The Portland daily press., 1872-06-11
Recent Publications.

Mircio. A Provencal poem. By Frederic
Mlstral. Translated by Harriet w. Pres
ton.
An exquisite pastoral poem, full of the
warm life Of the sunshine and breezes of Pro-
venee. The local coloring throughout the
book gives to it peculiar freshness and
charm. The description of the home of Mir
clio, and the arrival of the two basket-weay-
ers, father and son, is simple, natural and
beautiful. The song of the old Ambros' is
admirable, with its peculiar rhyms character
istlc Of the polk-songs of Provence, and sug-
gesting the broken voice of the brave old man
as he sings it, by the cracking fire on the
great hearth at the farm. How charming
is the finding the nest in the mulberry tree,
the pretty chatter of the maidens as they
gather cocoons and sing the ballad of ''Magi-
l'' OF which the quaint melody, transcribed
by FIR. Sequin, is found in the appendix.
These scenes are followed by the sombse leg
end OF the night of st. Mekarl, when the
souls of the drowned arise from the depths of
the river, seeking for their good deeds of the
past, by the pale light of the little tapers that
they carry in their hands, while water drips
like tears from their hair, and from the long
river-weeds that cling and trail around them.
The scene in the witch's cavern, although
powerful and interesting as describing so
many Of the strange supersttions of the Pro-
vencals, seems to us to detract from the pure,
natural tone of the book. The narration of
the love of Vincen and Mireio is beautiful,
delicate and impassioned. This tender idyl
IS broken nv fhA nnnocifinra Of 81
ther, and she resolves to go to the cathedral
at Aries, to pray to the saints for aid The
pilgrimage of Mireio across the stony desert
plains of La Crau is strikingly depicted, and
the childish rhyme of the little il-gather-
er contrasts with an unconscious pathos, to
the profound sadness of Mireio and the arid
landscape around them.
AT last, having reached Aries, Mireio sinks
at the foot of the altar, overcome by the heat
of the weary journey, and utters a touching
prayer. She wakes from vision of the pity
ing saints, to die in the arms of her lover and
her parents, who have followed her.
In the preface to the poem, the translator
quotes an article from the Revue des Deur
Mondes by Tallandier, giving a very inter
esting account of the revival of Provencal
poetry. Miss Preston's verse is smooth and
spirited, showing her to be competent and
earnest translator. The book is tastefully
printed and bound. For sale by Loring, Short
and Harmon. Published by Roberts Bros
THE DESERT OF THE EXODUS: JOURNEYS on
Foot in the Wilderness of the Forty Years
Wanderings, by E. III. Palmer, NJ. A., Lord
Almoner's Professor of Arabic. With
maps and numerous Illustrations.
1t is a pleasure to notice a volume like this,
to which can be given almost unqualified
praise. 1t is the result of explorations under-
taken by scientific and responsible persons,
whose education and tastes specially fitted
them for the work which was then again di-
vided that each should take precisely to that
field in which his labors should be most effec-
tive. The object of the expedition was to
survey and decide upon the probable route
taken by the Israelites in their forty years.
wandering; also to ascertain which mountain
of the two claimants must be the real Sinai.
For these purposes, much must depend up
on familiarity with the language, traditions
&C., Ofthe inhabitants Precisely this is the
part assigned to Professor Palmer, and re-
suits in his giving to the public work valu-
able alike by its scientific research and it's
spirit of reverence which fears no test that sci
ence can bring. This style is lighted up with
genial humor, never over-strained, or push
ed into forbidden grounds Moreover, he
has quick sympathy with man and nature,
and gives, as he receives, vivid impressions,
with no selfdisplay of authorship.
We hardly know to whom particularly to
recommend the book, it seems so suited to
all ages and tastes. Perhaps we are safe in
leaving it there. (For sale by Loring, Short
and Harmon. Published by Harper Broth