AND T. CADELL, STRAND, LONDON. I. On the 1st of March will be published, in One Volume, post 8vo, THE TRIALS OF MARGARET LYNDSAY. BY THE AUTHOR OF "LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF SCOTTISH LIFE." II. In post Octavo, THE ORLANDO INNAMORATO; Abridged in Prose, FROM THE ITALIAN OF BERNI; And Interspersed with STANZAS IN THE SAME METRE AS THE ORIGINAL. BY WILLIAM STEWART ROSE. ** It is curious that the Orlando Innamorato, though necessary to the understanding of the Story of the Orlando Furioso, which is a continuation of it, has never been translated into English; if we except a mere outline of the main action, which gives little notion of its innumerable episodes, and none of its poetry, or the spirit in which it is conceived. The present translation is an attempt to supply such a deficiency. III. In 3 Vols. post 8v0, THE YOUTH OF REGINALD DALTON. IV. Will be Published on the 1st of February, in 12mo. A COLLECTION FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS, By the Rev. ANDREW THOMSON, A. M. Minister of St George's, Edinburgh.. This Collection is distinguished by the variety of interesting and instructive matter which it contains-by its exclusion of every thing which can in the remotest degree injure the religious principles or moral taste of the reader-and by its direct tendency to inculcate sacred truth and virtuous sentiments on the youthful mind, as well as by its suitable and useful exercises, taken from the best writers both in prose and verse, for facilitating the improvement of the scholar in the art of reading. A considerable num ber of original pieces, on subjects of importance, are interspersed throughout its pages; and there is appended to it a Dictionary, explaining the most difficult and uncommon words which occur in the course of the work. а THE LIGHT-TOWER. A TRAGEDY, IN TWO ACTS. By Ernst von Houvald. If a proof were desired of the variety both in prose. Coleridge is the only and energy of German literature, we individual who has made a powerful know not that a better could be found effort in their favour, and had not some than in the example afforded by our hopes remained that he might yet fiown pages; for, in choosing out frag- nish the last acts of “ Wallenstein,” ments for translation, (which, hasty we should possibly have been tempted and imperfect as they were, have al- to give an article (prepared, of course, ways been received by our poetical with more care than our preceding readers with approbation,) we have sketches) on the third and concluding uniformly, except in one instance (that part of that admirable “ Trilogie,” in of “Faust”) left the works of the great- order that in this country it might not er and moré classical authors untouch- remain longer in utter oblivion. ed. We have, as it were, gleaned only On the present occasion, however, scattered flowers on the outskirts of the we shall still follow our old method, Thuringian forests, and our readers have having chosen for notice a minor prodrank but of their humbler streams; duction of a young nobleman, by name for, metaphor apart, Müllnerand Grilla Ernst von Houvald, who, as far as we parzer, eminent as they are, would re- remember, has not yet been introduject with disdain the injudicious com- ced to our Several years ago, pliment which should place them on a when this author published his first footing of equality with the more dis- attempt—a frightful sketch, of which tinguished models, and establishedwor- the scene was laid in a charnel-house, thies, from whom they have drawn we predicted that he would rise to their inspiration. If, then,' by that me- eminence; and whether our conjecture thod which we have followed, an im- was right or not, he has since that time, pression has been made, how much both in prose and verse, continued to more might have been done by a care- improve: and there is a degree of inful selection! The works even of Schil- terest and suspense attached to the ler remain, except by name, as much story in this little piece, the “ Lightunknown to us as if they did not exist. Tower," on which account it is very freWe have, indeed, two translations of quently performed. It certainly follows Don Carlos, (by no means his best,) not, that because a young author is bold but these are, as far as we remember, and imprudent enough to fix on a bad VOL. XIII. A subject, that he will be found wanting band,) becomes insane ; and she being in genius to adorn a good one; but the ignorant of his fate, yet haunted by besetting error of Houvald, no doubt, the bitterest repentance, at last leaves has been bis choice of frightful and re- America for Europe in search of him, pelling subjects in the first instance, in order to implore his forgiveness. and of plots rather overstrained and She is shipwrecked on the shore of the improbable afterwards. Of this last “ Light-Tower," and finally, by a faobjection, however, the validity is less; tal combination of circumstances, those for so long as an author keeps within who have been through life separated, the bounds of possibility, he is not are in death united-a favourite idea likely to insist on greater improbabili, of Houvald's, which he has already ties than the influences of " chance and three or four times poetized. There change” have at one time or another is a complex underplot, which it would actually brought forward in the world. be tedious to analyze. The preceding The story of the “ Light-Tower,” is probably enough to render, as usual, then, is a kind of winter night's dream, our extracts intelligible. such as one might be visited by, in a Some of the most laboured writing lonely German Schloss, if he came forth in the “ Light-Tower,” (which is in at midnight on the altan, and listened Calderon's rhymed measure) occurs in to the roaring of the wind through the the first scene. This would not anleafless beeches and poplars, and with swer on our stage, where the opening the Trauerweiden waving their long speeches are invariably lost; but betresses around him. The chief inte- sides that, in the German theatre, no rest of the plot may be described as noise or disturbance is at any time alfollows: Through the arts of a sedu- lowed, the “Light-Tower” is generally cer, a wife has been separated from her preceded by a short Comedy or Opera. husband, who afterwards hears, that In a word, it is employed as an Afwhile under the care of her betrayer, ter-piece. The characters are she has perished at sea. He (the husCaspar Hort, Watcher of the Light-Tower. His daughter. His elder brother. Adoptive son of the Count. The first Scene represents a round Chamber in the Light-house. Above, the wooden beams of the roof are partly seen, through which afterwards falls the gleam of the lamps when kindled. In the room is an harp, a speakingtrumpet, &c.—Caspar and Dorothea are discovered, the latter sitting at work, the former looking out of the window. Caspar. How darkly are the skies with clouds o'ercast ! Think'st thou Oftimes; but now Dor. Poor mariners, that on a realm so waste Nay, say not so !- . . . . One self-same empress rules. When thus the storm Are, then, Casp. Dear child, we both are now by storms unmoved. No, no-Thy heart Yet this light Truly our lives Thou foolish child ! In furious rage, to grapple with the storm! Then blest are they, who, from the sheltering walls Dor. What mean'st thou, father? Casp. Listen !- When I look To a convent !-No! Heaven's messenger of blessing and protection !"In this last passage, (which appears that his daughter should renounce the to us to evince much of real imagina- vanities of this life. By their dialogue tion,) there is at least an example af- here, we are already, in some meaforded of that association of thought sure, prepared for what is to follow. with the scenery and influences of na- He warns her particularly against fallture, on which the best eloquence of ing in love, by adverting to the unthe poet depends, but of which Ger- happy fate of Úlrick, her paternal unman writers avail themselves but sel- cle, who becomes afterwards, in a great dom, the Swedish and Danish poets measure, the hero of the piece. He, more frequently, but the French and as we have already mentioned, had Italian authors almost never. During been, by the stratagems of a seducer, the rest of this scene, Caspar goes on deprived of his wife, and believes that to explain for what reasons he wishes she had been lost at sea, from which, |