New-York tribune., 1867-06-26
LITERARY ITEMS,

The current number of Messrs. LOngman q cos
sNoes on Books" contains some particulars concerning
xhe Memoirs and Correspondence Of Sir Phlp fr"n0i
commenced by the late Joseph Parkes, esq., ana 10"
parIng for publication in two volumes under M e genb
Parkes Il is here stated, devoted very innnirv
his time during the later years OF d nj his alleged connec-
into the life of Sir Peter Francis anu n it of his in
ton with the Letters OF Junus. IN tnc 80 a
Vestgation Of these Subjects he became possessed % sir
mass ~ original papers and correspondence Oh S
Philp and members Of his fanlyi oi INC ~. h 7 H.,
fTancis Sir Pbi1s second wife; of number OF mscel-
laneous papers which had been In possession "a Z
An which the letters first appeared 6gent%f @ % Inv
quantity Of other MS materials, et or IN connected
fn various ways with Francs during ms Ohg Cat, 90
arrangement Of these materials ana Ie
with Mr. Parkes. But he commenced ms Operations, , m
hIa 70 moi9tain Mr. Pafkos left behind him eight
chapters completed conducting his hero only down 10 Io
ioI ont in his abors we're terminated by death Mr.
Parkes left very large quantity OF materials hs !eI u
used but such order as TO enable successor TO TO
take up the thread of the narrative and continue ~ on
anything like the scale on which he mad commences ~
The editor has therefore ccnented himself with cOmp9
ing the Life reduced plan, ana leaving o IliP @
Francis TO speak chiefly for himself and the Juia po
ton of the subject tOunrave itself by extracts as la as
space wond admit from the great body OF manuscripts
Entrusted to him for the purpose by the family oi MI
Parkes.
OF Mr. Longfellow's translation of Dante The
London RerieW says:
Mr. LonefeIow who is we must suppose the most pop
zlar Of living writer's Of English poetry at the present
day iudna from the immense sale OF many editions OF
his works both in America and in this Kingdom gives us
new translation of the "Divna COmmeda.. IL VIII De
aeceptabe 10 more readers for the sake OF Mr. Longfe
low perhaps than for the sake of Dante We fear they
will be disappointed, however, they expect 10 nhd III
this sO%P1 ANY G the Rs ea popularity Is Wen
deserved in many respects He is one OF the nhest
and political literature Of most of the cultivated nations
Of Europe; he has complete command OF al lhe le
eources the art perfect OF verbal eXpressO
and possesses cOnsumnac skill in the composition OF Gi
ferent forms of verse These are the Qualncons VI
good translator ana nc mas 9Necu3eS dih soe @ oSish
translatiOns from the German French Swedisn or
Spanish and Italian Yet we must say, Win s NUa @ &c
before that his translation OF Dante lnogh one M l
he faithful is one OF the least agreeaDe WORKS on M
kind 1t strangely devoid Of those very qualities OF
graceful and hmpid purity OF Syie OF WoPae5S VI
dicton and harmony OF expression Of eIasiclty anu va
rety of rhythmic structure which are the charms OF ms
own poetry. He has chosen TO put Dante INTO Dlaik
verse but, compared with the blank verse OF Carys
translation which has something of Mitons stately pace
IOngfeOw's little better than measurable prose, ana
sometimes down into mere mOnOtOnous drOhe he
for this TO have made up has md-at least III
the case of version of Danteof set purpose TO disre
gard the conventional usages OF English writer's ana 10
but often the least expressive, which have any near
genealogical kindred with the words of the original, OF
which happen to resemble them in sound. The niceues
and refnements OF expression dependent upon assOca
tiQps of ideas or feelings which 3elong 10 particular
Dante Moreover he is so set aside all customs and pre-
cedents Of diomatic composition in the structure OF his
O syntax 70 follow word for word closely he posi-
bly, can the order in WHICH the Italian T5fs are ranged
expressly lay down these questionable prBspss OF Trans
laon in his preface for he has not wrlte6 any preace
but these the methods which he has pfacced ana IL
cannot be thought able writer would have fallen INTO
them inadvertently. We must therefore believe II WAS
his deliberate intention 70 adopt them The result rs IN
cur Judgment extremely unsatisfactory he gives qss
sare nara sense Of Dantes poetry VIII tne most sset
edctty, but In style which Is 50 cruz alu even awk
that should much prefer simple prose translation IN
plain idomatic English, such IS that OF Dr. Carly le
The collection OF WechOsen extracts from the various
commentaries and criticisms Of English fIench, Ger
man. and Italian writers upon the general characteristics
of Danes pOem and the particular force and meaning OF
different passages constitutes valuable part OF these
two volumes Ii will doubt be appreciated Dy the
Eus students Of the Italian who have put themselves
TO much trouble hunting up the old editions for the
sake Of their cOpous annOatlOns and, perhaps also III
consulting the scholarly essays Of OZanam and Ampefe,
which are by far the best tTeatlses on the subject