The Sun.
London, England, 1825-02-14 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICE.

FRENCH MELODIES : the Poetry by Eusaziexua Rocuz,
Esq. : the Symphonies and Accompaniments by Mademoi-
selle JAMS. No. I.
It has been lately the fashion to introduce the
MELontEs of several Nations into this country.
liEtmEw MELODIES, composed by Messrs. BRA-
HAM and Mr. NATHAN, to words written by Lord
ByaoN, were popular in their day ; but those
Melodies, like the Poetry that ,accompanied
them, were avowedly original compositions, and
only Hebrew. 'in ,name. ANACREON MOORE has
introduced many latsu MELODIES, which he has
vuriched by the effusions of his own vivid and
luxuriant Muse. IVELsn M E:LODI ES have also
been published by Mr. PA-Ray, and rendered
highly interesting by beautiful Poetry, written
by Mrs. lIEMANS, who may fairly be styled the
'CAMBRIAN MUSE, and who, if not the highest,
ranks with the highest female writers of the day.
Original Airs of Scotland, accompanied by words
from BURNS, the extraordinary Genius -of that
country, have also been rendered popular by the
beauty of the compositions and the talents of the
Poet. We have now before us FRENCH MELODIES,
which are not only pleasing in themselves, but
have the advantage of some excellent verses by
Mr. ROCHE. Mr. ROCHE, if we are rightly in-
formed, is the Editor of a Daily Journal, distin-
guished for loyalty, spirit, and patriotism, and
particularly for its zeal and perseverance in sup-
port of our National Church. It has been
said of the French that they have no
Native Music ; but this selection by Mr.
Itocnc is a proof to the contrary, for these me-
lodies are marked by spirit and tenderness, ac-
,cording to the subject with which they are con-
nected. Besides these qudlities, one of the airs,
-which is adapted to words intended to rouse the
feelings of THE GREEKS, is of an animated and
heroic character. We have not at present room
for much of the Poetry, but we submit the fol-
lowing stanzas as a specimen of the poetical
-talents and sensibility of Mr. ROCHE :--
.. SONG.
Oh ! are they fled, those early blissful dreams,
Those dreams of love, whose raptures never cloy !
The rolling year with changing seasons teems,
Must love, alas ! but one short Spring enjoy
'Tis the bright dawn of a tempestuous day,
'Tis the faint thrill of echo's dying sigh;
Again the dawn will smile, the sigh decay,
Love lives but once, and dies—for e'er to die!
The other•translations, or imitations, are writ-,
'ten with,ease,-feeling, and elegance. The sym-
phonies and accompanyments by Mademoiselle
../Asts, are incharacter with the original composi-
tions, and display considerable taste and judg-
ment. This first number of the work before us
may be considered as a very promising sample of
what is to follow, and is very creditable to the
=taste of -French Composers, from a very distant
period of their 'history.- The present work is
embellished with two lithographic engravings,
well designed and skilfully executed, one repre-
.senting ENBI ,QUATRE on the eve of a battle,
when about to .visit his adored GABRIELLE, and
'the other a moonlight scene,• illustrative of a
beautiful song entitled THE SPELL. The work
'is well -calculated .for -the parlour of a musical