The very remarkable converfion of wood to a fplendid metallic matter, commonly called pyritous wood, is examined in the 28th letter; wherein this author fketches the various appearances of those bodies, defcribes the places in which they are more frequently found, and ftates the various opinions or conjectures that have been offered in explanation of the wonderful metamorphofis which they have undergone.

The 29th and 31ft letters treat of petrifaction, or of the converfion of vegetable bodies into ftone; and this alfo is examined in a manner fimilar to the preceding fubjects; namely, by ftating the principal facts, and then adding an examination of the opinions, conjectures, &c. Among all thofe particulars, we fhall only felect and tranfcribe the author's opinion concerning petrifaction.

"Whilft," fays he, "endeavouring to ascertain the nature of the proceffes, by which the feveral bituminous fubftances have been formed, it was fuggefted, that the ligneous parts of vege tables, in detached pieces, as well as in large maffes, when placed in fubterranean fituations, and pervaded by moisture, pafs through certain spontaneous changes, from the inteftine motion of their particles, and the new arrangement of their principles, by which they gradually acquire a bituminous nature. In this manner is

formed bituminous wood; which, if the procefs is not interrupted, it is prefumed, paffes into the ftate of pure bitumen; or if expofed to the influence of certain circumftances, already particularifed, a different modification of its particles enfues; and jet, or fome of the different varieties of coal, are produced. But if the fuperincumbent ftrata be not fufficiently compact, to confine the more volatile matters; if the water be in too large, or in too fmall a quantity, or not fufficiently ftagnant; or if any other circumstance prevent the farther progrefs of the bituminous fermentation-the bituminous wood, being now rendered unfit for the food of infects, and having acquired a confiderable degree of durability, may remain without any farther change for ages. This fact is rendered evident in many parts of this kingdom, where trees have been thus preferved from a period beyond the tradition of man.

"In this bituminized wood, two circumftances are obfervable, which are particularly deferving notice. The first is, that, al though rendered effentially different in its nature, it frequently happens, that its form has undergone no change, and that the difpofition of its fibres has fuffered hardly any alteration. The fecond is, that, when found in wet fituations, its fubftance is fo thoroughly pervaded by water, that it may be discharged from it as from a fponge.

"Reflection on these circumstances muft fhew, that this wood in the exact state which fits it, for becoming a fimilar fubftance,

with that which moft fpecimens of foffil wood prefent to our view. The form and structure of the wood, with even fome of its smaller fibres, are curioully preferved; water pervades every part of it; and its durability is fuch, as to enfure its prefervation until that event happens, on which its confolidation appears to depend-the faturation of the water, with which it is in every part imbued, with earthy particles, chiefly in a state of folution. These confolidating, by the formation of extremely minute cryftallizations, through the whole foftened mafs of bituminized wood, gives it an aluminous, a calcareous, or a filiceous fubftance, without disturbing the exifting arrangement of its fibres. Thus appear to be formed all thofe foffils, which really deferve the name of petrifactions and thus, perhaps, can, alone, be explained that curious phenomenon the exact prefervation of even the minute fibres of the wood; ftill retaining their continuity, and their original characteristic difpofition, whilft their fubftance has undergone a converfion into ftone." P. 314.

The fame fubject of the converfion of vegetable bodies to stone, but of other genera; fuch as the filiceous, the calcareous, &c. occupies the remaining letters of the work; and all thofe converfions are treated in the fame judicious and uniform manner. The facts and the opinions are clearly ftated they are impartially examined, and from that examination very fair conclufions are derived, to which feveral original obfervations, conjectures, &c. are added.

From these letters we might now proceed to transcribe a variety of pleafing and inftructive paffages; if we thought, that by fuch means we could convey a better idea of this author's merit and ftyle, or of his mode of treating the fubjett. But as thofe objects, we hope, are fufficiently manifefted by what we have already mentioned, it would be ufelefs to detain the attention of our readers by a farther extenfion of this article. We fhall, therefore, conclude by obferving, that a work on the fame fubject, equally elegant, comprehenfive, and impartial, does not exilt in EngLifh; nor, as far as we know, in any other language. It is written in a plain, intelligible, and equal ftyle; fuch as may, with pleasure, be perufed by all claffes of readers, and is often enlivened by defcriptions and topics of confiderable entertainment. We can only exprefs a with, that Mr. P. may be equally fuccefsful in the fecond volume of his work, in which he propofes to treat of what is ftill more interefting, namely, the foffil remains of animal bodies.

B

BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXVI. JULY, 1805.

ART.

ART. II. The Inferno of Dante Alighieri: Canto 1.-XVII. With a Tranflation in English Blank Verfe, Notes, and a Life of the Author. By the Rev. Henry Francis Cary, A. M. 286 pp. Carpenter. 1805.

Svo.

WE

E have no complete tranflation in the English language of the Divina Commedia of Dante, except by Mr. Boyd, which, though it may be fubject to the imputation of being fomewhat too diffufe, is certainly a work of great merit. The object, and indeed the great excellence of this by Mr. Cary, is that of being faithful and literal. But this is not all; Mr. C. fhows, in a great many paffages, a fine and cultivated tafle, and very great poetical ability. His undertaking was certainly of the moft difficult kind, for it is objected to Dante himfelf, by fome of the moft polifhed of his countrymen, that he is often deficient in elegance, and not unfrequently very harfh and rugged. To exhibit, therefore, a pleafing verfion of this, the harfheft of Dante's compofitions, and particularly in English blank verfe, could be no eafy tafk. The reader will, however, find this in general fuccefsfully accomplished, and the Italian ftudent who wifhes to be familiarly acquainted with the original poet, will find in this tranflation a very agreeable and eafy introduction.

It is with great fatisfaction we perceive a talte for Italian literature reviving and extending among us. We afcribe this, in no mean degree, to the elegant exertions of Mr. Mathias, whofe different publications in that language have neceffarily a place in every well-chofen collection, and must have had confiderable influence in directing the public attention to thefe ftudies.

The Inferno of Dante has been tranflated into Latin, by the Patre d'Aguino. It has alfo appeared in French and Spanish. The French tranflation does not enjoy the highest reputation; that in Spanifh is one of the fcarceft books in the circle of literature. But it is time to give fpecimens of Mr. Cary's merit. We prefume it is hardly necellary to detail the fubject of this poem, as there are few readers who do not know that it defcribes the progrefs of the poet through the various departments of the invifible world, under the guidance and protection of the poet Virgil, and that seventeen Cantos are employed in reprefenting the terrifying fcenes of hell. The poet's entrance to thefe regions, and his firft interview with Virgil, are thus defcribed:

"The hour was morning's prime, and on his way
Aloft the fun afcended with those stars,

That with him rofe, when love divine first mov'd

Thofe

Thofe its fair works: fo that with joyous hope

All things confpir'd to fill me, the gay skin
Of that swift animal*, the matin dawn,
And the sweet seafon. Soon that joy was chas'd,
And by new dread fucceeded, when in view
A lion came, 'gainst me as it appear'd,
With his head held aloft and hunger-mad,
That e'en the air was fear-ftruck. A she-wolf
Was at his heels, who in her leanness seem'd
Full of all wants, and many a land hath made
Difconfolate ere now. She with fuch fear
O'erwhelm'd me, at the fight of her appall'd,
That of the height all hope I loft. As one,
Who with his gain elated, fees the time
When all unwares is gone, he inwardly
Mourns with heart-griping anguith; fuch was I,`
Haunted by that fell beaft, never at peace,
Who coming o'er againft me, by degrees
Drove me to where the fun in filence refts.
While to the lower fpace with backward step
I fell, my ken difcern'd the form of one,
Whofe voice feem'd faint through long difufe of fpeech.
When him in that great defert I efpied,

"Have mercy on me!" cried I out aloud,
Spirit! or living man! whate'er thou be!"
He anfwer'd: "Now not man, man once I was,
And born of Lombard parents, Mantuans both
By country, when the power of Julius yet
Was fcarcely firm. At Rome my life was paft
Beneath the mild Auguftus, in the time
Of fabled deities and falfe.

A bard

Was I, and made Anchifes' upright fon

The fubject of my fong, who came from Troy,
When the flames prey'd on Ilium's haughty towers.
But thou, fay wherefore to fuch perils paft
Return'ft thou? wherefore not this pleafant mount
Afcendeft, caufe and fource of all delight?"
"And art thou then that Virgil, that well-fpring,
From which fuch copious floods of eloquence
Have iffued?" I with front abafh'd.replied.
"Glory and light of all the tuneful train!
May it avail me, that I long with zeal
Have fought thy volume, and with love immenfe
Have conn'd it o'er. My mafter thou and guide!
Thou he from whom alone I have deriv'd

That ftyle, which for its beauty into fame
Exalts me. See the beast, from whom I fled.
O fave me from her, thou illuftrious fage!

For every vein and pulfe throughout my frame
She hath made tremble." He foon as he faw
That I was weeping, anfwer'd, "Thou must needs
Another way purfue, if thou wouldst 'scape
From out that favage wilderness. This beaft,
At whom thou crieft, her way will fuffer none
To pafs, and no lefs hindrance gives than death:
So bad and fo accurfed in her kind,

That never fated is her ravenous will,
Still after food more craving than before.
To many an animal in wedlock vile
She faftens, and shall yet to many more,
Until that greyhound come, who shall destroy
Her with fharp pain. He will not life support
By earth nor its bafe metals, but by love,
Wisdom, and virtue, and his land fhall be
The land twixt either Feltro. In his might
Shall fafety to Italia's plains arise,

For whofe fair realm, Camilla, virgin pure,
Nifus, Euryalus, and Turnus fell.

He with inceffant chase through every town
Shall worry, until he to hell at length
Reftore her, thence by envy first let loose.
I for thy profit pond'ring now devife,
That thou mayft follow me, and I thy guide
Will lead thee hence through an eternal space,
Where thou shalt hear defpairing fhrieks, and fee
Spirits of old tormented, who invoke

A fecond death; and thofe next view, who dwell
Content in fire, for that they hope to come,
Whene'er the time may be, among the bleft,
Into whofe regions if thou then defire
T' afcend, a fpirit worthier than I

Muft lead thee, in whofe charge, when I depart,
Thou shalt be left for that Almighty King,
Who reigns above, a rebel to his law
Adjudges me, and therefore hath decreed,
That to his city none through me fhould come.
He in all parts hath fway; there rules, there holds
His citadel and throne. O happy thofe,

Whom there he choofes!" I to him in few:
"Bard! by that God, whom thou didst not adore,
I do befeech thee (that this ill and worfe

I may efcape) to lead me, where thou faidft,
That I faint Peter's gate may view, and thofe

Who, as thou tell'ft, are in fuch difmal plight."
Onward he mov'd, I clofe his fteps purfu'd."

P. 7.

To each Canto Mr. Cary has added explanatory notes, which demonftrate very extenfive reading, and a most inti

mate