صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

known to the vulgar crew of mere grumblers, that actors have sometimes a will of their own, and will not be entirely swayed by the wishes of any particular manager.

But now that we have seen what it is impossible that the Edinburgh Theatre could be in the present state of the stage, let us look for a moment to what it is. We have already said that it is a Provincial Theatre, and that as such it must be judged. The question is, are its performances conducted in a style calculated to give a fair estimate of the existing capabilities of the provincial stage, and are they such as, considering how dramatic matters now stand, the Edinburgh public have a right to expect? We can see little difficulty in replying that they are; only stipulating, that we shall be understood as speaking of the company as it has existed for several years back, keeping out of consideration one or two defections which have taken place towards the fag end of the present season, and which there can be no doubt it is the manager's determination fully to supply before the commencement of his next campaign. Did we see cause to entertain a mean opinion of our stage, we should feel sore both for ourselves and other dramatic critics who have not scrupled, for a considerable period back, to bestow the best of their abilities in criticisms, both on the pieces produced here, and on the manner in which they were performed. We should feel sore, too, for the enlightened inhabitants of this city, who have so long permitted themselves to be gulled into an enjoyment of theatrical representations altogether unworthy of them. It is true that a Cockney, whose whole ideas of terrestrial grandeur vibrated between Charing Cross and Hyde Park Corner, might assure us that our little Theatre was altogether contemptible; or a very empty and conceited goose, dressed in a little brief authority, by having it in his power to print nonsense gratis, might wish to show his own inconceivable superiority, by turning up the ugly point of his pedantic nose at our homely enjoyments; but we should be as much amused by the Cockney's attempt at ridicule-poor thing! as at the human frog's gigantic efforts to puff himself into an ox. We should hand them both over to Donald the boxkeeper, advising him to administer to them a little of that wholesome chastisement, the application of which would be facilitated had they the sense to wear kilts, and the receipt of which might possibly send them back to their respective places of abode, wiser and better men.

We take a proper and honest interest in our own national Theatre, and should be sorry to see it traduced. This has never yet been done, so far as we know; and, considering the histrionic talent connected with it, the task would be at once an unthankful and malignant one. It is needless to repeat here what has been so often said already, and what is known and confessed in London no less than in Edinburgh, that, as a comedian of most exquisite finish and tact, the stage cannot boast of any performer superior to MURRAY, and we sincerely believe that, in several of his favourite parts, it has none equal to him. As a manager, we know it to be universally allowed by his brother-managers, that his system is such as to secure a regularity like that of clock-work in all his greenroom arrangements, and to make it impossible that any thing can go egregiously wrong, either before or behind the curtain. The manager's sister, MRS HENRY SIDDONS, does not appear to us to be destitute of faults as an actress, but our own opinion coincides with what we know to be that of the most talented female dramatist of the day, that there is no lady now upon the stage equal to her either for versatility or intensity of power.-We are willing to admit, that between Mr Murray and his sister and any of the rest of the company, there is a considerable interval; but still much merit remains.

For the fine gentleman, and similar parts, we could desire no better performer than JONES. It is true that his personifications are seldom very varied, and that he rarely goes far out of himself, as it were; but neither does the fine gentleman;

[ocr errors]

he belongs to a common genus, and it is only among this genus that Jones' forte lies.-For low life, in all its different grades and phases,-whether in happy or adverse circumstances, whether comic or grave,—whether a Yorkshire clown or an Irish bog-trotter,—we are perfectly willing to rest content with STANLEY; for we are satisfied that he yields but little to either Edwin or Rayner. We never thought PRITCHARD a great actor; but it is necessary that every provincial theatre should have a respectable actor of all work,—one who can turn with willingness and ease from tragedy to farce, from comedy to melo-drama, and from opera to pantomime. We do not know where we could, in this respect, find a substitute for Pritchard-certainly neither in Dublin nor Liverpool.-MASON is often a very facetious old man ; and be makes, besides, an excellent starved apothecary, and a very mirth-exciting tailor.-In a Scottish theatre, nothing could be more desirable than one or two actors who can do justice to Scottish parts, and this desideratum is very completely supplied in Messrs MACKAY and DENHAM. It is true, that the powers of neither of these deserving actors are limited to the delineation of national character; but it is in this department that they both excel. Sir Walter Scott, by linking Mackay's name with one of his own inimitable creations, has unquestionably made the actor immortal; and we need only add, that all this performer's Scotch parts are delightfully true to nature, whether we see him in "Rob Roy," in "Guy Mannering," in "St Ronan's Well," in "The Heart of Mid Lothian," in "The Fortunes of Nigel," in "Cramond Brig," or in Mary Stuart." Denham, in the same walk, is not inferior; and the Dandie Dinmont of the one is as firmly established in popular favour as the Bailie Nicol Jarvie of the other.-Though his voice is scarcely strong enough to enable him to gain much eclat as a public singer, THORNE possesses a cultivated taste, which secures our always listening to him with pleasure; and though we often wish that he could do more, we are sure to be safe from the annoyance of his attempting too much. So long as he had MISS NOEL's powerful support, together with MISS TUNSTALL'S still remaining assistance, we do not think we had any right to complain of the want of operatic force in the company. Miss Noel, it is true, has now left us; and her place has yet to be supplied.-We might allude to more members of the establishment—especially to MRS STANLEY and MRS NICOL;-but the list we have already given is sufficient to show that, for the performance of those pieces which are now the most popular-light comedy, melo-drama, opera, and farce,—than which, nothing else appears to go down-capabilities are to be found in the Edinburgh Theatre of the most respectable kind. We do not say that a better company may not be found in London, but we do say, that a better company will not be found out of London; and further, that the Dublin Company, which, in proportion to the size of the city, ought to be better, is not so good. the same time, as we have already hinted, we think Mr Murray has a good deal to do, before he commences another season, in the way of repairing some holes which we could, at this moment, pick in his coat, To these we have already alluded on a former occasion; and, trusting that his own good sense will show him the propriety of our hints, we shall say nothing further of them at present.

At

The Theatre closes this evening for about three months. It is probable that it will re-open, towards the latter end of September, with the German Company who have been recently performing in London, and who will bring out upon this stage the original editions of the " Freischutz," the "Zauberflote," the "Swiss Family," and other German operas. They are to be succeeded by Madame Vestris, who, we doubt not, will draw good houses; and we are happy to be able to add, that Kean has promised to visit Edinburgh about the same time.

Old Cerberus.

THE POET SHELLEY.

THERE has recently been put into our hands a manuscript volume, which we look upon as one of the most remarkable literary curiosities extant. It is a poem in four cantos, by the late poet Shelley, and entirely written in his own hand. It is entitled "THE WANDERING JEW," and contains many passages of great power and beauty. It was composed upwards of twenty years ago, and brought by the poet to Edinburgh, which he visited about that period. It has since lain in the custody of a literary gentleman of this town, to whom it was then offered for publication. We have received permission to give our readers a farther account of its contents, with some extracts, next Saturday; and it affords us much pleasure to have it in our power to be thus instrumental in rescuing, through the medium of the LITERARY JOURNAL, from the obscurity to which it might otherwise have been consigned, one of the earliest and most striking of this gifted poet's productions, the very existence of which has never hitherto been surmised.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

STANZAS.

From "Eldred of Erin, or the Solitary;" a MS. Poem by Charles Doyne Sillery, Author of "Vallery, or the Citadel of the Lake.”

TELL me, ye midnight voices, where are they-
They who began life's pilgrimage with me?
Some are asleep in death; some far away
Beyond the billows of the boundless sea,
Never to meet but in Eternity!

They are all severed-long forgotten-fled—
Like wintry leaves wind-scattered o'er the lea ;-
Time walked between with swift and silent tread,
Making alike unknown the living and the dead.
And yet mid them there smiled my earliest friends;
The sharers of my innocence and joy :-
Ah! how the rush of years to manhood tends
Our purer, perfect pleasures to destroy !
Who would not wish again to be a boy?

To tread the fields with light and bounding heart;
When no rough blasts, no hardships could annoy :
Our home our Heaven-simplicity our art;
When every various scene new rapture could impart.

Ah me! and those bright sunny days are gone!
Their very memory warms my weary soul:
Yet can they charm, though age apace comes on,
To cut "the thread" and "break the golden bowl."
Yes; years must change, and fleeting seasons roll,
And I fall off, as I had never been,
Hurried along to lingering life's last goal:
Yet shall I ne'er forget those days serene,
The lovely long-lost hours mine infancy has seen!
Lone be the place of my eternal rest;

May no vain marble mock my mouldering clay-
No" storied urn" weigh heavy on my breast,
To lare the passing Pilgrim from his way,
Or tell aught of the being fled for aye :-
But when soft twilight steals o'er purpled skies,
May some lone warbler lull me with her lay;
And while the pale flowers o'er my ashes rise,
May winds and waters mix in melody and sighs.

Oh! I do hate their vanity and pride;
I'm sick of all man's ostentatious show:
Will not his empty pomp be thrown aside

When life hath ceased to burn-life's blood to flow?
When the frail form is laid for ever low,
Will man yet bear his folly to the grave?
I would not have your chiselled scrolls-Oh, no!
O'er me alone let silent willows wave:

And take, my God in Heaven, take back the soul you

gave.

How sweet is death! no sorrow clouds the tomb ;-
How still is death! no voice breaks on his rest ;-
How calm is death! no troubles there can come ;-
How fair is death! the sunshine of the bless'd;-
Peace to the dead, whose souls are on the breast
Of their Redeemer. O! 'tis sweet to die
When Jesus calls, with wearied hearts oppress'd,
The rough race run, serenely down to lie,
And feel the ebbing soul expand into the sky!
THE ROVER'S RETREAT.
By Thomas Atkinson.

My stride is again on the deck of my bark,

And my bark rides once more on the crest of the sea, And I care not though round my track storm-clouds lour dark,

While the breeze swells my sails thus with boisterous glee!

And I've learn'd, as the hurricane tempest hath swept,
That to bend to the bounding is firmest to stand;
And through my last peril as now I have stept,
Till my foot was as free as 'tis here,-on the land!
But when next the broad deck of the Osprey I leave→
If it be not the guerdon of beauty to win-
May the billows that now my glad spirit upheave,
Never greet my dull ear with their soul-rousing din;
For the home of the Rover's the timber-where floats
The red flag of defiance to coward or churl;
And while these hold together, away with the thoughts
That would point to the hour when that banner we'll
furl!

Then her head to the wind and her breast to the wave,
The bright west is before us, though clouds close be-

hind!

In one moon the warm waves of the tropics shall lave
The prow that now points from a shore so unkind.
But yet, ere its bleak cliffs night veils from our view,
One look-but a proud one-Old Albyn, to thee;
If we turn for a moment to bid thee adieu,
In the next we'll exult in the cheers of the free!

LITERARY CHIT-CHAT AND VARIETIES.

WE are informed that a New Monthly Periodical is to be published in September next, to be entitled, "The Edinburgh Journal of Natural and Geographical Science." It will be conducted by an association of Naturalists, and is to embrace all the departments of Natural History and of Geography, both physical and descriptive; and while it will be quite scientific, it will at the same time be written in a popular style.

We understand that the Rev. A. G. Carstairs, minister of Wester Anstruther, is preparing for publication a volume containing the whole of the Scottish Communion Service, according to the usual form of the Presbyterian Church, including the services for the Fastday, and the Saturday before and Monday after Communion.

The Life of Herman Cortes, including a complete History of the Conquest of Mexico, and a faithful Account of the state of that Empire at the time, and the Life of Francis Pizarro, with an Account of the Conquest of Peru, &c., by Don Tellesforo de Trueba y Cosio, author of "Gomez Arias," "The Castilian," &c. are preparing for speedy publication in Constable's Miscellany.

We understand that Mr Derwent Conway, whose works must be well known to our readers, and whom we have the pleasure of ranking among the contributors to the LITERARY JOURNAL, is at present engaged with a poem, which will appear some time in the course of the present year, to be entitled the Chronicle of the Flowers.

Observations upon the Condition of Negro Slavery in the Island of Santa Cruz, and some Remarks upon Plantation Affairs; with a Notice of the Danish West India Islands, is announced.

The MS. note-books of the Rev. Gilbert White, the author of the Natural History of Selbourne, containing many curious observations not hitherto published, are at present in the possession of Mr Murray, of Albemarle Street, who will issue in a few days a cheap and elegant edition of that work.

The author of Reginald Trevor has a new novel in the press, en titled, Lawrence Mertoun, or a Summer in Wales.

A Life of Sir Walter Raleigh, by Mrs A. T. Thompson, authoress of the Memoirs of the Court of Henry the Eighth, is announced for early publication.

A poem, intended to recall to the attention of the public the son of Bonaparte, has just appeared in Paris. It is entitled, "Le Fils de rHomme," and has been seized at the instance of the King's Attorney

General.

The Courier Francois is undergoing a prosecution before the Tribunal of Correctional Police of Paris, for an attack on public morals, the religion of the state, and the mode of worship legally recognized. In speaking of the picture of the King's Coronation, by Baron Gerard, it had said, "The immortal picture of the Supper, those of the Transfiguration and of the Communion of St Jerome, will remain master works of art, even when Christian creeds will be completely abolished, if their frail materials could last so long."

Proposals have been published, at Jassy, for a political and literary| journal, in the Wallachian language, to be called the Wallachian Bec. The editors express a hope that this journal may tend to the cultivation of a language spoken by four millions of people, and which derives its origin from the Romans.

The Marquis of Hereford, now residing in Rome, and a munificent patron of the fine arts, has purchased the famous Spada Pompey for 21,000 Roman scudi, upwards of L.5100! This is the statue at the base of which Cæsar was assassinated in the Senate-house; and besides the interest attached to it from this circumstance, it possesses intrinsic value as a specimen of ancient sculpture.

ETON MONTEM.-This ceremony, the object of which is to obtain a collection for the head-scholar on the foundation, preparatory to his removal for the university, by laying all the spectators and passengers under a contribution. demanded as money for "salt," for which a ticket is given, with the motto of " Mos pro lege," took place on Tuesday. It was witnessed by a large number of visitors, and produced a larger sum than on any previous occasion. The King sent a contribution of one hundred guineas.

NEW HIGH SCHOOL.-This fine building is to be opened, with all due ceremony, upon Tuesday next; and a public dinner, commemorative of the occasion, is afterwards to be given, at which the greater part of the literary talent of Edinburgh will be present.

PHRENOLOGY.-We observe that the sensation excited by Mr

Stone's recent attack on Phrenology has not yet subsided, and that the attempts made to rally by the Phrenologists have called forth a good deal of discussion in the public journals. We revert to the subject simply to state, that after all that has been said both pro and con, we remain fixed in our opinion, that Mr Combe has been decidedly unsuccessful in his "Answer" to Mr Stone. At the same time we think it right to mention, that one ingenious Phrenologist has directed our attention to several weak points in Mr Stone's pamphlet, to which Mr Combe has not adverted, and to which we believe Mr Stone would find it more difficult to make a "rejoinder." We cannot, however, give a place to any more controversy upon this subject, because we do not conceive it sufficiently interesting to the general reader. Talent may be elicited upon any subject under the sun, and it certainly has been elicited upon Phrenology; but the soi-disant science is, at the best, a harmless delusion, and its disciples are trifling with a phantom.

THE NEW DIORAMA.-The Diorama of the Valley of Sarnen has been succeeded by a View of the Ruins of Holyrood Chapel by Moonlight. It is by far the finest specimen of pictorial art and mechanical ingenuity in this department of painting which has yet been exhibited here. The illusion is perfect, and the effect quite magical. The spectator is supposed to be in the interior of the Chapel, looking out upon the starry heavens through the ruined window in the east. The moon is seen slowly rising, and her light tips with silver all the projecting points of the ruins, and, in the most enchanting manner, streams in among the mouldering tombs and pillars. Occasionally, clouds pass across its disc, or what a less romantic imagination might conceive to be a sudden puff of smoke from the Old Town. The admirable manner in which the whole scene is managed cannot fail strongly to impress upon the mind the many historical associationsthe brightest and the darkest in Scotland's annals-with which these Ruins are connected; and thus, the exhibition not only delights the eye, but is calculated to produce a moral effect upon the mind. The introduction of some subdued and pensive music, executed by an unseen minstrel, is a great addition. The tout ensemble is so delightful, that we scarcely have it in our heart to object that the stars are too large and brilliant, that too many of the first magnitude are crowded within a certain space, and that they represent no known constellation; or that the moon, like most theatrical moons, is not quite round; or that the woman, standing motionless, with a lamp burning before her, is an unnatural and disagreeable figure, We easily forgive these imperfections; for, in the fascination of the scene, with the gentle moon gliding through the air before us, and shedding her lovely light upon the walls, shafts, and shattered architrave, we forget that they exist.

Theatrical Gossip.-" The Beggar's Opera" has been performed at Covent Garden with the characters reversed,-that is to say, the male parts were sustained by females, and the female by males. If this

was not an absolute outrage on decency, it was, at all events, a very
coarse and vulgar trick, and presents but a melancholy view of the
theatrical taste of the metropolis.-Drury Lane closes for the season
this day, and Covent Garden on the 24th. We are informed, by au-
thority on which we can rely, that the new plays which Mr Price,
the manager of Drury Lane, announced lately for next season, are
from the pens of the late Mr Maturin, author of "Bertram," &c.,
and Miss Mitford, author of "The Two Foscari," "Rienzi," &c.,
one by each.-As we have occasionally mentioned Miss Smithson
somewhat harshly, we think it right to quote the following passage
from the letter of a London correspondent:-"I am sorry to see that
you select the harshest opinions of the London papers concerning Miss
There are many who estimate her highly; and one
Smithson.
thing is certain, that however she might rank with Mrs Siddons or
Miss O'Neil, she is infinitely superior to Miss Phillips, Miss F. H.
Kelly, or any other Miss or Madam on the boards of this great city,
as a tragic actress."-We see it mentioned in the Atlas that Sontag
requires £350 per night to visit Edinburgh or Dublin! It is quite im-
possible that Sontag can be such an idiot. The house here, at the
fullest, does not hold one-half the sum; and were she to ask £20 per
night, she would be asking a great deal too much. She is no doubt a
very fine singer, but we have heard Pasta, Catalani, and Caradori,
and would not break our hearts though Sontag should retire forth-
with into some Hungarian solitude with her reputed husband, Count
Clam.-Catalani is at Belfast, and Madame Vestris in Dublin.-Poor
Terry has had a stroke of paralysis, and is said to be dying.-The
Haymarket has opened in considerable force.-Although Denham's
powers are certainly not equal to the doing full justice to Virginius,
he sustained the character with great respectability at his benefit on
Tuesday last.-Caradori, who delighted us so much in the "Beggar's
Opera," appeared last night in "Love in a Village," too late of course
for any criticism of ours this week. She repeats the part this evening.
-The new piece we announced last Saturday,-" Willie Armstrong,
or Durie in Durance,"-has been very favourably received, and de-
servedly so. Its author is Dr Poole, who has no reason to be ashamed
of his bantling, and who, we hope, will favour us next season with
something still better; for, in writing for the stage, as in every thing
else, practice makes perfect.-We have been much pleased with the
neat manner in which the Caledonian Theatre is now fitted up; but
we are sorry that we cannot speak very highly of the merits of most
of the performers. Mr C. Bass himself we have not yet seen; we
hope he plays fully better than his better half. "Anne of Geierstein"
is being dramatised for this Theatre.

SAT.
MON.

TUES.

WED.

WEEKLY LIST OF PERFORMANCES.

[blocks in formation]

Rob Roy, & Willie Armstrong.

THURS. Married and Single, Do., & Bottle Imp.
FRI. Love in a Village, & Gilderoy.

TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS. "REMINISCENCES of former days-My first interview with Sir Walter Scott,"-by the Ettrick Shepherd, will appear in our next. The learned and able reviewer of Dr Walker's Sermons has our best thanks: his communication will appear next Saturday.-The interesting article on St Fillan's Spring is in types. We regret much that the tale of "Marina and Jacopo" is too long for our pages, but shall be glad to hear again from its talented Authoress.-The short article, by "A Friend," shall have a place.— "Q. Q." of Glasgow says, "Give me an answer next Saturday, although it should be a very ill-natured one; I have very little patience." We have a good deal, but it will cost us all we have, unless "Q. Q." pays the postage of his next letter: as he seems to be rather a good sort of person, we forgive him this time.-We have to thank our Correspondent at Kirkaldy for his suggestion.

The Sonnet, by our friend" G. H. G." of London, shall have a place in our next.-Our Leith correspondent shows very distinctly, that in his Pilgrim's Progress, Bunyan has in one or two instances copied from Shakspeare.-The Scotch Ballad, beginning,

"The crabbit auld farmer cam hame at e'en,
An' a sour an' grewsom e visage had he;
The body a' day at the pleugh had been,

An' he was as hungry as hungry could be,"

is rather too coarse in some of its stanzas; but we shall be glad to hear again from its author, who has a good deal of native humour and ability about him.-We regret that the verses by "A. P."—by "C. N."-by" J. B."-and by "S. N." of Inverness, will not suit us.

Several of our poetical friends must be content to wait a short while longer, like Peris, at the gate of Paradise; but their time is coming.

[blocks in formation]

LITERARY CRITICISM.

PRICE 6d.

call his poem
"The Wandering Jew," or "The Victim
of the Eternal Avenger." Both names occur in the ma-
nuscript; but had the work been published, it is to be

THE POET SHELLEY-HIS UNPUBLISHED WORK, hoped that he would finally have fixed on the former, the "THE WANDERING JEW."

more especially as the poem itself contains very little cal-
culated to give offence to the religious reader.
The motto
on the title-page is from the 22d chapter of St John,-
"If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

the following dedication:-"To Sir Francis Burdett, bart. M. P., in consideration of the active virtues by which both his public and private life is so eminently distinguished, the following poem is inscribed by the Author." Again turning the leaf, we meet with the

We now proceed to redeem the promise we made last Saturday, to give our readers a more detailed account of this exceedingly interesting poem. There can be little doubt that, with the single exception of Lord Byron, no-follow thou me." Turning over the leaf, we meet with poet of our day has evinced a more strikingly powerful and original genius than Shelley,-indeed, in so far as originality is concerned, he is probably entitled to claim precedency even of Lord Byron. Hardly, therefore, could there have come into our possession any literary curiosity upon which we should have placed a greater value than an unpublished work by the author of the "Cenci;" for, much as we regret the fallacious and unhappy principles which Shelley was induced to adopt, and whose spirit he was too much in the habit of infusing into his writings, we hesitate not to own the great admiration we have ever entertained for his profound abilities.

66 PREFACE.

"The subject of the following Poem is an imaginary personage, noted for the various and contradictory traditions which have prevailed concerning him-The Wandering authenticity of this fact, the reality of his existence. But as Jew. Many sage monkish writers have supported the the quoting them would have led me to annotations perfectly uninteresting, although very fashionable, I decline presenting to the public any thing but the bare poem, which they will agree with me not to be of sufficient consequence to authorize deep antiquarian researches on its subject. I might, indeed, have introduced, by anticipating future events, the no less grand, although equally groundless, superstitions of the battle of Armageddon, the personal reign of J— C—, &c.; but I preferred, improbable as the following tale may appear, retaining the old method of describing past events: it is certainly more consistent with reason, more interesting, even in works of imagination. With respect to the omis sion of elucidatory notes, I have followed the well-known maxim of Do unto others as thou wouldest they should "January, 1811."

do unto thee.'

We have already mentioned that the whole of the manuscript of "The Wandering Jew," now in our possession—and which, we have every reason to believe, is the only copy extant-is written in Shelley's own hand, and that it must have been composed about twenty years ago. This latter fact is sufficiently established by the date affixed to the Preface, which is "January 1811;" and the Preface bears internal marks of having been written after the poem, which may therefore be set down as belonging to the year 1810. It is, consequently, in all likelihood, the very earliest production of Shelley's pen; for that wild and astonishing poem, "Queen Mab," was not written till 1811, and was not given to the public The poem introduced by the above Preface is in four till 1815. In 1811, Shelley was only eighteen, and he cantos; and, though the octosyllabic verse is the most himself, writing from Pisa in 1821, says, " A poem, prominent, it contains a variety of measures, like Sir The incidents are entitled Queen Mab, was written by me at the age of Walter Scott's poetical romances. eighteen, I daresay in a sufficiently intemperate spirit," simple, and refer rather to an episode in the life of the &c. It thus appears, that "The Wandering Jew" must Wandering Jew, than to any attempt at a full delineation have been written when the poet was only seventeen, and of all his adventures. We shall give an analysis of the when his talents were entirely unknown. It may pos- plot, and intersperse, as we proceed, some of the most insibly have been offered to one or two booksellers, both interesting passages of the poem. It opens thus, in a strain London and Edinburgh, without success, and this may of subdued and tranquil beauty : account for the neglect into which the author allowed it to fall, when new cares crowded upon him, and new prospects opened round him. Certain it is, that it has been carefully kept by the literary gentleman to whom he intrusted its perusal when he visited Edinburgh in 1811, and would have been willingly surrendered by him at any subsequent period, had any application to that effect been made. A poem written by a lad of seventeen would, in most cases, possess little attraction; but when it is recollected that the same individual produced 66 Queen Mab" at eighteen, and afterwards, during his brief career, stood in the very first place of intellectual superiority, the case is altered, and the primitia of such a mind become perhaps still more interesting than its most matured efforts.

Mr Shelley appears to have had some doubts whether to

"The brilliant orb of parting day
Diffused a rich and a mellow ray
Above the mountain's brow;
It tinged the hills with lustrous light,
It tinged the promontory's height

Still sparkling with the snow;
And, as aslant it threw its beam,
Tipp'd with gold the mountain stream
That laved the vale below.
Long hung the eye of glory there,
And linger'd as if loth to leave
A scene so lovely and so fair,

'Twere there even luxury to grieve;
So soft the clime, so balm the air,

So pure and genial were the skies,
In sooth 'twas almost Paradise,-

For ne'er did the sun's splendour close

On such a picture of repose ;

All, all was tranquil, all was still,

Save where the music of the rill,
Or a distant waterfall,

At intervals broke on the ear,
Which Echo's self was pleased to hear,

And ceased her babbling call.
With every charm the landscape glow'd
Which partial Nature's hand bestow'd;
Nor could the mimic hand of art
Such beauties or such hues impart.

"Light clouds, in fleeting livery gay,
Hung painted in grotesque array
Upon the western sky;
Forgetful of the approaching dawn,
The peasants danced upon the lawn,
For the vintage time was nigh;
How jocund to the tabor's sound,

The smooth turf trembling as they bound,
In every measure light and free,
The very soul of harmony!
Grace in each attitude, they move,

They thrill to amorous ecstasy,
Light as the dew-drops of the morn
That hang upon the blossom'd thorn,
Subdued by the pow'r of resistless Love.

"Ah! days of innocence, of joy,
Of rapture that knows no alloy,

Haste on,-ye roseate hours,

Free from the world's tumultuous cares,
From pale distrust, from hopes and fears,
Baneful concomitants of time,-

'Tis yours, beneath this favour'd clime,
Your pathway strewn with flowers,
Upborne on pleasure's downy wing,
To quaff a long unfading spring,

And beat with light and careless step the ground;
The fairest flowers too soon grow sere,
Too soon shall tempests blast the year,
And sin's eternal winter reign around."

Amidst the sights and sounds of the scene thus described, a traveller is seen descending the hills in the vicinity of Padua. He is attracted by the tolling of a convent bell, and seeing a crowd assembled at the gate, he enters, along with others, the convent chapel, after the sun has already set and vespers are over :

"Dim was the light from the pale moon beaming,
As it fell on the saint-cipher'd panes,

Or, from the western window streaming,
Tinged the pillars with varied stains.

To the eye of enthusiasm strange forms were gliding,
In each dusky recess of the aisle,

And indefined shades in succession were striding
O'er the coignes of the pillar'd pile ;-

The pillars to the vaulted roof

In airy lightness rose;

Now they mount to the rich Gothic ceiling aloof,
And exquisite tracery disclose."

A young novice is about to take the veil, or rather, it is about to be forced upon her. She is thus spoken of:

"Light as a sylph's, her form confest,
Beneath the drapery of her vest,

A perfect grace and symmetry;

Her eyes, with rapture form'd to move,
To melt with tenderness and love,

Or beam with sensibility,

To Heaven were raised in pious prayer,

A silent eloquence of woe;
Now hung the pearly tear-drop there,
Sate on her cheek a fix'd despair;

And now she beat her bosom bare,

As pure as driven snow.

Nine graceful Novices around

Fresh roses strew'd upon the ground,

In purest white array'd; Three spotless vestal virgins shed

Sabean incense o'er the head

Of the devoted maid."

Just as the ceremony is about to be performed, the intended victim, by a sudden impulse, throws herself among the crowd, and rushes from the chapel. The stranger, who has already felt interested in her fate, flies to her assistance, catches her in his arms, and bears her away through the gathering twilight beyond the reach of pursuit. A storm comes on; they seek shelter, and briefly inform each other who they are. The nun's name is Rosa, and the stranger is Paulo-the Wandering Jew. They conceive, strangely enough, a sudden affection for each other, and the first canto closes with the expression of Rosa's consent to share the future fortunes of Paulo. It is curious to observe, before proceeding to the second canto, that, in illustration of something said by Paulo, Shelley quotes, in the margin, the following line from Æschylus, so remarkably applicable to his own future fate,

66 Εμε θανόντος

γαια μιχθητο πορι.”

In canto second, we are introduced to Paulo's castle on the banks of the Po, where he lives in deep retirement with Rosa, visited only by Victorio, an Italian of noble birth, who resides in the neighbourhood. Some bold and vigorous descriptions of Alpine scenery follow. But it is evident that Paulo is not happy, and he spends a wild, uneasy life:

"Strange business, and of import vast,
On things which long ago were past,
Drew Paulo oft from home;
Then would a darker, deeper shade,
By sorrow traced, his brow o'erspread,

And o'er his features roam.

Oft as they spent the midnight hour,

And heard the wintry wild winds rave
Midst the roar and spray of the dashing wave,
Was Paulo's dark brow seen to lour.
Then, as the lamp's uncertain blaze
Shed o'er the hall its partial rays,
And shadows strange were seen to fall,
And glide upon the dusky wall,
Would Paulo start with sudden fear.
Why then unbidden gush'd the tear,

As he mutter'd strange words to the ear?—
Why frequent heaved the smother'd sigh?—
Why did he gaze on vacancy,

As if some strange form was near?
Then would the fillet of his brow
Fierce as a fiery furnace glow,

As it burn'd with red and lambent flame;
Then would cold shuddering seize his frame,
As gasping he labour'd for breath.
The strange light of his gorgon eye,
As, frenzied and rolling dreadfully,

It glared with terrific gleam,

Would chill like the spectre gaze of death,

As, conjured by feverish dream,

He seems o'er the sick man's couch to stand,
And shakes the dread lance in his skeleton hand.

"But when the paroxysm was o'er,

And clouds deform'd his brow no more,
Would Rosa soothe his tumults dire,
Would bid him calm his grief,
Would quench reflection's rising fire,
And give his soul relief.

As on his form with pitying eye,

The ministering angel hung,

« السابقةمتابعة »