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And a sweet voice from the sky
hkid, “ Thy child can never die j”
But shall strike a golden lyre,
Touch’d by Love’s celestial fire,
In the sapphire realms above,
Where you’ll see the child you love—
Ever more—ever more!”
McDonough, Ga.
For the Southern Literary Gazette.
THE FOREST FLOWER.
I dearly love a gentle flower,
That blossoms in the grove,
Kind nature decks its virgin leaves,
And mellows them with love ;
’Tis modest like the violet,
’Tis queenly like the rose,
And ne’er a flow’r so beautiful,
In any garden grows.
As oft I turn my footsteps where
This winsome flow’ret dwells,
Love dims my eyes with joyful tears,
And hope my bosom swells:
Love for so pure a thing of earth,
So valued, so caress’d,
Hope that I, ere the winter comes,
May fold it to my breast.
Ah, many an eye doth brighten,
While gazing on its charms,
• And many a heart doth lighten,
When its mild beauty warms;
And many a hand would sunder,
That flower from its stem,
Could they but think the flower would
As gladly go to them. J. h. n.
flliscellam
For the Southern Literary Gazette.
CLASSICAL RECREATIONS.
B Y W ILLIAMC. RICHARDS
Some time since an elegant and curious vol
ume issued from the Cambridge Press in
England, bearing the title — Arundines Cami.
It is a collection of metrical translations, into
classic Greek and Latin, of many of the most
popular poems, lyrics, nursery songs, epi
taphs, etc. It was edited by Mr. Drury, a
gentleman of high and distinguished classical
attainments, and embraces, besides his own
translations, many others from the pens of
some of the most eminent scholars in Eng
land, among whom are Professor Porson,
Bishop Butler, Archdeacon Wrangham, Mr.
Hodgson, Doctor Hawtrey, and others. Ma
ny of the translations are exquisitely done,
preserving, in classic Latin or Attic Greek,
the sweet simplicity of the ballad, the grace
and feeling of the lyric, the point and spirit
of a poetical jeu desprit. We remember
somewhere to have seen a paragraph con
cerning this volume, headed, by some sapient
and ultra utilitarian editor, “Waste of Genius
and Talent.” Now, we are entirely at a loss
to discover any such waste. Such an idea is
well refuted in the following words of an
English reviewer:
“If scholarship be in itself a gift and privi
lege of the highest value, we know nothing
which contributes so powerfully to this end —
nothing which promotes this part of the aes
thetic cultivation of the mind, so much as
composition in the learned languages: and
since experience shows, that in the season of
youthful imaginativeness, where one boy will
labor to write well in prose, many will be am
bitious of trying their strength in verse, this
form of composition will always awaken the
most earnest emulation, and call lorth the
powers of the ripening understanding. It is
invaluable, considered merely as a key to the
learned languages, as enabling us to under
stand and feel all the nicer shades of meaning
and expression, the delicate turns of thought,
the curious felicity and harmony of composi
tions—the writers of which studied numbers
even in prose, and in verse are full ol the fi
nest metrical artifices, the liquid flow, the sol
emn pause, the alternating strength and soft
ness.”
It is certainly a novel, but not less delight
ful spectacle,, to see the great men, the learned
nod reverend of our father-land, turning aside
awhile from their usual graver pursuits, to in
vest the strains we loved in the nursery and
others which we admire in our riper years,
with a pure and oftentimes majestic garb of
Ok aTf &&&&¥ ®& 8 s inr B.
olden language ; and if some of their subjects j
are apparently puerile, we welcome them 1
“ for a’ that.” They charm us back to the
days of our boyhood, and to the delights of j
our academic life. j
We cannot give copious extracts, hut we j
are sure our readers will enjoy the few we
shall make. These will be of the briefer
specimens, and we begin with Tlios. Moore’s
charming song, “ Oh! ever thus.” It is done
into Latin by Mr. Drury:
“ Oh! ever thus from childhood’s hour,
I’ve seen my fondest hopes decay ;
1 never loved a tree or flower,
But ’twas the first to fade away;
I never nursed a dear gazelle,
To glad me with its soft black eye,
But when it came to know me well
And love me, it was sure to die.”
“ Sic rnihi do teneris spes infeliciter annis
Et vota et cupidm prreteriere preces !
Arbusta iu sylvis, in aprico floseules horto —
iSub omnibus pereunt omnia pulchra meis.
Si forte cfl'usi mirantem fulgur ocelli
Jam me surpuerat cara capella mihi,
Cum sciret vocem, peteret mea basia, mecum,
Luderet —ad certam mittitur ilia necem.”
Here is a chaste version of Coleridge’s ad
mired epitaph, translated by Donne:
“ Ere sin could blight or sorrow fade,
Death came with friendly care ;
The opening bud to heaven conveyed
And bade it blossom there !”
“ Ante malum quam to culpa maculaverat, ante
Quam poterat primum earpere cura decus,
In ecelos gemmam leni mors transtulit ietu,
Inque suo jussit sese aperire solo.”
From the humorous department—in which
are included many of the precious morceaux
of Gammer Gurton !—we will present a few
specimens. Professor Poison thus renders
the “ Three Children Sliding on the Ice,” into
Greek, “every word of which, (saysa critic,)
and idiomatic turn is purely Attic, and yet
every thought and image of the nursery rhyme
is represented with perfect accuracy.”
“ Three children sliding on the ice,
All on a summer’s day,
It so fell out they all fell in,
The rest they ran away.
“ Now, had those children been at school,
Or sliding on dry ground,
Ten thousand pounds to one penny,
They had not all been drowned.
“ You parents that have children dear,
And eke you that have none,
If you will have them safe abroad,
Pray keep them safe at home.”.
“ Xpvora'A/jjm/icTOVG Tpimvxoi icbpoc pouc
‘ilpq, fiipovo ipaipovreo evrupooio Troop
Aivato ETUTTTOV, ULCISi/ TTLTTTEIV (fuTiEL,
“kiravrea elr’ soevyov ol /dAuppivoi.
V A/A’ kirtp ijoav iyKEtLkuojicvoL pofAolo,
*H rroolv (YAcob uvovteo ev p/otp rrtAp,
Xpvotiv dv i/diAr/oa Trepidoodai oradptiv,
E i pi/ pi poo Tl TOJV VEUV COugETO.
“A'AA’ u tokelo 00010 pev ovra rvyxuvei,
“00010 di pr/ jSkacri/paT’ evtekvov onopdo,
Tin EVTVxdo EvxvobE tuo dvpdg’ o6ovo
T oio TTCLLOIV, EV G(j)UO EV ddpOLO (j)VAUOO£TE.”
Bishop Butler gives us, in the same erudite
dress, “The Man of Thessaly,” but we must
not quote it. We add, however, one or two
trifles in Latin. The first is that amusing and
wonderful rhapsody—“ High diddle, diddle!”
“ High diddle, diddle !
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon ;
The little dog laughed
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.”
“ Ilei didulum ! atque iteruin didulum !
Felisque, Fidisque!
Vacca super Luna) cornua prosiluit;
Neseio qua catulus risit dulcedine lud ;
Abstulit et turpi lanx cochleare fuga.”
The next is the well-known “Little Bo
peep.”
“ Little 80-peep lias lost her sheep,
And does not know where to find them ;
Let them alone, and they’ll soon come home,
And bring their tails behind them.”
“ Parva vagabundos Bopmpia perditit agnos,
Nescia secreti quo latuere loci;
Bellula, eant, abeant; aud paseua nota redibunt,
Et, reduces, caucus post sua terga gerent.”
With these extracts, we take leave of this
rare and agreeable volume, the fruit at once
of a pure classic taste, and a generous feel
ing, that scorns not the things which charm
our childhood, but recognizes their beauty,
and acknowledges their interest, even amid
the graver and sterner duties of manhood.
Honor, say we, to the great and learned men,
who caa condescend to translate into Greek
and Latin the rhymes which we chaunted in
the nursery.
Sketcljes of Life.
For the Southern Literary Guzetle.
THE LISTENER,—NO, 7.
NOT BY CAROLINE FRY.
MODERN ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
When 1 last played the part of the Listen
er, it was to a conversation, which depicted
some of the characters, that constitute Modern
Society. I have thought much of what is
now called education , and of those accomplish
ments which are necessary to the completion
of such an education. Perhaps, some of my
ideas may be considered very “ old-fashioned,”
but I would rather hope they are a little in
advance of the fashion, by which word, I
mean simply the prevailing tone of opinion
in society. I have, in either case, a firm faith
that when these ideas do become fashionable ,
whether in the rotation of opinions which is
constantly taking place, or in the progress to
wards better things, which our race is contin
ually making, the women who are now too
truly designated “ pretty automata,” will prove
that they too, are endowed with hearts and
gifted with souls capable of infinite expansion,
capable of an education for Eternity, which
is to be commenced on ear ill, and in which
modern accomplishments find a very small
place if any at all.
Mothers now-a-days, are seldom conscien
tious in regard to the training of their daugh
ters minds. They know their children must
possess some knowledge in order to appear
well in society: they imagine certain accom
plishments are necessary and give them ad
vantages for acquiring them; and if the child
exhibits indications of real, irrepressible ge
nius, the mother’s pride is aroused, and she
rejoices in the distinction her daughter gains,
in the homage paid by those who can appre
ciate it, to that glorious superiority. But their
ideas of what constitutes education , are nar
row, the responsibility which becomes theirs
when immortal souls are placed under their
guidance, is almost unknown or unconsider
ed by them, and their highest duty is neglect
ed when they are content their children
should receive merely an education of accom
plishments.
The following conversation occurred be
tween two ladies acknowledged in the world
as tender and judicious mothers, and m£ old
friend Mrs. Bently. They were speaking of
two young ladies who had just returned to
town after an absence of three years, spent
in u finishing ” at a popular school in a north
ern city.
“Are they not wonderfully improved,”
said Mrs. Allan. “Could you ask for more
in your daughters? They can speak French
quite well, indeed it sounds like a native
talking, to hear them, then Ann plays very
brilliantly, and has a powerful voice ; I nev
er knew a person who had such compass to
their voice, it is really splendid. Sarah has
a beautiful port-folio of drawings and paint
ings, and some large pieces framed. Then
see what exquisite embroider/they have done;
their couches, ottomans, large chairs and pi
ano stool are covered with it: the effect of it
is beautiful, and the employment is so grace
ful and lady-like. They enter and leave a
room remarkably well, and the style of their
dress and the arrangement of their hair, gives
them such an air of fashion and high breed
ing. I noticed, moreover, when Prof.
was talking with them they seemed to have
decided opinions about the books and their
writers, just as much as he did: and when
talking to the students, they quoted poetry,
and appeared familiar with the beautiful lan
guage of flowers. They really seemed to be
extremely accomplished and prepared to make
a great impression in society which they will
so much adorn.”
“Ah,” said Mrs. Jordan, “I wish Jane
could have the advantages they have had.
Her fathei has instructed her a good deal it is
true, but she needs polish.”
“ You say these girls are so highly educa
ted ; are they intellectual as well as accom
plished ?” said Mrs. Bentley, “ I mean have
they a desire for the continued improvement,
and cultivation of their minds which will
make them keep up their reading and study
ing and induces them to find pleasure in liter
ary pursuits ? For surely you do not consid
er their education finished at their age.”
“Oh, where is the use of so much reading,”
said Mrs. Allan, “they know enough to con
verse well, and you would not have them be
come blues would you ? No one admires such
young ladies, and the gentlemen are fairly
afraid of them.”
“ That such persons are not liked, is rather
the fault of the present state of society, than
of their superior cultivation of mind. Uned
ucated persons cannot,appreciate their evident
superiority, but resent it almost as an injury
done to themselves, and sneer at it because
they can never hope to acquire it. Look for
a moment at Ann and Sarah Harris’s educa
tion, and see what real good they have re
ceived at Madam P—’s. I will allow that
they dance well, and have elegant and self
possessed manners; the only objection I can
urge to this, is, that they are too conscious,
they are studious of the effect of what they
say and what they do. Their self-possession
is not the result of self-forgetfulness, thus
while at ease themselves, they do not put
those around at ease, as do such persons whose
good breeding springs from a genial regard
for the comfort and happiness of others.
“As for French, they have studied the lan
guage enough to use its familiar phrases, to
translate sentences commonly recurring in
books, and to talk about “Purree.” They
could not sit down and read a French book
with pleasure to themselves or others, nor
could they converse in that language with a
native of Parree.
“ They execute difficult pieces of music,
and sing fashionable opera, and Italian airs,
in a brilliant, dashing way. They will not
play for you old tunes full of genuine melody,
nor sing old songs whose pathos or true poe
try have kept them alive, long after the day
when they were fashionable. Their music
entertains, but it sadly lacks soul. It is the
correct performance of an automaton.
“ Their embroidery, and the time spent in
arranging the style of their attire, in plaiting
and handing their hair, and in the other elab
orate duties of the toilet, renders it impossible
for them to read much. I heard Ann say the
other day, however, that “ reading was a per
fect passion with her; that she read seven
hundred pages between daylight and dark,
and finished a thousand before going to bed.”
What intellectual person would think of boast
ing how much she could read. I would form
a higher opinion of the person who was sev
eral days reading carefully and thoughtfully
one good book, than of her who could read a
thousand pages in twenty-four hours.
“ The paintings and drawings are fine
copies, in pencil and water-colours; they are
accurate and neat, but do not indicate genius
or true natural taste. Like their music, there
is no soul in them. All these things prove
the young ladies accomplished, doubtless, but
give no indications that they are educated;
the eye and ear and hands, have become skill
ful and ready, but the mind has thrown out
no conception, no thoughts which it has not
received from others.
“ I have seen a woman better educated, who
knew no French, whose needle was only skill
ful on plain work, and who could not paint,
or dance, or play the piano, yet was she re
fined, elegant, and agreeable. She had pos
sessed no natural taste for acquiring skill’ oil
the piano, or in the use of the pencil, while
she had a soul given her which enabled her
at once to see and appreciate the genius of
the heaven-gifted musician and artist... .A
dearer lover of good music, and a better judge
of a good picture, I have seldom seen —and
she derived the greatest happiness from both.
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