The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-03 00:00:00

TAIT'S.

Unusual merit characterises Ithis magazine—a ma-
gazine, by the way, always meritorious in some degree or
other. The principal feature, perhaps, in this number
is, the amount of sterling information conveyed in a
most popular and agreeable manner. Elizabeth Thorn-
ton coptinues her excellent romance of "Truth and
Falsehood ;" and, if the succeeding chapters are only
equal to the elventh, twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth,
her present fiction will unquestionably obtain a much
larger circulation than either the " Marchioness " or
"Lady Alice." This authoress succeeds best, we con-
ceive, in her delineation of the emotions of her fic-
titious characters in situations of excitement ; here her
writings are invested with a very charming, and some-
times a very touching delicacy ; in evidence of which
we would adduce the description of the scene between
Herman and Lady Fslsenburg, when the former dis-
covers that Betta is his sister. " The Catholic Doctrine
of Music" is an admirable paper, and will afford gratifi-
cation to all truthful lovers of the "divine art." Some
of the reflections are remarkable for their sagacity. The
notice of " Mary, Queen of Scots," and the continuation
of the analysis of Ulrici's recent criticism upon
the dramatic art of Shakspere, are both of
them elaborate compositions. It is' a singular
fact that while a Frenchman was the first
-to attract the attention of the learned to the supreme
genius of our wonderful countryman, the Germans have
displayed the most peculiar capacity. for analysing his
productions. Indeed the commentaries of William Au-
gustus Schlegel may be regarded as the noblest tribute
ever paid to the glory of this divine teacher of humanity.
There is more subtlety in his elucidations, more ardour
in his panygerics, more appositeness in his illustrations,
more indications of capacity in his "Lectures," than in
all the commentaries upon the same poet that have ever
proceeded from the press of any nation—from Voltaire
to Ayscough, from Malone to Collier. We say this,
moreover, not in depreciation of the latter, but in all
justice and candour towards the renowned German. In
the disquisitions which he has produced upon the
dramatic genius of Sophocles, Aschylus, Aristophanes,
Calderon, Racine, Cervantes, Corneille, Moliere, and
especially of Shakspere, Schlegel has displayed a
noble affinity in his intellect for theirs; in crowning
others with, what we may be allowed to term, the
chaplet of eulogistic genius, he has endued his own name
with a reflex of their glory. It is frivolous to imagine
that too many books can be written in exposition of such
works as those of him who wrote "not for an age, but for
all time." Every perusal of such works discloses some
hitherto unrecognised beauty ; every mind, especially if
remarkable for astuteness, appreciates some meaning
which would never have presented itself to another dif
ferently constituted, and hence the interchange of
thoughts between such minds; and the collation of those
innumerable perusals cannot but tend to divulge more
excellencies than could otherwise superficially present
themselves. The advantage of commentaries on a by-
gone author is tantamount to the dissections made upon
a corpse. The veins and nerves, which are concealed
under the surface, are then displayed by the skilful
touches of the dissector's knife. The veins and ramifica-
tions of thought in literature are disclosed in a precisely
analogous manner by the penetrant survey of the com-
mentator; with this advantage, however, that the dissec-
tions of the latter cannot mutilate or injure. For these
reasons, we are always prepared to welcome any fresh
illustrations upon the plays of Shakspere, provided they
possess the characteristic of novelty. If collected
together, the folios, and quartos, and essays and
pamphlets, directly or indirectly relating to Shakspere
would form a gigantic and splendid library : Ul-
rici has just added another volume to the
collection ; and still there is room for more.
A perfect edition, and a perfect biography of this
poet have yet to appear, and this despite the industry of
Mr. Payne Collier, the costly labours of Mr. Blondell,
and the enthusiasm of Mr. Charles Knight. "An Even-
ing's Adventure at a Country Inn," is a comical conceit,
and the pourtraiture of the resurrectionist with a nose
"much rotembling the toe of a crab in formation ; the
colours rich, rare, burnished red," and with a complexion
which appeared " as if the outer skin had been peeled off,
and the under cuticle suddenly frozen, so red was it;—
not the redness of health, but an unearthly, dark, crim-
son hue, like a stain of blood on a towel," is ludicrous
though extravagant. We arc greatly pleased to observe,
that while Tait acknowledges the real talent of M.
Michelet, the bigotry of his recent productions on the
People and Jesuits, meets with a severe and deserved
castigation. As usual the literary notices in this Maga-
zine are copious and discriminating : the one on
poor Haydon's last performance "Lectures on Painting
and Design" will be perused with singular interest.
Among several choice pie ces of verse, scattered between
the prose contributions, the translation of Freiligrath's
" Revenge of the Flowers" must be particularised for its
fantastic notion and its dainty imageries. The emerging
of the elfin phantoms from the petals of the different
blossoms is beautifully described :
"From the flower-bells, gently sweeping,
Come three spirits robed in air;
Shields they bear with light emblazoned,
Crowns amid their flowing hair.
Starts a tall and graceful maiden
From the rose's purple lap ;
Pearls upon her forehead glisten,
Waving curls her bosom wrap.
From the Iron-Casque' up-springetb,
Girl with sword, a valiant knight;
From his helm, a heron's feather
Pending, long and silver bright.
From the' Turkish turban,' stalking
Proudly comes a Moorish king;
With the half-moon's golden crescent
On his turban glistening."
In reviewing the " Politics of the Month," Tait evinces
its general impartiality, though we cannot but regard its
strictures upon the new Administration as rather super-
cilious and unflattering. Its indignant remonstrances at
the injustice of the Irish Church Establishment are
likely to impress the public mind forcibly, and to drive
the popular opinion in the right direction. They, there-
fore afford us very considerable pleasure. Time and
events will place Lord John Russell and his colleagues
in their true light. Till the policy of their government
be further developed by acts, we shall continue, like Tait,
expectant and sanguine.