Fight bravely, comrade,' said Count Robert of Paris, for we no longer battle in private; this respectable person having chosen to constitute himself judge of the field. Hazardous as his situation was, the Varangian looked up, and was so struck with the wild and terrified expression which the creature had assumed, and the strife between curiosity and terror which its grotesque features exhibited, that he could not help bursting into a fit of laughter. 'Sylvan is among those,' said Hereward, who would rather hold the candle to a dance so formidable than join in it himself.' 'Is there, then,' said Count Robert, any absolute necessity that thou and I perform this dance at all ?' None but our own pleasure,' answered Hereward, for I suspect there is not between us any legitimate cause of quarrel demanding to be fought out in such a place, and before such a spectator. Thou art, if I mistake not, the bold Frank, who was yesternight imprisoned in this place with a tiger, chained within no distant spring of his bed?' 'I am,' answered the Count. 'And where is the animal who was opposed to thee?" 'He lies yonder,' answered the Count, 'never again to be the object of more terror than the deer whom he may have preyed on in his day. He pointed to the body of the tiger, which Hereward examined by the light of the dark-lantern already mentioned. And this, then, was thy handiwork?' said the wondering AngloSaxon. 'Sooth to say it was answered the Count, with indifference. And thou hast slain my comrade of this strange watch?' said the Varangian. 'Mortally wounded him at the least,' said Count Robert. With your patience, I will be beholden to you for a moment's truce, while I examine his wound,' said Hereward. 'Assuredly,' answered the Count; blighted be the arm which strikes a foul blow at an open antagonist!'" Without committing ourselves by a promise of future extracts, we meanwhile assure our readers that they will not be disappointed in a rich mental repast; which, though perhaps not so excellent as what they have heretofore received, yet contains that which they may look for elsewhere in vain, and that is rather a good recommendation when we consider that this is the time when there are good things in plenty. 3. Adventures of a Dramatist. 2 vols.-London-Groombridge. THE only merit discoverable in this work, or rather in the advertisement connected with it, is the announcement of the Author that "he would not attempt to promote the sale of his publication by puffs, direct or indirect." In such forbearance consists the entire praise-worthy feature, intimating, as it does, a degree of policy and prudence, which we could hardly have conceived to be constituent portions in the mental frame of him who would palm two volumes of the merest trash upon the public. "By puffs!" quoth he-'twas well the adventurer said so:-he must have known that no Journal, however much given to falsify for filthy lucre, would have staked its very existence by publishing the most villanous untruths, and that the eulogistic system must have some foundation to rest on. No-not if all the periodicals of the day were to unite, and fill their sheets simulta neously with the aura laudativa, could they save so leaky and lumbrous a vessel from sinking into the depths of oblivion. 4. Blackwood's Magazine, for December, 1831, CONTAINS many choice political papers of the rank Tory principle. They are written with great vigour and nervousness, but as we are inclined to dispute their premises, we cannot acquiesce in the conclusions at which they arrive. The "Song to be sung by all True Whigs" is, to say the least, mean and scurrilous, and unworthy of a place in those pages where the bright genius of Christopher Northappropriating all that is beautiful in creation and lovely in the world of mind-discharges itself in copious streams of pure wit and pellucid fancy, which carry gladness to hearts that can feel the force of genuine sentiment, and can appreciate the rare gems of a high-toned and richly cultivated intellect. LITERARY GOSSIP AND VARIETIES. A new play, under the title of Henry the Third, by Lord F. Leveson Gower, has been brought out at Covent Garden. The plot relates to the events of those singular times, the Duke and Duchess of Guise, Catherine de Medici, and St. Megrin being the principal characters. The English is a pretty close translation of the French piece of the same name by Dumas, who gained for his work a large measure of Parisian applause. Among what are called the Larpent MSS. a Comedy has been discovered, which John Philip Kemble wrote so late as 1806. It is reckoned the best of the great actor's productions, notwithstanding which it was condemned, when acted under the name of The Romantic Lover, or Lost and Found. In Larpent's list it is intituled, The Legacy, or A Thousand Pounds Reward. It was stated some time ago, that Henry Johnston was engaged at Drury Lane. The report is contradicted by some of the Journals, which inform us, that the negociations commenced for the purpose were not carried into effect. A cheap edition, in English and French, of the Duchess of Abrantes' Memoirs will shortly make its appearance. Such is the unpopularity of the muse in these degenerate times, that Mrs. Hemans' poetry scarcely covers the expenses of printing; Wordsworth's is not marketable; and Murray has in hands a poem of Crabbe's which he cannot venture to publish. L. E. L. the fair authoress of "The Improvisatrice," "The Venetian Bracelet," and other beautiful poems, has betaken herself to prose composition, and has produced a fiction under the title of "Romance and Reality." If her prose equal her poetry, she will take a place among novelists of the highest order. The Rev. Mr. Stewart's narrative of his visit to the South Seas in the United States Ship Vincennes, in 1829 and 1830, will be published immediately. The work will comprise scenes in Brazil, Peru, Manilla, the Cape of Good Hope, St. Helena, the South Sea Islands, &c., and will contain the most recent accounts yet published of the Christian Missions to those remote but highly interesting portions of the Globe. Dr. Abercrombie's able work on the Intellectual Powers and the Investigation of Truth has reached a second edition. We may confidently expect, that in a few years, it will be as commonly read and quoted as the philosophy of Reid, Stewart, and Brown. Scotland seems determined to make up for lost time in the Annual department. Despising the trifles that Edinburgh has attempted, the Glasgow Press invites attention to "The Chameleon"- —a bona fide Forget-me-not, with gilt edges, gold titles, and variegated cloth. Washington Irving is busied in writing a Legendary History of Mahomet. The illustrious Goethe, now the father of European literature, has lately published a work on a subject which few would imagine within the objects or accomplishments of a poet and an idealist; namely, "An Essay on the Metamorphoses of Plants." Miss Shirreff, who made such a successful debut a few nights ago at Covent Garden Theatre, is said to be the daughter of a Tailor in the vicinity of Brunswick-square, and she has a brother an officer in the Navy, who has greatly distinguished himself. On each night that she draws houses equally full as the present, she will clear £100, and thus soon furnish herself a handsome portion. "The Bravo," by Cooper, the American Novelist, has at length found its way to the Libraries. The eagerness with which it is perused, is fully equal to the expectations that were entertained previous to its publication. To Readers and Correspondents. When TYRO shall have seen a little service, we may be induced to admit him to our ranks. At present he exhibits too much of the freshman. PHIL. M'GLAMORER," the charmer," has not charms enough for us. On perusing the contents of our present Number, C. will understand our sentiments. We have received, through our Printer, Two and Thirty verses, addressed to the Pier Light House, transcribed in a large and stout hand, and bearing strong marks of confirmed Authorship. They were accompanied by a poem, 80 lines in length and five feet in breadth, having the following curious heading: "The Peniel Heugh, Now Monumented by great Waterloo, In honour of his King and Country too." We have not had leisure to wade through this extraordinary produc tion, but we beg to assure the writer, that we will do so at our best convenience. The composition entitled "The Light House," is, from top to bottom, original and marvellous. Never in the whole course of our reading, have we met with any thing like it. The Author's style, images, figures, allusions, and arrangement, are all-all new! would that he had taken fewer liberties, in his departure from the hackneyed common-place of the mere doer of doggrel, with the King's good old English. His versification, too, is often slovenly and inharmonious this we can tolerate when it indicates original thought struggling for utterance. In the present case the character of the writer's imagery is frequently strained, repulsive, and ludicrous. As a proof of it, we give a couple of verses taken verbatim from the body of the piece. "This shall not be, cries Neptune in a passion, "Another slap, the colt quick gets a tale, But we will probably lay the composition more fully before our readers in a future number, and, in the meantime, we would recommend to the author the cultivation of the science joyeuse. We fear that Ringan Teugh and Stieve, who transmitted to us the rhymes, entitled "Sant Andro's Denner," is not possessed of genius of the right stamp. His long web seems to be woven with coarse and rotten threads. If he has any remnants by him, we will gladly look them over. We shall endeavour to satisfy our Mathematical friends by subsequent arrangements. Several excellent pieces have come to hand, and others have been lying over for want of room. We beg that none will attribute our silence to neglect. Our readers, of course, would understand, that in announcing a History of Berwick we had no communication with the reputed author, but merely drew the intelligence from public rumour. A word more young gentlemen and younger writers, be pleased to post-pay your favours. The Register of Births, &c. has been unavoidably excluded, owing to other more pressing demands. THE BORDER MAGAZINE. No. III.] JANUARY, 1832. [VOL. I. SONG-WRITING.-GILFILLAN *. A GREAT poet of the present day has written only one song-if we may believe a statement to that effect in Blackwood's Magazine-and he considers it a failure. This is the more remarkable, as he possesses, in a high degree, every talent which this species of composition might be supposed a priori to require. For deep and active feeling,-for strength and brilliancy of thought,-for ease and variety of expression, and particularly for a knowledge of Scottish life in all its peculiar interests, he is perhaps more eminent, taking him "all in all," than any of his contemporaries except Scott. This anomaly cannot be accounted for, in our humble opinion, on any principles of metaphysical analysis. So we shall content ourselves with allowing our readers to form their own theories on the subject. But, though we cannot discover any reason for such a failure with such a combination of talents, and though we mention it merely to illustrate the difficulty of the undertaking, what,' it may, at least be asked, 'constitutes the great charm of our best songs? We think it is reducible to this,-natural feeling naturally expressed, under circumstances where all can sympathize. "Gie me a spark o' nature's fire That's a' the learning I desire, Then though I trudge through dub and mire At pleugh or cart, My muse, though hamely in attire, May touch the heart." We do not say, that poetry in some of its other forms does not owe its effect to the same qualities. But we think, that our remark applies emphatically to Songs. Feelings that a warm fancy may lead us to refine upon, till they have almost lost the appearance of nature, must be conveyed simply and purely as they rise up. A Song, in short, is addressed directly to the heart; and upon subjects where it is deeply interested, mere subtleties, however brilliant, will not satisfy it. The only eloquence to which it yields is the eloquence of sincerity. Original Songs, by Robert Gilfillan, 12mo. pp 152. Edin.-John Anderson. London Whittaker. Leith-James Burnet. 1831. VOL. I. N |
