gour, against adversity; still receiving, fresh accessions of strength from the resources of his own mind; and boldly rejecting that sympathy, from which souls of a lower stamp than his, derive so much consolation. Truly he exclaimed, " I never yet could ask, howe'er forlorn, For vulgar pity, mixt with vulgar scorn.' Consistent with his love of study was his fondness for retirement. Where, indeed, are the charms of literary composition so likely to unfold themselves as in the still seclusion which he so much admired? Perhaps, however, it was from too great an indulgence in solitary study, that he acquired that reserved deportment, and those somewhat repulsive habits, which so strongly marked his character. But most advantages are attended by circumstances which counteract, or at least lessen, their beneficial influence. And thus it is with retirement; though peculiarly favourable to improvement in literature it is commonly observed to generate a moroseness, which has become almost proverbial, as applied to scholars in general. Probably it may arise from conscious superiority; or from the apparent insignificance of common affairs to a mind accustomed to studious abstraction. From whatever cause it may originate, it is remarked, that where literary pursuits engage much of the attention, an aversion to ordinary occupations is often the consequence. Where it necessary to adduce an instance of this, we should naturally recur to the subject of the present observations. With such sentiments it is that he says, Men may rave," And blame, and censure me, that I don't tie I tried to cast, with school dexterity, The interesting sums, my vagrant thoughts Dropt from my senseless fingers, as I pictured, With a soul tuned to the sweetest strains of poesy, can it excite surprise that he should turn disgusted from the "dusky tract of commerce?” But how can we withhold our admiration, when we see him combating with his aversion; and, far from permitting his laudable endeavours after poetic excellence to interfere with his more serious avocations, depriving himself of the common recreations and enjoyments of youth, that he might pay more undivided attention to the Muses. Such an example is doubly worthy of attention from its rarity: since a poetic fancy and a warm imagination, are so seldom united with sound sense, and such decision of character. Whether these dissimilar characters are really incompatible in their nature, or that the possession of the more splendid, is thought to atone for the absence of the more useful, endowments, I know not, but it is the subject of regret to all persons who have paid attention to the lives of poets in general, that they have so seldom acted with uniform discretion. Accustomed to consider a high share of poetic genius, as, in some degree, allied to insanity, the mind reposes, with increased satisfaction, on the memory of Kirke White; and, while we breathe a sigh of soft regret over his premature grave, we almost envy the youthful minstrel the calm composure of his exit; since there are none so impressed with the security of their present enjoyments, as not to own the truth of the sentiment which he has thus finely expressed: Ah! who can say, however fair his view, Thro' what sad scenes his path may lie? Islington, Feb. 24, 1821. S. SKINNER. FOR THE POCKET MAGAZINE. LEISURE HOURS. No. 1. Through various subjects can the reader range, Gay. DRYDEN, in his Dedication to his Translation of Virgil's Georgics, says, "I would have translated him; but, according to the literal French and Italian phrases, I fear I have traduced him." It must, indeed, be allowed, that in many places he has traduced him, and with no sparing haud. I shall select a few instances, from the many which abound in his translation of the Georgics. In the first Georgic, line 18, Virgil invokes Minerva, as the inventor of the olive tree, and Triptolemus, as "the founder of the plough,', -Oleæque Minerva Inventrix; uncique puer moustrator aratri. But, by Dryden's translation, one would suppose that Minerva founded the plough, as well as invented the olive tree. Inventor, Pallas, of the fattening oil, Thou founder of the plough and ploughman's toil. Line 470, sistunt amnes, that is," the rivers stood still; but Dryden translates it" And streams ran backward, and their beds forsook.* "Casus In the second Georgic, line 68, Virgil says, abies visura marinos." Dryden's translation of this line is the most ridiculous that could be imagined. Fir being a tree much used in ship-building, Virgil supposes that it is able to see the dangers of "the vasty deep." But Dryden collects all the trees together, and sets them running down a hill into the sea, Palm, poplar, fir, descending from the steep Of hills, to try the dangers of the deep. Pope, in his translation of the first Iliad, bas committed the same kind of error, for he has translated Kagero "stood!" "Idæis cyparissis, line 84, Dryden thus translates, So funeral cypress, rising like a shroud. I cannot see what resemblance a cypress bears to a shroud; besides no mention is made of a shroud in the original. I could produce many more examples of Dryden's carelessness as a translator, but enough on this subject at present.* Dr. Blair, in his "Grave," describing the last moments of a good man, says, By unperceived degrees he wears away, Yet, like the sun, seems larger at his setting, Instead of "seems larger," I would read "more glorious." The sun certainly seems larger when he sets; but to suppose that a man increases in size when he is dying, is ridiculous. What an excellent thing would it be, if every one would follow the rule laid down by Steele, in the Tat ler, No. 11, "I would establish but one general rule to be observed in all conversation, which is this, that' men should not talk to please themselves, but those that hear them. This would make them consider, whether what they speak be worth hearing; whether there be wit or sense in what they are about to say: and, whether it be adapted to the time when, the place where, and the person to whom, it is spoken." Cowper, in his Table Talk," describing the character of the English, says, But, if authority grow wanton, woe To him that treads upon his free born toe. Free born toe is, in my opinion, too vulgar an ex. pression; it does not agree with the preceding lines, which are very fine: Hence liberty, sweet liberty, inspires He bears it with meek manliness of soul, ། Notwithstanding the errors which our Correspondent points out, and others which may be found, the translation of Virgil, by Dryden, is a noble work.-Ed. P. M.. 1 Cowper, perhaps, copied the expression from Prior, who, in his "Epistle to Mr. Fleetwood Shephard, says, In politics I hear you're staunch, A. B***t. ANECDOTE AND WIT. No. 40.-VOLTAIRE. WHEN Voltaire's tragedy of Mahomet was first brought on the Paris stage, one of the king's physicians meeting the poet in a private company, remarked that the existence of Alcanor, after his death wound, was rather protracted. He contended, in a long argument, that it was physically impossible for him to survive a wound such as was there described 66 True, replied Voltaire drily, "but you are to recollect, my dear sir, that he was not attended by a physician.' UKRAINE COURTSHIP. 66 WHEN a young woman, in the Ukraine, feels a tender passion for a young man, she goes to his parents, and says to them, Pomagai-bog, (be you blessed of God,) the customary salutation on entering a house. She then sits down, and addressing herself to the object of her affections, makes her declaration of love in the following terms: Ivan, Theodore, (or whatever else may be his name,) the goodness I see written in your countenance, is a sufficient assurance to me, that you are capable of ruling and loving a wife; and your excellent qualities encourage me to hope, that you will make a good gospodar, (husband or master.) It is in this belief that I have taken the resolution to come and beg you, with all due humility, to accept me for your spouse." She afterwards addresses the father and mother, in words to the same effect; and solicits them earnestly to consent to the marriage. If she meets with a refusal, or apology, she answers," that she will |