Respecting this passage, we shall only remark that Mr. Hindley is no unsuccessful imitator of that species of style which is named by the Persians " Rungeen," or colored.Two poems of Motanabbi conclude his paper; and, that we may not be accused of invidious selection, we present our readers with the commencing couplets of each, literally translated, venturing to add the English verses into which we would have rendered them, and then giving Mr. Hindley's translation, as amplified into six lines. The first is on the sickness of the celebrated Sultan Saïfeddowla; the latter on his recovery. 1st. "When Saïfeddowla sickens, the world languishes; with him, valour and pure beneficence decline." This we would have rendered in a single couplet, thus: Mr. Hindley's translation is as follows: We would here submit to Mr. Hindley the question, whether his verses may with any propriety be termed a free translation, or any translation at all? The pallid hue of a hero, Nature feeling a contagion, the earth reeling, and fires preying on valor, form a series of imagery (whether beautiful, or otherwise, is another matter) of which we can discern no prototype in the original. The second poem, on the recovery of the patron of Motanabbi, is addressed to him, and thus begins: "Glory and Beneficence revive with thee; Affliction flies hence to thy foes." This we should translate thus: "Glory revives! Bounty again Feels all her force with thine return. And calls thy distant foes to mourn.” Mr. Hindley thus renders the passage: He breaths-he lives-the dormant heat Glory her warlike air resumes, Waves in the breeze her glittering plumes, Abash'd retire Afliction's bands.' The The space which we have allotted to the first paper of this work must prevent us from bestowing much attention on the subsequent communications; which, indeed, are too miscellaneous, and many of them too short, to admit or to require comments on each. We find an amusing (though too digressive) account of a journey to Hyderabad, where the descendants of Asof Jah still maintain a splendid court, on the revenue of a declining state.-A sonnet of the elegant Sadi is, on the whole, well translated; though we think that the writer has not sufficiently adverted to the beautiful naïveté of the original. We give the two concluding stanzas: This might have been rendered, with more simplicity, in the same number of lines as in the original, thus: How oft, when far from her I lov'd, The name of the poet should by no means be omitted in the last couplet, as this peculiarity distinguishes the Ghazel from every other composition. An extract from a devotional treatise in Turkish exhibits the opinions entertained, by the Moslems, of the divine mission and prophetic character of our Saviour. This is followed by some remarks on the collation of various manuscripts, in which we do not perceive any thing sufficiently interesting to entitle it to a place in this collection;-an observation that we would also apply to a paper on the orthography of Baghdad, in English characters.A relation of the conquest of Zoos, (probably Rhodes,) by Moavia, displays at once the ignorance and the zeal of the new sectaries; and, in a subsequent paper on Indian music, we find an explanation of their gamut, and some information relative to their Raugs and Raugonis,-those elegant personifications of their musical modes,-embellished with corresponding attributes. We entertain no doubt of this work proving eminently calculated to gratify the curious: for, though its plan and execution are both susceptible of emendations, the specimen before us will justify a hope that the improvements, to which we al P4 lude, lude, will suggest themselves in the progress of the undertak. ing. It may then become as perfect in the execution as it is arduous in the design, and honorable to him who prosecutes and to those who patronize it. MONTHLY CATALOGUE, Art. 17. TH For JUNE, 1797. CLASSICS, EDUCATION, &c. Βίωνος και Μοσχου τα λειψανα. Illustrabat et emendabat Gilbertus Wakefield. 12mo. 3s. 6d. Boards. Kearsley. HIS is a very neat and correct edition of two of the sweetest bards of Greece. Mr. Wakefield has, in general, followed the editions of Heskin, Brunck, and Valckenaer, but he has inserted several of his own conjectural emendations. The type, though small, is beautiful, and divested of all the trappings of accents. To this omission, many will doubtless object; and their objections were foreseen, and are thus obviated by Mr. W. We give his own words, as they cannot be easily translated, without losing some of their force. - Si quis omissos mihi graves, quos vocant, accentus, acutos, et circumflexos, emirabitur aut indignabitur; et se in illis commoditates quasdam molestis typographicis compensaturas perspicere confidit; non is sum, qui reformidem in hoc stadium descendere concertaturus. Hi tamèn sibi caveant, ne frivolam gloriolam velint falsa scientia captare; et ineptiis patrocinentur, quo minùs ineptiis diuturnam operam impendisse videantur: nam, ut rhetoris prudentissimi verbis utar, "inculcatas pueris persuasiones" (et eas in primis, quæ reconditioris eruditionis specie blandiuntur) non facilè mutaveris; quia nemo non didicisse mavult, quàm discere.' Ex defensionibus Fosteri Primattique, ingeniosis utique et eruditis, nihil colligo, nisi quod controversia de accentibus, si solidam spectes utilitatem, mera sit grammaticorum questio; de quá laboriosiùs agitantibus non melius responsum dederis, quàm carmine Catulliano: 66 Turpe est difficiles habere nugas, Et stultus labor est ineptiarum Quantopere dolendum est vobis, doctorum chori! Latinam linguam his deliciis, melle quovis dulcioribus, carere!' We entirely concur in sentiment with Mr. W. and we wish to see all the Greck Classics appear in the same character as that which is here used. To the text, which consists only of 33 pages, Mr. W. has added large animadversions, constituting more than two thirds of the volume. They are replete with illustrative erudition, and breathe, throughout, the penetrating and ardent spirit of the author. On the whole, we must here repeat what we have already more than once said, or hinted: Mr. W. is a sagacious critic, but too bold an emendator; for he often rejects good readings, merely because he thinks he has found better; and this is a privilege which, in our opinion, no editor has a right to enjoy. Art. Art. 18. A New Philosophical Grammar of the French Tongue, compared with the English; with an Introduction, containing a Discourse on the Origin of Languages, Writing, Religious and Civil Laws, established among all Nations; and the Explanation of a Method for teaching and learning Languages, in 40 Lessons. By the Dowager Marquise de Pons de Faulxcon, a French Emigrant Lady. 4to. Nos. I. and II. Is. 6d. each. All Booksellers. 1797. These two numbers contain a preliminary discourse to an intended philosophical grammar of the French tongue. We suppose that they are published apart to invite subscription: but it is impossible to judge from them of the merit of the work. The French text is printed on one side, and an English translation on the other. This last should have been corrected by a native of the country. The work will be completed in twelve numbers. Art. 19. Une Semaine d'une Maison d'Education de Londres; i. e. A Week in a London School: containing Lectures drawn from the Incas of Marmontel; Entertaining Stories; and Dialogues between the Writer and her Pupils; adapted gradually to improve the Heart, the Genius, and the Understanding. By a Lady of Rank. 12mo. pp. 326. 3s. 6d. Boards. Elmsley and Brem ner. 1797. Our French guests have at least rendered this country one service, in return for the hospitality which we have shewn to them: they have increased our number of useful books for learning the French language. This publication is entitled to a place among the more judicious of these productions. The work of Marmontel furnishes excellent materials for a school-book; and the additional matter does no discredit to the author's talents. Art. 20. Instructions for the Education of a Daughter; translated from the French of the Author of Telemachus. 12mo. pp. 110. Robinsons. 1797. Every thing from the pen of the amiable Fenelon must have been worth translating. His mind was richly stored with knowlege, and his heart was still more richly fraught with benevolence. On so important a subject as that of female education, he could not write an uninteresting book. Yet opinions and tastes have undergone such changes since his time, particularly on this subject, that the present work will be less admired, and perhaps less useful, now, than when it was first written. Good mothers, who are anxious for the improvement and happiness of their daughters, may, however, gather useful hints from it; and they will have no reason to be dissatisfied with the translator, for the manner in which he has performed his part. Those passages which related to the peculiarities of the Romish church are omitted.-The former translation, as we are informed by an advertisement here prefixed, was published by Dr. Hicks, in 1707. LAW. Art. 21. King's Bench, Westminster, December 6, 1796. For selling a Work intitled, "A Summary of the Duties of Citizenship." 8vo. Is. Sold by Mrs. Smith, (the Wife of John Smith,) in Portsmouth-street, as above. The indictment was for sedition; the sentence, imprisonment, and hard labour in the house of correction, Clerkenwell, for two years, and 1000l. on his own recognizance, for his good behaviour for five years. The trial appears to be fairly published, for the benefit of the unfortunate bookseller's wife and children. Particulars of the severity of Smith's punishment are added, in order to excite the compassion of the public :-in which intention the editor would, perhaps, have better succeeded, had he forborne his invectives against that government and administration, in the behalf of which the defendant is now suffering the penalty of the law. Art. 22. Reflections on the Advantages and Disadvantages attending Commissions of Bankruptcy; clearly pointing out when they may be beneficial or prejudicial to Creditors; and when they are beneficial or hurtful to the unfortunate Bankrupt. A Work calculated for the Perusal and serious Attention of every Merchant, Tradesman, or monied Man in the Kingdom. 8vo. pp. 43. 2s. Boag. We have read this pamphlet, but we cannot say that its contents, which consist only of bitter declamations against attornies, and a few scattered hints taken from Cooke's Bankrupt Laws, at all justify the high expectations which the author had formed of his performance, and has expressed in his title-page. HISTORY, &c. Art. 23. Geographical Illustrations of Scottish History, containing the Names of Places mentioned in Chronicles, Histories, Records, &c. with Corrections of the corrupted Names, and Explanations of the difficult and disputed Points, in the historical Geography of Scotland; the Names being alphabetically arranged, with References to their Position in the Historical Map of Scotland, which accompanies this Work: Together with a compendious Chronology of the Battles to the Year 1603: collected from the best Authorities, historical and geographical. By David Macpherson. 4to. 10s. 6d. sewed. Nicol, &c. The above copious title sufficiently explains the design of this small work; and it is only necessary to add that the divisions of the country, and the orthography of the names, in the map, are adapted to the end of the 14th century; a period nearly contemporary with that of the best early historians of Scotland; being a few years later than Barber and Fordun, and a few years earlier than the famous Chronicle of Wintown. Considered as an auxiliary to the perusal of such works, Mr. Macpherson's performance is not without its use. NOVELS. Art. 24. Santa Maria; or the mysterious Pregnancy; a Romance. horrors |