New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-05-09
The name that solitary voice proclaimed,

The name that solitary voice proelal nTn
They do me honor and In that , 90 well
Thus behed assemble the fair school ------
OF that lord Of the song pre- 1n sna,s m .
When they together had dscoursed somewhat
They turned to with signs OF salutauoh'
And ON behOlding this, ny Master smiled
And more Of honor STILL much more, they did me-
In that they made me ono OF their own Dahui
So that the sixth l, mid SO much wit
Thus we went on as far as to the light
Things saying Z is becoming TO Keep SILENT ...
AS was the saying Of them where was
Seven times encOmpassed with lofty walls,
Defended round by a fair rivulet;
This we passed even az firm ground;
Through portals seven entered with these Saeesi
We came into q meadow Of fresh yerdure.
People were there with solemn eyes and slow,
OF great authority in their cOuntenancei
They spake but seldom and with gentle voices.
Thus we withdrew ourselves upon one side
so that they all of them visible.
There opposite, upon the green enamel, "a,
We're pointed out TO me the mighty splrlts
Whom TO have feel myself exalted.
The frequent use of antique words and phrases by
the translator in keeping with the venerable air OF
the original and adds not ungraceful strength TO
the dicOn but it may be questioned whether he has
not carried this license to the extreme verge OF pro-
prety. The diversions, too, which abound in the
volume and which to a great extent were inevitable
from the necessity of the case sometimes leave pas
sage in an Obscurty which dees the patience of even
resolute readers One instance of this kind is found
in the of the address of Francesca and
her lover to the poet.
80 living creature gracious and bengnant,
Who visiting gOest through the purple air
lie, who have stained the world iDearladine,
IL were the King of the Universe our friend,
, We would pray unto him to give thee peace,
Since thou hast pity on our woe perverse'"
This is certainly more obscure than the original in
which the inversion is in greater accordance with the
usages of the language.
40 animal grazioso benenO,
Che visitand0 val per laer perso
MOI che tignemmO I monde di sangugno,
Sc fosse AMIGO II Re deli universe,
Moi pregheremmO lui per In tua pace,
POI CHI hal pieta del nostro NAL perverso"
Carys translation of the passage gives clearer no
ton of the sense spite of the gross error of con
struction in the third line.
40 gracious creature and benIgnl who COST
Visiting through this element obscure,
us, whom the world. with bloody stain imbrued;
If, for a friend, the King OF all we owned,
Our prayer TO him should for thy peace arise
Since thou hast pity on our evil plight"
Mr. Longfellows notes and illustrations are models
of udicious and elegant scholarship. They betray
familiar acquaintance with the copiOus learning of
the subject without the least sign of pedantry or pre-
tension. The mOdesty Of their tone, indeed, scarcely
does justice to the magnitude of the work. They
present the requisite information for complete
Outstanding of the poem, but show no tendency to
indulge in lettered trinng or wearisome disgust
ton In their cOnciseness, they place no needless
tax on the attention Of the reader bat sl eucidate
every point of general interest forming an appropri-
ate commentary on work of noble design, of vast
labor and of admirable execution. The rare con-
scientousness and signal ability with which it has
been performed render it contribution to poetic lit
erature worthy of the honored name of the author
and enhance the greatness of his title 10 eminent
place among the intellectual benefactors of the
The volume it may be added. is brought out in a
chase and beautiful style of Typography correspond
ing to the intrinsic value of its contents.