The Sun.
London, England, 1838-04-19 00:00:00

LITERAT URE.

THE SOLDIER'S LIBRARY.
Cadell, London, 1838.
An interesting volume, composed chiefly of extracts from
the " Annals of Ancient and Modern Warfare." The
preliminary essays, on the subjects of Corporal Punishment
and a Retiring Fund, are well entitled to the consideration
of the Government.

B R ENDA I L A POEM.
BY T 110.31.13 BAGLBS.
London, Whittaker and Co., 1838.
Brendallah is an Oriental Romance, written in the
Spenserian measure, and extending over 254 pages of large
octavo. 'We pity the author if he found the composition
of the first Canto as difficult as we did to get through it.
We say nothing of the second and third, for to confess the
truth we could not get beyond the first, though we regarded
the task in every light that could possibly reconcile us to
it—as a pleasure, a pastime, a duty, a penance—but all to
no purpose. In justice alike to the author of the Poem
and ourselves, we subjoin six stanzas by way of specimen.
They commence with the fourth of the first Canto :
A Sultan once within this palace dwelt,
Elgentha named, and such a man was he
Whose heart each warm and kind emotion felt ;
From most king's vices he exempt wag, free ;
His greatest fault, as thou full soon wilt see
Was that depended he too much on those
Who had his confidence, and would agree
With aught which they propounded. 'Rose
Unto their projects wild no drawbacks, no oppose.

His heart was mild, susceptible, and kind,
Save when disturb'd unto a high degree;
His highest wish was great renown to find,
And would inflam' d and quickly heated be
With any project rare. His Vizir, he,
With glorious plans his vision dazzle quite
And there were moments when submissively,
He would have him obey'd : In such strong light
This Vizir with him stood—He thought he aye was right.

And even bad he him advised to g•
Into some gloomy cell, and Wive his throne,
Such brilliant thoughts within his breast did flow
In aid of virtue, that he would have flown
E'en at hie order, for his merits shone
(The Vizir's) to his ardent soul so strong
That he had left without a sigh or moan
The even flatt'ring, glitt'ring, gawdy throng—
Sueh confiience and love had to his bosom sprung.

But Oh! alas! the only thing that could
Have gi'en duration to these maxims rare

The Sultan had not, for kind nature, good
Had left his soul of this ingredient bare ;

'Tis firmness which th' esseetial part should bear,
And this his soul possess'd not, so that all
Brendallah's good advice flew off like air,
Or like the rock stream which on sand cloth fall,
But gleam'd awhile, then fled—The Vizir's heart was gall.
Among the courtiers which assembl'd there,
And hover'd round the throne's bright dazz'ling light,
Was numbered one Ben Sadi, whom its glare
Had there attracted, whose dark soul, as night
Was black and gloomy; and the honor-height
Of good Brendallah he did envy sore,
And with deep artifice and dext'rous sleight
Within the Sultan's car did poison pour,
And gloss'd his subtile thoughts with winning language o'er.
And tho' the Sultan him did not esteem,
Yet was his company a source of joy,
For all his converse thick with praise did teem,
And all his skill in eloquence he'd try
To make Elgentha on him cast an eye,
An eye of approbation.—He profess'd
The Sultan to adore, and with a sign,
And hand o'er his sin containing breast,
Would sigh as tho' he were with something sore oppress'd.