The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-19 00:00:00

,41

LITERATURE.

Reynard the Fox. After the German version of
Goethe, by T. J. Arnold, Esq. With illustrations
from the designs of Wilhelm von Kaulbach.
Trubner and Co., Paternoster-row.
The story of Reynard the Fox is one that has over-
come the drawbacks of translation, and survived the
destroying influence of lapse of time and change of
customs. His wickedness, his ingenuity, his unprin-
cipled cunning and murderous propensities, with
all the attendant circumstancesandyharacters, have
been the common property of many generations of
European readers. The gifted hand of Goethe
reproduced this old humorous classic in a form more
adapted to his age, using it as a means fir dis-
playing his keen satire and vivid representation of
character. The editor in his preface gives the
following account of the origin of this famous work
" The story of Reynard the Fox, here presented to the
English public in the translation of Mr. Arnold, is one
which has been famous for centuries. The earliest edition
known of this remarkable work is preserved in the Grenville
Library at the British Muesum, and is supposed to be an
unique copy. It is a black letter octavo, in Dutch, and was
printed at Gouda, near Rotterdam, 1479. Upon this work
was based the translation of William Caxton, published in
1484. The first English Reynard is also extremely lore,
only three copies bring known, of which two are in the
British Museum. It is, however, easy of reference, having
been reprinted by the Percy Society in 1841. The first
German version was published at Lubeck in 1498, but the
origin of the legend is much more remote, the poem
having been known in Low German, French, and
Latin writers even in the twelfth century. At the pre-
sent day it is impossible to trace the authorship
of the oldest version, referred by some to Willem die Matoe,
but a Reinhart Fuchs is still preserved, dating about the
middle of the thirteenth century ; and it would seem that
the earliest traces of the poem must be sought in Flanders,
where the nucleus of the series of adventures was formed.
Henry Von Alkmar, who was in the service of the Duke
of Lorraine, is stated in the preface to the Lubeck edition
to be tho first who translated the story from the Italian and
French into German ; but other authorities refer the author-
ship to a certain Nicholas Baumann, who died at Rostock
in 1626 ; and the motive of his writing the poem is stated
to have been the persecution with which he was visited at
the Court of Julich. Yet the story was evidently not of
his invention, therefore he must be only regarded as one of
the numerous editors. Its earliest public seems to have
been the same which received with avidity the Enlenspiegel
legend, the Lay of the Niebelungen, and similar produc-
tions ; and in its general satiric views of mankind, it belongs
especially to the grotesque school which has given to Ger-
many some of its most enduring fictions. Its celebrity,
however, is European, and translated into almost every
language it has become a native of many lands."
The peculiar attraction of the present edition con-
sists in the production of the designs of Wilhelm
von Kaulbach, " who seize' upon the spirit of
Goethe's design, and assumed with a happy facility
the mood which, as by a witch's spell, transformed
men into their brute synonyms." The remarkable
ability
.displayed in these drawings can scarcely
fail to rivet the reader's attention, and the very lite
and spirit of the legend is resuscitated by them.
We are told that the original work, which appeared
in 1846, obtained for Kaulbach a lasting reputa-
tion. It has been republished in many editions,
and from one of these the present English version
is taken, which will afford much gratification to all
lovers of the humorous in literature, and the
graphic and satirical in art.

The Drawing Room Portrait Gallery. Vol. 2.
199, Strand.
The second volume of this elegant portrait gal-
lery has lately been offered to the public. As its
purchasers are aware, it consists of a collection of
the portraits issued with the Illustrated News of
the World, elegantly bound, with suitable memoirs.
The portraits are engraved on steel, and are prin-
cipally taken from photographs by Mayall. They
are mostly faithful likenesses and good engravings,
and are certainly marvels for cheapness. The list
of contents include a some very distinguished names
in all the branches of social eminence. -We find,
among others, Lords Brougham, Macaulay, and
Carlisle; Baron Brunnow, Sir Jobn Pakington, Sir
Hugh Cairns, Mr. Gladstone Mr. Bright, John
Gibson, the late Mr. Brunel, John Gough, the
temperance preacher; and Samuel Phelps, the
actor. Paul Murphy, the celebrated American
chess player, also finds a place; while feminine
celebrities are represented by Madame Clara No-
vello and Madlle. Titiens. When we add that there
are portraits of four English Bishops, Cardinal
Wiseman, and Dr. Cumming, it will be perceived
that this portrait gallery is as comprehensis o in its
character as it is good in quality and moderate in
price.

A. Murray Dunlop, Esq., M.P.
The Earl ry"
W. Adam, Esq., M.P.
Sir J. Madoribanks, Bart.
1). Robertson, Esq ,
lord Loughborough.
E. Baxter, Esq., M.P.
The Right Hon. J. Abmcritif, M.P.
Lithographs. Schenk, Edinburgh.
These lithographs show us a series of vivid and
life-like portraits, drawn on a large scale with
rigour and ability. Those of Mr. Baiter, M.P. for
Montrose, and Mr. Murray Dunlop, MP. for
Greenock, arc from photographs by Mr. John
Watkins, of Parliament-street; on stone, by C.
Schacker. All the others are delineated by Otto
Leyde—that of Lord Elgin being from life. They
are vivid and forcible likenesses, readily realising
the individuality of their subject. We understand
that portraits of Schiller, Goethe, Humboldt, and
other celebrities are to follow those already pub-
lished.

THE SULTANA AND TIER CREDITORS.

A Constantinople correspondent of the Presse
gives the following account of an affair which had
for some days been the subject of conversation in
that city :
" About three years since the Sultan dismissed
from the se aglio one of his wives named Besime-
Sultana. She was a Circassian and of great beauty,
and, being far superior to her companions in mental
endowments, she had acquired great influence in
the Palace, which oecasiouNl no little jealousy, and
raised her numerous enemies. A trifling circumstance
favoured their designs. One of the Sultan's sons
having lost his mother the Sultana Besime was chosen
to replace her. As the young Prince happened
one day to be unruly she gave him a slight tap
on the cheek. This was reported to the Sultan
with gross exaggeration, and he decided that the
lady should leave the seraglio. She was, however,
treated with all respect, and a palace assigned for
her residence at Bella-Limen, on the Bosphorus,
with an allowance equivalent to about 10,000 f.
per month. This income, hJwever, was too small
for her style of living, and in the course of two
years she had contracted heavy debts. The ex-
Sultana, seeing there was no hope of recovering the
Sultan's favour, applied to him for permission to
marry, which was granted. Shortly after, Tevfik-
Pasha, a general of division, became her husband.
This gentleman,who was educated in Paris, and who
speaks French very fluently, held the office of chief
of the staff in the Ministry of War, and having the
habit of speaking his mind freely on men and
things, made himself a great many enemies, among
whom was the present Minister, Riza Pacha.
His superiors in rank, dreading his criticisms,
sought every opportunity of getting him
out of the way by appointing him to offices in dis-
tant localities, which however ho constantly refused.
After Tavfik's marriage with the ex-Sultana her
creditors became very pressing for payment, and on
their applying to his enemy, Riza Pacha, the latter
resolved to make them proceed against Tevfik
Pacha and seize his property to pay the wife's
debts. Having taken his measures, Ms," Pacha
went to a friend's house at Balta-Liman on the
23d ult., and by his directions his friend sent to
request the presence of Tevfik Pacha. The latter,
on arriving, found himself in presence of Riza and
a number of soldiers. Riza immediately ordered
him to embark en board a steamer lying at Bebek,
which was to carry him in exile to Broussa. Tevfik
protested, and said he would appeal to the Sultav
but Riza replied that he was executing the Sultan's
orders, and further informed him that Besimo was
included in the decree of exile, that all their goods
would be sold for the benefit of their creditors, and
that they must be ready to start in a quarter of an
hour. This proceeding has excited universal re-
probation among the Turks, and the Minister of
War will soon have to repent that he has used his
power and influence to gratify petty animosities."

MODERN ,DUELLING:—A laughable occurrence
took place on Thursday morning, the 3d inst., at Venn, be-
tween the son of a respectable chemist of Plymouth and the
son of a retired gentleman. It appears that they had a slight
mime' about a younn lady in Portland-square, and not
being inclined either of them to give up their love for her,
they decided on fighting a duel, whieh accordingly took
place. They fired two rounds each, neither wishing to hit
the other, because they regarded their own lives better than
to give them up for the person they were fighting for.—
Plymout h

LIBERAL DEMONSTRATION AT ROCHESTER. —A
liberal festival on an extensive scale took place at Rochester
last night, to celebrate the recent Parliamentary and mu-
nicipal victories achieved by the Liberal party in that city.
The banquet was held in the large factory of Messrs. Foord
add Sons, Mr. Foord, the head of the firm, being the Mayor
of the borough for the present year, there being no other
room in the city large, enough to accommodate the large
number of persons who took part in the proceedings. The
factory was most tastefully decorated with flags, banners,
and evergreens, and at the head of the building a cross
table was set apart for the principal magistrates of the
borough and county who had received invitations, the
whole of the town council, and other visitors. The
number of persons who sat down to dinner was over 1,000.
The room was crowded ro excess. J. Steele, Esq., one of
the city magistrates, occupied the chair. The members for
the city, Messrs. Martin and Kinglake, were present, and
addressed the meeting.