sadness. This relief may be derived from the works of Marlow himself, who seems, after all, to have had a considerable leaning to voluptuous reposing fancies, and to have dallied with love, like an accomplished amorist.-The beautiful tradition of the "broad Hellespont" is of undoubted antiquity, though unfortunately no fragment has reached us of the parent stock. Virgil alludes to it in a manner sufficient to show its notoriety in his day. “ Quid juvenis, magnum cui versat in ossibus ignem Durus amor?—Nempe abruptis turbata procellis Nocte natat cæcâ serus freta: quem super ingens Porta tonat cœli, et scopulis illisa reclamant Equora: nec miseri possunt revocare parentes, Nec moritura super crudeli funere virgo." Georg. Lib. iii. 258. The two Heroides of Naso are familiar to every school-boy; in Lucan, l. 9, 954, Cæsar beholds the * So Burmann-Oudendorp has natatum, which perhaps is best. and lastly, in the fifth century, Musæus the grammarian, the contemporary of Nonnus and Coluthus, produced his brilliant poem. It will not, perhaps, be displeasing to the poetical reader, to be able to compare at his breakfast table, without the trouble of reference to other volumes, the different methods of handling the same story. For this purpose selections are given from Mr. Elton's* elegant version of Musæus, so arranged as to form a continuous narrative. Mr. Elton says truly of the Erotopoegnion," that it is a beautiful and impassioned production, combining in its love-details the warmth and luxuriance of Ovid, with the delicate *The amiable author of that beautiful monody "The Brothers," and the excellent translator of Hesiod, and specimens of the Classic Poets, 3 vols. 8vo. 1814. Where all is good, it is difficult to make any preference, yet with due diffidence I may venture to point out for admiration his translated extracts from Onomacritus, Pindar, Nonnus, and Apollonius. The visit of Hermes to Calypso (Odyss. 5. v. 43.) and part of the hymn to Apollò, beginning “ Λητω δ ̓ ἐννῆμάρ τε και ἐννέα νύκλας, &c. are both rendered with equal fidelity and poetry; and Horace's ode, "Quis multâ gracilis," is sweetly touched. and graceful nature of Apollonius; and in the peril and tumult of the catastrophe, rising to the gloomy grandeur of Homeric description. The torch that witness'd stealthy loves, and him The graceful virgin, of a noble strain, But mix'd not with the blithe-assembling fair, No woman in Cythera's cities staid, Nor one on hills of Libanus delay'd, Where dancers twine midst cedar-fragrant glades; Fair Phrygians haste, and near Abydos' maids. Who still the rumour'd festival obey. They bring no incense to the immortal shrine, A thousand spring from Hero's laughing eyes. Didst view the noble maid with glance of fire; Without the beauteous maid. The torch of flame Shameless from love, some few soft steps he took, Turning his sidelong eyes, with luring wile, She, when his art she mark'd, in conscious grace For Venus' priestess ill beseems desire; So threaten'd she; what virgins say she said, |