New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-22

Mortsauf. the PrlnceSSe OF Caolsudh, Uho DoN
de Langeais Madame Jules, Seraphita, Modesto
Mignon, Diane do Chaulicu and the DuchesSe uo
Maufrigneuse.
But the definition and description OF types VI
modern French society as but part OF Bal%ac ,
scheme. which involved the analy sis OF their en-
yironment the ilustration Of all the tendencies Oh
the age good and bad; in fine, complete PIC
ture of the period In accord with this purpose We
find in the Duchesse do Langeais" an lhtrouuo'oiS
sketch Of tie Faubourg Saint German when 10
necessary to a thorough comprehension OF the s'oiS
but which exhibits the author IN new hsnt-aS
historian of national manners and social tendencies
gifted with penetrating and Judlcial aId'9 Wv
talent Here, too, the extraordinary WelSHV anu
fulpess Of Bazacs writings are displayed cieaIIS'
The difference between his style and that of the
best French novelist Of today IS almost StarlllH'
In his pages are seen the pregnant sentences the
fortunate expressions. the profound thoughts tlo
clean-cut phrases, the virlle power which marx
the few princes of the intellectual kingdom. lhere
is nothing redundant nothing tawdry, nothing
crude Remembering indeed the astonishing toli
and agony of preparation with which he strugg led
across the chasm which IN him lay between thought
and its expression we need not wonder at the hhal
solidity and completeness of his work. Yet 1t EN-
bodies lessons which the later literary schools nave
been slow to learn.
The Duchesse de Ian eaiS has been well chosen
to follow the Pero GUriot IN the American trans
lation 1t is in quite another vein, but an equally
powerful one. 1t is a unique study oil passion anu
character, informed by a mingled tenderness anu
poetry unsurpassed in fiction. AS III the lntlal
volume of the SERIES the work Of the translator mas
been done conscientiously appreciatvely, and well
There goes to the fit translation of Bazac certain
rapport with his fiery and comprehensive genius
The translator must be more than master OF the
language Ho must feel the authors spirit before
he can nope to preserve in strange tongue the
snhtetIes the delicacies, the beauties. which, with
the freshness and charm. have also something OF the
eyasye and evanescent character OF the bloom OF
fruit In the present instance it IS evident that the
translate or possesses thcrghtdegree of Appreciation
enthusiasm and insight With few exceptions the
rendition is faithful and complete as we are at all
likely to have. We have noted few slips, ana one
or two errors of the press. bat nothing to Affect the
work rerceptibly. As a whole il is IA satisfactory
and crcditable performance, and 1t gives iresh
ground for hoping that the experiment of the pub
fishers will rrove to have been seasonably made.
As the Duchesso dc Laugeas is not loug enough
TO fill volume of the size, four OF BaizacS
short stories have been added. They are An
Episodc under the Terror" Tho IllustriouS
Gaudissalt," "A Passion in the Desert anu Inc
Hidden Masterpiece While none of these stores
either clashes with dominates the strong sehtl-
ment of the principal tale they have been Juhi-
ciously chosen 50 as TO display the remarkable
versotit, of the author aud his not less remarkable
skill in constructing such novelties. His short
stories are, indeed oltcH fuller OF suggestion aud
creation than many elaborate romances Of the
three volume order. and sometimes rs ia the case
of Madame Firmani" they contain not only tho
germinal ideas but the framework OF his longer
works Those given here illustrate his methods
we'll. though they are by 10 means his best work of
the kind "The Hustuous Caudiesart' Is of a
chastencd Rabelais.au order. while 3" The Passion
in the Desert" shows an IMAGINATIVE force the
luxuIiance and fccundity of which are alike e1r-
prisng. Altogether, the second volume OF the
series is well calculated to strengthen the favorable
impression created 10y the issue Of the first.
In selecting from the Coincide IIumaiuo only few
stories. however, there is reason TO fear that tine
American public may fail to form the right con'cp-
ton of his genius Ii may be that s'no OF ms
works viii rat lear translation. but II amy oueoGi-
agement is given 10 the enterprise OF the Mes'fs
Robcrts-and we believe that " Pcrc G0rlOt' has
been welcomed with some WARMTH is 70 be hoped
that at least half Of them Will be reproduced, and
two thirds would be still better Since so many OF
Balzac's characters appear repeatedly an interest
of a peculiar kind attaches 10 TIE fortunes of snch
p Ople Madame de Beauscaht' ha'' i-lat''
Nautrin. etc. and this can only be SATISFIED 4uii$
by tracing them through the mauy Chan Sin2 scenes
in which they take part The day Viii come when
/ the impeTfectiOus OF BaZaC VIII 30 more sItud lN
the way OF a catholic edition OIL III, ""I"' nan
those of Shakespeare have done. IL tue MEANT
much credit IL due the Mos5rs Ronclt7 .ol tlciI
courage in undertaking an enterprise 50 Dtstt Win
doubts notwithstanding its dcsiraOllIty.