New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-05-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
LONGFELLoW'S DANTE.


fellow in forming the plan of the present work. IL
hos haen his aim 70 furnish as literal version OF the
or;giuol % the genius of the two languages respee
tivelv permts and at the time TO preserve INC
imaginative colOrng and rhythmical movement
which separate the sphere Of poetry from thaV .,
prose. He has attempted to represent the inno''"'
FlOrentne as he wrote in his own vigorous anu my
Iodious tongue, while aonering with riglu hueii'y "
Che poetcal forms and expression OF ldioih"uo En-
glsh Without following the threeioid Thy iooi "l1
original which would have been q lnliacc 700 s''"'
even for the powers of Mr.. LongieIlow nc mas oi
deavored 70 reproduce the essential spirit OF Dlh'e
,ooxhiIt his tbouaht in all its stern and massive
andeur and to retain the glow and splendoT OF MS
;ooerv with the majestic simplicity OF his language
n Tbs dafeultv of the transators task has been en-
HANGED by the predominance in his mind OF those
Qualities which indicate a different order of genius
from that of the poet of the Inferno 1t IS said
that no adequate translation of great work can be
made by one not capable of the composition of the
original This is evidently an exaggeratlon' but a
strong mental affinity with an author would seem 10
be necessary to the reproduction OF ms genius IN
this ease however there is little in common between
the medieval bard and the modern poet MI. Long
fellow is characterized by an exquisite sense OF
beauty by delicate pathos and tenderness of sent-
ment, by profound love of external nature, and a
sweet gracefulness of expression rather than by
creative vigor of imagination, or fiery intensity OF
passion. His prevailing sympathies are with the
cheerful aspects of life the airy conceptions OF fancy,
the kindly play of the affections, rather than with
the egons of stern and gloomy grandeur, IN which
Dante pursues his adventurous fight. The three
kingdoms" says Carlyle Inferno, Purgatoro, Para
DISC look out on another like compartments OF
great edifce; great supernatural, worldcathedral
piled up there, stern, solemn, awful; Dantes World
of Souls IL is at bottom, the sincerest OF all poems
sincerity here too. we find to be the measure of
worth. 1t came deep out of the authors heart OF
hearts and it goes deep and through long generations
into ours 1t has all been as if molten in the hottest
furnace of his soul-He has great power of vision;
seizes the very type of thing, presents that, and
nothing more There is bTevity, abrupt precision
In him. One shifting word; and then there is silence,
nothing more said His silence is more eloquent
than words 1t is strange with what sharp decisive
grace he matches the true likeness Of natter cuts
Into the matter as with pen of fire. The very
movements in Dante have something brief swift, de-
cisve, almost military. The fiery, swift Italian
nature of the man, so SILENT passionate, with its
uuick abrupt movements, its silent pale RACES
speaks itself in his verses. HIS painting is not
graphic only brief true and of yvidness as of fire
sn dark night"
1t is wonderful to with what lucid force these
traits of Dante are mirrored in Mr.. LOngfellOw's
Translation His lines partake of the pointed breyity
of the original. Not a supeTfluous word encumbers
their stately march. No liberties are taken with
thought OF construction, but it is Dante himself who
speaks as if in the majestic strains of his own Tuscan
This singular fidelity to the author which gives the
translation an incompatible value even as phiolog
seal study, does not impair its freedom or grace OF
expression While it retains the sOmber cOloring
winch belongs to the writer and to the theme, it
IL of haau VIII
srikingy illustrate the Elasticity of language in
the hands of the translator. .....- ....,
The celebrated passage in which Virgil describes
to Dante the Intervention of the celestial Beatrice in
his behalf affords fair specimen of the excellences
which We have ascribed to the translation.
Replied that shade Of the Magnanimous,
"Thy soul attainted is with cowardiee,
which many times man encumbers So
As false sight doth beast when he Is shy
That aSH Ts s rhy free aSS S@ s
among those was who are in suspense,
In such WISE 9SscSgS her t e Ss sr me-
A MN s 9S SF%n & e O%n
81 whom the fame still in the world endures,
a friend Of mine. and not the friend Of fortune,
Upon the desert slope is so impeded -
And may, j fear, already be 50 lost, 'e
That too late have risen to his succOr
q From that which have heard of him in Heaven.
Besr thee now and %th Thy sPess &c s SFasf
Assist him so, that may be consoled -
Beatrice am I, who do bid thee co.
Love moved me, which eompeleth Inc to speak.
Whom shall be in presence Of my Lord
Then paused she, and thereafteriI began:
Sh race
Within the heaven that has the lesser circles,
To obey, If twere already done, were late; -r
No farther need'st thou 6pe to me thy wish
But the cause tell Inc why thou dOst not shun
The here descending down into this center,
From the vast place thou 6nIne , t t. return to-
why I not afraid 10 enter here.
OF those things only should one be afraid
when have Sne OF t Dong others net , naI
God in his mercy such created me
That misery Of yours attains me not
A gentle Lady Is in Heaven, who e11eves
At this impeachment 70 which send thee,
In her entreaty she besought Lucia,
And said, Thy faithful one now stands in need
Lucia, foe Of all that cruel is
Where was sitting with the ancient Rachel s'a
Beatrice said she " the true praise OF Coo, .f
- For thee he issued from the vulgar herdi ..'.-
Dost thou not hear the pity Of his plainti
Beside that Hood where ocean has no yaunti
Never were persons In the world 60 swift
As /, after such words as these we're uttered,
Came hither downward from my blessed seat,
COnhding in thy dignifed discourse. rr' l
Which hOnOrs thee. and those Whn've listened to IL
After no nad spoken unto me, ast r reiti
Weeping her shining eyes she turned away fl ,..
q Whereby she made me swifter IN my coming;
And unto thee came, as she desired;
have delivered thee from that wild beast, ' t
Which barred the beautiful mountains snort ascent
What is IL, then Why why doet thou delayt
. Why IL such baseneee bedded in thy hearth ..- FL,
Daring and hatdihood why hast thou not,
eeeing that three such Ladies benedight t- .-.-I
Are caring for thee IN the court Of Heaven,
And much good my speech doth promise thee I"
Even as the 1owerets by nocturnal chill,
Bowed down and closed, when the SUN whitens them
Uplift themse3veSali open their stems;
Buchl became with my exhausted strength. s- Ut