gions of poetry; as may be seen in his tale of Anningait and Ajut, and some other pieces. Hume is said to have composed verses in his youth, which would probably be written in imitation of the coldest and most artificial models. Although Johnson had imagination, there was no native grace or elegance in his mind, to guide him in forming poetical combinations; and perhaps there is not in any English book a more clumsy and ungainly conception than that of the Happy Valley in Rasselas. Any thing that Hume had, beyond pure intellect, seems to have been a turn for pleasantry, which his strict taste prevented him from ever obtruding gratuitously upon the reader. During the time when these men flourished, it may be safely averred, that the influence of intellect was completely predominant over that of genius in this country. No great poet temporary of Mahomet, but Menil places him in the beginning of the sixth century, coinciding pretty nearly, as our readers will remark, with the opinions of Sir William Jones and De Sacy. Of the condition of the poet, little is known with accuracy. It appears, however, to be quite certain, that he was no other than that same Antara, the celebrated knighterrant of Arabia, the memory of whose adventures were long preserved in the popular legends of his country, and which formed the subject of the great Arabic romance which goes by his name." Many of these very adventures are indeed alluded to by the poet himself in his own great poem, which was honoured with the prize at Mec ca. In the Anecdota taken from Tebrizi, and two other scholiasts, (S. 10. 11.) Reiske translated the words, W يحسن الكر اللا الحلب والصدر arose, who produced moral impressions fit to be weighed against the speculative calculations to which the times were giving birth. MENIL'S EDITION OF ANTARA." Or the seven celebrated Arabic poems known by the name of Al-Moallakat, that is, the suspended (on the walls of the temple at Mecca), the fourth is that now edited by the two eminent orientalists named in the title-page. It is now two years since M. Menil first published a valuable introduction to the poem of Antara, in a "Dissertatio Philologica de Antara ejusq. poemate Arabico:" this is reprinted with the present work, without apparently any alteration, under the name of Prolegomena. The name, age, and condition of the poet, are here inquired into with much minuteness; as well as the design, plan, and contents, and metre, of the poem itself. Many excellent observations are subjoined concerning MSS., scholiasts, and various editions of the Moallakat. Reiske supposed Antara to have been a con Antara Poema Arabicum Moallakah cum integris Zouzenii Scholiis. E codice Manuscripto edidit, in Lat. serm. transtulit, et lectionis varietatem addidit Vincentius Elias Menil. Observat. ad tot. poema subjunxit Joannes Willmet. Lugd. Bat. Lucht mans. "Nil animum inspirat, nil tam instigat ad egregia facinora, quam mulgere camelos et stringere ubera." Menil preserves the same ironic sense; but instead of he reads the se Profecto nullo ، تحسن cond person modo ad irruendum incitas nisi (per opera servilia), quod debeam nunc mulgere camelos, nunc earum papillas, ne lacin which both of these translations retent, nodo colligare." The acceptation ceive the word is quite indefensible, and the changing of the person in that of Menil is quite useless. There can be no doubt that should be taken as the fourth conjugation in the sense, bene tractare novit; so that the meaning should run, -A slave knows nothing about seizing an enemy; his only skill is to milk camels, &c. The manuscript of the seven Moallakat, from which Mr Menil has edited the poem of Antara, was brought from the east by the late Scheid, and is now in the possession of Professor Willmet. Its date is the year of the Hegira 545, or of our era 1150: Of this most singular work some specimens have lately been inserted by Hanmer in his learned Fundgruben des Orients. See 4th volume, 3d part. It surpasses, not only in antiquity, but in accuracy and in completeness, all copies previously known to the scholars of Europe. Even the scholia have the vocal and diacritical marks. The author of these scholia, Zuzeni, of whom, personally, nothing is known, explains first of all every rare or difficult word by itself, and then a paraphrase of the whole verse is its contrexion. It might have been wished that Mr Menil had followed more closely the example of the MS. in giving each scholium immediately after the verse to which it belongs. The order of the MS. is indeed entirely neglected. The text is first printed Jones translated this with the scholiast, "Have the bards who preceded me left any theme unsung?" and added to it, by way of connecting it with the second hemistich, “What, therefore, shall be my subject? Love only must supply my lay." The unsufferable harshness of this rendering is obvious; and the sense becomes much more easy if be translated ruins, in which meaning for occurs in Abulfeda's Annals, III. S. 210, where, in the narrative of a great earthquake, he says: log alle pul "Through the الرحم عالم عظیم inward-tumbling buildings there came many men." M. Willmet will not بعد توهم render the expression de by itself: then follows the Latin version; then the variae lectiones, from two MSS. preserved in the library at Leyden, and from the text of Jones (which is printed in Roman characters); then come the Arabic scholia; and last of all we have the commentaria of M. Willmet. The accuracy with which the Arabic text, both of the poem and its scholia, is printed, deserves every praise: the writer of this may be allowed to say so, for he has compared it throughout with a very fine transcript of the Parisian Codex. In general the version is sufficiently close; but there occur seveNo postquam de iis dural little mistakes, occasioned, we suspect, by hurry, and an inattention to the minutiae of the pointing. The translation's chief fault is, that it is by far too frequently paraphrastic. Of this the very first verse furnishes an instance. bitasset; to say nothing of some strong objections to Willmet's own rendering, post suspicionem. The fifth verse, ان روضه انها تضمن نبتها غیت قليل الدمن ليس بمعلم هل غادر الشعراء من متردم - odorem qualem exhalat pratum ad) ام هل عروق الدار بعد توهم is thus translated by Menil: "Aut huc intactum, quod suis luxuriet hernullum omnino inficiat fimetum, nebis, quod quidem pluvia riget; sed que ullum pecoris dedecoret vestigiAccording to this version, um. The literal translation of this is: "Num reliquerunt poetae quicquam resarciendum? Sed num agnoscis habitaculum post longam meditationem?" -Menil gives this so: "Ullamne reliquerint poetae sedium amusiarum is coupled with suarum ruinam, quam non carminibus but it evidently belongs of right velut restitucrint? Certe, tu, Antara, nonne, quam fueras suspicatus, agnoveris amas ae domum?" In the rendering of the first hemistich Menil differs from. Zuzeni, who interprets it thus: to stood it: and so the scholiast under سقاه مطر لم يكن quod (pratum) rigat pluvia Non multus sordes advehens; that is, a ، لم يترك الاول للاخر شيا füp. nullas reliquit prior posteriori quidquam." And "Non reliquerunt poetae quidquam, de quo carmen condi possit. overflow as might leave mud upmoderate shower, bringing no such on the herbage. The word ες βαθὺ τῆς ἡ λικίας, τοῦ πράγμασιν χρωτίζεται καὶ σοφίαν ἐπασκετ ARISTOPH. Every lover of literature will therefore be pleased to learn, that he has been employed, from a due regard to after fame, in collecting his numerous and elegant essays from the various works through which they were originally scattered, and that the present volume was lately published as the first of a series intended to answer this highly desirable end. It is principally composed of essays formerly published in the "Bee," a periodical work which was largely honoured with his lordship's contributions; for, as he informs us, page 7th, with that "curiosa felicitas" so peculiarly his own, "I highly esteem the industry of the Bee, and fill its combs with honey, and provide for the winter." The carping spirit of modern criticism might perhaps object to the title of the work, as seeming to indicate that the noble author was ranked in the Irish Peerage, without reflecting that it only displays the characteristic obscurity indulged in by genius, and merely intends to signify, that, in their original form, when we are told they were "carried on the thighs of the busy Bee to the uttermost limits of the rational world," they appeared anonymous. Even in this point of view doubts might be entertained of the strict propriety of the epithet, as the many delicate and modest allusions all the papers contain, must have led their readers to conclude that “ Albanicus" was at least a wondrous intimate friend of the Head of the House of Buchan. This circumstance, however, we look upon, for our part, as adding in the highest degree to the interest and value of the work. How often has it been a subject of regret, that men of the greatest genius and celebrity have given after-times so slight an opportunity of judging, from their writings, of their private life, and domestic habits and affections. Here the case is happily different; we not only behold the philosopher, but know the man; and this volume must alone prove a rich legacy to posterity, from exhibiting so many original traits of character, and holding up such an admirable picture of the noble author's studies and pursuits in retirement. An enthusiastic admirer of nature, he always charms us with the glow of his descriptions; the scenery of the Tweed is brought before our eyes in language that never savours of the puerile, the frigid, or the bombast; and his own lofty feelings and aspirations are painted in colours that admirably correspond to their originality and sublimity. The dewy gales of the spring, or the solemn silence of the midnight hour, never fail to wake him into rapture. How peculiarly grand is the following burst? "I can pour out my complaints to the roaring streams, and my voice shall not be heard. I can woo the zephyrs with the praises of vernal and sylvan beauty, and they shall waft the harmless theme to the remotest corners of the earth." Page 73. The last idea, indeed, being almost too magnificent for the comprehension of a common mind. But how beautifully interesting is the description that immediately follows in the prosecution of his morning walk. The breakfast smoke of the village was rising in spiry volumes to the clouds ;" when, besides the repose of the landscape, we have the rural im age introduced by a single word of the cottage children, happy at their plenteous meal, and the father ploughman thankfully despatching his six pounds of porridge, which is stated in the statistical accounts of that part of the country, to be the regular mess with which these hardy rustics break their fast. We must return, however, more particularly, to the contents of the volume, as we feel ourselves apt to be led away, perhaps, from indulging in that kindred sublimity, which Longinus says the sublime always infuses into the mind of the reader. We would therefore remark the peculiar delight we experienced from the classical composition of the "Letters in imitation of the Ancients," which occupy a considerable portion of this volume. They principally consist of descriptions of the scenery of Dryburgh, its gainful "pomaria," and the occupations of its right honourable proprietor. With what classical dignity and simplicity is this beautiful seat at once introduced in the epistle of Albanicus to his friend Hortus. "You have no doubt frequently looked down on my humble residence between the 36th and 37th mile-stones, on the road to Jedburgh." The sentimental reader would perhaps be more delighted with the highly natural description of the shepherd in the leafy shade, playing to the graceful Amaryllis by his side, or the midnight wavings of " the solitary but we prefer the following passage, as his lordship seems to write more con amore," when he turns to the prospect of a goodly pear-tree, of which he thus informs his Roman friend in the Ciceronian style. yew; "A pear-tree in my orchard produced last year a crop that sold for seven guineas; and so favourable is the situation in every respect to orchards, that I have planted one with my own hands, from which, if a live a dozen of years, I may be able to brew a considerable quantity of cider, after supplying the neighbourhood with dumpling fruit to qualify their bacon," &c. Page 98. The master spirits of this age do not meet with the greatest share of popular applause. The glorious Excursion of Wordsworth has never seen second edition,-and the volume of Anonymous Essays, by the Earl of Buchan, has shared the same unmerited neglect. We are therefore happy to find this prosperous account of his lordship's labours, since we much doubt if the fruits of his genius will ever enrich him so much as the profits arising from the sale of the fruits of his orchards-the fine gooseberries and "dumpling fruit" that ripen on the sunny slopes of Dryburgh. His lordship's praises of the beauty and fertility of this lovely spot, however profuse or loftily expressed, are not in reality the least exaggerated. It certainly exhibits a singular combination of the richest beauties of nature with the noblest relics of ancient grandeur; in a word, the lofty lines of Lord Byron most happily characterise it. "There the flowers ever blossom-the beams ever shine, And all, save the spirit of man, is divine." The aid of art, too, has not been awanting. As a specimen of his taste in this way, and as an appropriate accompaniment to the volume, the titlepage has been adorned with an engraving of the Temple of the Muses lately erected by this classical peer. That it might have nothing of an anonymous appearance, he has placed, we believe, above each of the pillars, the name of one of the tuneful nine in large golden letters, that form an elegant decoration to the red freestone on which they are pasted. The plate also represents a figure, which we take to be his lordship, in a reclining attitude against one of the pillars, meditating lofty song, and thus literally invoking the "Earlar "Aguonar" of the ancient poets. Besides some biographical sketches, and other miscellaneous articles, the papers on Female Education hold a conspicuous place in the volume of which we have endeavoured this im perfect account. We would particularly recommend them to all whose task it is" to teach the young idea how to shoot." We traced, with great delight, the progress of mind in his imaginary pupil, Alathea, and his mode of conveying instruction. What can be better than the manner in which he gives her an idea of a great first cause? She had observed the ingenuity of her father as he amused himself with a turning-lathe; and being one night struck with some little trays of his manufacture, the sagacious young lady ventured to ask 666 My dear papa, will you tell me who turned the moon? Yes, Alathea, I can tell you that at once, it was the great papa of the whole world that turned the moon, he turned every thing in a lathe of his own to answer the good purposes of his children and creatures; and we are all his children and creatures, men, women, children, horses, cows, sheep, and dogs, &c. &c.' Alathea leaps upon my knee, kisses me again and again, and, laughing in tears, cries out, O mamma! this is charming. Then papa is my brother, and you are my sister; and my grandpapa made the moon, and every thing else."" Pages 42 and 43. This is beautifully naif and simple, and, at the same time, admirably calculated to impress the youthful mind. We can easily conceive, that any little master or miss, after reading this passage, would next as naturally ask-" And pray, my dear papa, what turned Lord Buchan's head?" We would have wished to extend our extracts to greater length, and could have gratified our readers with numberless others equally edifying, had our limits permitted; but we must defer all further criticism till the happy period when the remaining volumes of this great work shall appear. In the mean time, we would refer all our readers, who desire more intimate acquaintance with his lordship's writings, to the admirable portion of it already before the public. It is to be had, we believe, at the colossal statue of Sir William Wallace, erected on the hill above Dryburgh by the patriotic earl, who, by a metamorphosis even still more strange than that of the fair Miss Porter, has converted the warrior into a bookseller, and now makes him the means of disseminating taste and learning over the land he formerly saved by his prowess. IN MY YOUNGER DAYS. MR EDITOR, "WE have heard of the golden and silver age, and have seen a little of the iron age." When I happened to make this observation (trite enough I allow), a friend of mine remarked, that in his apprehension no appellation was more appropriate to the present times than the SELFISH AGE; and truly, upon consideration, I am very much inclined to be of my friend's opinion. That the propensities of human nature, in the main, have undergone any material change in the course of the last century, I am not prepared to maintain, but it certainly appears to me, that a much more disgusting attention to self predominates at present, than existed, or at least was exhibited, forty or fifty years ago,-not only in matters directly connected with money, but in the intercourse and indulgencies of life in general, of which I shall content myself with noticing only two or three slight instances. In my younger days (pray do not write me down Laudator temporis acti) some sort of generosity was practised between man and man. In those days there actually were people who would have put themselves to some personal inconvenience to oblige a friend or neighbour, but now every thing, however trifling, proceeds by way of bargain and sale, and with a quick eye to the quid pro quo. In my younger days, any one who pretended to write gentleman after his name, would have been considered a very shabby fellow had he resorted to the present fashion of selling a terrier, a pointer, or a greyhound, to a friend who happened to want one of these animals; and then, it was more common to send a basket of fruit to a neighbour in the country, as a present, than to a fruit-shop in town for sale. But in our days of economy, the produce of the kennel, and the gardens, even to the little superfluity of flowers, seems destined to augment the family supplies in the same way with the ox-stall or the farm-yard. Indeed I understand that a well-fed puppy is reckoned a toothsome article by some people, and a sort of dainty that frequently supersedes the necessity of purveying a more costly entremet or remove-But this by the way. Under the present system, if one happen to ask a friend for leave to sport over his grounds, whether moor or dale, the request is received, and contemplated pretty much in the same manner, as if you had asked leave to kiss his wife during the honeymoon; that is to say, if he has power to grant the favour ;-but it now frequently happens, that gentlemen let their game, as well as their farms, to the best bidder (by-and-by they may let their wives also), only reserving a right for the supply of their own occasions; and when such is the case, "their sorrow is inexpressible at not being |