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    VftOttge tor 4 » ing < the gtestpoet of aTT'hnmsnityi -of Ullages and all tpeople , -which Sbakspi&tp- possessedJn being - a " Protestant . £ jrwe do not see What Is so clear to thoughtful men we must leave the reader to ' try'Kis skill in agination . "The three great . poets we take to be H « iifer , i « hakspeaTe , ^ na Goethe . The Protestantism of Homer is out of question , tthat of "Shakepeare is < very 'questionable , and , that of Goethe su-: A jpuMBt . Mr . Trenches strongly worded claims for sCalderon ' s greatness we ; ventoee ^ to oppose two . general considerations . The xeader must understand t&a * we are not denying Calderon's specific greatness , nor his claim to be ranked among "the'illustrious men thronging the sides of Parnassus ; we brily ^ deoy ^ is ^ elaim' to be ranked among those who stand on the heights of the ^ double-crested'Mount . ' First then we remark , in Calderon the almost total absence of that wealth of thought so abundant in igreat poets , and

    -which is not only visible in . the composition of their works as wholes , but runs over into exquisite rills of verse , where , as . proverbs and citations , they « fbr . ever -meander through the nation ' s literature . There is more evidence < jfinteiletitufil \ wealth in the single scene between Celimene and Arsinoe ( in Mdl&t&a . Wfi » 0 ritAropey so brief , soTetieent , so pregnant , so certain in its touches ,- and ao freeJrom ' superfluoiis touches , man in any one play of Cal-4 eron swe have ^ read , ; and- « s , to . the jealousy scene in Ot-hello % we will not do Cafderon . the injustice-. to think of a . comparison . But . over and above his ± hou < rht displayed in the composition there is , as we noted , a perpetual overflow in the shape of yvofjuii , pregnant sayings , deep glances , felicities of thought felicitously expressed , lines which are born immortal and are cer-* amto feeeome proverbs , ¦ or , to use'Boileau * s happy-phrase , v . Parle-p «> mpkeffet d . * un-sel rdjouisaant ,

    . Etevenir . ^ uelquefoia proverbea . en naifisant . uSn ihese GaMeron is singularly : poor . Imagery abounds in bis plays , but |» w . rarely-are . thflsejmagea such-as .. perpetually recur to our minds with . haunting . grace ? The verj best , of these , at least the best of those which ire can recal , is the one so perfectly translated by Mr . Fitzgerald , and ^ quoted by ~ s Mr . Trench : — He who'fax off beholds another dancing , £ Even one -who dances best , and all the time . Hears not the music that he dances to , Thinks him a roadman , apprehending not The law wMch moves his else eccentric action .

    So lie thafrV in himself insensible Of love ' s street'influance , misjudges him Whamoves according to love's melody : . And knowing not that all these sighs and tears , Ejaculations and impatiences AremeeesMHry changes -of-a measure -Which the- divine-musician playe , jnay call The lover crazy , "which he would not dp , "Did' hef ^ Httoui hisownheart'hear the tune Wlaye&hy tbegrest ^ inusician ^ f'tbeworld . Is it not exquisite ? and will not every reader of Calderon admit that passages like this are excessively rare ? . n The second general remark we would -make is this : Besides the mtellecfrom

    * util'prodigality * f great ^ poets'there is— 'toborrow an illustration the jmcTQseope— "SkMtttoipg power in their minds causing all their conceptions to take sttcVatsftnite shapes that we never forget or confound them with the ^ bapesmetelsewhere . In reading Oalderon , as in reading Beaumont and Fletcher , -we tnaybe delighted with the surprising turns of the plot , and the graceful facility of fhe language ,-but we scarcely ever remember the plots , jiar'wfeen'&emame of * character is recalled do we reoal an image df the « er 8 on , so-Kttle of -a durable impression has been made . One or two of € &lderori * s plota are memorable , sueh as M Medico disu honra , and l £ Z Alcalde -de Zalamea , from -a certain ghastly energy of conception ; but-the reader may judge how transient is \ the impression produced by any particular play if 'we'reeord -a feet in our own experience , namely , that having twice read besides

    ? "JjifSVaODteam , ' and onee analysed it ,. translating some . portions , reading -analyses in various German and English criticisms , we had totally forgotten-what was the ¦ story , what -were the means taken 'to embody the ¦ aonemti&ny ^ Md what 'were 'the characters of the pieee , and this after a lapse 'cT > only - « ome 'she or Severn years . As our -memory may here be ¦ dmrgeaWeV-Tre iefer ^ td 'the experience of every other reader of Calderon , ^ etttSn that-after ^ ^ ery briefinterval , the plots «* d characters of-the works be- ^ dmired wiliybave 'liecoiBe' very * hazy , if not entirely obliterated . Now it is ^ ear > 41 » Bt ^ iwe-CMntndt be incessantly re-reading a poet / and if bis works are 4 b-evanescent from ' Our memories , bis chance of becoming a ^ Household Wort f is ' but * matt ; mui tliis is ' Oalderon ' s case , as ft -is also Lope do Vega ' s- ; butlt'is ^ notthe case with the great poets , ' © r'at least not with their TOura , Wfiteh live- byintrinshc irorih , and- rmtnomtnisiemi > x » . ^ On'thtose ftn > general criticisms-tre areeonterit-torest our denial of <

    Oal-^* tbn' 8 * claim 8 'to'bec 6 n 8 iaered'apoet of -whom'even the wildest enthusiasm <^ M ^ y % e b * kwigett to t * e highest order . MHr . Trendn tthinks otherwise , « nd if the reader sees in this volume « ny evSderice'which ' satisfies'him , we Jhave no 'more ^ to -say . Tbat Mr . Trench ^ wdmirtftion \ b facile may be ff « th « red frOm'ttie'following : — - Whe&vwe BdSkf-to ^ formati estimate of CaMeron . ifris , I think , ' in tiie'flrBt ^ lace * m-* OSitlble < tiot'to admire ' the lmm « mse-range of-Watery and'filble ^ hioh ' sttp ^ Hefl Wm iSi'tlW * iiM « 5 frm 4 tMi' « ar ) lll » ' att , and the « atire' « u . e * itfd - « elf-p * WMiicm . with which WTWjt ^ liiUlJtuUgL uiiiurj tn oirhf t « fihi » 'p * etteAl domain ; r « nii thlv » ven whereihe is ¦ iljiilijilni ' niiiliii'fiiihiilii iiiiiiial liln rUlm In « rrery ^ portion x ) f it . Thus he has several ¦ dM ^ JM | iMfj ^ HJ ^ ' » . hA ^ f ^ w ^ BAt ^ i ^ drairn from the'Old T «* tantent , T&e JUoehe < if Ab liliiliifflBiuijitlilllH Him nnTiimi ot , tt *» e . , StiU « moTe have . to , do with tfce , heroiomar-^ r 4 owy , ^ | g ^ T ^ pyrt i )« f <> f Cbri > llancantiflu ^ y , the victories « f the Crow of Ghnat i 5 W » Wi till " ^ Sw ^<^ Wl ») h *^ wUfcedJW «» Of the Ancient ' heathen world . To this WBWfh which waaaJJimfMt un 4 » aw » 'iupon » ln our Elizabethan drama , —MasaiagerVi FfwteartvrU t 64 ± ttnle ' remember—he returns corttlnaaUand he has

    » *»^ v e * . r , y , ¦ flflfaSd Sese WmmmB » T . ^ te . ^ Ot tUew' the 'Wmder ^ tri > Ung Magician UW ^ UbTH&iWt ^^ + j firrH , Votephtf'Women , * bt Tu > o ! # *** & # **** finite deserve to be placed on « level , \ f not indeed higher than It . A ' teflder p * thet * o MiiwiUCirtiili 11 ii . tJOatbwt TWArtagjNwUttipe ^ lliTvwfaat-m . . { Tta « i-. t <» iliei 4 wateo « u

    , pied what one might venture to call . the xegion of sacred mythology , as in The Sibyl of the East , in which the profound legerids identifying the Cross of Calvary and the Tree of Life are wrought up into a poem of surpassing beauty . In other of these not the Christian , but the Romish , poet is predominant , as in The Purgatory of St . Patrick , The Devotion of the Cross , Daybreak in Copacabana , this last being the story of the first dawn of the faith in Peru . Whatever there may be in these of superstitious , or , a 3 in one of them there is , of ethically revolting , none but a great poet could have composed them . * . Then further , his'historic drama reaches-down from thegrey dawn of earliest story to the celebration of events which happened in 'his own-day ; it extends from The Daughter of t / ie Air , being the Legend of Semiramis , and in Goethe ' s judgment his most glorious piece ( Goethe however seems only to have been familiar with those which had been translated into German ) , down to The Siege of Breda , alluded to already . Between these are dramas from Greek history ; and from Roman . Qf these The Great Zenobia is the best ; The Arms of Beauty , on the story of Coriolaiiuu , Others

    and as poor as its name would indicate , the worst . are from Jewish ; and a multitudefrom the" history of modern Europe ; thus two at least * from English annals ; one , rather a poor one , on the Institution of the Order of the Garter ; another , The Schirnnqf England ; which is his Henry . the Eighth , and , as may be supposed , written at a very different point of view from Shakspeare's . It is chiefly curious as shewing what was the popular estimate in Spain of the actors in our great religious reformation ; and displays throughout an evident desire to spare the king , and to throw the guilt of his breach with the Church on Anna Boleyn and Cardinal Wolsey . But the great majority of Calderon ' s historical dramas are drawn , as was to be expected in a poet so intensely national , and appealing to so intensely national a feeling , from the annals of his own country . These have the immense advantage of being the embodiment , for the most part , of events already familiar to the popular mind . The heroes of Spanish romance and of Spanish , history are here brought forward ; and not the remoter names alone , but those of the century preceding , Isabella of Castile , Charles the Fifth , the Conquistadores , Philip the Second , Don John of Austria , Alva , Figueroa , and even some of those who were still living when he wrote .

    We omit the remaining paragraphs referring to classical subjects , and remark upon the whole case that our admiration is but tepid for the mere ' extent and range of history , when history is so utterly and recklessly disregarded as in Calderon . We do not blame the Spanish poet for disregarding historical accuracy and couleur locale . If his Greeks , liomans , Mythological and Oriental persons are Tindistinguishable in everything : but name from the Spanish characters of his Spanish p lays , we blame him not ; he never thought of pleasing an erudite pit of critics , and if he had thought of pleasing-such a , pit , it is probable the pit would havebeen empty , partly because n ° o such erudite critics were in Spain , and mainly because the uonerudite would have stayed away . We cannot , however , so easily acquit Mr Trench He knows well enough how little history there is m these historical plays , and that his admiration should be excited by a mere range and extent of ignorance is not-conceivable ; what then is it which rouses his

    admiration ? ,. . . ~ . ,. , Our remarks have extended so far that we have little room left in wlich to characterize the contents of the book . It consists of a Life of Calderon , a criticism , or , more properly speaking , remarks on his genius , a sketch ol the English Literature on the subject , and analyses of two plays , with interspersed translations . Compressed within narrower limits the book would have made an agreeable article for a Quarterly Review , and it may have attractions for students of Spanish poetry which its slim form and moderate cost may permit them to enjoy .

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    TERRIER'S C ARAVAN JOURNETS . Caravan Journeys and Wanderings in Persia , Afghanistan , TurTcistan , and Beloochistan By ~ J . P . 'Ferrier . Translated by Captain William Jesae . Edited by H . D . Seymour , 1 VLP . ^ ™ - One of the old English voyagers introduced his narrative thus : " Being determined to survey the world , I sailed from Bristol . " M . Ferner began his indefinite wanderings in the same spirit , when he started from Bag dad . lie in the countries

    was resolved "to try his fortunes beyond Persin , yet imperfectly known of Central Asia . " His Oriental friends predicted , as the result , a speedy and miserable death ,-in tlio most desolate wildernesses , or among the worst barbarians of the East . But an old Chasseur d'Afnque , who had served in the Algerine wars , who had aided in drilling a Persian army , and who know the secrets of travel , was not easily operated upon by foar , andM . Fen-ier , accordingly , in the spring of the year 1845 , struck off from the valley of the Tigris , to explore the limits of civilization , across the waterless soliJdes of KUo rassan . His boldness was that of Ibu Batuta ; the romance of his adventures was that of Pietro della'Valle . No recent traveller has enterprise

    revived so well the sense of excitement , associated with peril , discovery . We read his journals , as we read , the stories of the Celubratwl Travellers ; thqy are as full of interest , of variety , of the charm that belongs to new scenes well described , of colour , anecdote , and animation , and Captain Jesse is so proficient a translator that the pictorial vitality of ttto original French is in no degree lost . ,. «••! * ; n Vorsin fe . 'Ferrier , displaced by Russian influence from his official post in 1 ersm , and disappointed in his efforts to obtain redress in trance , ™ turi 1 ^ Bagdad , and planned a journey , in search oi fortune , to Lahore , liovona thePersian frontier his route lay through territories so dangerous and niao cessible , that few ( Europeans have attempted to explore them . I < rom »¦«« he tried . to penetrate through Jialku and tlw cities on that « ' « » v * t i i , , i ; : !„„„ , ! ^ Mn / i no VtnfHorl him find he WHS lOrLCU ahorebut ing perils and obstacles baffled him and he was wnj «

    L ; throng to turn back , when at no great distance from Kabul . Next , he struc km to the country of the formidable Hazarahs , in which no Af g han daves to tiavej and in which no European had hitherto act foot . He had nearly rcacucu the Ancient « nd curious , eity of 'Gour , when the jealous duels ol toe Hazarah nation compelled him to retraee his steps to ' Herat , -- thence , a t a short repose , and in spite of Turnings , ho set out to try and reach l « aw , through Southern ttLfehanistan , by Ginahk and Kandahar . 'In tlioso cou trios hie adventurea were marvellous . Ho saw the strangest illustrotions q the . primitive forms of life in Ccatral Asia , engrafted on inannera ol iw modern . growtk ; he was several limes imprisoned . ; ho . Pf " ^" " ; " j n disguises ; ^ o was in -somo . places threatened with tl » o direst t 0 "" *^' ^ otharsentevtamed . witLutho mo « t . seducing honpitulities . -AU tinu « lvl' °

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    Z&& MEIillBW . [ No . 326 , SAfP ^ RgpAY ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 21, 1856, page 594, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2146/page/18/