The Press.
London, England, 1858-06-19 00:00:00

THE PRESS, JUNE 19, 1858.

Years afterwards, when Charles Napier was in India,
Sir Bulwer Lytton's romance of the same title appeared,
with several remarkable resemblances to the manuscript
work—such as the introduction of Harold's warrant against
the Welsh ; of a knight who plays a conspicuous part,
though in a different way, from one of the same name in
Napier's romance ; a peculiar trial of skill between Wil-
liam and Harold in the play of their distinctive weapons,
the spear and the longbow ; lastly, and most curiously,
the creation of a liallmad, half-supernatural prophetess,
called in both works the " Vale," who is related to Harold
and watches over his fortunes. The stories are indeed
differently constructed ; but it is no partial cr.ticism to
say that, if the lost manuscript shall be ever recovered for
publication, it will be foun I in racy, biting dialogue, in
variety of incidents, and in fiery poetic description, as far
above what may be called its rival as that rival is below its
author's best productions; and not the least so in the
creation of the " Vela." But the soldier described heroic
adventure, with the like of which he had been familiar in
early lite, and foreshadowed scenes of sanguinary battle,
conquest, and government, which he realized afterwards
as conqueror and ruler ; scenes which Sir Bulwcr could
only guess at.
- - - -

The MS. has now been recovered, and published
by Mr. Routledge, but, as perhaps many of our
readers will be prepared to hear, adds but little
to the deceased general's reputation. By the side
of Sir Bulwer Lytton's novel on the same subject,
it may be compared to a strong untutored clown,
in competition with the trained athlete. There
is a certain rude power in the work here and
there, but in plot, dialogue, and delineation of
character it breaks down completely. The story
is crowded with characters which do not affect
its issue, and is overloaded with scenes of violence
after the style of Mr. Pierce Egan. The dia-
logue, so far from being " racy " or " biting," is
dull and stilted ; the characters are either stiff or
spasmodic ; and the dramatic effects are of the
very weakest kind.
The story is supposed to be dictated to his
amanuensis-by a centenarian Norman noble who
had been a leading actor in the Conquest ; and the
old gentleman's language is just what we should
expect to hear from a similar character at the
Victoria Theatre. The main outline of the
story is certainly much the same as Sir Bulwer
Lytton's; but if the latter right hon. author did
take any of his incidents therefrom, it is the only
claim to the gratitude of the public which Sir
Charles can put forward. To have suggested
" llarold " may entitle him to forgiveness for
having written " William the Conqueror."

The only point of the plot on which the two
writers differ is that Sir Charles makes Editha,
the heroine, become Harold's wife, whereas Sir
Bulwer Lytton represents the Saxon Prince as
swayed from his first love by considerations of
policy, and espousing the daughter of a powerful
Saxon family. The character of the Vala, or
sorceress, is differently handled by the two. In
the present story she resembles Norna of the
Fitful Head in Sir Walter Scott's " Pirate ;"
while in " Harold" she is a more refined and
accessible, though not less majestic personage.
Sir Charles's description of the Vala is one of
those passages which we shall perhaps do him
the truest justice by quoting:—

She was of an extraordinary and commanding stature,
large of bone and meagre, but of an upright portly presence;
her face was fair, of a reddish hue and freckled; her
features regular, but of a severity nimr latching ferocity;
her eyes were grey, almost blue, small, but when fixed—
and they moved not with that, frequent and unsteady
quickness which is so often noticed in such strange and
observant people—the eyeballs stood out and showed the
white all round. Her tine brow was broad, high and
prominent, but deeply wrinkled horizontally ; her nose
was aquiline anal sharp upon the ridge; her thin lips
compressed, marking habitual ill temper anal violence of
disposition. Her voice, unharmonious, was deliberate
and oracular; tuipleasing, but emphatic, absorbing the
attention, She seemed one whose sex was more desig-
nated by her attire than by nature, which had so fashioned
her, that whstever garb she donned she might pass for
male or female accordingly.
Her dress was as striking as her appearance. A light
blue tunic descended below her knees; the cape, buttoned
round her throat, was studded with globes of glass, and on
each glass were cut mystical charectera. A band of black
sheepskin, lined and edged with that of a white cat, confined
her thick and long silvery hair, which fell like an avalanche
down her 'wick and over each shoulder. From her rine,
which was a large serpent's *.kin studded with precious
stones all marked with cabalistic signs, was suspended a
large bag containing her instruments of magic. Her
sandals were of iintanned calfskin, tied with long thongs,
which were again fastened whit buckles of bright steel.
She held a wand, hung with many charms, and at the end
of it was a globe lammed of a human skull set iu a cup of
crystal.

Are you ready to depart, friend ? " said the Vale.
Yes," replied Alfnotla.
" Then will I call my enardg : fear not, gentle damsel,
they will not harm ye. Ho! Vafthrudner!"
A deep luw back from a dog within answered.

" Ho! Gangrader !" And again the answer was
similar growl. _

Thtm the small door of the tower opened, and forth
stalked Vafthrudner and Gangrader, in all the majesty of
canine dignity. They were heavy-looking animals, of
er.ormous size, such as are seen in the Alps; but these
seemed more dente. Their paws were white, their roue a
reddish ground with dark spots, and their flat, broad heads
were more like tigers than lions'. First they licked the
feet and hands of the Vats, and then walked with slow and
stately steps round the strangers, smelling each, and as it
were making acquaintance.

The Vela.-na' ouined the palfrey and flung the reins over
its head to the dogs, who took them in their mouths and
walked before, leading the horse. Thus they reached the
castle, and the Vela retired to her chamber with the animals,
having first ordered a peculiar dish to be prepared for het.
self at supper.
At the end of the great eating-Nom, on a raised platform,
the repast was soon placed, and Alfnoth gently tapped at
the door of the
.prophetess. " I come," she said, and
straightway appearing was, by the Childe, led to the supper-
room. her dogs following close. On retching the plat-
form she ordered the chair placed f'r her to be removed,
and herself set down a tripod carried in the month of
one of her dogs ; the legi were of bone, the seat was the
skin of an ancient Briton, killed by one of her ancestors
in light. .

Eating in presence of the assembled household, all gazin-.;
at her in silence, she slowly oonsuitied her prepared dish.
Having finished, she took a crystal bowl tilled with god's
milk and rose up to bless the house, b it :mover urned
the tripod. Pale, deathly pale, then became her face, and
she dropped the bowl, which shivered to pieces. Harold
replaced the tripod, but the Vaht trembled violently, and
all but the Saxon chief stood aghast.
" Danger! danger approaches," she said in deep terri-
fied tone. " Give me mead!" A bowl was present, dby
Alfnoth, while Editha fervently kissed a small crucifix.
" That avails not ! that avails not !" cried the Vela;
" Virgin with the neck of a swan ! Virgin with the braided
golden hair! that avails not ! The power of the blotto'
L ike prevails over my god and thine . This night I aid
look no farther into fate, nor seek the will of Odin." Then
drinking the mead, sho drew forth a pencil and a bit of
parchment, wrote some words, and called " Vat/auditor !
Gangrader !" Their hugh he ids were instantly raised in
expect 'don. " Hie thee good dogs! Hie thee swift with
this to Alvise the dwarf, and return as swiftly—bat stop!
Give meat to my messengers, they have much to de."
Rapidly the dogs devoured what was brought, and the Vela,
who had been sitting with eyes oil vacancy, tied the
parchment to Vaftlirmlner's collar, pointed to the door,
and in a low voice said, " Begone!' Both dogs rushed out.
" Lower the drawbridge, Harding," cried Alfnoth.
" Let your drawbridge remain up ; who or what shall
stop the charmed messengers of the Vida in their course !"
and Frica frowned. . .

The noble dogs sprang from an of en casement into the
Jeep moat beneath, and swimming across were far on their
way in a few moments.
The people of the castle now retied to res', more or
less affected by the untoward events tit he night as they
were given to belief in the Vala's incantations.
As the warden looked from the tower next morning at
dawn, he stw the two dogs descending the bills, carrying a
heavy box which they alternately took front each other.
The drawliridge was lowered, and they went straight to
Frica's chamber, which was opened to them.
" Good dogs !" said she, kissing the head of each, "ye
are sorely spent. Let them be fed quickly, for their
guetdon has been hardly earned."
When meat and drink came, she mixed a powder with
the one and a liquor with the other, and immediately the
animals seemed as fresh as if they had not quitted the
castle.
" Now sleep varlets!" sail she, and the dogs lay down
in a corner.
" Hah! we will invoke Odin," muttered the Vela. "Let
none disturb me for some hot rs."
At an hour before midnight a terrific explosion shook
Itodiam Castle to its fon luau, ns, N I d terror fell upon an.
A rush to the V ila's d 'or et sae!, but they found her
standing with great composut .
The battle scenes in " William the Conqueror'
are not, on the whole, as good as we should have
anticipated. But here is a little touch from the
battle of Hastings, so good that we wonder the
rest are not better :

Then tierce and wild raged the encounter below, man
and horse rolled over man and horse, clouds of dust en-
veloped the battling hosts, and through its pordery reit
coruscations of light glanced from armour and arms, gleam•
big and sparkling in the confused •asses. The disci-
plined Norman cavalry pressed the 4:isordered Sasons, till
compressed by danger they closed, and shoulder to
shoulder rmined a harrier of shields against the charging
cavalry : thns the remains of the native army at last re-
gained the hill—but liurth and Sweyne bad fallen.
There is really nothing more to be said about
"William the Conqueror." No doubt there is a
general character about it which stamps it as the
failure of an able man, but the failure is so
absolute that criticism becomes superfluous.

Serntous. By the Rev. John Cairns, Minister
of the Park Church, Glasgow. London :

Blackwoods.
WE opened this volume with some degree of
unwillingness and fear. Arguing from the l!ti-
!hoes well-known and popular sermon, "R
that
m Common Life," we felt some expectation

he might here throw the weight of his talents
and reputation on the side of that kind of preach-
ing which is already too common, and against
that way of dealing with mankind from the
pulpit which we earnestly wish to see more ex-
tensively followed than it is. But we have been
agreeably disappointed.
To that inquiry which is now so often made,
" Why has the pulpit so little power in the pre-
kient day ?" we never find it difficult to give an
answer. The cause we believe to be, chiefly,
that preachers voluntarily forsake and neglect
the main elements of their strength ;—that,
having for their theme the grandest and noblest
topics that can be conceived, they almost univer-
sally turn aside to lower and more trivial subjects.
Their message and mission is, to speak to men of
things celestial. They prefer to fill their sermons
with things terrestrial. They are sent to tell us
of God, and Christ, and Heaven. They choose
rather to dilate upon men, and human things,
and human doings. Tired of the wretched
scuffles of human beings for six long days, the
aspirant of heaven comes to church on the
seventh, to be refreshed and elevated by
thoughts of nobler scenes and more enduring
interests; when he is vexed to find the world
still meeting him, and the sermon filled with
discussions of earthly affairs, and advice for the
guidance of earthly combatants. And we natu-
rally feared, that when a volume of sermons was
announced, by the author of " Religion in Com-
mon Life," we were likely to have fresh examples
of this kind of preaching. The book, however,
is of a far higher kind.

In the opening sermon, on " The Self-
evidencing Nature of Divine Truth," we find
the following noble passage :

Now, it is this deep necessity of the awakened spirit
which, in the revelation of God in Christ, the Gospel
meets—a revelation in the person, life, and death of Jesus,
which includes at once the most complete condemnation
of sin, and the most ample forgiveness of the sinner. For
hero, for one thing, we have set before us, in the Peteon
of Christ Infinite Purity taking the very nature of the
guilty into most intimate union with itself; and surely
this, to the troubled conscience, is no slight indication
of Divine forgiveness. It were no light thing for some poor
outcast from society, if, while brooding over its misery and
despair, some good and holy man should, setting all false
dignity at defiance, come to the home of infamy, and offer
to that poor child of sin and shame hit love, his friendship,
his affiance. Abandoned of society, lost to others' respect
and to its own, yet yearning for one ray of hope or comfort,
what cheering, elm hopefulness, what new life would re•
animate that saddened spirit when it discovered itself not
so utter!) lost as that a gentle, pure, and good man could
not love and care for it ! Bat here, in this revelation of
God in Christ, is the assurance that that Holy One, in
whose presence angelic purity grows dim, stoops to take
the very nature of the guilty, and blend it in mysterious
affiance with His own. Surely the trembling heart may
cease to despair of itself, or regard the past with hopeless
despondency, when that very Being, in whom all law and
right are centred, who is Himself essential Holiness, iden-
tified in His very being with absolute Good, condescends
to wed the nature of man, guilty and fallen though he be,
into closest affinity with Himself. But more than this :
the Gospel brings relief to the self-condemned spirit by
exhibiting Infinite Purity, not only condescending to
assume the nature of the guilty, hut also in that nature
passing through a history which brings it into ceaseless
contact with sin in all its undisguised hatefulness and
hostility to God. As if it were designed to prove to the
as tit alarmed and desponding conscience that it is from no
inadequate perception of man's guilt that mercy is ex-
tended to him, the Purity of heaven Incarnate exposes
itself to a long continued contiguity with evil in its most
hateful forms; permits itself to be pierced with all the
anguish which sin's hostility could inflict upon it; stands
with the sensitive front of innocence the mark of all the
poisoned arrows from sin's quiver; suffers earth and hell
to brand upon that holiest. geetlest spirit, as if in letters of
fire, sin's hatefulness ; and at last yields up itself as sin's
victim into the hands of death. Yet, with all this, from
first to last, infinitely loving right, unerringly cognisant of
mall's guilt, taking the full gauge of the abhorrent nature
nf that which He forgave, Jeans is seen with mercy ever on
His lip, forgiveness, compassion, love to sinners in His
every look and act. And finally, the Gospel permits us to
think of Christ as one who. in conveying pardon to guilt,
instesi of relaxing the strictness, or bringing slight on the
unbending rectitude of God's law, offers up the grandest
possible tribute to its majesty, and the most awful atone-
ment for the sins that infringed it. Here, therefore, in this
gospel of Christ is the most ample provision made for the
guilty spirit's needs. Though my sin cannot be literally
unsinned, though the past is irrevocable, though no moral
act once done can ever be annulled, yet surely in this my
trembling heart may find the rest for which jt craves—:the
assurance that the past may be forgotten, and that sin is
blotted out by an act in which its guilt is most fearfully
condemned and expiated—when I behold the very God
who is Lag, Righteousness, Absolute Justice, in human
form offering Himself up to the death to save me.

Another very fine sermon is that on " The
Solitariness of Christ's Sufferings." From it we
cite the following :