With his continual prefence, for he pafs'd
Inceffant forth, and scatter'd fires on fires.
Hurl'd from his hardy grafp the lightnings flew
Reiterated fwift; the whirling flash
Caft facred fplendour, and the thunderbolt
Fell: roar'd aloud the nurture-yielding earth
In conflagration, far on ev'ry fide

.

Th' immenfity of forefts crackling blaz❜d :
Yea, the broad earth burn'd red, the ftreams that mix
With ocean, and the deferts of the fea.

Round and around the Titan brood of earth
Roll'd the hot vapour on its fiery furge;

The liquid heat air's pure expanfe divine
Suffus'd: the radiance keen of quiv'ring flame
That shot from writhen lightnings, each dim orb,
Strong though they were, intolerable fmote,
And fcorch'd their blafted vifion. Through the void
Of Erebus, the preternatural glare

Spread, mingling fire with darkness. But to fee
With human eye, and hear with ear of man,
Had been, as if midway the fpacious Heaven
Hurling with earth, fhock'd-e'en as nether earth
Crafh'd from the centre, and the wreck of heaven
Fell ruining on high. So vaft the din,

When, Gods encountering Gods, the clang of arms

Commingled, and the tumult roar'd from Heaven," P. 112. Every reader will be ftruck with the refemblance between fome parts of this paffage and Milton's War in Heaven, which is properly illuftrated in Mr. Elton's notes, But it should be obferved with what judgment the English poet raises the character of Meffiah, by defcribing him as not putting forth all his ftrength, but checking "his thunder in mid volley," whereas the Grecian Jupiter does juft the contrary. The notes in general are learned and judicious, and the opinions given refpecting the authenticity of the poems, well confidered, and in fome refpects original. We regret that we cannot alfo introduce a fpecimen of the couplet verfe; but it is the lefs neceffary, because we can say of the whole that it is written with claffical skill. With the aid of fuch a tranflation, we cannot defpair that Hefiod will find many English readers.

Some interefting fpecimens are given, in an Appendix, from Chapman's tranflation of the Work and Days (the fame Chapman who tranflated Homer) which is fo fcarce, that we had not even heard of it till now.

ART. 15. A Tranflation of the Georgics of Publius Virgilius Maro, with the Original Text, and Notes Critical and Illuftrative of ancient and modern Husbandry, By William Stawell, A. M.

Rector of Kilmalooda, in the Diocese of Cork. Crown 8vo. 487 pp. 125. Longman and Co.

1808.

Mr. Stawell fpeaks fo juftly on the fubject of the translation of his almost immediate predeceffor Mr. Sotheby, that we must clearly acquit him of any ambition to fuperfede fo mafterly a work.

"With the errors of former tranflators," he says, "I have been no further engaged, than by an endeavour to avoid them; would that I could emulate their beauties! for elegance and accuracy combined; Mr. Sotheby's tranflation, published in 1800, is not perhaps furpaffed in the range of British literature; the art with which he has connected thofe precepts, which in the original are fomewhat independent of each other, can never be praised too much. If notes had accompanied his version, mine certainly should never have seen the light." P. x.

His own, he tells us, was begun as long ago as the year 1785. It is well and purely written, and fuch as may fatisfy, if it do not often delight the reader. As the author is generally correct, we are surprised to see a palpable error in the name of Cyllarus, p. 147. The notes and illuftrations are profeffedly the principal object, and these though numerous are not prolix. The annotator refers frequently to modern agricultural works, a fpecies of illuftration which will be pleafing to many readers; and when he differs from Martyn, either on botanical fubjects or with respect to the names of implements, he carefully affigns his rea fons. There feems no reafon to doubt that the work will be favourably received; and that if it cannot claim the palm for poetry, yet it will encounter no difgrace; and may ftand diftin guished for the humbler merit of extenfive utility.

ART. 16. The Sailor Boy, a Poem, tive of the Navy of Great Britain. the Fisher Boy. I 2mo. 208 pp. 1809.

In Four Cantos. Illuftra By H. C. Efq. Author of 5s. Vernor and Hood,

The Fisher Boy, by the fame author we noticed, as a pleafing though not polished poem, in our 33d volume, p. 185. The fame is the character of the prefent performance, The higher ele gancies and claffical correctnefs of ftyle the writer has not attained, but the art of telling a fimple ftory in fimple language he poffeffes in a certain degree. The following defcription of a boxing match between two failor boys will fufficiently exemplify the authors ftyle:

"Like lightning, to the deck they darted down,
Two game-cocks eager for the victor's crown,
Their jackets and check-fhirts were thrown away,
While each his second had to fee fair play;
And though no Hector and Achilles fought,
With equal fire their little fouls were fraught; ·

L14

True

True was the ftroke, each aim right fure and flow,
And from clench'd fifts, like lightning dealt the blow;
Thrice on the deck had measur'd Dick his length,
And thrice his foe o'ercome by Richard's ftrength;
They ftood like heroes, who difdain to yield,
And, though exhaufted, spurn to quit the field;
Thus pois'd in air the balance doubtful hung,
When Richard's heart, by vigour newly ftrung,
Darted like thunderbolt upon his foe,

And claimed the laurel by one defperate blow." P. 62.

The author gives fometimes whole catalogues of fea terms verfi fied, but they are duly explained in the notes; and fo far he has the example of Falconer to plead, though not his vigour to fuftain him. The writer is evidently a good feaman and an honeft man; and the tendency of his tale is excellent. If we could give it higher praife we would.

ART 17. The Hospital; a Poem.

1810.

4to. 2s. 6d. Longmans

An animated and interefting poem in blank verfe, very creditable to the author's feelings and talents. The fubject is indeed novel in poetical compofition, but it abounds in matter of contemplation and inftruction. This author first introduces the candidates for admiffion at the Hofpital; a proper compliment to medical atattendants; and then expatiates on the different melancholy cafes which prefent themselves; beginning with blindness, &c. The following is a fpecimen :

Led by a friend the blind advances first,
But foon retires with eyes fuffus'd with tears;
No pleafing news can he enraptur'd tell
His loved afflicted spouse.--For ah no more
The orient fun fhall light his languid eye;
No more with energy the nerve be ftrung.
Homeward he turns while his full heart denies
The power of fpeech: by imperceptible
Degrees the violence of grief fubfides,
And leaves the oracle of thought in calm
Compofure, to unfold the news to her
Who feels with fympathetic tenderness
Of foul the agony of mutual care."

The above will prove the poem to be from no common pen, many other pathetic paffages occur, and the narrative of the Old Soldier in particular is very fpirited. The author promifes to purfue the theme if this effort fhall be encouraged. As far as our cheering may lead to the accomplishment of this promife, we have no fcruple in declaring our opinion that the author is well entitled to it.

ART.

ART. 18. The Council of Twelve, or Saint Stephen's Mufter. Roll; a Satirical Poem. By Erinaceus; Author of the Popish Divan," c. 8vo. 56 pp. 35. 6d. Chapple. 1810.

The twelve perfonages fatirized (we had almoft faid libelled) by this fevere writer, are Mr. Ponfonby, Lord H. Petty, (now Earl of Landfdowne,): Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Grattan, Mr. Curwen, Sir F. Burdett, Mr. Wardle, Mr. Tierney, Mr. Windham, Mr. Whitbread, Lord Grenville, and Earl Grey. It is ob vious that two of the perfons included in this lift differ widely from the others in their political character and views, and there, fore fhould have been diftinctly characterized, On the mifchievous conduct of two of them, it is (in our opinion) fcarcely poffible to be too fevere. Refpecting the others, though many of their political meafures appear to us reprehenfible, we cannot approve of the coarfe and opprobrious epithets applied to them by the prefent author; whofe extreme and undiftinguished vio lence tends to defeat the object of his fatire. The following def cription of the party in oppofition, we should hope, is exaggera, ted; but it is not wanting in fpirit:

"Such is the phalanx of the mighty great,

That fain would guide the rudder of the state!
Such are the men who watch the nation's weal,
And feel themfelves whate'er the people feel.
Who, while the tempeft wears an awful form,
Delight to mark the progrefs of the ftorm;
Whofe fubtle fouls, engag'd in faction's train,
Intrigue, and plot, and circumvent in vain :
Who, to one darling purpofe ever true,
Still keep the dazzling meed of power in view;
And bravely fet at naught contempt and fhame.
To gain the glory of a pompous name."

P. 53

Near the conclufion of the poem is the following prophetic vifion; which we should be happy to fee realized:

"The reign of tyranny at length is o'er,
Ambition's defpot racks the world no more;
From east to west the welcome meffage fpreads,
And fetter'd nations raife their drooping heads;
E'en Scandinavia's joylefs region fmiles
And blifs erects her ftandard in the ifles;
Peace o'er the world her olive wand fhall wave,
And commerce rife triumphant from the grave;
Intereft in mutual bonds the world shall bind;
And dove-ey'd amity connect mankind;
Joy's heav'nly trains fhall found from every tongue,
And Britain's praifes multiply the fong." P. 55.

ART.

NOVEL.

ART. 19. The Prifon of Montauban, or Times of Terror; a reflec tive Tale. By the Editor of Letters from the Swedish Court, 爨 12mo. 6s. Craddock and Joy. 1810.

We have no objection to this little tale, but its title which is

fomewhat affected. Indeed it is interefting and well told, and in every particular has a good moral tendency. It has its foundation in the melancholy hiftory of Robefpierre's atrocities, and not improbably had its origin in fact. At leaft many fimilar fcenes must have taken place at that horrible period, which needed no emblazonment of the imagination.

BOTANY.

ART. 20.
Elements of the Science of Botany, as eftablished by Lin
neus; with Examples to illuftrate the Claffes and Orders of bis
Syftem. 2 Vols. 12mo. Many Plates. 16s. Murray.

1809.

The elegance of thefe little volumes cannot be too highly praised; nor are they lefs remarkable for diftinctnefs of illustration, and judicious felection. The elementary knowledge of Botany cannot perhaps be acquired with more eafe and fatisfaction than from fuch a manual. The plates, which are very numerous, are engraved in little more than outline, from unusually neat and correct defigns. The flight degree of fhading which is added is not fufficient to deftroy the effect of colour, if the ftudent should be inclined, by way of exercise, to tint them from nature. The few plates which explain the fyftem are remarkable for diftinct. nefs, each part being pointed out by dotted lines and the name written oppofite to it. The rest of the plates are examples, in which the plan of the author has been to give fpecimens of all the Linnean claffes and orders; taking them according to the arrangement of Linnæus and giving one example of every order ́ in each class. Every plant thus introduced is further characterized in a brief defcription, which generally con tains fomething curious or interefting. The author does not confine himself to English plants for his illuftrations, but takes the whole range of nature.

Probably with a view to facilitate the ftudy of Botany to thofe who are unacquainted with learned Languages, the author, has entirely omitted the Linnæan Greek names of the claffes and orders, and has fubftituted for them English definitions. Thus Diadelphia is, "Clafs 17. The filaments of the kamina united, making two fets." Polyadelphia, "Clafs 18.

The