last of all JEHOVAH himself, are the characters which support this beautiful lyric drama. One continued action is kept up, or rather a series of interesting actions are connected together in an incomparable whole. This, indeed, is the principal and distinguished excellence of the sublimer ode, and is displayed in its utmost perfection in this poem of Isaiah, which may be considered as one of the most ancient, and certainly the most finished specimen of that species of composition which has been transmitted to us. The personifications here are frequent, yet not confused; bold, yet not improbable: a free, elevated, and truly divine spirit pervades the whole; nor is there any thing wanting in this ode to defeat its claim to the character of perfect beauty and sublimity. If, indeed, I may be indulged in the free declaration of my own sentiments on this occasion, I do not know a single instance in the whole compass of Greek and Roman poetry, which, in every excellence of composition, can be said to equal, or even to approach it. THOMAS WARTON. 1728-1790. THOMAS WARTON, the learned author of the "History of English Poetry," was born at Basingstoke in 1728, of a family remarkable for its talent. His father, Rev. Thomas Warton, was professor of poetry at Oxford, and died in 1745: and his brother Joseph was the author of the Essay on the Writings and Genius of Pope." Thomas was educated at Cambridge, and early acquired distinction by the superiority of his poetical productions. In 1754 he published his "Observations on the Faerie Queene of Spenser," which a once established his reputation for true poetic taste, and for extensive and varied learning. In 1757 he was elected to the professorship of poetry in Pembroke College, the duties of which office he discharged with remarkable ability and success. In 1774 he published his first volume of "The History of English Poetry:" a second volume appeared in 1778, and a third in 1781. Into this very elaborate performance Warton poured the accumulated stores of a lifetime of reading and reflection: the survey he has given us of bis subject is, accordingly, both eminently comprehensive in its scope, and rich and varied in its details: and as respects early English literature, it is a repository of information altogether unapproached in extent and abundance by any other single work of the same kind in the language. The work is, how ever, brought down to but very little beyond the commencement of the reign of Elizabeth, as he died while engaged in it, in May, 1790. It is deeply to be regretted that he had not carried the history of our literature through the reign of Elizabeth, as no one has presumed to continue the work; for to conmue it with like success, would require the union of like powers-a combination rarely given to man.2 ⚫ in Southampton county, about 45 miles W. S. W. of London. 2 "His consummate taste and discriminating judgment may on all occasions be implicitly trusted ❤ Eycitor Brydgra. THE HAMLET.-AN ODE. The hinds how blest, who ne'er beguiled To quit their hamlet's hawthorn wild, Nor haunt the crowd, nor tempt the main, For splendid care, and guilty gain! When morning's twilight-tinctured beam Strikes their low thatch with slanting glean, They rove abroad in ether blue, To dip the scythe in fragrant dew; Midst gloomy glades, in warbles clear, In their lone haunts, and woodland rounds, For them the moon with cloudless ray The meadow's incense breathe at eve. That o'er a glimmering hearth they share. Duly, the darkening valleys o'er, Their little sons, who spread the bloom Or hasten from the sultry hill, To loiter at the shady rill; Or climb the tall pine's gloomy crest, To rob the raven's ancient nest. Their humble porch with honey'd flowers The curling woodbine's shade embowers: From the small garden's thymy mound Their bees in busy swarms resound: Nor fell Disease, before his tiine, Hastes to consume life's golden prime: But when their temples long have wore As studious still calm peace to keep, 1 Richa THE CRUSADE.-AN ODE. Bound for holy Palestine, Nimbly we brush'd the level brine, O'er the wave our weapons play'd, Ye ken the march of Europe's war! From Albion's isle revenge we bring! Though to the gale thy banners swell, England shall end thy glory soon! Thy brazen drums hoarse discord bray: English Richard in the van, On to victory we go, A vaunting infidel the foe!" Blondel led the tuneful band, And swept the lyre with glowing hand. And Crete, with piny verdure crown'd, Soon we kiss'd the sacred earth That gave a murder'd Saviour birth! Thus the solemn song renew'd: We tread the Tyrian valleys now. 1, surnamed from his valor, Coeur de Lion. 2 The onlef of the Mohammedans that defended Palestine against the Crusaders. 8 Pagai; it means here the professor of a false religion. 4 Anciently called Ptolemais; now St. Jean d'Acre. The faithful minstrel of King Richard. From Carmel's almond-shaded steep By mocking pagans rudely trod, Bereft of every awfulite, And quench'd thy lam; s that beam'd so bright For thee, from Britain's listant coast, Lo, Richard leads his faithful host! Aloft in his heroic hand, Blazing like the beacon's brand, Proud Saracen, pollute no more The shrines by martyrs built of yore! From each wild mountain's tra kless crown In vain thy gloomy castles frown: Thy battering-engines, huge and high, In vain our steel-clad steeds defy; On giant-wheels harsh thunders grate. Arise, and lift thee to the sky! Soon on the battlements divine Shall wave the badge of Constantine. Ye barons, to the sun unfold Our cross, with crimson wove and gold!" 1 A mountain of Palestine. ? The celebrated sword of the British king, Arthur, said to have come into the possession of Kina Richard, and to have been given by him, as a present of inestimable value, to Tancred, King of Sicily. a A Syrian goddess. 4 The ignorant old chroniclers believed that the Mohammedans were idolaters, and that they wor shipped some deity named Termagaunt. This alludes to an oriental superstition respecting a poisonous tree. WILLIAM ROBERTSON. 1721-1793. WILLIAM ROBERTSON, the celebrated historian, was born at Bosthwick, in the county of Mid-Lothian, Scotland, on the 8th of September, 1721. At the early age of twelve he obtained admission into the university, where his subsequent progress in learning was rapid, in proportion to the astonishing ac quirements of his childhood. On entering the ministry of the established church of Scotland, he performed the duties of his station with exemplary diligence; and in 1759, by the publication of the "History of Scotland," be commenced that series of admirable histories, which have justly placed him among the very first historical writers of his country. In 1769 he published his "History of Charles V.," which raised his then increasing reputation still higher, and which, from the general interest belonging to the subject, was very popular. The introductory part consists of an able sketch of the political and social state of Europe at the time of the accession of Charles V.,' a most important period, which forms the connection between the middle ages and the history of modern European society and politics. In 1777 he published his "History of America," and in 1791, "An Historical Disquisition concerning the Knowledge which the Ancients had of India." After spending a life of equal piety, usefulness, and honor, he died on the 11th of June, 1793. Most of the works of Dr. Robertson relate to that important period, when the countries of Europe were beginning to form constitutions, and act upon the political systems which were for centuries preserved. His style is easy and flowing, his language correct, his opinions enlightened, his investigation diligent, and his expressions temperate. Hume, notwithstanding the difference of their religious opinions, greatly extolled his History of Scotland; and Gibbon has borne ample testimony both to his accuracy and his style.2 RESIGNATION OF CHARLES V. Charles resolved to resign his kingdoms to his son, with a solemnity suitable to the importance of the transaction; and to perform this last act of sovereignty with such formal pomp, as might leave an indelible impression on the minds, not only of his subjects, but of his successor. With this view, he called Philip out of England, where the peevish temper of his queen, which increased with her despair of having issue, rendered him extremely unhappy; and the jealousy of the English left him no hopes of obtaining the direction of their affairs. Having assembled the states of the Low Countries, at Brussels, on the 25th of October, 1555, Charles seated himself, for the last time, in the chair of 1 Charles V., Emperor of Germany, (1519-1555,) and King of Spain, (1516-1555,) was the most Influential and prominent monarch of the period in which he flourished. Some of the sovereigas contemporary with him were, Henry VIII. of Eng and, (1509-1547,) Francis I. of France, (1515— 1547,) Gustavus Vasa of Sweden, (1523-1560,) and Soliman the Magnificent, of the Ottoman Empire, (1520-1566,) under whom the Turkish power attained its highest pitch. "The perfect composition, the nervous language, the well-turned periods of Dr. Robertson, in fained me to the ambitious hope that I might one day tread in his footsteps: the calm philosophy. ne careless, iniinitable beauties of his friend and rival, Hume, often forced me to close the volume with a mixed sensation of delight and despair."--Gibbon's Memoirs, Chap. v |