The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-07 00:00:00

as surprising as it is successful. Such is the character
of the tales contained in these three volumes. They
are mingled, of course, with sporting adventures,
and the whole is related in a lively and pleasant
manner.

SHAKSPERE QUOTATIONS.

IValbran.

By E. J.

The title-page of this little volume describes it as a
"dictionary of Shakspere quotations; being a collec-
tion of the maxims, proverbs, and most remarkable
passages in the pays and poems of Shakspere, ar-
ranged in alphabetical order." As a work of refe-
rence this compilation will ba useful to those who
possess a copy of Shakspere's works, while to persons
not possessed of such a treasure, or not well ac-
quainted with tha great dramatist, this epitome of
the wit and wisdcm scattered throughout his pages
will prove an inestimable advantage. It is beautifully
printed, and " well got up," and well adapted to the
drawing-room table, where it would serve as an
admirable source of profitable employment for an idle
minute, or as a topic of conversation when the
changes of the weather are exhausted. " A word in
season, how good is it," and many a word in season
meets the eye of the casual turner• over of these pages
—words of comfort to the afflicted, of hope to the
despairing, of reproof to the erring, vide a few ex-
amples chosen almost at random. "Forbear to judge,
for we are sinners all"—" Men shut their doors
against a setting sun"—" 0 that men should put an
enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains"—
" 'Els the mind that makes the.b..dy rich,
And us the sun breaks through the darkest cloud,
So honour peereth in the meantst habit."
" 'Tis one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall"
—"Tell truth and shame the devil "—" Talkers are no
good doers"—" Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow"
"It is better to be lowly born,
And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief
And wear a golden sorrow."
But our columns would soon be full to the exclusion
of more important (?) matter if we attempted to
quote all the wise sayings of Shakspere. We will-
ingly refer our readers to Mr. Walbran. Ile is
well-qualified to perform the office of cicerone
through this labyrinth-of treasures.

LOFODEN; or the- Exiles of Norway. By E.
W. Lander, Author of " The Bushman." 2 Vols.
In the preface of "LotodQn" we find the following
startling anecdote, related as an illustration that
truth is stranger than fiction ever. dares to be :
" Early in the summer of 1846, two Esglishmen were
travelling can nprn earring° in the south-east of
France. Whilst descending a mountain of terrific steep-
ness, down the side of which the road wound in a zig-
zag fashion, the wheel got jerked out of the skid-pan or
drag, and the horses gradually increasing their pace,
flew et full speed down the almost precipitous road. The
travellers, perceiving the awful danger to which they
were exposed, threw themselves down at the bottom of
the carriige. Suddenly the leading !sorses shied at some
object before them, and instantly dashed over the low
wall at the side of the road, followed by the others,
while the postilion threw himself on the ground. Down
below was almost a sheer precipice of two or three hun-
dred feet. Over went the horses and carriage. One of
the travellers afterwards described to me (Mr. Landor)
his sensations. He said there was scarcely time to think,
but he was peeectly conscious they were going down the
precipice, and expected to be instantly dashed to pieces,
when suddenly there was a violent jerk which almost
shook them out of the carriage, their descent was
arrested, .and they seemed to be almost hanging in mid
air. They boih raised themselves cautiously to recon-
noitre their position. Locking down the , precipitous
slope of the mountain, they saw far below them
the horses lying together in a heap in the lower road,
apparently dead. Looking upwards they saw above
them the broken wall ; in a few moments the blank and
terror-stricken visage of the postilion was seen reerirg
hopelessly over. Oa perceiving them it was illuminated
with delight, which, the next instant, gave way to
horror. The drr g of the carriage had become jammed
in a crevice of the rock, and now .sustains d the whole
weight of the vehicle as it hung upon the slope of the
precipice. Ropes were procured, and the travellers were
rescued."

" This," observes the author of " Lofoder," " is an
incident of real life, such as the most daring romance
writer would not venture to introduce into a work of
fiction." I-Ie has, apparently, cited it at the very
commencement of his work in order to protect him-
self against the charge of improbability, for the pages
of " Lofoden" abound with startling, adven-
tures. The first volume opens with a little
incident that powerfully excites the reader's
interest, a great thing for the first chapter of
a novel, which is generally a most hum-drum affair.
A wanderer is pursuing his way through a desolate
tract of country, and his footsteps are closely fol-
lowed by a wolf, which is patiently waiting till dark-
ness and fatigue have rendered the lonely traveller
his Frey. A violent snow-storm obliges the fugitive
to take shelter in a small cavern, where the wolf fol-
lows him, but is kept at a distance from his destined
prey by a light which is kindled by the traveller.
The wretched man sees the protecting fire gradually
expiring, and his enemy grimly watching him. He
endeavours, while a spark of light yet remains, to
frighten the wolf from the cave. At his
load shout the cowardly animal rushes to
the entrance--it is blocked up by the
newly-fallen snow. This incident, which would
have seemed to be the stranger's destruction, proves
his safeguard. The wolf; no longer seeking to
molest the man, rolls upon the ground in an agony of
terror. A foot note reminds the re2sler of a fact in
natural history, on which this incident is founded.
"The most ferocious wolf, when it falls into a pit
from which there is no escape, becomes overwhelmed
with terror, and offers no resistance to the hunter,
ho descends and leisurely dispatches him. When
this animal finds his retreat cut off, he displays the
most abject cowardice." This adventure is narrated
with a minuteness and simplicity that gives it an ap-
pearance of reality, we almost see the wolf's eye
glaring upon his ccmpanion as he stands at the en-
trance to the cave. The author of " Lofoden"
possesses a power of description which gives
a peculiar force and interest to the ter-
rible and exciting scenes of which he tells.
The catastrophe, notwithstanding the adventure of
the English travellers, we cannot but think somewhat
improbable, and the character of Lofoden himself in
no wise excites our interest or sympathy. Such a
character, nevertheless, is a likely result of the cruel
treatment which embittered the life of the exile ; we
do not like him nevertheless. Beyond these two re-
servations we have no fault to find with " Lofoden."
The old pastor and his daughters, the gentle Grace
and the excellent Ellinor, interest us in their behalf,
while the unhappy prisoners in the mines, virtuous
men condemned from political causes to a punishment
never awarded to the most heinous guilt, alternately
excite our indignant horror and our heartfelt commis-
seration. These scenes and characters Mr. Landor has
described with a mssterly hand, for example, the picture
of the captive father and son—the stern baron, too
proud to exhibit the tenderness and sorrow which
overpower him, an 1 the gentle Orla, a victim of
filial love fading away by his father's side, both re-
fusing to make any attempt at escape, because the
punishment of such an attempt will be separation, is
most admirable and truly pathetic. If Lofoden indi-
vidually do not very greatly excite our sympathy,
the volumes which bear his name contain a variety
of very interesting and attractive characters—the
most attractive of which is:the wronged peasant-girl
Olga. The baron's welcome home forms a worthy
pendant to the harrowing scene of his captivity, but,
alas! the gentle Orla is then beyond the reach of par-
don. We have spoken only of the scenes and charac-
ters of " Lofoden," but before taking leave of it we
must net omit to remark that the principles which it
enforces, and the thoughts to which it gives expres-
sion, are as excellent and beautiful as its incidents are
startling. It is as good as it is interesting, and that is
saying a great deal.