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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. 123