The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-02-22
Literary Notes

The translation of the Eneid, which the
distinguished English poet, Mr.. William Nor
ris, is engaged on, will be line for line of the
original, and in rhymed fourteen syllabled me-
| ter.
While Ariosto has been translated into seven
Italian dialects, and Tasso into nine, Dante
has not yet been completely translated into
one, though individual cantos have.
Prof w. ID. Whitney of Yale College will
contribute the third work by an American to
the International Scientific Series, in work
on the study of language.
When people say "Oh, the dickens?" ''The
dickensp' many of them are not aware that
Shakespeare wrote, 81 cannot tell what the
dickens his name is sentence that first gave
circulation TO the use of the word 'Dickens, !"
and it has been rustling around the English
world for more than 200 years. 1t occurs in
the "Merry Wives of Windsor act third.
Mrs. Proctor vii publish the autobiography
left by Mr. Proctor BARRY CornwalD in the
course of the year. As Mr.. Proctor knew all
the distinguished men of the present century
the book is likely to be of interest.
There are doubtless thousands who have
real the immortal allegory of the Pilgrim
Progress, and do not know that there has been
doubt cast upon Bunyan's authorship of it.
Even those who have further read his "Holy
War" with its rhymed preface beginning
''Some say the the Pilgrim Progress is not
mine," have probably paid no more than a Gu
rious moments attention. The Athenaum
raises the question again, apropos fac smile
reprint of the first edition with its quaint en-
cravings and describes Dutch book, "Dat
Boeck van dem Pelgrim,''. published in 1893 at
DELI, and an English version of which was in
existence in Bunyan's time. But the chief
trouble about the matter is that Bunyan could
understand reither Dutch nor old English.
Col. Hgginson's "History of the United
States is IN great demand, and the publishers
expect to sell 100000 copies before it gets out of
date SO much as to need revision.
A Life of Lord Shelburne, the minister of
George I'LL, by his great grandson. Lord Ed
mond Fitzmaurce, will fill up in some ways
missing chapter in English history. Papers
that have turned up lately in the possession of
the family throw new light on the negotiations
with this country that took place in Sbelburne's
ministry. Mr.. Bancroft acknowledges his OBJ
legations to these papers in his new volnme;
but it did not come in his plan to use them ex-
haustively, as they will be used in these vol
umes. The first volume, taking 1737-1766 will
be published very shortly. The others may be
expected before very long. Messrs. Macmil-
Ian are the publishers.
Kegan PauPs book on civilian Goodwin, his
Friends and Contemporaries" will appear in
the spring. 1t will contain portions of an auto.
biography of Goodwin, and large selections
from his correspondence, as well as from letters
hitherto unpublished of Mary Wollstoncraft.
Coeridge, Charles Lamb, Horne Tooke, the
Wedgwoods, Curran, Wolcot (Peer Pindar)
Macintosh. j. Kemble, Mrs. Siddons, Mrs
Incfbald and others.
The Nation has to anmadvert on Caryle's
"Early Kings of Norway" which is, of course,
taken from the icelandic sagas, the only exist
ing sources but in which, the Nation alleges he
doesn't show the common gratitude to spell
the correct Icelandic way, but uses the corrupt
Norwegian form. In fact, says the Nation, ''if
Mr.. Carlyle were to write an English book on
the early Generals of Cartharge," derive all
his information from French paraphrase of
Livy, and constantly cite his authority under
the Gallicized name of 'Tite-Liye, he would do
precisely what he is now doing. His offense
is the more noticeable since it is committed by
a writer who insisted upon styling one of his
previous works "History of Friedrich III.
Mr. Gladstone is said to have received ST.
500 as copyright from his pamphlet on the Vat
ican DEGREES, and it is stated that he wrote it
in two days. AS per diem occupation, pam
phleteering pays better than Parliament.
The April atlantic will contain, among 9TH
er attractions, an article by DIR. Holmes, sto-
ry by T. B. Aldrich, Record of New England
at the close of the last century by Rose Terry
Cook, Southwestern Campaigning Sketch by
Colonel Waring, and an extraordinary piece of
Secret History, relating to Lincoln, by ex-rebel
General Allan b. Magruder. Lovers of art
will be interested in an account of a new-found
Raphael by Clarence Cook.