovid's Epitaph on Phacton, Quem si non tenuit, magnis tamen excidit ausis: but translations, as they are commonly undertaken, cannot be reckoned among bold darings and great attempts; nor is there any thing in the present specimen to justify the author in occupying such high ground. A translation, or rather imitation, of the Satires of Juvenal, executed with spirit and taste, would be an accptable present to the public: but a tame and dilated version, unaccompanied by notes and illustrations, (which the text of Juvenal very much requires,) will given either fame to the author nor pleasure to the reader. We cannot bestow much commendation on the poetic version before us. The author stumbles at the very threshold. Juvenal's words, se judice nemo nocens absolvitur, are rendered, none stands quitted at the bar within;' and, a few lines afterward, we have, • Because a friend refuses to confess Thy trusted pledge;' which passage could not be understood without a comparison with the original; confessing a pledge' does not denote reddere deposi Between these two defects, stands one tolerable line; tumn. A man with dignity his lot bemoans.' In another place, Juvenal expresses by one line that which his translator, for the sake of a rhyme, draws out into two; or rather, like the parallelisms in the Hebrew Scriptures, the second line is little more than an echo of the first. The bard asks Calvinus, An nihil in melius tot rerum proficis usu? of which the translator gives the full sense by this line, "Are these the lessons thou in life hast read?' but, as unfortunately another line was wanted to rhyme to this, ter more syllables are given, without addition to the thought; Again; The rich instruction of thine hoary head?' For rare the good who boast that curious style, Though Juvenal says Rari quippe boni, he does not assert that the title of good is a curious style. The thought and the expression both belong to the translator. From the few specimens here selected from the first fifty lines, not to mention many others which might be adduced with equal facility, the reader will be able to judge how far the author ought to be encouraged to persevere. In our court, we can pronounce no deci sion that would be flattering. Art. 23. Pleasures of Solitude, Second Edition. With other Poems. By P. Courtier. Small 8vo. 8s. Boards. Rivingtons. 1802. We gave an account of the former edition of these poems in the 20th volume of our New Series, p. 180. In the present impression, the ingenious young writer proves that he has not been inattentise to the duties of correction; and several new pieces are added to the smaller poems. Mr. Mr. Courtier has convinced us that he is an improving writer; and we are glad to see that he has been encouraged by so many subscribers. Art. 24. Saint Anne's Hill. A Poem. Dedicated to the Right Hon. Charles James Fox. 4to. 53. Debrett. Statesmen in power generally find poets to cover them with incessant praise but dismissed and retired patriots have rarely been able to draw the votaries of the Muses into their train. History indeed does them justice; and to this tribunal they must with satisfaction appeal, happy if for the present they secure the love and esteem of a few. The great and amiable qualities of Mr. Fox have gained him a number of steady and admiring friends; among whom a poet here begs leave to be classed, who represents himself as called by his Muse to sing the natal day' of the hospitable Master' of St. Anne's Hill. With some diffidence he enters on the task; and though he may not have offered any very elegant compliment at the Patriot's shrine, he has not unsuccessfully delineated him in his retirement: Sated with fame, weary'd with feuds of State, Thoughtful on Liberty's declining star, To mild Philosophy's sequester'd bow'r, To rural studies, and to tranquil life. 'What classic scenes arise on every side, The sage's and the poet's mind to fill !— That Truth demands for sainted Anna's Hill.' The title contains a pleasing vignette, exhibiting a view of Mr. Fox's elegant villa on St. Anne's Hill, near Chertsey, Surrey. Art. of 25. Lyrical Ballads, with other Poems. By W. Wordsworth. Vol. II. Small 8vo. 5s. Boards. Longman and Co. In our xxixth Vol. N. S. we gave an account of the first part these Lyrical Ballads; which appeared without the Poet's name. As we then paid a particular attention to the style and manner of the unknown writer, we think it unnecessary to enlarge with critical discrimination on the character and merits of the poems now before us. Suffice it, therefore, to observe that we deem the present publication not inferior to its precursor; and to express our hope that this will not prove the last time of our meeting this natural, easy, sentimental Bard, in his pensive rambles through the wilds and groves of his truly poetic, though somewhat peculiar, imagination. REV. JUNE, 1802. Р Art. Art. 26. The Myrtle and Vine; or, Complete Vocal Library. Containing a judicious Collection of the most popular and captivating Songs on every Subject that can charm the Ear, or enliven the Heart. Selected from the harmonic Treasures of the Sister Muses of the Three Kingdoms; interspersed with many Originals and Transla tions.. With an Essay on Singing and Song-writing. To which are added, Biographical Anecdotes of the most of celebrated Song. Writers. By C. H. Wilson, Esq. Svo. 4 Vols. 16s. Boards. West and Co. We have here a collection of every thing, or nearly every thing, which the Muses of English Song, Ballad, Catch, or Glee, have produced since the days of Tom Durfy and Allan Ramsay; which may contribute to the amusement of the frequenters of our play. houses, public gardens, polite assemblies, convivial clubs, &c. ke. In such a groupe as we see assembled in this compilement, there must, in course, be exhibited many queer, as well as some elegant, figures; much dulness; more frivolity; and it were hard, indeed, if there were not some genuine wit-or, to borrow a more common allusion, may we not compare this production to an extensive garden, in which we are at one time charmed with the roses and lilies of poetry, while at another docks and thistles obtrude their uninviting forms on our notice? Prefixed to Mr. Wilson's vocal Collection, we have a prefatory sketch,' by Mr. G. S. Carey, of the Poet, the Player, the Musi cian, and the Singer; particularly those Singers whose portraits embellish these volumes.' These sketches and criticisms evince the taste and skill of the writer; who certainly, to use a hackneyed phrase, is at home,' when discussing these topics; and we must acknowlege that we have been agreeably amused by the variety of his remarks; as will, doubtless, be many readers of these volumes by the engraved portraits (though very indifferently executed) of the most celebrated performers, which are designed as embellishments of the publication; viz. Banister, Vernon, Mrs. Baddely, Incledon, Mrs. Jordan, Fawcett, Miss De Camp, Dignum, Johnstone, Mrs. Mountain, Munden, Mrs. Martyr, Mrs. Atkins, Signor Benelli, and Mr. Pierce.-The Billington does not appear on this oc casion. To the critical sketches comprehended in the above list of names, is added a chapter of Remarks on the Science of Singing. A few, but very few, of the favorite old songs, English and Scotch, have strayed into this motley assemblage of younger lyrics. Among these ,we observe the once very popular Vicar of Bray; also the jolly song of the Tippling Philosopher: but we looked in vain for the delightful "Sweet are the charms of her I love!" which, in days of yore, was wont to charm us, when we were more susceptible of the soft impressions, which still survive in our memories. *This seems to be a mistake: we find no such anecdotes in the work. Song-Singers, we suppose, are meant. EDUCATION. EDUCATION. Art. 27. Juvenile Biography, or Lives of celebrated Children, inculcating Virtue by eminent Examples from real Life. By Mr. Josse, Professor of the Spanish and French Languages. Translated by Mrs. Cumming. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6s. sewed. Dulau, and Co. &c. The author, or compiler, of this little work expresses his surprise that, among the attempts for the improvement of youth, no history has appeared of such children as have been remarkable for their talents or their virtues, and therefore here exerts himself to supply the supposed deficiency: we say supposed, because, if direct collections of this nature have not been laid before the public, several instances, as they have arisen, have been exhibited to notice; and most, if not, perhaps, all which are here united have, under one form or another, already appeared. However, these volumes have certainly their merit, as coming in aid of the great cause of sobriety, frugality, early industry, and virtue.-Mere talents of an extraordinary kind, shewing themselves in childhood, excite admiration: but it is their exertion and application which improve and edify spectators. Among these, John Philip Baratier, born at Schwoback, A. D. 1721, was eminent: but he died, after amazing attainments, in his twentieth year. Most of the others, male and female, here mentioned, fell short of that period. The account of Louis duke of Burgundy, who died at the age of nine years, about 1760, is very remarkable:- -at the same age died the Dauphin, son of the late king of France, whose history awakens, at once, grief for the little sufferer, and resentment for the brutal and barbarous treatment which he received: yet, as there is nothing very superior nor uncommon in his behaviour, the mournful tale of this unfortunate child might, we think, have been omitted. It was well judged to insert here some instances of the sad fruit of a vain, frivolous, and, as may too justly be added, what is termed a fashionable, education.-Among several instructive narratives presented, one which strikes us the most is that of Nicol, the young wool-merchant; because of the active exertions both of body and mind, which so early and silently appeared, and were so steadily maintained; accompanied by probity, prudence, and other virtues, in the exercise of which he succeeded, and became a blessing to himself and others. Art. 28. Subjects on Divinity and Morality. Adapted for Academies of both Sexes. Part I. Thoughts on Religion, united with Virtue. Part II. On Morality, or the Ten Commandments. Part III. On Justice and Temperance. Dedicated, by Permission, to her Royal Highness the Duchess of York. By M. C. Walker. 12mo. 38. sewed. Cadell jun. and Davies. Books for the rising generation need not be elegant and sump. tuous, but they ought to give correct views of things: they need not be elaborate, but the ideas ought to be clear and well arranged. In neither of these respects do we deem the work before us well adapted for academies. The thoughts on Divinity and Morality are very desultory and confused; the comments on the Ten Commandments, and P& the |