T'amasse men chi del tuo bello a'rai
Par che si strugga, e pur ti sfida a morte!
Che giù dall'Alpi non vedrei torrenti
Scender d'armati, nè di sangue tinta
Bever l'onda del Po gallici armenti;

Nè te vedrei del non tuo ferro cinta
Pugnar col braccio di straniere genti,
Per servir sempre, o vincitrice o vinta.

Of this Sonnet there have been many translations; the following is by Mr. Roscoe :

Italia, thou to whom in evil Hour

The fatal boon of Beauty Nature gave,
Yet on thy front the Sentence did engrave
That ceaseless Woe should be thy only Dower!—
Ah, were that Beauty less, or more thy Power!
That he who now compels thee to his arms,
Might gaze with cold indifference on thy Charms :
Or tremble at thine eye's indignant lower!

Then should'st thou not observe in glittering line,
From the high Alps embattled throngs descend,
And Gallic Herds pollute thy Po's pure wave:
Nor whilst encompassed close by Spears not thine;
Should'st thou by foreign hands thy Rights defend ;
Conquering or conquer'd ever more a slave.*

* It may interest the reader to see the version of this Sonnet by Lord Byron in Stanzas XLII and XLIII, Canto IV, of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, and a translation by Charles Johnston, Esq.

Italia! oh Italia! thou who hast

The fatal gift of beauty, which became

A funeral dower of present woes and past,

On thy sweet brow is sorrow ploughed by shame,
And annals graved in characters of flame.

Oh God! that thou wert in thy nakedness

Less lovely or more powerful, and could'st claim
Thy right, and awe the robbers back, who press

To shed thy blood, and drink the tears of thy distress;

Then might'st thou more appal; or, less desired,
Be homely and be peaceful, undeplored
For thy destructive charms; then, still untired,
Would not be seen the armed torrents pour'd
Down the deep Alps; nor would the hostile horde
Of many nation'd spoilers from the Po

Quaff blood and water; nor the stranger's sword

Be thy sad weapon of defence, and so,

Victor or vanquish'd, thou the slave of friend or foe.

Italia, Oh! Italia, thou whom Heaven

Has cursed with the gift of loveliness,

But I will conclude with a less-known Sonnet of Clementi Bondi, entitled Il Passaggio del Po.' The memory of Virgil and Ariosto while crossing the Po, and the allusion to the beautiful as well as affecting Fable of Phaeton, reduced, without crowding, to the measure of the Sonnet with the epigrammatic but touching conclusion of the whole, make that little poem one of the most perfect specimens of its class.

Sopra picciolo legno il Po fendea

Curvo sul remo l'agile nocchiero;
Ed io, d'estro novel caldo il pensiero,
Al regal fiume il mio parlar volgea.
Questo tuo lido risuonò, dicea

Padre, già un tempo per due cigni altero;
L'una tua sponda il gran cantor d'Enea*
Vanta l'opposta il ferrarese Omero.†

È al doppio esempio lusingato intanto
Me stimolava un dolce amor di gloria
Con volo ardito ad emularne il vanto.

Dal piano ondoso allor squallida e muta
L'ombra uscì di Fetonte, e la memoria
Del vol destommi e della sua caduta.‡

* Virgil.

Ill-fated dower of infinite distress,

Which on thy beauteous brow thou bear'st engraven !
Oh! had less beauty or more strength been given;
That he might fear thee more or love thee less
Who now seems doating on thee to excess,
Now to despair and madness fain had driven;
Then would not armed men, still, still be pour'd
Like torrents down the Alps, nor from the Po

Stained with blood would drink the hordes of Gaul;
Nor would'st thou gird thee with another's sword,
Nor with the stranger's arm repel the foe,
Conquering or conquered, still the slave of all.

† Ariosto.

Of this Sonnet we believe there is no English translation.

W.

LITERATURE.

ART. IX.-SPECIMENS OF FOREIGN STANDARD Edited by GEORGE RIPLEY. 2 vols. 12mo. Boston: Hilliard, Gray, and Company.

In our last Number a proposal was thrown out for the establishment of a Translation Society, whose object should be to publish Versions from the German and French, of the best works on History and Speculative Philosophy. We rejoice to find that such a Society already exists in Boston; the first fruits of which are now before us. This is not the first instance in which we have observed of late that our American brethren are extending their studies, beyond English forms of thought, to the great writers of France and Germany. In this respect, more than in any other, are they preparing for themselves national individuality, and an independent Literature. Little sympathy as the Theology of America when compared with the Theology of Germany exhibits between the mental tendencies of the two Countries, nevertheless we are bound to acknowledge, that the religious Periodicals of our own denomination, and we believe even more extensively among the orthodox, manifest an increasing love and study of Continental Theology and Philosophy, of which unfortunately we have almost no signs at home. If we do not wish to fall behind our times, and to be the worst-furnished class of Theologians, in any country where Sacred Literature is professed; the least stirred by new ideas; the least aware of what other minds are doing-we must alter this. English Theology does not furnish us with fitting knowledge or nourishment -we have waited since Priestley, "since the fathers fell asleep," but "all things continue as they were." We must import our Theology, or we must starve ourselves and those dependent on us. There could be now no greater waste of labour than for English Theologians to take up this subject where Priestley left it, and pursue it independently, upon their own resources. Much has been done abroad with which we are not acquainted, and to spend time and labour upon doing for ourselves mentally what has been thoroughly done already, is the very worst form in which one of the very worst evils can exist, a restriction upon the intercourse and exchanges of nations.

We are glad to be able to announce that the suggestion of a Translation Society in this Country has not been suffered to pass altogether without interest or notice. We have received some strong expressions of desire that the idea should be realized, and some most liberal offers of aid towards meeting the expenditure necessary for its execution. It is not, however, a scheme for which

arge funds are necessary. Nothing more is needed than a sufficient number of subscribers, who, by agreeing to take a copy of each work sanctioned and brought out by the Society, would induce a Publisher to undertake the risk, by such a security against loss. In this way, suppose that only one work was translated annually, great would be the benefit. An Annual Subscription, say of a guinea a-year, from two or three hundred subscribers, would furnish all the funds that could be required: and for this subscription the Members would receive its full value in works attainable by no other means.

We earnestly desire that as many as feel an interest in this project and a sense of its importance, should take means to unite themselves in an association. We have received the names of some, and we solicit the names of all who are willing to cooperate in furtherance of the objects of a Translation Society. Even so small a number as two hundred Members would be able to do something to enrich the Literature of our Country, and to provide for themselves most powerful instruments of improvement. We hope that in our next Number we shall be able to announce, that many names have been received, and that progress has been made in the formation of a Society.

The Editor of the "Specimens of Foreign Standard Literature," about to appear in America, thus announces his purpose, and its importance :

"The design of issuing a series of translations from the works of several of the most celebrated authors in the higher departments of Modern German and French Literature, has already been announced by the Editor of these Volumes.

"The publication of which they are intended to form the commencement, has special reference to the three leading divisions of Philosophy, History, and Theology; but its plan also includes writings of a popular character, selected from the most finished specimens of elegant literature, and adapted to interest the great mass of intelligent readers.

"The following works, which are either already in preparation, or whose translation is engaged, it is expected will compose a part of the Series.

66

Benjamin Constant on Religion; and Roman Polytheism. "Cousin's Lectures on the History of Philosophy.

"De Wette's Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion.

"Goethe's Correspondence with Schiller, Zelter, &c.

"Life of Goethe (in preparation for this work from original documents).

"Goethe's Conversations with Eckermann.

Lyric Poems from Körner, Novalis, Uhland, &c.

"Jouffroy's Moral Philosophy. Herder's Select Religious Writings. Fichte's Destiny of Man; and Character of the True Scholar. "Life of Jean Paul Richter; with Selections from his Works, "Schelling on the Philosophy of Art; and Miscellanies. "Selections from Lessing: Guizot's History of Civilization. "De Wette's Theodore, or the Consecration of a Doubter, "Ammon's Progressive Developement of Christianity.

"The enterprise, in which the Editor has engaged in conjunction with a number of his fellow-students, in different parts of our country, is of a very unambitious character. They are content with the humble task of representing the views of other minds, if thereby they may give any fresh impulses to thought; enlarge the treasures of our youthful literature; or contribute, though in a small degree, to the gratification of a liberal curiosity. The claims, which their undertaking presents to the favour of the public, must rest solely on the grounds of its general utility. The Editor believes that it has been called for by the wishes of many, whose opinions are entitled to respectful attention; and that if successfully accomplished, it will tend to satisfy a want which has often been uttered, and which is extensively felt.

"The interest with which the study of the Continental writers has been pursued by a portion of our scholars, is well known to all who are acquainted with the present state of American Literature. It has been thought desirable that the fruits of their labours should be thrown into the common stock; and that, if any advantage were to be gained from their industry and zeal, the opportunity of making use of it should be given to the public.

"We earnestly recommend to our educated men,' it has been said by a writer of eminent authority, a more extensive acquaintance with the intellectual labours of Continental Europe. Our reading is confined too much to English books, and especially to the more recent publications of Great Britain. In this we err. We ought to know the different modes of viewing and discussing great subjects in different nations. We should be able to compare the writings of the highest minds in a great variety of circumstances. Nothing can favour more our own intellectual independence and activity. Let English literature be ever so fruitful and profound, we shall still impoverish ourselves by making it our sole nutriment. If our scholars would improve our literature, they should cultivate an intimacy, not only with that of England, but of Continental Europe.'

"It is important, for the same reasons, that a knowledge of the best productions of foreign genius and study should not be confined to the few who have access to the original languages, but should be diffused among enlightened readers of every class and condition. The same circumstances which diminish the number of scholars, and increase that of thinkers, in this Country, present an urgent motive for the reproduction of the noblest creations of thought, in a form that shall be accessible to all."

The two volumes, already published, contain extracts from