tence. Men are always discontented, and one who has spent all his days in literature, may, through ignorance, wish, at a late period of existence, that he had followed some business: but no man, who has seen what business is, and abandons it for literature, will, at any time of life, desire to return to it. GROTIUS. When this excellent man was confined by the prince of Orange, in the castle of Louvestein, with his friend Barneveldt, on the suspicion of favouring the sect of the Armenians, he obAfter some tained permission to have his books sent to him. time the guards neglected to examine the boxes as they came in and were sent out. His wife placed Grotius in one of the empty boxes that was going out, and he was safely, in this manner, extricated from his confinement. Some soldiers, whilst they were carrying the chest, observed, that it was as heavy as if an Armenian had been in it-Grotius, however, after much apprehension, escaped. The following verses were made to commemorate so fortunate an elopement.-The arca, or chest, in which he was concealed, is alluded to by the author: Hæc ea, quæ domini solita est portare libellos Mutatum neque sensit onus, quod enim illa ferebat,' Id quoque, sed spirans bibliotheca, fuit. Or thus, done into English. This chest, which to its master did convey Full many a massy volume every day, Unconscious now of greater weight and cares A living library in Grotius bears. Grotius related this circumstance to M. Menage. It happened in the year 1662. PIRON. A bishop, not generally suspected of writing his own sermons, accosted Piron, with, "Well, Piron, have you read my charge to the clergy." "No my lord; have you?" was the reply of the poet. PUNNING SERMON. During Cromwell's government, one Slater, a broken apothecary of Birmingham, got possession of the rectory of St. Martin's, in opposition to one Jennings, owner of Aston furnace; one Smallbroke, a wealthy inhabitant;" and Sir Thomas Holt, who wished for it. In his first sermon he told his people, the Lord had carried him through many troubles, for he had passed, like Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego, through the fiery furnace; and as the Lord had enabled the children of Israel to pass over the Red Sea, so he had assisted him in passing over the Small brooks, and to overcome the strong Holts of sin and Satan. J. E. H. SELECTED POETRY. PORTUGUESE HYMN TO THE VIRGIN MARY. "The Star of the Sea."-By John Leyden. Star of the wide and pathless sea, Amid the warring waters tost, We called no other name but thine, Ave Maris Stella! Star of the vast and howling main, Star of the dark and stormy sea, When wrecking tempests round us rave, Thy gentle virgin form we see Bright rising o'er the hoary wave. The howling storm that seems to crave Their victims, sink in music sweet; The surging seas recede to pave The path beneath thy glistening feet. Ave Maris Stella! Star of the desart waters wild, Who pitying hears the seaman's cry, The God of mercy, as a child, On that chaste bosom loves to lie; While soft the chorus of the sky Their hymns of tender mercy sing, And angel voices name on high, The mother of the heavenly King. Ave Maris Stella. Star of the deep! at that blest name The tempest wild their fury tame That made the deep's foundations reel: Ave Maris Stella! Star of the mild and placid seas, Ave Maris Stella! Star of the deep! when angel lyres To mingle in the mighty lay! Ave Maris Stella! MR OLDSCHOOL, I send you, for publication in the Port Folio, a Persian Ode of Hafiz, translated by the late Sir WILLIAM JONES. The translator, who was as much distinguished for good taste, as he was for great learning and extensive research, observes- The wildness and simplicity of this Persian song pleased me so much, that I have attempted to translate it in verse: the reader will excuse the singularity of the measure which I have used, if he considers the difficulty of bringing so many eastern proper names into our stanzas. I have endeavoured, as far as I was able, to give my translation the easy turn of the original; and I have, as nearly as possible, imitated the cadence and accent of the Persian measure; from which every reader, who understands music, will perceive that the Asiatic numbers are capable of as regular a melody as any are in Metastasio." As many of your readers are not versed in Persian literature, nor familiar with all the works of our learned translator, I presume this elegant little piece will not be an unacceptable pre sent. Yours, &c. J. C. A PERSIAN SONG. Sweet maid, if thou wouldst charm my sight, And bid these arms thy neck infold; That rosy check, that liy hand Would give thy poet more delight Boy, let yon liquid ruby flow, But ah! sweet maid, my counsel hear; * A melted ruby is a common periphrasis for wine in the Persian poetry, See Hafiz, ode 22. t Zoleikha, Potiphar's wife. + Joseph. |