Je viens vous confier la suprême puissance: Eh! qui peut mieux que vous réparer mon absence? Mais lorsqu'à votre cœur je cède désormais De vos yeux abattus s'éloigner la tristesse, Se perdre dans l'éclat de vos nouveaux destins." Mary being greatly affected with this unexpected instance of confidence, inmediately beseeches the king not to hazard his person, but confide the command of the troops to some general who possessed his confidence. On this his majesty replies in the following strain:"J'ai du commandement promis de me char ger; La parole d'un roi ne doit jamais changer. Voulez-vous qu'évitant de tenir ma promesse Je me laisse accuser d'une lâche faiblesse ? D'ailleurs, quand mes soldats vont sur des bords lointains Chercher de longs travaux et des périls certains, Resterai-je paisible au sein de ma famille, Comme ces rois couchés au trône de Castille, Qui, captifs couronnés, dans un repos hon teux Vivent loin des combats où l'on périt pour eux ? N'attendez pas de moi cet effort impossible. Mes sujets à leurs pleurs m'ont toujours vu sensible; Ils ne me verront pas, à leur sang étranger, Et je cours triompher ou mourir à leur tête." Meanwhile the Spanish minister has made a party at court, and even conceived the plan of a conspiracy against the life of Henry IV. in which the poet by implication intimates that Mary and the Duc d'Epernon have entered. This is supposed to have been brought about by jealousy, the disaffected having spread a report that the king of France was about to enter Flanders from no other motive than his affection for the Princess de Condé, whose husband was greatly alarmed on the occasion. At length the plot is carried into execution, notwithstanding the queen is supposed to have relented, and Sully, repairing to the palace, recites to her the mournful catastrophe: SULLY. "Des citoyens les transports douloureux Egalent la rigueur de ce coup désastreux. Quel spectacle!-D'abord la voiture fermée vre, Ce ne sont que des cris, des larmes, des sanL'air au loin retentit de ces lugubres mots : glots; Malheureux, que du ciel accable la colère, Nous perdons dans ce jour notre appui, notre père ! Quel execrable monstre a pu percer jamais Ce cœur, qui chaque jour médita des bienfinits ?' En rapellant ainsi sa bonté, sa vaillance, sa vie, Leur chagrin s'aigrissant va jusqu'à la furie. Les uns poussent au ciel les plus horribles vœux; D'autres frappent leur sein, arrachent leun cheveux; Ceux-ci courent au loin comme des frénétiques; Ceux-là du Louvre même embrassent les pottiques; Plus d'un y tombe mort; plus d'un autre en hurlant Se roule et se meurtrit sur le pavé sanglant; Enfin chacun maudit ou veut fuir la lumière, Et l'affreux désespoir remplit la ville entière. Ah! qui mérita mieux de si touchans regrets? Sa mort ne mettra pas en deuil les seuls Fran cais; Elle ira, de sa gloire en tous lieux escortée, Jetter l'affliction dans l'Europe attristée; De nos ennemis même elle obtiendra lis pleurs ; Elle sera l'objet des plus longues douleurs; Et, parlant comme nous de ce roi qu'on adere, Nos derniers descendans le pleureront encore. LA REINE. Et moi, je n'obtiendrai que leur haine à ja mais. Que vais-je devenir en ce triste palais? Odieuse à la France, odieuse à moi-même malheureux objet de ma douleur extreme, Laisse-moi dans ta tombe-il la ferme ea fureur !" "Pyrrhus, ou les Eacides, tragédie.”— Pyrrhus, or the acides, a tragedy. The ground work of this tragedy is to be found in Plutarch, but the manner in which the author has thought fit to adapt it to the stage, the situations which he has conceived, the plot which he has contrived, together with his manner of un fulding folding it, all appertain to himself. In short, with some little allowances, it may be considered entirely as a work of imagination. Care has been taken to seize the most favourable opportunities, and to represent Pyrrhus during his youth, and at the precise period when he had ascended the throne. The hero is accordingly depicted as boiling with ardour, replete with the love of glory, and burning with a desire to imitate the deeds of Achilles, whom he takes for his model. Pyrrhus, the son of king Eacus, having been saved from the fury of his father's revolted subjects, by means of Amestris, the consort of an usurper, is secretly brought up, under the name of Agenor. Supposing that he had no ancestors to boast of, the youth determines to create for himself a name, and become like the followers of the Macedonian hero: "Soldats sous Alexandre & rois après sa mort." when the curtain dropped, the parterre, or pit, of the Theatre Français demanded the name of the author, who proved to be M. LE Hoc "1ere Journèc, Henri Roi de Navarre a la Cour de France; 2me Journée, Henri IV. au Camp, on la Bataile d'Ivry; 3me Journée Henri IV. sur le Trone, ou son Entrée a Paris."-1st Day, Henry King of Navarre at the Court of France; 2d Day, Henry IV. in the Camp, or the Battle of Ivry; 3d Day, Henry IV. on the Throne, or his Entry into Paris. This is a dramatic piece of no less than fifteen acts, which occupied three whole nights in the representation! Such an entertainment may be supposed to be novel; but it bears some affinity to the ancient mysteries, and also resembles the dramatic cycles of Schiller, which have been introduced on the German stage. "Omasis, ou Joseph en Egypte, tragédie en cinque Actes."-Onasis, or Joseph in Egypt, a tragedy in five acts. dramatic pieces entitled "Joseph," on comedies; the third was a tragedy, by the French stage, and two of these were the author of Penelope. The audience been greatly pleased with the represenat the Theatre Français seem to have There have been no less than three tation of "Omasis." "La Manie de Briller, comédie en trois actes."-The Rage to Shine, a comedy in three acts. formed at the Théatre de l'Imperatrice, This little dramatic piece was perand is the production of PICARD. The basis of French comedy is generally founded on the vanity of women, the folly of their husbands, and the emulation and love of luxury which induce a beautiful female to ruin herself and family by extravagance. Here, on the other hand, instead of a heroine of this description, we are presented with a virtuous woman, simple alike in her man Phanes, the general of the enemy's army, now makes his appearance, and discloses a secret of no little magnitude to Agenor, known by the name of Pyrrhus: in short, he tells him that his father had escaped from the hands of assassins, was alive, and at that moment addressed himself to him. Eacus (for so he proves to be) at the same time intreats his son to assist in a plot that had been entered into for putting Alcetas to death. The son for a long time struggles between duty on one hand and gratitude on the other; but at length decides, in a second interview, as he had now found the author of his being, not to cloud so joyful an event with scenes of vengeance. Onners and her taste. this Phanes retires in indignation to his camp; and he having perished soon after in action, Pyrrhus is proclaimed king. The three first acts of this tragedy were listened to with great attention, and some of the incidents being truly dramatic, the audience appeared to be greatly delighted; but the fourth and fifth did not realize the expectations which had been conceived during the antecedent ones. Notwithstanding this, The audience appeared delighted with the piece, and Picard himself performed the part of the good husband, whom he had so successfully pourtrayed. POETRY. "Almanach des Daines, pour l'an 1807."-The Lady's Almanack, for the Year 1807. We shall here present our readers with a specimen of the poetry in an Anacreontic Ode, the production of M. LE BRUN: 4T4 "Anacreon "Anacréon sut plaire aux belles Malgré ses quatre-vingts hivers; D'un siècle traversant le cours, Chantait la gloire et les amours. De Melpomène eut les faveurs. Amour, je célébrai tes fers. Là Tyrtée enflamme ma voix ; Les traits malins de son carquois. Mon cœur palpite à ses accens : Une autre Aurore a mon encens." "Le Souper."-The Supper. These verses, from which we shall give only a short extract, have been well received in Paris. They are written on the return of an exile, who had been accustomed to delight the Parisians with his festivities. "C'est à souper qu' Horace vous convie, Illustre ami d'Auguste et des beaux-arts: C'est aujourd'hui que l'année accomplie A ramené le premier jour de Mars, Epoque affreuse à-la-fois et chérie Où votre ami courut tant de hasards. Fêtez le dieu qui protégea sa vie ; Venez, Mécène, en l'honneur de Bacchus, Vider cent fois cette coupe remplie Du même vin dont s'enivra Tullus. Déja de fleurs la table est parfumée, Toute la nuit prolongez le festin, Et, dès le soir, que la cire allumée Porte ses feux jusqu'à ceux du matin." "Achille à Scyros, poëme en six Chants; par J. CH. J. LUCE DE LANCIVAL, Professor de Belles-lettres au Lycée Imperial."-Achilles at Scyros, a poem in six Cantos; by J. Ch. J. Luce de Lancival, Professor of Belles-lettres at the Imperial Lyceum. 2d Edition. Achilles is here represented as bred under the care of Chiron. His mother, alarmed at the response of the oracle relative to his destiny, repairs to Thessaly, for the express purpose of demanding her son from the Centaur. After describing the grotto inhabited by them, the author next pourtrays his hero:"A grand cris, à grands pas, plein d'une ardeur guerrière, Achille arrive enfin, tout couvert de poussière : Mais tel qu'il est, le front dégoûtant de sutur, armes, Superbe, sa figure offre encore mille charmes Son regard étincelle, et sur son cou nerveux Serpente en longs anneaux l'or de ses blonds cheveux; Sur son jeune menton, un duvet près d'éclure, Tel on voit Apollon, quand des bois de Lycie, While Chiron prepares a rural feast for Thetis and her son, the latter recounts the particulars of his education; and after describing his exploits against lions, tigers, boars, &c. proceeds as follows:"J'arrête, seul, à pied, quatre coursiers fougueux Faissant, d'un vol égal, rouler un char posdreux. J'arrache, d'une main courageuse et prudente, Les débris enflammés d'une chaumière ardents. 11 m'en souvient, grossi de cent tributs nou veaux, Le Sperchius roulait le torrent de ses eaux; Il a franchi ses bords-dans le lieu même où l'onde, Avec plus de fureur, bondit, écume et gronde, Chiron veut que, debout, d'un pied vis rieux, Défendant le passage aux flots séditieux, J'ose soutenir, seul, l'effort de la tempête; Il est là, l'œil ardent, suspendu sur ma tête, M'exhorte, m'applaudit, me gourmande à fois, Me défend de céder. J'obéis à sa voix, mente, Je repousse vingt fois la furie écumante: Tant les plus grands périls ont d'attrait pour mon cœur." REMARKS REMARKS ON THE MORGANTE MAGGIORE OF LUIGI PULCI, (Concluded from page 442 of this Volume.) A FEW more friends and followers had now joined the little band of warriors, Avino, Avolio, Duke Richard, Egibard, and the three Anjolins; and the ambassador was scarcely departed before the out-posts of the enemy were visible from the hills round Roncesvalles. Orlando is still slow to suspect treason; but Guottiboffii, a Burgundian, and one of his band of officers, foresees the gathering mischief, and takes measures to fortify their little camp, The night passed away sad and sorrowfully to all. Oliver was warned, by a terrible dream, of the approaching tempest. Even Orlando felt presages of his fate, but scorned to betray any symptoms of alarm. Early in the morning Oliver ascended a hill, and from thence beheld the whole host of Marsilius advancing in battle-array, and the countless standards of the nations that composed it. He called Orlando to join him, and that renowned hero soon surveyed the dismal spectacle with his own eyes. He then looked back upon Roncesvalles, and, weeping for his ill-fated companions, exclaimed, “ Oh, sad and sorrowful valley! This day shall be for ever noted with blood." After this, no farther possibility of delusion remained for them. Even a retreat was impossible; and not a soul there but would have shunned to entertain a thought of submission. The most vigorous preparations were made for the bloody sacrifice, which alone remained for them to offer up; and Orlando went about to all of them, one by one, encouraging and exhorting them singly to die for the honour of Christianity as gallantly and nobly as they had lived. The confused shout of arms proclaimed the enemy at hand; and the melancholy sound of the trumpets blowed that day in Roncesvalles, might be compared to the trump that is to call the dead to their last judgment. All the Paladins assembled at the sound, and Orlando wept aloud when he beheld so many victims to their affection for him. Oliver spoke to him with tenderness and affection, but could not help expressing his regret that he had not before listened to the many warning voices that had foretold to him the treachery of Marsilius, to which Orlando made no answer, but shewed his contrition by his silence; and then, in a loud and encouraging voice, thus harangued his little army of brothers : For all mankind, with equal love return'd. "Yet the deceiver shall himself deceive, On his own head the dreadful thunder call ; While ye, who in eternal truth believe, Sure of approving heav'n, shall nobly fall: Soon shall ye all rejoice, tho' now ye grieve, Celestial manna shall succeed to gall; If now your bread is mix'd with tears and sighs. Your souls this night shall feast in Paradise. "So to his Greeks the generous Spartan said; Whose promises were far less sure than mine. Hope, only hope, inspir'd them when they bled; See on his grate the martyr'd Lawrence Your hope is faith, your promises divine! spread; Ev'n in the flames his eyes with transport shine, And shew how sweet a thing it is to die When the blest soul is rapt and fixed on high. "And now, while little life is yet your own, All fearless mingle in the bloody fray! Now, Paladins, be all your prowess shewn ; So shall your bodies only die this day. Now let the fathers by their sons be known, And cast delusive, fruitless, hope away! Fight not for life-caught in this fatal snare, Our hope is death, our remedy, despair. "And yet it grieves me, noble Charles, for thee; Is That, after such high fame, thy noble head doom'd, so sad, so dark, a change to see, Thine honours blasted, and thy glory fled! But ah! no human state from change is free, Whole empires hang upon a slender thread; And often fate, at Heav'n's appointed hour, Exalts the meek, and blasts the proud man's pow'r. Also this faithful bosom bleeds for thee, My brother, my Rinaldo! Once again Might I that much-lov'd form in battle see, Proud in the field, and dreadful o'er the slain! Ev'n while I speak, strange visions come to fernal machinery of Astaroth and his at tendant spirit first making themselves known to the Paladin and his brother Richardetto, and of the Ethiopian plant by which they were rendered invisible, is managed with a great deal of spirit, Astaroth entertains them with an account of the state of Hell, the Laws of the lower Empire, and the several ranks and conditions of the Demons. When als ready for their departure, the two Dzmons enter into the bodies of the Knights' horses, and bear them on their backs over hill and dale with geater rapidity than imagination can conceive. Their first halt is on the banks of the African river Bagrada, where they are provided by their infernal conductors with a magnificent entertainment previously fetched from Marsilius's stores; and Rinaldo is a little scandalized at the assurance of Astaroth, that their net meal shall be taken out of the kitchen of the Christian Emperor. The arrival of the aerial voyagers at the straits of Gibraltar, and pillars of Hercules, gives occasion to a grave dissertation of the Dæmon on an undiscovered hemispher existing far beyond those fabled linis of the world. Pulci must have writen le fore the first voyage of Columbus, so that this passage is either a subsequent ins terpolation, or is very remarkable in the light of a prophecy of the astoning discovery that was shortly to be made, The latter supposition is not perhaps iaprobable; for Columbus's expectations long known and canvassed in my were formed on a solid theory, and were societies throughout Spain and lai Lorenzo de Medici cannot be supposed to have been ignorant of them; and among the philosophers of his court, sime were, doubtless, inclined to favour the belief. The ardent mind of a Pout $ still more likely to have caught at so sal lime a vision, and to have embodied a into a real existence. We cannot pursue this romantic journer of the Damons and Paladins threagai its particulars, but will refer to the bunk for the curious incidents relating to the oleridamonic Fountain at Toledo, the Victory of Astaroth over the Spira Squarciaferro, and for the ludicrous a venture at the Palace of Saragossa, where Rinaldo enters invisible into the presence of his quondam mistress, the fair LucILIĄ, for whom he feels his ancient passion Tr kindled. To amuse the Paladins fe some part of their voyage, Astaroth re sumes the unorthodox discourse that be formery |