"In premio promettendola a quel d'essi, Che in quel conflitto, in quella gran gi ornata, Degl' Infedeli più copia uccidessi, "Dove, poi che rimase la Donzella, "Indosso la corazza, e l' elmo in testa, La spada al fianco, e in braccio avea lo scudo, E più leggier correa per la foresta ; "Vowing with her the warrior to content, Who in that conflict, on that fatal day, With his good hand most gainful succour lent, And slew most paynims in the martial fray. But counter to his hopes the battle went, And his thinn'd squadrons fled in disarray; Namus, with other Christian captains, taken, And his pavilion in the rout forsaken. "There, lodged by Charles, that gentle bonnibel, Ordain'd to be the valiant victor's meed, "With shield upon his arm, in knightly wise, Belted and mail'd, his helmet on his head; The knight more lightly through the forest hies Than half-clothed churl to win the cloth of red. But not from cruel snake more swiftly flies The timid shepherdess, with startled tread, Than poor Angelica the bridle turns, When she the approaching knight on foot discerns." One more passage-it shall be from Canto sixth, where Rogero, after being warned in vain by the metamorphosed Astolpho, is beguiled into the Magic Palace of the Enchantress Alcina. "The courser from the myrtle he untied, "He to remount the steed, and through the air Worse on the courser, restive to the rein. No, I will win by force the mountain-stair,' Rogero said; (but the resolve was vain) Nor by the beach two miles his way pursued, Ere he Alcina's lovely city view'd. "A lofty wall at distance meets his eye, “Come fu presso alle sì ricche mura, Ma tosto ritrovò l' iniqua frotta, "Non fu veduta mai più strana torma, Più mostruosi volti, e peggio fatti. Alcun dal collo in giù d' uomini han forma; Col viso altri di scimie, altri di gatti; "Chi senza freno in su un destrier galoppa, Chi lento va con l'asino, e col bue; Altri salisce ad un centauro in groppa; Struzzoli molti han sotto, aquile, e grue. Ponsi altri a bocca il corno, altri la coppa; Chi femmina, e chi maschio, e chi ambedue, Chi porta uncino, e chi scala di corda, Chi pal di ferro, e chi una lima sorda. "Di questi il capitano si vedea Aver gonfiato il ventre, e'l viso grasso; Il qual su una testuggine sedea, Che con gran tardità mutava il passo. Avea di quà, e di là chi lo reggea; Perch' egli era ebro, e tenea il ciglio basso. Altri la fronte gli asciugava, e il mento; Altri i panni scotea per fargli vento. "Un, ch' avea umana forma, i piedi, e'l ventre, E collo avea di cane, orecchie, e testa Contra Ruggiero abbaja, acciò ch' egli entre Nella bella Città, ch' addietro resta. Rispose il Cavalier: Nol farò, mentre Avrà forza la man di regger questa; E gli mostra la spada, di cui volta Avea l' aguzza punta alla sua volto. “Quel mostro lui ferir vuol d' una lancia; Ma Ruggier presto se gli avventa addosso. Una stoccata gli trasse alla pancia, "When he was nigh the city-walls, so bright; The world has not their equal, he the straight And spacious way deserts, the way which, dight Across the plain, conducted to the gate; And, by that safer road upon the right, Strains now against the mountain; but, in wait, Encounters soon the crowd of evil foes, Who furiously the Child's advance oppose. "Was never yet beheld a stranger band, Of mien more hideous, or more monstrous shape. Form'd downwards from the neck like men, he scann'd Some with the head of cat, and some of ape; With hoof of goat that other stamp'd the sand; While some seem'd centaurs, quick in fight and rape; Naked, or mantled in outlandish skin, Before him, and next sallied there and here; But all too numerous was the wicked throng. Now grappled from behind, now punch'd before, He stands, and plies the crowd with warfare sore. "One to the teeth, another to the breast, Or fought, secured by corslet or by shield; And to keep off the wicked crew which swarms, "If he had thought the magic shield to show, "This as it may the Child would meet his fate, Ere by so vile a band he prisoner led; "On unicorn was seated either fair, A beast than spotless ermine yet more white; So lovely were the damsels, and so rare Their garb, and with such graceful fashion dight, That he who closely view'd the youthful pair, Would need a surer sense than mortal sight, To judge between the two. With such a mien Embodied GRACE and BEAUTY would be seen. "Into the mead rode this and the other dame, Where the foul crew opposed the Child's re treat. The rabble scatter'd as the ladies came, "Above, a cornice round the gateway goes, "Su per la soglia, e fuor per le colonne "Chè si può ben così nomar quel loco, "Quì, dove con serena, e lieta fronte Canta con dolce, e dilettoso stile ; O gioca, o danza, o fa cosa non vile; "Per le cime de' pini, e degli allori, "Upon the sill and through the columns there, Ran young and wanton girls, in frolic sport; Had they observed a woman's fitting port. Nor finds a place in any bosom. Dearth, We earnestly hope Mr Rose may go on and conclude this great undertaking as happily as he has begun it. It is impossible to wish anything better than this, either for his own sake, or for our own. LORD F. L. GOWER. We now come to a bold ventureGoethe's FAUST, by Lord Francis Leveson Gower. This young nobleman, for we believe he is very young, has, we must confess, surprised us. He has not given a perfect Faust,that nobody ever will do-but he has come so near perfection, that we may safely congratulate him on an achievement of which there are few practised poets now living in Britain that might not be proud. By turning to the number of this Magazine for June 1820, the reader may refresh his recollection of the story of this wonderful masterpiece. The analysis there given of the fable, VOL. XIV. and the copious specimens of translation, were from the pen of a young Irish friend of ours, a young man certainly of highly distinguished accomplishment and most promising genius. He, however, will, we are sure, be the first to approve of what we do, when we candidly say, that Lord Francis Gower has put us somewhat out of conceit with his efforts upon Faustus. They were spirited-but they were hastythey want the refinement, and what is of still greater moment, they want the flow of this young lord's parallel passages. It would be ridiculous in us to give a second analysis of the original poem :-that our friend has done E as well as is at all necessary. We shall therefore be contented with quoting a few of Lord Francis's scenes. The first shall be that in which Faust and Mephistopheles walk and converse with Margaret and Martha in the garden. The scene is one of the finest in Goethe; and nothing, we apprehend, can be more happy than the version. What delightful stageeffect-what rich contrasts among all the four personages the bewildered, innocent, timid MAIDEN-the crafty, worldly WOMAN-the FIEND-and his perplexed VICTIM! what satire ! what poetry! what pathos! "A Garden. MARGARET on FAUST's arm. MEPHIS TOPHELES and MARTHA walking up and down. Marg. Too well I feel it, thus you con- Merely to shame me in the end. From kindness to put up with all. With anything that one like me lets fall. more Than wisdom's words or learning's lore. (He kisses her hand. Marg. How could you thus your lips offend? The softness of this hand much toil has To all things I must needs attend- (They pass to the back of the stage. Mar. to Meph. And you, kind sir, set out so soon again? Meph. Business and duty still impel my course. Often we leave a place behind with pain, Yet onward must proceed perforce. Mar. In youth to roam where fortune drives, May suit you well by land, or on the waves: et soon the evil time arrives ; To slink sad, lonely bachelors to your graves, Is a black prospect for your latter lives. Meph. Such end, with horror, I expect. Mar. Then, worthy sir, in time reflect. (They pass back, as before. Marg. Yes, you are courteous, kind, and good, But then you come of gentle blood, Faust. Dulness, not knowledge, wrin- Faust. Strange, that simplicity should want the sense To see the beauty of its innocence ! Before its birth my father was no more, It pined, and then recover'd by degrees; Faust. How sweet your task to rear the Marg. And yet it cost me many a weary hour; And then, besides, to tend the house affairs 'Twould weary you to tell you all my cares." (They cross over. Mar. to Meph. Indeed 'tis uphill work to teach You bachelors. Excuse the speech. Meph. Would one like you my steps conduct, I should be easy to instruct. Mar. Now tell me true, in any place or station, Has your heart never felt the least sensation ? Meph. A good man's hearth, the while his wife sits by, Pearls cannot equal, treasures cannot buy! "Tis thus the proverb says, and so say I. Mar. I mean, if e'er your heart to love was tending? Meph. I always found the ladies condescending. Mar. I mean, if serious passion fill'd your breast? Meph. Trifling with ladies is beyond a jest! Mar. Ah! you mistake. But this I see that you are very kind. (Cross over. Faust. Then you forgive my bearing in the street, Near the cathedral, when we chanced to meet. Marg. I was surprised and fluster'd; it was new |