is

some estimate of the value and authority of Mr. Bekker's new revision of Aristotle's text. Mr. Bekker writes tv, new, and as constantly; but and ovdris, yívoμai and yiva, indifferently. Mr. Cardwell, in his new edition of the Nicomachean Ethics, writes gov, xaiw, oiduis, and you constantly, but as and as indifferently. We would always write "v, náw, àuì, oùòus, and yír It does not seem at all probable, that the same author should have used a different form of the same word in different parts of his writings. At the end of both volumes is an index of the most remarkable expressions and facts mentioned in the text. The print is clear, but close; the matter, which in Duval's folio edition (with the Latin) occupies 204 pages, being comprised in 277 pages of Mr. Bekker's octavo editions. We trust, that in his larger edition, Mr. Bekker will, for the sake of reference, either add numbers for the sections, or insert the pages and letters of Duval's edition. At present there is no mode of referring but to the chapters, which are often many pages in length.

Diluvium cum tribus aliis Mahábhárati praestantissimis Episodiis. Primus edidit Franciscus Bopp. Fasciculus prior, quo continetur textus Sanscritus. Berolini, 1829.

Die Sündflut, nebst drei andern der wichtigsten Episoden des MaháBharata. Aus der Urpsrache übersetzt von Franz. Bopp. Berlin, 1829. IN our last number we gave our readers a short account of the first part of a Sanscrit Glossary, published by Professor Bopp. That publication was calculated chiefly for beginners in the study of the Sanscrit language,— the present two volumes are of a far more general interest. The one contains the original text, and the other gives a faithful German translation of four of the most important episodes of the Mahábhárata. In his Nalus and in his Ardschunas Reise zu Indras Himmel, Professor Bopp had already presented the public with some invaluable fruits of the particular study which he has made of that important work. During a stay of several years at Paris, he made ample extracts from the manuscripts of this immense epic poem, which are preserved in the royal library there; and from these extracts, which were afterwards collated with the manuscripts of the Honourable East India Company, is also derived the original text of the episodes, now given to the public. Each of these is as valuable, by the new light which it throws on different parts of Indian antiquity, as by the beauty of its poetical form. The affecting tale of the generous Savitri, who renounces the splendour of her royal birth, in order to be united with the man of her choice, though she is foretold that he will die at the close of a year; how amiably she behaves to him and to his blind father, with whom she resides in the solitude of a forest; how he, on the predestined day of his death, overcome by a faintness, rests his head on her lap, and falls asleep, while Yama himself, the god of death, with his awful retinue, appears to loosen his soul from her earthly bonds, but how the prayers of the pious princess move him, so that he restores him to life-all this is here related with a degree of artless simplicity, which renders this episode one of the most charming tales that has ever been transplanted from the enchanted gardens of the east.

A particular interest is attached to another of these episodes, that on the Mythos of the Deluge, the agreement of which, with the reports given in the first book of Moses, is, in some instances, really striking. The substance of the Hindu account is this:-The Lord of the universe once appeared to the pious King Manu, acquainted him with the imminent general inundation, and ordered him to build a vessel, to enter it at the time of danger, and to take with him the seeds of all the various plants. Manu obeyed. The vessel, led

and

and protected by the Deity, floated many years on the waters, till at last it grounded on the summit of the Himavan mountain, where it was tied at the commands of the Deity; and that point is, until this day, called Naubandhanam, or the tying of the ship.

In a work of such extent as the Mahabharata, doubts must necessarily arise as to the antiquity, or coeval origin of many of its parts; and it will, perhaps, never be possible satisfactorily to resolve all the problems connected with this point. With reference thereto, we may here observe, that the grand and truly majestic simplicity with which the episode on the Deluge is written, imparts to it such an air of high antiquity, that we do not hesitate to place it amongst the oldest relics of Sanscrit composition.

The limits prescribed to this notice will not permit us to enter into any further details. We have only to add, that a Latin translation, with notes, and the preface to the whole work, will soon be published by the learned editor.

Hrolf Krake, et Heltedigt af Oehlenschläger. Kjobenhavn, 1828. Oehlenschlager last year published the first volume of his new poetic works, containing Hrolf Krake, an heroic poem in twelve cantos. The subject is a continuation of the author's former poem "Helge," and, with it, makes a poetic whole. Helge consists of romances, which finish by the tragedy, Yda." Hrolf Krake is an epos treating of the life and death of the great Danish King, Hrolf, and of his valiant heroes, particularly of the three, Hjalte, the Dane; Bjarke, the Norwegian; and Voeggur, the Swede. The author paints the youth and ripened age of these three heroes; their reception at the court of Hrolf, and the unshakable courage and constancy with which they served him till his death.

66

Hrolf, in a battle with the Norwegians, had saved the life of the Swedish King, Adils, who, in return, was to be his vassal, and pay him tribute. Adils breaks his word, and Hrolf, accompanied by twelve of his heroes, proceeds to Upsala, to demand its fulfilment: Adils attempts to kill him by setting fire to the castle in which the Danish King and his suite are lodged-but this attempt is unsuccessful. Shortly after, Adils is killed by a fall from his horse, at the moment when he is about to sacrifice the lives of ninety-nine men to God; and his nephew, Hjartvar, ascends the throne. This young king having come to Leire, the ancient residence of the Danish kings, is seized with a passion for Skulde, the beautiful, but malicious sister of Hrolf, and marries her. Skulde entertains a mortal hatred against her brother, and on arriving with her consort at Upsala, persuades him to return to Leire, to kill the King of Denmark, and to take possession of his kingdom, of which she declares herself to be the lawful heiress, because Hrolf had been born to Helge by Yda, who, though he was ignorant of the fact, was his sister. Hjartvar arrives at Leire with his army, which he at first conceals in his vessels, and, surprising Hrolf, kills him, but is killed in return by Voeggur, who has vowed to avenge his master.

This poem, taken as a whole, will hardly please the rigorous critic, or establish Oehlenschläger's "epical pretensions to the laurel." Still it is one of the most striking works of this great poet-displaying the energy and force which we admire in " Hakon Jarl," and the gentle tenderness which Axel og Valborg*." Whether painting the loves lends so great a charm to “ of Hjalte and Signe, the filial piety of Hrolf, the treachery of Skulde, or the baseness of Adils, the author still exercises the same magic power over his readers. The poem is written in rhyme, but the metre is irregular, and the

*For a critical notice and translation of parts of Axel og Valborg, see Foreign Review, No. IV.

diction

diction is, we think, somewhat harsh, compared with that generally employed by Oehlenschläger. The author inscribes his work to the King of Denmark, in a few dedicatory stanzas. His preface concludes with the following words" Hjalte, Bjarke, and Voeggur, were brothers. Let the Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes be always so:" words, which a native of the North cannot too frequently repeat.

Eric Menods Barndom-Historisk Roman af B. S. Ingemann.

Kjobenhavn, 1828.

A GLANCE at the polite literature of Denmark will suffice to shew that the "Romance" is less cultivated than any other branch by the distinguished Danish authors. The few attempts which have been occasionally made have met with but little encouragement, and even the Romance with which the celebrated poet Oehlenschlager some time since enriched the literature of his country, was by no means popular there, though in Germany it became the rage among all classes. Thus the Danes have, for the most part, contented themselves with translations-often sufficiently bad-from the English and the German. To Mr. Ingemann they are indebted for the first Romances drawn from the native historic sources. He commenced his career as a romance writer by a picture of the reign of Valdemar the Victorious.* In the volume before us he represents a period less glorious, but perhaps, more poetical-the decline of Denmark.

The following is an outline of the Romance:-In 1285 there dwells in Fionia a publican named Henner Friser, and with him his grand-daughter, the black-eyed Aase. The King, Eric Glipping, having been seized with a violent passion for her, causes her to be carried off to his domain of Hegnæsgaul, by his valet Rave; but Peter Hessel having delivered her from the hands of Rave, sends her to his estate in Jutland. At Middelfart, Hessel meets Valdemar, Duke of Seeswick, provost of the Grand Chapter; Gerard, Count of Holstein, James, Count of Holland, and many others who are proceeding to the diet of Nybourg (Danehof.) He accompanies Gerard on the way, when the latter insults him, and they fight. The Count is wounded and disarmed, but Hessel stanches his wounds, and they become reconciled. Rave meantime has obtained from the king an order of arrest against Hessel, but the latter being apprized of his danger by his Esquire Stamen, hastens to the king, in order to reassure his confidence. At the diet of Nybourg the pretensions of the Duke Valdemar are annulled, and that chieftain goes enraged to ask assistance from the Swedish king. Hessel and the Chevalier Foosthen are commanded to pursue him secretly, and take him prisoner. They accordingly overtake him at Flynderbourg, afterwards called Cronenbourg, near to Elsinore, the commander of which, Lave Litle, is the private friend of the duke. The daughter of this commander, Juge, had been from infancy betrothed to Hessel, but they had not seen each other for a long time. On now meeting again, their previous esteem is warmed into love. But Hessel is not unmindful of his mission; and on the escape of the Duke, pursues him, and having taken him at Helsingbourg, carries him to Sjöborg, where he is imprisoned with his artful attendant Tuko Abildgaard. After an imprisonment of nine months, he signs a treaty with the king, gains his liberation, and assists at a conference of the Conspirators. Hessel obtains a few moments intercourse with Juge, but perceives that the spirit of faction permits not her father or herself to consent to the union. Lave Litle sets out with Stig Andersen, and at Moellerup in Jutland, the territory of Stig Anderson, they meet the other conspirators, and there the

*For a critical notice of this work, see Foreign Review,' No. 1.

king's murder is agreed upon. The latter is living securely, when he discovers the abode of the beautiful black-eyed Aase, and gives notice to Hessel that he will visit Harrestrup near Vibourg. On a hunting party the king purposely goes astray from his attendants, in order to search for the cottage where the perfidious Rave had informed him that Aase was dwelling. He finds her, and alone, her aged grandfather having just left her-he gazes on her with trembling agitation, and leaves the spot without speaking to her. Rave then leads him to the barn of Finnerup, where he is afterwards murdered by the conspirators, who set fire to the barn. Hessel shortly after arrives, and wishing himself to take charge of the royal corpse, sends his Esquire Skirmen to Skanderbourg, to announce the fatal intelligence to the Queen Agnes. The conspirators advance towards the castle, but find everything prepared for their reception; and from the balcony, Eric Menoed, the young king, declared Stig Anderson to be proscribed. Stig Anderson returns to Moellerup. He shews to Jugeborg, his wife, his hands stained with the blood of the king, telling her that she is avenged, but that her father has perished in the burning barn at Finnerup. Seized with horror at this intelligence, she sinks on her knees and expires. The body of the murdered king is carried to Vibourg, where it is deposited in the cathedral. The Duke Valdemar assists at the solemn funeral, pretending a detestation for the assassins, and returns to Sleick in order to assemble an army against Stig Anderson and his party. The conspirators had promised to Rave, Christine Spendelskoe, the daughter of a Norwegian Corsair named Jarl Mindrealf. Christine and Juge arrive at the castle of Ribehuus, when a conspiracy is about to burst forth for the purpose of recovering the castle for the king. Ribehuus is taken by the Count, and Hessel, who sees his fair Juge; but his joy is of short duration, for she is appointed to proceed to Sweden for the purpose of attending the young princess betrothed to the Danish king. Valdemar, though he consents to the condemnation of the conspirators, still intends to take possession of the royal person at the coronation at Skjelskjoer. As regards the king, this plan fails, but Hessel is seized by the conspirators and imprisoned at Norbourg. The Queen is also constrained to surrender to the Duke, but is shortly after liberated by the Count Gerard. Erik is crowned at Lund in 1287. The traitors and a party of Norwegians maintain an unsuccessful war against the Danes; Stig Anderson dies; Rave is taken and beheaded. Valdemar enters into an alliance with the King of Norway, but unwilling to await the arrival of the Norwegian fleet, he gives battle at Groensund, and is on the point of gaining it, when the fate of the day is determined by the arrival of Skirmen, Henner, and Hessel. Shortly after the king and the duke become reconciled. Count Gerard marries Agnes, the Queen-dowager of Denmark, Hessel is united to the lovely Juge, and Skirmen to the black-eyed Aase, whom he had long loved.

The greatest merit of the historical picture here presented of a stormy period is the minute fidelity with which the author has painted the characters of the time and of individuals during the middle ages; yet we think that Erik Glippings has been drawn somewhat too unfavourably. Mr. Ingemann has probably followed the accounts in the popular songs Kjæmpeviserne, but these serve to paint manners rather than facts. The king is made not only a seducer, but the violator of the wife of Stig Anderson, as we find from the words uttered by the latter on returning from the regicide. "It is done!" he exclaims; "put off the veil of reproach, my spouse! now re-embrace your husband-your avenger! Your injury has been expiated by

* A small village near Vibourg.

the

the blood of the tyrant,-nor need you longer blush to be called the wife of Stig Anderson."

It is true that there is no great prominent figure in this historical picture, but there is a pervading interest throughout. The youthful king is of too tender an age to fix our interest alone-he divides it with Hessel, Gerard, and the king, his father, whose death is the most important historical fact in the recital. We will here give a translation of the passage descriptive of the solemn depositing of the royal corpse in the Cathedral of Vibourg.

The procession passed slowly along the street of St. Michael, towards the cathedral. All the windows were lighted up, and every street filled with people of the various classes; but a silence so deep and mournful reigned among them, as though they were lifeless shades, who gazed upon the passing train, which approached the grand church, the enormous bells whereof sent forth a long and melancholy sound. In the great square opposite the church the procession stopped and alighted, and then in the same order proceeded on foot towards the open door of the church-sublime and imposing-with its two steeples and four chapels, as it had been amplified by King Niclas in the twelfth century, and completed by Bishop Nicolaus. Having entered, we passed by the great corridor, before all the chapels, where tapers were burning on fourteen altars. The altar of the patron of the city, St. Kjeld, to the left of the north side of the church, was illuminated by tapers, under the gilded arch of the saint. The procession stopped, and the last had not passed the threshold when the first stood on the steps of the great altar, where twelve large lights illumined the buckler with the two lions and three crowns, half covered by a long black crape, and where stood the provost of the prebendary college, in the habit of his order, with two other prelates, one archdeacon, a clerk, and twelve prebends. With torches in their hands, they sang a solemn requiem beside a large oaken coffin, covered with lead, on the lid of which was lain the great sword of Erik Christoffersen, near a silver box, containing the sacrament, which was to follow him in the tomb, because he had been unable to receive it before his sudden and violent death. On the box was this inscription:-" Panis adest veræ Domini sponsalia vitæ."

The mass of requiem being finished, the provost of the prebendary college, having pronounced a short sermon, lifted the lid of the coffin, and deposited the box containing the sacrament between the crossed hands of the dead body. Then all who wished to behold the royal corpse were permitted to advance. But few approached, and among these was the young King Erik, who gently bent over the lifeless form of his father, and covered his ensanguined breast with his hands, pronouncing at the same time some words which were inaudible to all. He then retired, and covered his sorrowful face with the mourner's robe. No one after this approached the coffin. The prelate re-covered it, and placed the sword thereon. It was then lifted, and carried at the head of the procession behind the high altar, where it was deposited in a vaulted tomb. The prelate cast sand on the coffin thrice, pronouncing aloud the sepulchral formula of the Christian church. In conclusion, he announced to the people that the betrayed and murdered king had (as it were incited by a spirit of divination) five years before his death, given considerable donations to the cathedral, in order that masses might be said, and vigils kept for his soul, until the last day. "The canticle," said he," which you now hear, will never cease-nightly will it arise from earth to the Almighty's throne. Here, night and day, we shall put up prayers for the assassinated king, and we shall invoke the King of Kings, that Erik Christoffersen may be the last Danish Monarch who may

fall