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Extract from the CHRISTIAN OBSERVER, for December, 1814.

"The name of Professor Franck is associated in the minds of those who are acquainted with the history of true religion, with all that is learned, pious, useful, and excellent. He was indeed " á burning and a shining light;" and in extending the knowledge of his oharacter and example, and translating the present brief, but valuable Work, the EDITOR has rendered a very acceptable and useful service to the lovers and students of sacred literature. The extent of the Professor's learning, and the soundness of his judgment, afford ample security to one class of enquirers; while the depth of his religious views, the spirituality of his mind, and the length of his experience, may well assure some others that he is not unworthy of their confidence as an instructor upon this fundamental subject. The Notes, by the Translator, contain a valuable fund of Bibliographical Knowledge, collected and digested from various approved sources, on all the topics discussed by Professor Franck, from which the student of the Sacred Writings may derive important direction and assistance. We have, perhaps, dwelt the longer upon this publication, because we consider that at a time when the most laudable zeal prevails amongst us for the distribution of the Divine Records, it is peculiarly important, that correct views respecting their meaning and interpretation should also be disseminated. We are happy therefore in having an opportunity of noticing a Work which contains so much valuable information and direction upon this important point, and cordially recommend it to general perusal.

Extract from the CRITICAL REVIEW, for July and August, 1815.

"At a time when the Sacred Writings are so generally diffused, and the knowledge of the eternal truths they contain so universally cultivated, the appearance of this Translation we regard as extremely seasonable and appropriate. No one, we think, will hesitate to confess that the publication of a work, the express object of which is to direct the student in his course through the Inspired Volume, is at once auxiliary to the promotion of true religion, and of inestimable advantage to all who are anxious to ascertain the real grounds of their faith... Of the merits of the Translator, it is our pleasing duty to speak in laudatory terms. The NOTES annexed claim much praise for their Learning, Judgment, and Ability; and are replete with evidence of extensive Bibliographical research.

THE

PURPLE ISLAND.

CANTO I

I.

THE warmer sun the golden bull outran,
And with the twins made haste to inn* and play;
Scatt'ring ten thousand flow'rs, anew began
To paint the world, and piece the length'ning day;
(The world more aged by new youths accruing) :
Ah, wretched man! this wretched world pursuing,✓
Which still grows worse by age, and older by renewing.
II.

The shepherd-boys, who with the muses dwell,

Met in the plain their May-lords new to choose,

(For two they yearly choose) to order well

Their rural sports and year that next ensues:

Now were they sat, where by the garden walls The learned Cam with stealing water crawls, And lowly down before that royal temple falls.

*To take up temporary abode. continuance is hell."

So Donne :..." Inn any where,

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III.

Among the rout they take two gentle swains,

Whose sprouting youth did now but greenly bud;
Well could they pipe and sing, but yet their strains
Were only known unto the silent wood :

Their nearest blood from self-same fountains flow,
Their souls self-same in nearer love did grow;
So seem'd two join'd in one, or one disjoin'd in two*.
IV.

Now when the shepherd-lads, with common voice,
Their first consent had firmly ratified,
A gentle boy began to wave their choice ;—
"Thirsil, said he, tho' yet thy muse untried,
Hath only learn'd in private shades to feign
Soft sighs of love, unto a looser strain;

Or thy poor Thelgon's wrong, in mournful verse to plain ;

V.

Yet, since the shepherd-swains do all consent

To make thee lord of them, and of their art; And that choice lad, to give a full content,

Hath join'd with thee in office as in heart;

Wake, wake thy long, thy too long sleeping muse,
And thank them with a song, as is the use†:

Such honour thus conferr'd, thou may'st not well refuse.
VI.

Sing what thou list, be it of Cupid's spite,
(Ah, lovely spite and spiteful loveliness!)
Or Gemma's grief, if sadder be thy sprite :
Begin beloved swain, with good success."—
"Ah, said the bashful boy, such wanton toys,
A better mind and sacred vow destroys,

Since in a higher Love I settled all my joys.

* The Author speaks here of himself and his brother; who was also a Poet, + i. e. Custom.

VII..

But if you deign my ruder pipe to hear,

(Rude pipe, unus'd, untun'd, unworthy hearing) These infantile beginnings gently bear,

Whose best desert and hope must be your bearing.
But you, O muses, by soft Camus sitting,

Your dainty songs unto his murmurs fitting,
Which bear the under-song unto your cheerful dittying ;→
VIII.

Tell me, ye muses, what hath former ages,
Now left succeeding times to play upon ?
And what remains unthought of by those sages,
Where a new muse may try her pinion?
What light'ning heroes, like great Peleus' heir
Darting his beams thrò' our hard frozen air,
May stir up gentle heat, and virtue's wane repair?
IX.

Who knows not Jason? or bold Tiphys' hand,*
That durst unite what nature's self would part?
He makes isles continent, and all one land;

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O'er seas, as earth, he march'd with dangerous art:
He rides the white-mouth'd waves, and scorneth all
Those thousand deaths wide gaping for his fall:
He death defies, fenc'd with a thin, low, wooden wall.
X.

Who has not often read Troy's twice sung fires,
And at the second time twice better sung?
Who hath not heard th' Arcadian shepherd's quires,
Which now have gladly chang'd their native tongue;
And sitting by slow Mincius, sport their fill,
With sweeter voice and never equall'd skill,
Chanting their amorous lays unto a Roman quill+ ?
* Tiphys was pilot of the vessel which conveyed Jason to Colchis.
+ Mincius, a river of Mantua, Virgil's birth-place.

XI.

And thou, choice wit! love's scholar, and love's master,
Art known to all, where love himself is known* :
Whether thou bidd'st Ulysses hie him faster;

Or dost thy fault and distant exile moan:
Who hath not seen upon the tragic stage,
Dire Atreus feast, and wrong'd Medea rage,
Marching in tragic state, and buskin'd equipage?
XII.

And now of late + th'Italian fisher-swain

Sits on the shore to watch his trembling line, There teaches rocks and prouder seas to plain By Nesis fair, and fairer Mergiline :

Whilst his thin net, upon his oars entwin'd,
With wanton strife catches the sun and wind;
Which still do slip away, and still remain behind.
XIII.

And that French muse's eagle eye and wing,
Hath soar'd to heav'n, and there hath learn'd the art
To frame angelic strains, and canzons sing;

Too high and deep for any shallow heart.

Ah, blessed soul! in those celestial rays,

Which gave thee light, these lower works to blaze,
Thou sit'st imparadis'd, and chant'st eternal lays.
XIV.

Thrice happy wits! which in the springing May,
Warm'd with the sun of well deserved favours,
Disclose your buds, and your fair blooms display,
Perfume the air with your rich fragrant savours!
Nor may, nor ever shall, those honour'd flow'rs
Be spoil'd by summer's heat, or winter's show'rs,
But last, when time shall have decay'd the proudest tow'rs.

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