The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-21 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE MARRIAGE of PELEITS and THETIS, a POEM
Translated from the Latin of Catullus, with some Notes and
the Original annexed. By the Rev. G. F. Ottey, A.M. of
Oriel College, Curate of Sonthfleet, Kent.—London, 1827,
pp. .50.
The works of Catullus have, for reasons sufficiently obvious,
seldom, if ever, formed a part of the common course of classic edu-
cation. Hence while they have been generally passed over with
one sweeping sentence of condemnation, (which it will be readily
admitted they for the most part too well deserve,) some portions have
been indiscriminately involved in the censure, which candour
would require silo-Aid have been honourably excepted. Of this
description is the exquisite little poem of which Mr. Ottey has
favoured the public with a translation ; the only one (as far as
we are aware) which has been executed. The original is dis- '
tinguished for an easy gracefulness, a light and highly beautiful
style of diction, which, combined with a peculiar felicity of ex-
pression, place it in the highest rank of the class of compositions
to which it belongs. The poem is irregular in its plan and con-
struction, and the author seems to have abandoned himself without
scruple to follow the bent of his excursive imagination. Mr.
Ottey's translation is, we think, eminently successful in trans-
fusing, as far as can be done, the spirit and expression of the ori-
ginal into English metrical stanzas. 'The metre is that of Spenser,
which, we think, is adopted with peculiar judgment and effect,
The impression made by the whole is fully that which the spirit
of the original would convey. In the present times, classical
learning, and a taste for classical fiction, is so generally diffused,
that we are persuaded a large portion of the public will enter into
the beauties of the work. We will extract, as a specimen, the
to the passage--" 0 nimis op-
following lines corresponding
tato," &c.

Oh in the world's too happy season born,
Immortal heroes ! godlike spirits ! ye,
Full often shall your poet's song adorn.
And thou, 0 Peleus, pride of Thessaly,
In nuptial bliss excelling ! Jove to thee
His love did yield. And did thy soul admire
Neptune's fair daughter ? Did the Queen of Sea
Thy suit accept ? Nor ocean, royal sire,
Who all the world surrounds, reject thy bold desire ?

Iv.
" The wish'd for day arrives: all Thessaly
In joyful numbers throng the royal dome ;
Their gifts, their looks, proclaim their royal glee.
From Scyroa and from Tempe, and their home,
At Cranon, and Larissa's walls they come
To Pharsalie! to Pharsalie ! the plains
Untill'd are left at large the oxen roam ;
No more the bill the noxious shade restrains :
Uncleared the vineyard lies ; unus'd the plough remains.

" But the fair palace, thro' each rich receFt
With silver and with gold did brightly shine
With glittering goblets which the tables press,
And costly seats, and every splendid sign
Of regal treasure. Chief the genial shrine,
With ivory richly wrought, was set, and clos'd
Its rosy curtains, for the bride divine.
The curtains' broider'd work the deeds diselos'd
Of warrior men of old, with wondrous art composed."
Upon the whole, we think, the work displays the poetical talents
of the translator, as well as his classical taste and knowledge, in a
very favourable point of view. It is dedicated to the Very Rev.
Dr. Copleston, Dean of Chester and Provost of Oriel College.

We have received numerous letters from persons
making anxious enquiries abni,. tie national monument to the
memory of his late Royal Highnel9l the Duke of York. All we
are enabled to say is, that the national monument is at an end;
but we believe, a military one may be heard of at the Hoag
Guards. The original plan was, to give the British nation an
opportunity of recording its sense of the publie and private charac-
ter of the deceased Prince ; but the projectors and promoters of
this scheme were out-generalled by one who has achieved the
same thing on former and more important occasions. What is
doing, or what is intended to be done, we are the less solicitous
to inquire, because, being now a sort of private undertaking, the
public have no interest in prying into its management.—New
Times.