The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-07 00:00:00

NU V 73 1846.

PRICE SD.

':II7.IA6AZINES-CONTINUED.
' HOOD'S MAGAZINE.

After something 'like parade, in an announcement
contained in the April number of this magazine, the
promised
dissertation on the " Antigone of Sophocles "
in due course makes its appearance. For the millionth
time the Roman distich has been verified, the parturient
mountain has brought forth-a very mouse of an article.
In saying this, we must also observe that we opened its
pages predisposed to be gratified--because, possibly, we
wished to be so. Nevertheless we must in all candour
acknowledge ourselves disappointed ; the fanfare of
trumpets only ushered in a very pigmy pageant. It is
scarcely so much an analytical notice of the "Antigone
of Sophocles" as• an eulogium upon Mr. Vandenhoff
and his daughter. In this, however, there is but a
negative fault, as we cordially sympathise in the
writer's appreciation of the genius of those eminent
tragedians ; but what we would especially condemn is
the inaptness, the falsity, the actual hypocrisy of the
title. What insight does the article give into the tragic
rigour of the Antigone? None. What new elucidations
of
the characters ? None. What illustrative notes
upon this passage or that ? None. What correctionsyet one
of Mr. Bartholomew's version ? None.
at
least of these particulars were necessarily anticipated
from the title of the paper ; that title'
being—(not,
a e a
pangyric upon modern actors," or an at the English Opium-Eater "or
" a seconarancciiisjeer
com-
pliment to Mendelssohn " THE ANTIGON SOPTIOCLES." The attack, indeedeupon Mr. De QniEnc6;
is deserving of the severest reprobation, as it is admi-
nistered under the mask of an -anonymous scrivener,
besides being uttered in terms very nearly allied to the
scurrillcus in proof wllereof here are some random
epithets :—" prince of poppydom "—"the realm of
Nod "—" all the Nid-Nid-Nodders in the world "—and
so forth. Alluding in another part to the same gentle-
man, cur nameless would-be critic; speaketh of him as
" our by. no means wide-awake friend f' Now, first of all,
the artificial adjective is too remarkable for its elegance
to acquire. !push force with others, and secondly we
question WhettiWthe renowned opium-eater would not
repudiate such friendship in a very summary manner.
It becomes, moreover, actually ludicrous to hear the
writer in Hood's Magazine remonstrating with Mr. De
Quincey on his want of knowledge in London doings,
and yet in that very remonstrance displaying his igno-
rance of Mr. De Quincey's name. So much for the
vaunted but inane article on the Antigone of the Gre-
cian Shakspere. We marvel when " The Bushranger
of Van Diemen's Land" will end ! Mr. Percy B. St.
John is indefatigable in his contributions, all of them
being neat, sparkling tales. " Nell. Gwynne " is con-
tinned with its previous modicum of melodramatic
ability; and a delicious innovation in the miscellany is
made in the shape of a " May-garland for May-day"
—being choice cullings from the poets, from the mention

" The &Wry May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow cowslip, and the pale primrose,"
of Milton, to the " Ravenna" of Leigh Hunt, and our
new-born favourite, " The New Timon." The author
of " Rural Sonnets" continues his " Sonnets for the
Times" in a spirit and with an ability that can scarcely
fail to extend his popularity.