The Sun.
London, England, 1818-07-16 00:00:00

LITERARY REVIEv•r.

The of VIRGIL. Tran.latrd by CtiAuLts

U.D. of Jesus College, Oxford, 4to.

lielle videtnttr, et in mediis conatibus nre

SucciJimn ; rjoN LINGUA VALET.

It. fit:Nrzit, St. Paul's Church-yard; and J. POKTER, Pall-

I►fali.

In nor extracts from Cie two contending trans-

slations of this noble Epic, we are now come to
the ciincliiding book—a book which is one of the
finest ill the Poem, and in which DRYDEN seems
to have exerted all the forces- of his mind. His
fourth book alone can be regarded as the rival of
ltis t elfth, and it is only in these two productions
that he can be brought into any thing like equal
competition with his opponent in the lists. So
numerous are the beauties of that portion of the
Poem, which is now open before 'lts (we speak
with immediate reference to the original), that
they actually distract our choice, when we would
make our extracts from the translations. But the
space, within which we are compelled to limit
our citations, will oblige us to decline some of
the most brilliant passages, and to restrict our
selection to those which are short. Omitting,
therefore, the description of TURNUS essaying his
mint, on the night preceding the final battle; and
the sublime adjuration of ZENEAS before the altar,
at the ratification of the Treaty, we will proceed
at once to the representation of TURNU6, when
be rushes to the combat on the retreat of his,
wounded adversary ; and we are the more disposed
to give the preference to this passage, as it is one
in which DRYDEN shines with more than his ac-
customed lustre. his translation of the fine
simile of Maas, issuing in all his terrors to the
field, has been deservedly eulogized by Dr.
WARTON ; and is, indeed, a very noble piece of
poetic execution. Our object, as we have re-
peattdly professed, is not to avail ourselves of
DaYnaN's weaknesses, which occur to us at every
moment ; but to confront him in his strength
with his antagonist, that the victory may thus he
faiily contested, and the full prowess of the com-
batants be decisively ascertained by the judgment
of our Readers. Our present Extract shall begin
at line 324 of the original. " Turtzus ut tEneartz
cedetzteta ex aginine &e.
.4 When TuriNus saw the Trojan quit the plain;
His chiefs dismay'd, his troops a fainting train;
Tb' unhoped event his beighten'd soul inspires:
At once his arms and coursers he requires.
Then with a leap his lofty chariot gains;
And with a ready hand assumes the reins.
He drives impetuous, and where'er he goes,
He leaves behind a lane of slaughter'd foes.
These his lance reaches, over those be rolls
Ills rapid car, and crushes out their souls.
In vain the vanquishid By; the victor sends
The dead men's weapons at their living friends.
Thus, on the hanks of Ilebras' freezing flood,
The god of battles, in his angry mood,
Clashing his sword against his brazen shield,
Lets loose the reins, and scours along the field.
Before the wind his fiery coursers By:
Groans the sad earth, resounds the rattliiig sky.
Wrath, terror, tieason, tumult and despair,
Dire faces, and deform'd, surround the car;
Friends of the god, and followers of the war.
With fury not unlike, nor less disdain,
Exulting TurtNus tii,s along the plain.
His smoking horses, at their utmost speed,
He lashes on; and urges o'er the dead.
Their fetlocks run with blood; and, when they bound,
The gore and gathering dust are dasb'd around."

DRYDCN.

`• When Tuosys the retiring Prince beheld,
Thus from the battle awl b.s hosts eninpcli'd;
And saw in pate dismay the chiefs of Tioy ;
Hope pours into his breast tumultuous Jay.
Instant he calls for ail his dreadful war;
His arms, his steeds :—spring; proudly oa his car,
And shakes the flowing reins : as o'er the plain
lie flies, his track is crimson'd with the
Whale ranks are levell'd by his wheel's career;
And Death, pursuing, rides upon his spear.
As blood-stained Masts, where gelid Hebrus flows,
When for the fight his wahen'd fury glows,
Clashes his shield ; and, rousing all their force,
Neil Vs his fiery horses to the course.
O'er the broad field they rush ; and, strong and fleet,
Tile stormy pinions of the south-wind beat ;
And utmost Thracia groans beneath their feet:
While rotted the gcd, in grim subservience, throng
Terror, fraud, flight, and pour with Death aloog.
So raging Ty RNUS drives his foaming steeds
Through the mid battle, that beneath them bleeds.
From their fierce hoofs, that spurn the dying groan,
Sands ciogg'd with blood, and gory dews are thrown."

SYmmo t.

Both Houses of Parliame►►t are now under-
going the decorative repairs of painting and white-
% ashing. In the House of Commons, a new stair,
leading from the upper lobby to the gallery, and
parallel to ►he former, has been constructed, and
addi►ional small door has been opened in the
centre of the gallery, for the accommodation of
the Gentlemen who attend to report the debates.
—These improvements will also give greater fad-
lily and dispatch in clearing the gallery on di-
visions, and to the strangers in returning to their
places.

The Doke of SUSSEX, as Grand Master of the
teeulasonS of the United Kingdom, goes, shortly,
(town to Norwich, to attend the installation of Mr,
COKE, as Provincial Grand Master of Norfolk.