* Te Deum" merrily, "that they had won the beast of price." A "If you will any more of this, This tale, which possesses some portion of Cervantick humour, resembles the tournament of Totten X ham [See Percy's Reliques, vol. ii.] in which the peasants of a village are introduced imitating all the solem nities of a tournament, and battering each other's heads with flails, as knights did with long swords and maces. Another remarkable example of this class of comick romances, is entitled the "Hunting of the Hare." A yeoman having found a hare sitting in the common field of a village, announces his discovery to the inhabitants. The peasants, resolving to course her, bring to the spot their great yard dogs and mastiffs, "with short shanks and never a tail." The confusion and disarray which follow the congregating of this ill-assorted pack is described with great humour: the ban-dogs, more addicted to war than sport, fall foul of each other; their masters are gradually involved in the quar rel, and poor puss steals away, leav ing her enemies engaged in a grand scene of worrying and wrangling, This poem, has never, we believe, been printed. We could add largely to these examples, and show that low romance formed a distinct style of composition during the middle ages: but we have already exceeded our bounds, and must dismiss Mr. Evans's publication, which, always curious, has been greatly improved by his personal taste and labour. The next articles in our title, which are allied in subject to the Collection of Ballads, are two editions of the same work; Dr. Aikin's well known collection of songs, with the preliminary essay. Mr. Evans, it seems, from his preface, considered Dr. Aikin to have given up any intention of reprinting his collection. "The many years which have elapsed since the publication of the last edition, seemed to leave no hope that Dr. Aikin could be prevailed on to gratify the pub. lick by a revision and enlargement of his work. He had declined the task in the prime and vigour of life, and he might now think it unbecoming his years, to engage in a republication of these nuge canore. Turpe senilis amor, the doctor might exclaim, and though he might be pleased those of Percy, Ellis, and some other sito see his volume ranged by the side of milar publications, yet he has abandoned the friendly office of revision to other hands." Mr. Evans has, however, reckoned without his host in this matter, and we are sorry that he did not take some more certain means of ascertaining the doctor's intentions, considering his own labours; for we are not to suppose, that one who is an editor, as well as a bookseller, would have so far neglected the comitas due to a brother author, as to publish against him a rival edition of his own work. the following account of his mo Dr. Aikin prefaces his edition with tives: "As inquiries were still from time to time made after it among the booksellers, the editor was asked the question, whether he had any intention of reprinting it; ac. companied with the intimation, that, as the copy-right was expired, should he decline the business, others would be ready to undertake it. Conscious that the Essays were the juvenile attempts of one whose taste was by no means matured, and whose critical knowledge was circumscribed within narrow limits, the editor be given to the publick with all its imperwas unwilling that his book should again fections on its head. He was obliged, therefore, to declare, that if it were reprinted at all, it should be with many ma terial alterations, corresponding to his own change of taste and opinion in various points during so long an interval. "Under these almost compulsory circum. stances, although he perhaps should not now taste.” some have chosen for the first time to appear quavers forth. But where taste and w the collector of productions, the gene. feeling for poetry happen to be ral strain of which is trore suitable to an united with a sweet and flexible earlier period of life, yet he thought he might, without impropriety, avail himself voice, it is scarcely possible to menof the opportunity of making a new and tion a higher power of imparting much more extensive selection of compo. and heightening social pleasure. sitions which will not cease to be favour. We have heard Dr. Aikin's simple ites with the lovers of elegant poetry, ballad: “ It was a winter's evening, whatever be the vicissitudes of general and fast came down the snow," set by Dr. Clarke, sung with such In the singular predicament of beautiful simplicity as to draw tears reviewing two rival editions of the even from the eyes of reviewers. same work, and without pretending But the consideration of modern to give a decision against Mr. Evans, song opens to the critick a stronger although we think he has treated ground of complaint, from the deDr. Aikin with somewhat less atten. tion than his age, situation, and generacy of the compositions which tion than his age, situation, and have been popular under that name. talents perhaps demanded, we can Surely it is time to make not regret that we are possessed of stand against the deluge of nonsense both editions of the book, and trust and indecency which has of late that (as the old song runs) “the supplanted, in the higher circles, world's wide and there's room for the of our best poets. We us all.” We are particularly glad say nothing of the “ Nancies of the to have an opportunity of comparing hills and vales." Peace to all such! Dr. Aikin's original ideas upon the let the milliner and apprentice have subject of song writing, with those their ballad, and have it such as they which he has since adopted. His can understand. Let the four essays upon songs in general, have his tight main-decker,” and upon ballads and pastoral songs, the countess her tinseled canzonet. upon passionate and descriptive But when we hear words which consongs, upon ingenious and witty vey to every man, and we fear to songs, are now blended into one most of the women in society, a general essay; but we love the clas. sical turn of these little discourses would venture to avow; when we sense beyond what effrontery itself so well, that we are glad they are hear such flowing from the lips, or preserved in their original state. addressed to the ears, of unsuspectSuch directions and rules of com- ing innocence, we can barely supposition, whether in their separate press our execration. This elegant and detailed, or in their new mould- collection presents, to those who ed shape, were never more necessary admire musick, a means of escaping than at the present day. The mar- from the too general poliution, and , riage between Harmony and "Immor- of indulging a pleasure which we tal Verse,”has, like fashionable wed. are taught to regard as equally lock, frequently made some very advantageous to the heart, taste, and ill-matched pairs; and we suspect understanding. Both editions are that Poetry must sue for a considerably enlarged by various separate maintenance The ladies, extracted from the best who ought, in common charity, to modern poets, and in either shape feel for her situation, are those who the work maintains its right to rank aggravate her hardships; for it is songs as one of the most classical collec. rare to hear a fair songstress utter tions of songs in any language. the words of the song which she seaman soon SPIRIT OF THE MAGAZINES. MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF PRINCE EUGENE, OF SAVOY, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. [Continued from vol. 4. p. 336.] 1708-AS I was sure that Marlborough could make no arrangements but what were excellent, I went the day after the battle of Oudenarde to see my mother, at Brussels. What tears of affection did she shed on beholding me again with some addition of glory! I told her, however, that Marlborough's portion seemed greater than mine, as at Hochstett. The joy of revenge had some share in that, occasioned by our victory. She was glad to see the king humbled, who had left her, for another woman, in his youth, and exiled her in his old age. It is remarkable that in hers, she married the duke d'Ursel, without assuming his name. Nobody knew this; it could not have been a match of conscience or convenience, but probably of ennui and idleness. The fifteen days which I thus passed with her, were the most agreeable of my life. I parted from her with the more pain, as it was probable that we should not see each other again. On the last day of my visit the troops from the Moselle arrived. We were then as strong as the French. I sent eight battalions to reenforce Marlborough's corps, which covered Flanders. I left the rest to cover Brussels, and rejoined him at the camp of Elchin. He, Ouverkirke, and myself, agreed upon sending a strong detachment to lay waste Artois and Picardy, and thus compel Vendome to leave his camp. Vendome, who guessed our intention, remained immovable. I proposed the siege of Lisle; the deputies of the states-general thought fit to be of a different opinion. Marlborough was with me, and they were obliged to hold their tongues. The siege was committed to me, while Marlborough was to cover it against the army of the duke of Burgundy. The latter with 60,000 men, encamped near Pont des Pierres; and I with 40,000, after investing the city, took up my head quarters at the abbey of Loos, on the 13th of August. The brave and skilful Boufflers, with a garrison of sixteen battalions, and four regiments of dragoons, cut out plenty of work for me. The job, so far from being easy, was a dangerous one; for Mons was not in our possession. My first attack on fort Cateleau was repulsed; the works undertaken the same day to drain a large pond which was in my way, also failed. I ordered epaulements to be made, for the fire of the place annoyed us to such a degree, that a cannon-ball carried off the head of the valet of the prince of Orange, at the moment when he was putting on his master's shirt. It may easily be supposed that he was obliged to take another, and to remove his quarters. I opened the trenches, and on the 23d the besieged made € a sortie, when lieutenant-general young prince of no character, and Betendorff, who commanded there, an old king who had lost his, were was taken prisoner. Boufflers treated quite sufficient to fill Vendome's him exceedingly well. The festival heart with rage. He was obliged by of St. Louis, which he celebrated them to retreat, as if he had been with three general discharges of all beaten. I continued the siege, sure his artillery, cost us some men. In of not being interrupted, and took the night between the 26th and 27th, the redoubt of the gate of Flanders, the besieged made a terrible sortie; and some others; but after three I gained the post of the mill of St. hours fighting for one of the most Andrew; Boufflers retook it; and I essential, I was driven back, and there lost 600 men. pursued to my trenches. I scarcely Marlborough sent me word that stirred from them, having the king Berwick having reenforced the duke of Poland and all my young princes of Burgundy, the army, now 120,000 at my side; for it was necessary to strong, was marching to the relief set an example, and to give orders. of Lisle. The deputies of the states. I ordered two assaults to facilitate general, always interfering in every the taking of the covered way; althing, and always dying of fear, ask- ways repulsed, but a horrible cared me for a reenforcement for him. nage. Five thousand English, sent I went to his camp to offer him one. me by Marlborough to repair my He said: “Let us go together, and losses, performed wonders, but were reconnoitre the ground between the thrown into disorder. We heard the Deule and the Marck." After we cry of Vive le Roi et Boufflers! I had examined it, he said: “ I have said a few words in English to those no occasion for one, I shall only brave fellows who rallied round me; move my camp nearer to your's." I led them back into the fire; but a Vendome proposed not to lose a day, ball below the left eye knocked me but instantly attack the army of ob- down senseless. Every body thought servation, and the besieging force. me dead, and so did I too. They ". I cannot,” said the duke of Bur- found a dung-cart, in which I was gundy; "I have sent a courier to conveyed to my quarters. First my my grandfather to inquire his plea- life, and then my sight, was desure.” Conferences were held at spaired of. I recovered both. The Versailles, and the king sent his ball had struck me obliquely. Here booby Chabillard to his grandson's was another unsuccessful attack; camp. He went up with him into the out of 5,000 men, not 1,500 returnsteeple of the village of Sedin, to ed, and 1,200 workmen were there view our two armies, and he decided killed. against giving us battle. Being prevented for some time, I cannot conceive how Vendome by my wound from interfering in any could forbear running mad; another, thing, I left the command of the with less zeal, would have sent every siege to Marlborough, who delivered thing to the devil; and he, a better his to Ouverkerke. He effected a grandson of a king of France than lodgment in a tenaillon on the left; the other, took the trouble, the day but a mine baffled the assault and before, to go so close to Marlbo- the assailants. Marlborough counterrough's position to reconnoitre, that mined some of them, and took all he was grazed by a cannon-ball. I possible pains to spare me trouble had returned to Marlborough's camp on my return. He was obliged to eat to be his volunteer, if he had been in publick, in order to cheer my arattacked. my, and returned to his own. But (while I think of it) a Cha- The chevalier de Luxembourg millard, that is, in one word, a deceived me by introducing ammu nition, of which the besieged were your person, and I am sure that a in great want; and a captain, named brave man like you will not abuse Dubois, deceived me by swimming it. I congratulate you on your exwith a note from Boufflers to the cellent defence." duke of Burgundy, informing him, My council of war, which I sum. that though the trenches had been moned out of politeness, objected to opened forty days, I was not yet the article that the citadel should not completely master of any of the be attacked on the side next the “Nevertheless, Monseig- town. I yielded, having my plan in neur,” added he, “ I cannot hold out my head, and wrote to Boufflers: beyond the 15th or 20th of October.” “ Certain reasons, M. le Marechal, I was in want of powder. A single prevent me from signing this article, letter from Marlborough to his but I give you my word of honour friends queen Anne, occasioned a to observe it. I hope in six weeks quantity to be sent me, with four- to give you fresh proofs of my adteen battalions, by the fleet of vice- miration.” Bouffers retired into the admiral Byng, who landed them at citadel, and I entered the city with Ostend. Every body is acquainted Marlborough, the king of Poland, with the stupidity of Lamotte, who the landgrave of Hesse, &c. In the not only suffered this convoy to morning we went to church, and at Teach me, but got a sound drubbing night to the play, and all the busifor his whole corps that was intend- ness of the capitulation being finishted to prevent it. Being completely ed on the 29th of October, I the recovered from my wound, I was same day ordered the trenches to night and day at the works, which be opened before the citadel. Boufflers, also present every where, Before I proceed to this siege, I was 'incessantly interrupting or an- pught to relate a circumstance that noying. happened to me during that of the I bethought me of a stratagem to city. A clerk of the post-office give frequent alarms for several wrote to the secretary of general nights, at a half moon, with a view Dopf, desiring him to deliver to me to attack it afterwards in open day, two letters, one from the Hague, and being persuaded that the wearied the other I know not whence. I soldiers would take that time for opened the letter, and found nothing repose. This scheme succeeded. I but a greasy paper. Persuaded, as ordered an assault upon a salient I still am, that it was a mistake, or angle; and that succeeded. I direct- something of no consequence, which ed the covered way to be attacked, I might, perhaps, have been able to and again succeeded. I I thence read had I taken the trouble to hold made a breach in the curtain, and the paper to the fire, I threw it enlarged another in a bastion; and away. Somebody picked it up, and when I was at length working at it was said that a dog, about whose the descent of the ditch, the marshal, neck it was tied, died poisoned in who had every day invented some the space of twenty-four hours. new artifice, sometimes tin boxes, at What makes me think this untrue, others earthen pots filled with gre- is, that at Versailles they were too nades, and done all that valour and generous, and at Vienna too reli. science could suggest, offered to gious, for such a trick. capitulate on the 22d of September. The ninth day the besieged made Without mentioning any conditions, a vigorous sortie. The prince of I promised to sign such as he should Brunswick, who repulsed it, receivpropose to “ This, M. le ed a wound from a musket-ball in Marechal," so I wrote to him, “is the head. The eleventh, a still to show you my perfect regard for more vigorous sortie of the cheva me. |
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