The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-15
Foreign Literary Items.


Mr.. William Michael Rossetti is engaged on
new edition OF shelley's Works and a life of
the poet.
eve of publication: new poem entitled the
Book OF Orm: Prelude TO the Epic;" and a
prose volume of picture and adventure, portions
OF which have appeared in the Spectator entitled
"Hebrides: the Cruise of the Tern through the
Scottish Isles"
The fifteenth century prose translation OF De
Guileville's pilgrimage of the Lite of Man" is
all in type for the RoXburghe Club. 1t was
thought some time ago that this Translation
might prove to be Chaucer's as his IA @, or
Prayer TO the Virgin" was used in it, as If the
same writer translated both the verse and
prose; but so far as hasty reading OF the parts
of the work enable us to judge, its prose ls
lighter than ChaCcer's-not his, but that OF q
fifteenth century writer, The Early English
Text Society should produce at once the verse
translation of De Gulevilles work, for COM
parison with this prose one.
In notes on volcanic pheno mena, by Mr..
Mallet and other geologists, attention has from
time to time been directed to the unusual aC-
tiyity that prevailed, as If a period of disturb
ance was approaching its maximum. ln his
newly published book on Vesuvius, Pro essor
J. PHILIPPE, OF Oxford, adds confirmation to
what has appeared on the subject. He says
that the whole Vesuvian tract is now in q
condition of greater frequency Of eruption than
in any. previous period" and from this and
| other facts carefully tabulated, he concludes
| that I'VE are now in the midst OF period Of
more than average struggle with the imprisoned
energy of Fire" This will be alarming intelli-
gence tor those who live in terror OF earth.
quakes.
The Ahengum says: We do not know whether
the similarity which exists between the follow
ing verses by Waller and Leigh Hunt, on COM
mon subjects, has been noticed. The old poet
thus wrote of the Queen" (Henrietta Maria):-
Her humble nest lies silent IN the field.
% But If sths IP30i1 PEomhse Use Of I cloodie,s dayl
Or m he ms de a0I a
singing sne mounts: her airy wlnG s are stretched
Towards heaven, as If from heaven her note she
so we. retiring from the busy throug,
Use to restrain the ambition OF our song;
But since the light that now Informs our age
Thhe %p IKE e
To light her to torch at Gloriana's eyes,"
Thus, Leigh Hunt, "To the Queen" (the Lady
OF BalmoraD:-
And yet mis- sopg within the heavens is found;
Rn soaf fS e1as ere s rs
Thspsh he S I'O poor f, heart Tst otly be spent
hS tFss ame
May Ma G n him 10 wea5 that sacred nam no
HIS carol might have reaoh'd the soVerelgns
Mr.. Robert Buchanan the author of Lon
don ldyls,o "Undertones," and "ldyls and Le-
gends OF Inverburn,n gave reading from his
own poems recently m at the Hanover square
numerous audience, including many literary
celebrities, assembled. Mr.. BuChanans pro.
gramme was divided into two parts, each con-
tanning three poems. Tom Dunstan," "Attor-
ney Sneak" and "Willie Baird, or the Dominies
Story" constituted the first. The second COM
prised "Nell, )" 1.-The Wake of Tim O'Hara," and
widow Mysie, an Idyl of Love and Whisky"
An impressive style OF delivery, voice of con-
siderable depth and power, and a certain
command of pathos, are Mr.. Buchanan's
chief qualifications as a reader. His voice
is, however, iniieXble and under imperfect con-
troll, and his delivery has chautllke mon otony
OF tone, which, though for time effective, is
apt when prolonged to become oppressive. Dra-
matte energy was displayed in the more pathetic
passages Of "Nell" and "Willie Baird" Ia
Attorney Sneak" the reader adapted cleverly
his voice to the character OF the lawyer, VINO Is
baseness. He gave the verses with bard,
dry raanu6r, accompanied by an Occasional
smirk, which told of invulnerabe complacency
and selfConceit. The wit and the delicately
yelled satire of Tim OHara were well delivered,
and produced strong impression upon the
audience, Tim O'Hara was the most success
full of the selections. Its delivery was more
than once interrupted by applause. Next to it in
popularity came "Wldo " Mysie." The archness
of the concluding stanZas of this was very effec.
tive. Mr.. Buchauan's success ia commanding
the sympathies of his hearers is the more re-
markable as his poems are scarcely suited to
public reading. Single poems are generally in
one key, and offer no such strong contrasts of
light and shade as are required for public reci-
tation. In Nell" tor instance, powerful as Is
the poem, its gloom is unbroken and funereal.
"Wille Baird" too, tender as Is its interest,
more broadly marked humOr and the we'll.
eolored description OF the Irish Wake. Mr..
Buchanan's reception was very favorable.
SOapinG Congress.
The last illustration of the Ietrenchment