Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

794

[ ̓Απὸ τὰ παράθυρα τῶν ὀντάδων φαίνονται ὅλοι, ὁποῦ σηκόνωνται ἀπὸ τὸ τραπέζι συγχισμένοι, διὰ τὸν ξαφνισμὸν τοῦ Λεάνδρου βλέπωντας τὴν Πλάτζιδα, καὶ διατὶ αὐτὸς δείχνει πῶς θέλει νὰ τὴν φονεύσῃ.]

ΕΥΓ. Οχι, στάθητε.
ΜΑΡ. Μὴν κάμνετε. . .

ΛΕΑ. Σίκω, φύγε ἀπ ̓ ἐδώ.

ΠΛΑ. Βοήθεια, βοήθεια. [Φεύγει ἀπὸ τὴν σκάλαν, ὁ Λέανδρος θέλει νὰ τὴν ἀκολουθήσῃ μὲ τό σπαθὶ, καὶ ὁ Εὐγ. τὸν βαστα.]

ΤΡΑ. [Μὲ ἕνα πιάτο μὲ φαγὶ εἰς μίαν πετζέτα πηδα ἀπὸ τὸ παραθύρι, καὶ φεύγει εἰς τὸν καφενέ.]

ΠΛΑ. [Εὐγαίνει ἀπὸ τὸ ἐργαστήρί του παιγνιδιου τρέ χωντας, καὶ φεύγει εἰς τὸ χάνι.]

ΕΥΓ. [Μὲ ἅρματα εἰς τὸ χέρι πρὸς διαφέντευσιν τῆς Πλάτζιδας, ἐναντίον τοῦ Λεάνδρου, ὁπῶ τὴν κατατρέχει.] ΜΑΡ. [Εὐγαίνει καὶ αὐτὸς σιγὰ σιγὰ ἀπὸ τὸ ἐργαστήρι, καὶ φεύγει λέγωντας.] Rumores fuge. [Ρουμόρες φεύγε.]ι

Οἱ Δούλοι. [ ̓Απὸ τὸ ἐργαστήρι ἀπερνοῦν εἰς τὸ χάνι, καὶ κλειοῦν τὴν πορταν.]

BIT. [Μένει εἰς τὸν καφενέ βοηθημένη ἀπὸ τὸν ̔Ριδόλω φον.]

ΛΕΑ. Δόσετε τόπον· θέλω νὰ ἔμβω νὰ ἔμβω εἰς ἐκεῖνο τὸ χάνι. [Μὲ τὸ σπαθὶ εἰς τὸ χέρι ἐναντίον τοῦ Εὐγενίου.]

ΕΥΓ. Οχι, μὴ γένοιτο ποτέ· εἶσαι ἕνας σληρόκαρδος ἐναντίον τῆς γυναικός σου, καὶ ἐγὼ θέλει τήν διαφεντεύσω ὡς εἰς τὸ ὕστερον αἷμα.

ΛΕΑ. Σοῦ κάμνω ὅρκον πῶς θέλει τὸ μετανοιώσῃς. [Κινηγᾷ τὸν Εὐγένιον μὲ τὸ σπαθί.]

ΕΥΓ. Δὲν σὲ φοβοῦμαι. [Κατατρέχει τὸν Λέανδρον, καὶ τὸν βιάζει νὰ συρθῇ ὀπίσω τόσον, ὁποῦ εὑρισκωντας ἀνοικτὸν τὸ σπῆτι τῆς χορεύτριας, εμβαίνει εἰς αὐτὸ, καὶ σώνεται.]

TRANSLATION.

Platzida, from the Door of the Hotel, and the others.

Pla. Oh God! from the window it seemed that I heard my husband's voice. If he is here, I have arrived in time to make him ashamed. [A servant enters from the Shop.] Boy, tell me, pray, who are in those chambers.

Serv. Three gentlemen : one, Signor Eugenio; the other, Signor Martio, the Neapolitan; and the third, my Lord, the Count Leander Ardenti.

Pla. Flaminio is not amongst these, unless he has changed his name.

Leander. [Within drinking.] Long live the good fortune of Signor Eugenio.

[The whole company, Long live, &c.] (Literally, Νὰ ζῆ,

νὰ ζῆ, May he live.)

Pla. Without doubt that is my husband. [To the Serv.]

My good man, do me the favour to accompany me above to those gentlemen: I have some business.

Serv. At your commands. [Aside.] The old office of us waiters. [He goes out of the Gaming-House.]

Ridolpho. [Το Victoria on another part of the Stage.] Courage, courage, be of good cheer, it is nothing. Victoria. I feel as if about to die. [Leaning on him as fainting.]

[From the windows above all within are seen rising from table in confusion: Leander starts at the sight of Platzida, and appears by his gestures to threaten her life.] Eugenio. No, stop

1 Λόγος λατινικός, ὁποῦ θέλει νὰ εἰπῇ φεύγε ταῖς σύγχισες.

2. Σώνεται - " finishes awkwardly enough, but it is the literal translation of the Romic. The original of this comedy of Goldoni's I never "Il Bugiardo" is one of read, but it does not appear one of his best. the most lively; but I do not think it has been translated into Romaic: it is much more amusing than our own "Liar," by Foote. The character of Lelio is better drawn than Young Wilding. Goldoni's comedies amount

[ocr errors]

Martio. Don't attempt -
Leander. Away, fly from hence !

Pla. Help ! help ! [Flies down the stairs, Leander attempt. ing to follow with his sword, Eugenio hinders him.]

[Trapolo, with a plate of meat, leaps over the balcony from the window, and runs into the Coffee-House.]

[Platzida runs out of the Gaming-House, and takes shelter in the Hotel.]

[Martio steals softly out of the Gaming-House, and goes A. exclaiming" Rumores fuge." The Servants from the GamingHouse enter the Hotel, and shut the door.]

[Victoria remains in the Coffee-House assisted by Ridolpha] [Leander, sword in hand, opposite Eugenio, exclaims, Give way I will enter that Hotel.]

Eugenio. No, that shall never be. You are a scoundrel to your wife, and I will defend her to the last drop of my blood.

Leander. I will give you cause to repent this. [Menacing with his sword.]

Eugenio. I fear you not. [He attacks Leander, and make him give back so much, that, finding the door of the dancing girl's house open, Leander escapes through, and so finishes.]2

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

Εἶμαι ὅλος ἐδίκος σας.

Εἶμαι δοῦλος σας.

[ocr errors]

Ταπεινότατος δοῦλος.

Εἶστε κατὰ πολλὰ εὐγενικός. Πολλὰ πειράζεσθε.

With all my heart.
Most cordially.

I am obliged to you.

I am wholly yours.

I am your servant Your most burbe

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

to fitty; some perhaps the best in Europe, and then the Life is also one of the best specimens of autobiograp has observed, "more dramatic than any of his pas was selected as containing some of the most fair not for any wit which it displays, since there is more done that an The greater part consisting of stage directions.

few comedies by Goldoni which is without the buffoonery of the Harlequin.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

THE INSCRIPTIONS AT ORCHOMENUS FROM MELETIUS.

ΟΡΧΟΜΕΝΟΣ, κοινῶς Σκριποῦ, Πόλις ποτὲ πλουσιωτάτη καὶ ἰσχυρωτάτη, πρότερον καλουμένη Βοιωτικαὶ ̓Αθῆναι, εἰς τὴν ὁποίαν ἦτον ὁ Ναὸς τῶν Χαρίτων, εἰς τὸν ὁποῖον ἐπλήρωναν τέλη οἱ Θηβαῖοι, οὗτινος τὸ ἔδαφος ἀνεσκάφθε ποτὲ ὑπὸ τῶν ̓Ασπαλάγκων. Ἐπανηγύριζον εἰς αὐτὴν τὴν Πόλιν τὰ Χαριτήσια, τοῦ ὁποίου ̓Αγῶνος εὗρον ἐπιγραφὰς ἐν στήλαις ἔνδον τοῦ κτισθέντος Ναοῦ ἐπ ̓ ὀνόματι τῆς Θεοτόκου, ὑπὸ τοῦ Πρωτοσπαθαρίου Λέοντος, ἐπὶ τῶν Βασιλέων Βασιλείου, Λέοντος, καὶ Κωνσταντίνου, ἐχού σας οὕτως. Εν μὲν τῇ μιᾷ κοινῶς.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]

σε 'Ανδρας Αὐλητάς. σε Διοκλῆς Καλλιμήδου Θηβαῖος. σε "Ανδρας ηγεμόνας.

« Ρόδιππος Ροδίππου ̓Αργεῖος. Τραγωδός.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

· Ιπποκράτης ̓Αριστομένους Ρόδιος. • Κωμωδός.

Καλλίστρατος Εξακέστου Θηβαῖος.

"

« Τὰ ἐπινίκια.

Κωμωδιών Ποιητής.

σε ̓Αλέξανδρος ̓Αριστίωνος ̓Αθηναῖος.”

[ocr errors]

“ Ἐν δὲ τῇ ἑτερᾷ δωρικώς.

“ Μνασίνω ἄρχοντος ἀγωνοθετίοντος τὸν Χαριτείσιον, εὐαριόστω πάντων οι τυίδε ἐνικώσαν τὰ χαριτείτια.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

46

"

Κιθαριστάς.

Δάματρος Αμαλώω Αἰολεὺς ἀπὸ Μουρίνας.

[ocr errors]

· Τραγαευδός.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

ΟΣΟΙ εἰς βιβλία παντοδαπὰ ἐντρυφῶσιν, ἠξεύρουν πόσον εἶναι τὸ χρήσιμον τῆς Ἱστορίας, δι ̓ αὐτῆς γὰρ ἐξευρίσκε. ται η πλέον μεμακρυσμένη παλαιότης, καὶ θεωροῦνται ὡς ἐν κατόπτρῳ ἤθη, πράξεις καὶ διοικήσεις πολλῶν καὶ διαφόρων Εθνῶν καὶ Γενῶν ων τὴν μνήμην διεσώσατο καὶ δια. σώσει ἡ ἱστορικὴ Διήγησις εἰς αἰῶνα τὸν ἅπαντα.

Μία τέτοια Επιστήμη εἶναι εὐαπόκτητος, καὶ ἐν ταυτῶ ὠφέλιμη, ἤ κρεῖττον εἰπεῖν ἀναγκαία· διατὶ λοιπὸν ἐμεῖς ή μόνοι νὰ τὴν ὑστερούμεθα, μὴ ἠξεύροντες οὔτε τὰς ἀρχὰς τῶν Προγόνων μας, πόθεν πότε καὶ πῶς εὑρέθησαν εἰς τὰς Πατρίδας μας, οὔτε τὰ ἤθη, τὰ κατορθώματα καὶ τὴν διοίκησίν των ; "Αν ἐρωτήσωμεν τοὺς ̓Αλλογενεῖς, ἠξεύρουν νὰ μᾶς δώσουν ὄχιμόνον ἱστορικῶς τὴν ἀρχὴν καὶ τὴν πρόοδον τῶν προγόνων μας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοπογραφικῶς μᾶς δείχνουν τὰς θέσεις τῶν Πατρίδων μας, καὶ οἱονεὶ χειραγωγοί γινόμενοι μὲ τοὺς γεωγραφικούς τῶν Πίνακας, μᾶς λέγουν, ἐδὼ εἶναι αἱ ̓Αθῆναι, ἐδὼ ἡ Σπάρτη, ἐκεῖ αἱ Θῆβαι, τόσα στάδια ή μίλια ἀπέχει ἡ μία Επαρχία ἀπὸ τὴν ἄλλην. Τοῦτος ᾠκοδόμησε την μίαν πόλιν, ἐκεῖνος τὴν ἄλα λην καὶ τξ. Προσέτι ἂν ἐρωτήσωμεν αὐτοὺς τοὺς μὴ Ελα ληνας χειραγωγούς μας, πόθεν ἐπαρακινήθησαν νὰ ἐξερευνής σουν ἀρχὰς τόσον παλαιὰς, ἀνυποστόλως μᾶς ἀποκρίνονται μὲ αὐτοὺς τοὺς λόγους. “ Καθὼς ὁ ἐκ Σκυθίας Ανάχαρσις, ·· ἂν δὲν ἐπερείρχετο τὰ πανευφρόσυνα ἐκεῖνα Κλίματα σε τῆς Ἑλλάδος, ἂν δὲν ἐμφορεῖτο τὰ ἀξιώματα, τὰ ἤθη σε καὶ τοὺς Νόμους τῶν Ἑλλήνων, ἤθελε μείνῃ Σκύθης καὶ τὸ ὄνομα καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα· οὕτω καὶ ὁ ἡμέτερος Ιατρὸς, « ἂν δὲν ἐμάνθανε τὰ τοῦ Ἱπποκράτους, δὲν ἐδύνατο νὰ προχωρήσῃ εἰς τὴν τέχνην τοῦ. ̓́Αν ὁ ἐν ἡμῖν Νομοθέτης σε δὲν ἐξέταζε τὰ τοῦ Σόλωνος, Λυκούργου, καὶ Πιττακοῦ, σε δὲν ἐδύνατο νὰ ῥυθμήσῃ καὶ νὰ καλιεργήσῃ τὰ ἤθη τῶν «Ομογενών του· ἂν ὁ Ρήτωρ δὲν ἀπηνθίζετο τὰς εὐφραδείας καὶ τοὺς χαριεντισμοὺς τοῦ Δημοσθένους, δὲν ἐνεργοῦσεν εἰς τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν ἀκροατῶν του. ̓́Αν ὁ Νέος ̓Ανάχαρσις, σε ὁ Κύριος ̓Αββᾶς Βαρθολομαῖος δὲν ἀνεγίνωσκε μὲ μεγάσε λην ἐπιμονὴν καὶ σκέψιν τοὺς πλέον ἐγκρίτους συγγρας φεῖς τῶν ̔Ελλήνων, ἐξερευνῶν αὐτοὺς κατὰ βάθος ἐπὶ τρίακοντα δύω ἔτη, δὲν ἤθελεν ἐξυφάνη τούτην τὴν περὶ Ἑλλήνων Ιστορίαν του, ἥτις Περιήγησις τοῦ Νέου ̓Αναχάρσεως παρ' αὐτοῦ προσωνομάσθη, καὶ εἰς ὅλας τὰς

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

“ Εὐρωπαϊκὸς Διαλέκτους μετεγλωττίσθη.” Καὶ ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ, οἱ Νεώτεροι, ἂν δὲν ἔπερναν δία ὁδηγοὺς τοὺς Προγός νους μας, ἤθελαν ἴσως περιφέρωνται ματαίως μέχρι τοῦ νῦν. Αὐτὰ δὲν εἶναι Λόγια ἐνθουσιασμένου διὰ τὸ φιλογενές Γραικοῦ, εἶναι δὲ φιλαλήθους Γερμανοῦ, ὅστις ἐμετάφρασε τὸν Νέον ̓Ανάχαρσιν ἀπὸ τοῦ Γαλλικοῦ εἰς τὸ Γερμανικόν.

̓́Αν λοιπὸν καὶ ἡμεῖς θέλωμεν νὰ μεθέξωμεν τῆς γνώσ σεως τῶν λαμπρῶν κατορθωμάτων ὁποῦ ἔκαμαν οἱ θαν μαστοὶ ἐκεῖνοι Προπάτορες ἡμῶν, ἂν ἐπιθυμῶμεν νὰ μάθωμεν τὴν πρόοδον καὶ αὔξησίν των εἰς τὰς Τέχνας καὶ Ἐπιστήμας καὶ εἰς κάθε ἄλλο εἶδος μαθήσεως, ἂν ἔχωμεν περιέργειαν νὰ γνωρίσωμεν πόθεν καταγόμεθα, καὶ ὁποίους θαυμαστοὺς καὶ μεγάλους ἄνδρας, εἰ καὶ προγόνους ἡμῶν, φεῦ, ἡμεῖς δὲν γνωρίζομεν, εἰς καιρὸν ὁποῦ οἱ ̓Αλλογενεῖς θαυμάζουσιν αὐτοὺς, καὶ ὡς πατέρας παντοιασοῦν μαθήσεως σέβονται, ἂς συνδράμωμεν ἅπαντες προθύμως εἰς τὴν ἔκδοσιν τοῦ θαυμασίου τούτου συγγράμματος τοῦ Νέου ̓Αναχάρσεως.

Ἡμεῖς οὖν οἱ ὑπογεγραμμένοι θέλομεν ἐκτελέσει προς θύμως τὴν μετάφρασιν τοῦ Βιβλίου μὲ τὴν κατὰ τὸ δυνατὸν ἡμῖν καλὴν φράσιν τῆς νῦν καθ ̓ ἡμᾶς ὁμιλίας, καὶ ἐκδόντες τοῦτο εἰς τύπον, θέλομεν τὸ καλλωπίσει μὲ τοὺς Γεωγρα φικοὺς Πίνακας μὲ ἁπλᾶς ̔Ρωμαϊκὰς λέξεις ἐγκεχαραγμένους εἰς ἐδικάμας γράμματα, προστιθέντες ὅτι ἄλλο χρήσιμον καὶ ἁρμόδιον εἰς την Ιστορίαν.

Ολον τὸ σύγγραμμα θέλει γένει εἰς Τόμους δώδεκα κατὰ μίμησιν τῆς Ἰταλικῆς ἐκδόσεως. Ἡ τιμὴ ὅλου τοῦ Συγγράμματος εἶναι φιορίνια δεκαέξη τῆς Βιέννης διὰ τὴν προσθήκην τῶν γεωγραφικῶν πινάκων. Ὁ φιλογενὴς οὖν Συνδρομητής πρέπει νὰ πληρώσῃ εἰς κάθε Τόμον φιορίνι ἕνα καὶ Καραντανία εἴκοσι τῆς Βιέννης, καὶ τοῦτο χωρὶς καμ μίαν πρόδοσιν, ἀλλ ̓ εὐθὺς ὁποῦ θέλει τῷ παραδοθῇ ὁ Τόμος τυπωμένος καὶ δεμένος.

Εῤῥωμένοι καὶ εὐδαίμονες διαβιώοιτε Ἑλλήνων Παῖδες.
Τῆς ὑμετέρας ἀγάπης ἐξηρτημένοι.

Ιωάννες Μαρμαροτούρης.
Δημήτριος Βενιέρης.
Σπυρίδων Πρεβέτος.

Ἐν Τριεστίῳ, τῇ πρώτη Οκτωβρίου, 1799.

THE LORD'S PRAYER IN ROMAIC.

Ω ΠΑΤΕΡΑΜΑΣ ὁ ποῦ εἶσαι εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς, ἃς ἁγιασθῇ τὸ ὄνομά σου. Ας ἔλθη ἡ βασιλεία σου. "Ας γένη τὸ θέλημά σου, καθὼς εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, ἔτζη καὶ εἰς τὴν γῆν. Τὸ ψωμίμας τὸ καθημερινὸν, δός μας τὸ σήμερον. Καὶ συγχώρησε μας τὰ χρέημας, καθῶς καὶ ἐμεῖς συγχωροῦμεν τοὺς κρεοφειλέτας μας. Καὶ μὴν μᾶς φέρεις πειρασμὸν, ἀλλὰ ἐλευθέρωσέ μας ἀπὸ τὸν πονηρόν. ἐδική σου εἶναι ἡ βασιλεία δὲ, ἡ δύναμις, καὶ ἡ δόξα, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ̓Αμήν.

IN GREEK.

Ότι

ΠΑΤΕΡ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου. Ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσ στον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον. Καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν. Καὶ

μὴ εἰσενέγκης ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμὸν, ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ. Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία, καὶ ἡ δύναμις, καὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ̓Αμήν.

[blocks in formation]

As a believer in the church of England-to say nothing of the State-I have been an occasional reader and great admirer of, though not a subscriber to, your Review, which is rather expensive. But I do not know that any part of its contents ever gave me much surprise till the eleventh article of your twenty-seventh number made its appearance. You have there most vigorously refuted a calumnious accusation of bribery and corruption, the credence of which in the public mind might not only have damaged your reputation as a clergyman 2 and an editor, but, what would have been still worse, have injured the circulation of your journal; which, I regret to hear, is not so extensive as the " purity" (as you well observe)" of its, &c. &c." and the present taste for propriety, would induce us to expect. The charge itself is of a solemn nature, and, although in verse, is couched in terms of such circumstantial gravity, as to induce a belief little short of that generally accorded to the thirty-nine articles, to which you so frankly subscribed on taking your degrees. It is a charge the most revolting to the heart of man from its frequent occurrence; to the mind of a statesman, from its occasional truth; and to the soul of an editor, from its moral impossibility. You are charged then in the last line of one octave stanza, and the whole eight lines of the next, viz. 209th and 210th of the first canto of that " pestilent poem "Don Juan, with receiving, and still more foolishly acknowledging the receipt of, certain monies, to eulogise the unknown author, who by this account must be known to you, if to nobody else. An impeachment of this nature so seriously made, there is but one way of refuting; and it is my firm persuasion, that whether you did or did not (and I believe that you did not) receive the said monies, of which I wish that he had specified the sum, you are quite right in denying all knowledge of the transaction. If charges of this nefarious description are to go forth, sanctioned by all the solemnity of circumstance, and guaranteed by the veracity of verse (as Counsellor Phillips 3 would say), what is to become of readers hitherto implicitly confident in the not less veracious prose of our critical journals? what is to become of the reviews? And, if the reviews fail, what is to become of the editors? It is common cause, and you have done well to sound the alarm. I myself, in my humble sphere, will be one of your echoes. In the words of the tragedian, Liston, "I love a row," and you seem justly determined to make

one.

It is barely possible, certainly improbable, that the writer might have been in jest; but this only aggravates his crime. A joke, the proverb says, "breaks no bones;" but it may break a bookseller, or it may be the cause of bones being broken. The jest is but a bad one at the best for the author, and might have been a still worse one for you, if your copious contradiction did not certify to all whom it may concern your own indignant innocence, and the immaculate purity of the British Review. I do not doubt your word, my dear Roberts; yet I cannot help wishing that, in a case of such vital importance, it had assumed the more substantial shape

1 ["Bologna, Aug. 23. 1819. I send you a letter to Roberts, signed Wortley Clutterbuck, which you may publish in what form you please, in answer to his article. I have had many proofs of men's alsurdity, but he bests all in folly. Why, the wolf in sheep's clothing has tumbled into the very trap!"- Lord Byron to Mr. Murray.]

2 Mr. Roberts is not, as Lord Byron seems to have supposed, a clergyman, but a barrister at law. In 1792, he established a paper called "The

of an affidavit sworn before the Lord Mayor Atkins, who readily receives any deposition; and doubtless would have brought it in some way as evidence of the designs of the Reformers to set fire to London, at the same time that he himself meditates the same good office towards the river Thames.

I am sure, my dear Roberts, that you will take these ob servations of mine in good part: they are written in a spir of friendship not less pure than your own editorial integrity. I have always admired you; and, not knowing any shape which friendship and admiration can assume more agreeable | and useful than that of good advice, I shall continue my b cubrations, mixed with here and there a monitory hint as to what I conceive to be the line you should pursue, in case rug should ever again be assailed with bribes, or accused of taking them. By the way, you don't say much about the porn except that it is "flagitious." This is a pity - you should have cut it up; because, to say the truth, in not dog in you somewhat assist any notions which the malignant mast entertain on the score of the anonymous asseveration watch has made you so angry.

You say no bookseller" was willing to take upon hime!, the publication, though most of them disgrace themselves selling it." Now, my dear friend, though we all know that those fellows will do any thing for money, methicis the disgrace is more with the purchasers: and some such, doult- Į less, there are; for there can be no very extensive selling ( you will perceive by that of the British Review) withou buying. You then add, "What can the critic say?" I sure I don't know; at present he says very little, and that not much to the purpose. Then comes" for praise as far að regards the poetry, many passages might be exhibited: Ar condemnation, as far as regards the morality, all." Now my dear good Mr. Roberts, I feel for you, and for your rep tation my heart bleeds for both; and I do ask you, whethNT or not such language does not come positively under the description of " the puff collusive," for which see Sheras farce of The Critic," (by the way, a little more facer than your own farce under the same title,) towards the che of scene second, act the first.

[ocr errors]

The poem is, it seems, sold as the work of Lord By, 1 but you feel yourself" at liberty to suppose it not Lord B composition." Why did you ever suppose that it was i approve of your indignation — I applaud it — I feel as gry as you can; but perhaps your virtuous wrath carries little too far, when you say that" no misdemeanour, not even that of sending into the world obscene and blasphem poetry, the product of studious lewdness and Labc ured impiety, appears to you in so detestable a light as the acceptance of a present by the editor of a review, as the condition of praising an author." The devil it does t Think a little. This is being critical overmuch. In of Gentile benevolence or Christian charity, it were less criminal to praise for a bribe, than to abuse a fela creature for nothing; and as to the assertion of the comparDtive innocence of blasphemy and obscenity, confronted an editor's "acceptance of a present," I shall merely obser that as an Editor you say very well, but, as a Christian d I would not recommend you to transpose this sentence

a sermon.

And yet you say, "the miserable man (for miserable be a as having a soul of which he cannot get rid" But berei I must pause again, and inquire what is the meaning of its parenthesis? We have heard of "little soul,” or of "m soul at all," but never till now of "the misery of har "g soul of which we cannot get rid; "a misery under wh. 2 ya are possibly no great sufferer, having got rid apparently – some of the intellectual part of your own when you peamed this pretty piece of eloquence.

Lonker-on," which has since been admitted into the ceiletum
Essayists; and he is known, in his professon, for a true
Fraudulent Bankruptcy. In 1834, he also pubbed the
Hannah More.]

3 [Charles Phillips, Barrister, was in those days relatrand. Be Irish eloquence. See the Edinburgh Review, No. Tra;

« AnteriorContinuar »