tories. And when I had advised me in this said book, I deliberated, and concluded to translate it into English; and forthwith took a pen and ink and wrote a leaf or twain, which I oversaw again, to correct it; and when I saw the fair and strange terms therein, I doubted that it should not please some gentlemen which late blamed me, saying, that in my former translations I had over curious terms, which could not be understood of common people; and desired me to use old and homely terms in my translations; and fain would I satisfy every man, and so to do, took an old book and read therein; and certainly the English was so rude and broad, that I could not well understand it; and also, my lord abbot of Westminster did do show to me late certain evidences, written in old English, for to reduce it into our English now used; and certainly it was written in such wise, that was more like to Dutch than to English. I could not reduce, nor bring it to be understanden. Certainly the language now used varieth far from that which was used and spoken when I was born; for we, Englishmen, been born under the domination of the moon, which is never at rest, but ever wavering. The most quantity of the people understand not Latin nor French in this realm of England."

Caxton seems to have been much puzzled and perplexed about the language he should use in his translations; for, while some advised him to use old and homely terms, others, "honest and great clerks," he adds, "have been with me, and desired me to write the most curious terms that I could find; and thus, betwixt plain, rude, and curious, I stand abashed."

Among the books which Caxton published were two editions of Chaucer's Tales. He seems to have had a veneration for the memory of this poet, and to have formed, with sound judgment and good taste, a most correct and precise estimate of the peculiar merits of his poetry. As a proof of the former, we may mention, that Caxton, at his own expense, procured a long epitaph to be written in honour of Chaucer, which was hung on a pillar near the poet's grave in Westminster Abbey. The following remarks of Caxton show that he was able thoroughly to relish the merits and beauties of Chaucer's poetry. "We ought to give a singular laud unto that noble and great philosopher, Geoffrey Chaucer, the which, for his ornate writings in our tongue, may well have the name of a laureate poet. For tofore, that he embellished and ornated and made fair our English, in this realm was made rude speech and incongruous, as yet appeareth by old books, which at this day ought not to have place, ne be compared unto his beauteous volumes and ornate writings, of whom he made many books and treatises of many a noble history, as well in metre as in rhyme and prose; and then so craftily made, that he comprehended his matters in short, quick, and high sentences, eschewing perplexity; casting away the chaff of superfluity, and showing the picked grain of sen. tence, uttered by crafty and sugared eloquence. In all his works he excelled, in mine opinion, all writers in our English, for he writeth no void words, but all his matter is full of high and quick sentence, to whom

ht to be given laud and praise for his noble making writing."

Caxton died in 1490-1, was buried in St. Margaret's, and left some books to that church. "His character," says his biographer, " may be collected from the account we have given of his labours. He was possessed of good sense and sound judgment; steady, persevering, active, zealous, and liberal in his services for that important art which he introduced into England, labouring not only as a printer, but as translator and editor."

JOHN LEYDEN.

WHEN Sir Walter Scott was engaged in preparing his "Border Minstrelsy,” he accidentally met with a coadjutor in a quarter where he least expected it. There might be often seen at that time (it was the year 1800), in the small book-shop of Mr. Constable, at Edinburgh, a young man of uncouth "aspect and gestures," poring over the ancient volumes of that repository, "balanced on a ladder with a folio in his hand, like Dominie Sampson." A friend of Sir Walter, who visited this shop for the sake of discovering whatever in it could be of any assistance in the forthcoming work, fell into conversation with this stranger, and soon discovered that his mind was crowded with all sorts of learning, and especially that he was familiar with the early Scottish legends, traditions, and ballads. The young man was John Leyden, some of whose productions in verse, principally translations from the Greek, Latin, and Northern European languages, published in the

Edinburgh Magazine, had for several years excited interest and curiosity. He was soon numbered among the friends of the great Scottish poet and novelist, and continued in intimate connection with him, until his early death.

JOHN LEYDEN was born at Denholm, a small village of Roxburghshire, Scotland, on the 8th of September 1775. His father was a farmer, of simple manners and irreproachable life. Shortly after the birth of this son, his parents removed to a cottage belonging to his mother's uncle, where they lived for sixteen years. The family was humble, but cheerful, contented, and intelligent. Leyden was taught to read by his grandmother, who resided in the family. His great eagerness for learning early began to manifest itself. The histories of the Bible attracted his attention, and he soon learned every important event mentioned in the Old and the New Testaments.

There were few books in the cottage except the Bible, and such others as were common to the Scottish peasants; but his young mind was strongly excited by the ballads and legends of the country, and by the stories recited to him by a blind uncle of his mother. He was ten years old before he went to school, and even then his opportunities for learning were very small. The school-house was two miles from his father's cottage; and the school was broken up, soon after he began to attend it, by the death of its master. But, during this short period of study, he had learned something, and his mind was roused to activity. For want of other subjects to dwell upon, he became more and more deeply interested in the traditions of the

country. The romantic and superstitious tales of the nursery, became food to his mind. When he was eleven years old, a companion gave him some account of an odd volume of the " Arabian Nights' Entertainments," which belonged to a blacksmith's apprentice, who lived some miles distant. It was winter; but the boy's mind, full of the wonders he had heard, could only be satisfied with a sight of the wonderful volume. He started early in the morning, and almost at daybreak reached the blacksmith's shop. The apprentice was not at home, and he was obliged to travel still further to find him. He requested the privilege of reading the book in presence of the owner, for to borrow so great a treasure was more than he could expect. His humble request was refused. The little boy could not, however, give up his cherished hopes; and he actually stood all day beside the ungenerous apprentice, till the lad, ashamed of his own churlishness or worn out by Leyden's perseverance, actually gave him the book. He had suffered hunger and fatigue, but he had gained his treasure. Perhaps, according to the suggestion of Sir Walter Scott, "these fascinating tales, obtained with so much difficulty, may have given his mind that decided turn towards oriental learning, which was displayed through his whole life, and illustrated by his regretted and too early decease."

Another teacher came to the school, and taught him a smattering of Latin; another still, gave him a little knowledge of arithmetic. In the meantime, his desire for learning became so great, that his parents deter mined, if possible, to educate him, intending that he