first cantos were suffered, without reprobation or castigation, either from courts of law, or of literature,-to obtrude all their immorality and irreligion in every quarter of the united kingdom; the author himself telling us, like Rousseau, that any modest woman who read him was UNDONE! And yet two years have passed away, and such a publication has not been reprobated by either of the two leading Journals of the day! We can account a little for the silence of the southern Journal, because it might have been " V Murray v. Murray,' "alter et Mem:"-in other words, biting one's nose to be revenged of one's face. But it is not so with our NORTHERN Critical Journal, which has emphatically taken for its motto, "Judex damnatur cum NOCENs ab solvitur." In consequence of this silence, a supposed consent appeared to have been given to the two first Cantos of Don Juan, and the publisher seemed, as it were, to have a patent for the vendition of licentiousness. Even the Society for the Suppression of Vice became stupid or supine upon the unbounded currency given to this capricious and mischievous production. And now, at the distance of two years, Three More Cantos make their appearance from the same quarters, that is to say, from Lord Byron and Mr Davison. But where is the second quarto edition? "Experientia docet," says our copy-book at school; and the legitimate proprietor comes forth, in the second instance, precisely in the very garb and manner of the pirate in the first! Wherefore? Because he knew the ticklish character of the commodity which he vended. He knew that the quarto would be soon succeeded by the fox-like octavo; because there was no legitimate help against it, in the soundness of the cause, or the consistency of his past conduct. And, therefore, the sequel appears (not only in a large, but a small octavo form,-utrumque paratus) with the third, fourth, and fifth Cantos of Don Juan,-resolving not to be undersold. As a matter of business, it is done wisely; but as a matter of reputation, it would have been done infinitely more wisely had the proffered continuation been rejected. Let him do what he will, the ground will sink or totter beneath his feet. We are sure that Don Juan himself never felt more awkwardly than does his publisher. When Mr Murray told the noble author, (see Canto IV. xcvii.) that families of respectability would not allow the first two cantos to lie upon their tables, (which communication, on the part of the author, affords occasion to a satirical quotation of scripture,) HOW could he have ventured upon the publication of those which followed? This was a sad demonstration of inconsistency, a sad departure from the respectability which he owed to himself. Mr Murray is a liberal man, and he gives large sums for copyrights. But perhaps he lost in consequence of the appearance of the Fox. It was now his turn to out-wit the Fox. This he has done. But has he not outwitted himself? The latter is always more dangerous than the former. And now as for the cantos recently published, we reserve a more close criticism upon them for a future number. They have disappointed us, not in the quantity of grossness and personal abuse which they contain, but in the "vis poetica," whether of plot or of execution. They are barren of incident, but fruitful in digression. Haidée's father returns, and catches the young lover in the arms of his daughter. Don Juan goes" to the right about," not without losing a little blood himself, and lopping off a limb or two of his assailants. He is dragged to a boat, and rowed off as a slave to Constantinople. Meantime, Haidée screams out hastily, and bursts a blood-vessel in her agony. Her death follows, but this would have been too simple an event for Lord Byron's horrific taste, and, therefore, he contrives to tell us that she is with child by the stripling lover. She died, but not alone; she held within Have dawn'd a fair and sinless child of sin; A second principle of light, which might But closed its little being without light, And went down to the grave unborn, where in Blossom and bough lie wither'd with one blight; In vain the dews of Heaven descend above The bleeding flower and blasted fruit of love. These are exquisite lines, undoubt edly; 'tis the cause, or subject only, FOR 1817. which makes us shudder as we read THE EDINBURGH ANNUAL REGISTER them. Don Juan is sold in the mar➡ ket-place as a slave, but is bought (by Baba, a black eunuch) exclusively for the purpose of gratifying the lusts of the Sultana. Almost in the very act of complying with her wishes, the Grand Signor arrives, and here the story ends. This is "the truth, and nothing but the truth," as respects the progress of the plot; and are we to pay "smart-money" (in the strictest sense of the word) for this? The digressions, meanwhile, are endless, and plentifully larded with attacks against Lady Byron, and Messieurs Southey, Wordsworth, and Coleridge. Indeed, we can hardly see how the author can escape being bastinadoed by one, or the other, or all three of these gentlemen, each in turn, as soon as he shall have the virtue or courage to revisit his native land. In the third Canto, (stanza civ.) Lord Byron gives us a specimen of his religious creed. It is just such a specimen as the leader of banditti would give: just such, as a gentleman-highwayman would make. We wish, we heartily wish, that the fine poetry, which almost redeems the third Canto (the least exceptionable, on the ground of immorality) from reprobation, had not been mixed up with very much that is equally frivolous and foolish. The second stanza in this Canto is beautiful, and almost original. The hymn (or heroic song, at p. 46 to 51) is, we think, one of the very finest things, of its kind, of modern poetry. It is full of vigour of thought and of expression: a fine classical feeling pervades the whole, and the conclusion is perfectly magnificent." O, si sic omnia!" and why should not HE, to whom "much is given," give us much in return? Something better than he has recently given, (for his former effusions were only objectionable on the score of their misanthropic tendency,) will doubtless be ONE DAY required. How this requisition will be complied with, is a matter for the Noble Lord's serious, and perhaps immediate consideration. He is yet a young man, and future excellencies may atone for past errors. Meanwhile, it may be. as well for him to consider, that the public soon tire of monstrosity, both in morals and in literature. THIS work, which is conducted with a singular degree of ability, industry, and research, is really an invaluable treasure of historical and ge neral knowledge. The public are no strangers to, and have already appreciated, the distinguished talents and learning of the modest but eminent individual to whose laborious and judicious exertions they are indebted for the great mass of well-digested and important information contained in the volume before us; and we think think it but a small part of the praise due to the Edinburgh Annual Register, conducted by this meritorious gentleman, that every rival work has of late been following in its wake-haud passibus æquis. Accuracy, and methodical arrangement, so necessary in a work of general reference, have been successfully studied. Industry has been happily directed by unquestioned talent, and talent has been rendered effective by an industry that neglects no source of information, and tolerates no apology for ignorance. The historical portion of the work, in particular, is written with great fidelity, ability, and knowledge of the subject: the style is pure, easy, graceful, varied, dignified. It is impossible to rate too highly the value of such a book as this to the future historian; if, indeed, it be not itself destined to outlive works of more formal, and worse founded pretensions; for who that longs to see far into the interior of historical region, would not prefer the accurate, minute, yet comprehensive survey here laid down, to the mere outline charts which future historians may construct from the materials now laid open, and which will of necessity contain only a few prominent headlands and capes? But, perhaps, it may be said, that we are too near the period so ably chronicled in the present work, to form a just estimate of events that may have agitated our feelings, and perhaps excited our hopes and fears. In other circumstances, we would not treat this objection as a light one. But we can honestly assure such objectors, if any such exist, that the historical department of this work is compiled with a degree of abstract philosophical impartiality which does equal credit to the taste and judgment of the conductor, and greatly enhances its value. He views men and measures like a philosopher, not a political partizan, and never allows himself to betray any other feeling than a manly yet temperate love of liberty. At the same time, his profound geographical and historical researches have afforded him a vast compass and variety of pertinent illustration, by the aid of which, without sacrificing the severity of truth, he contrives to invest his performance with a quiet but irresistible fascination. It is for this reason that the work is so amusing; and we will readily engage to forfeit our credit with our numerous readers, if they do not agree with us, that it is not more interesting than instructive. Besides the historical portion, this volume contains biographical notices of a great variety of notorious or eminent individuals:-of Mr Ponsonby, Mr Horner, Mr H. Erskine, Mr Curran, Admiral Duckworth, the Duke of Northumberland, the Duke of Marlborough, Marshal Massena, Cardinal Maury, Kosciusko;-of Richard Lovell Edgeworth, Dr Wm. Thomson, (commonly called the Man i the Moon,) David Williams, James Glenie, Rev. W. Beloe, Dr A. Monro, sen. Mad. de Staël, Werner, De La Methrie, Messier, Rochon, and Dr T. Dwight. To these are subjoined an able and valuable paper entitled, "A View of the Improvements in Science during the Year," and "A View of Geographical Discoveries," obviously from the pen of the conductor himself-besides Poetry, Miscellaneous Literary Information, State Papers, and the British Chronicle:A pretty tolerable bill of fare. The irregularity with which this work has hitherto been published, and the arrear into which it has fallen, have afforded good grounds for complaint. But our readers will learn with satisfaction, that the publishers have formed the most efficient arrangements for making up their lee-way, for bringing forward the work with all possible despatch to the present time, and for ensuring punctuality as to the time of future publication. TRANSLATION FROM THE SPANISH. MR EDITOR, I INCLOSE a translation of the celebrated "Profecia del Tajo" of Luisde Leon. This eminent Poet stands at the very head of Spanish Lyric Poetry-immeasurably superior to his predecessors, and equalled by none of his successors, except Herrera, who, full of the perusal of the sacred writings, communicated to his poetry a majesty, enthusiasm, and inspiration, which rival the classical beauties of Luis de Leon. The present is the only specimen of his Heroic Odes with which we are acquainted, but in the moral and religious style, he has left a large collection, which, with a more dignified tone, and more elevated morality, breathes all the delicacy and refinement of his model, Horace. The prophecy of the Tagus is, in the leading idea, imitated from Horace's prophecy of Nereus, and particular passages are occasionally literally translated, as in the Eheu quantus viris, quantus adest sudor towards the conclusion of the ode. It will be owned, however, that in almost every particular, Luis de Leon has improved upon his model. This ode has been more than once translated, but Southey's is the only one I have ever seen; and however inferior in poetical beauty, I can venture to assert, that the present translation is the more faithful of the two. ODE. Folgaba el Rey Rodrigo. WHERE Tagus winds his golden way, M. With beauteous Cava by his side In evil hour dost thou rejoice, Alas! how brief the space shall be, For hapless Spain, beheld the morn :How deadly to the Gothic race, Shall be her fatal loveliness? Rapine and war, within their grasp, To those who turn with easy toil, All reckless of his honoured name, Hark! how the vaulted heavens rebound The thunders of the trumpet sound, That from his desart home afar, Call the fierce Arab to the war, I see the savage Moor advance :- Earth groans beneath the mighty host, Already see their hosts ascending Their arms of vigour to the oar, Their progress through the sparkling surge. Right on their swelling sails, behind And thou amidst the storm reposing, That madly whirls the flaming brand. And thou divine and lovely water, A LAMENT. Air, "Wha will dandle my Mary." No. 175 of Captain Fraser's Highland Melodies. WHA will dandle my Mary * Southey. |