has shown her so much favour and kindness, she, and classic beauty to Iphigenia. The poet preconfesses all to Thoas, and entreats him to sanction sents his newly finished poem, "Jerusalem Detheir departure, and, won by her eloquence, the livered," to his patron, Alphonso of Ferrari, in noble, though uncivilized monarch consents. the presence of Leonora D'Este, the sister of that Iphigenia is by far the most perfect of all Goethe's prince, and her friend Leonora of Scandiano. The heroines: the exquisite beauty, pathos, and sim- princess compliments him, and places a laurel plicity of her character, her gentle earnest piety, wreath upon his brow. Antonio, the ambassador her high moral attributes, the fondness with which of Ferrari at Rome, returns at this moment; he is she cherishes every memory of her ancient home, filled with envy at the honours conferred on Tasso; and the ardour with which she longs to return meets his proffered friendship with coldness,-his thither, all conspire to charm and delight us. This subsequent surprise with ridicule and sarcasm, play was performed at Weimar as a compliment until the irritated poet forgets that he is within the to Goethe on his 80th birthday. We quote two precints of the palace, and draws his sword on short extracts :-the first is a portion of Iphigenia's him. He is imprisoned, but liberated at the insoliloquy on her own isolated state. tercession of the princess, to whom he flies to express his gratitude, and there gives utterance to his long cherished passion for her. Alphonso discovers this daring, and Tasso is banished. The passionate, enthusiastic, sensitive nature of the poet, is most graphically delineated. The character of the princess comprehends all that is feminine, lovely, and dignified in woman-her calm, gentle earnestness, and highly cultivated reflective mind, are beautifully portrayed. She is second only to Iphigenia. The Countess Leonora too is a finely drawn character, but there is a slight shade of worldliness and self mingling with all her wit, graces, and accomplishments. We cannot forbear extracting portions of two scenes. The first is a conversation between the two friends, and tends to "Alas, the sea Doth sever me from all I love! The following passage forms the conclusion of the last act. Iphigenia. Think on thy promise; let thy By what a true and honest tongue hath spoken: For a deed so noble occurs not oft. unfold their characters. -- Princess. Yes, if all have feelings quick a thine; "Tis a happiness I ofttimes envy thee. Leonora.-And yet 'tis one which thou, my As few besides most fully dost enjoy. Thou canst not refuse! give then thy quick Promptly and freely whatsoe'er I feel, consent. Thoas.-Then go. Iphigenia.-Not so, my king; I cannot part Fare thee well once more! And wilt thou not While thou, with feelings more intense, art silent. In the sacred garb of lovely friendship dress. The full extent and measure of thy worth. All the world do speak thy sister and thyself Princess.-That can but little move me when I How poor at best we are, and for what we are; Besides, what is by nature or by chance converse, How with tranquil inward joy doth ear and mind I honour all men after their desert, Act I. Scene I. Princess. If man would really learn what Let him from exalted women seek the lore. Princess. Not so! but after objects far remote With ever violent and headlong strife; "Faust." This drama, or rather dramatic poem, is one of the most wild and imaginative of all Goethe's works; in it he seems to have concentrated all his peculiarities, all his tendencies. Lessing, the great originator of German dramatic art, was the first who attempted this subject, but only a fragment of his work ever appeared; and Goethe was the first who ever carried out and embodied the idea. Several imitators have followed him, but with little or no success. The following is a slight sketch of the plan of the work:Faust, a learned doctor and professor, highsouled and enthusiastic, pines for knowledge far exceeding aught he sees within his reach, and to attain it has recourse to magic. His spells summon to his presence the Erdgeist, or symbol of original power. This spirit proceeds to explain to Faust its mode of creation and action; but man's limited understanding cannot comprehend the immensity of this spiritual power, and it disappears. Faust now resolves on suicide, hoping that by releasing his spirit from its fleshy, material bounda ries, it may rove freely through all the regions of superhuman knowledge; but, as he raises the cup of poison to his lips, sacred music, church bells, and sweet hymns, come echoing to his ears, recalling to mind his childhood's joys, his youthful pleasures, and hours of gentle happiness; and he cannot resolve to die. The devil shortly appears to him, and he enters into a compact with this spirit, not with the hope of securing that knowledge for which he yearns, for that hope he knows is vain in such companionship, but in order to possessed such an one of Shakspeare, Milton, and some few more of the great spirits of our country. We cannot forbear making one short extract, as it shows Goethe's opinion on a somewhat disputed point: "First love, it has been justly said, is the only real one. If that feeling does return a second time, its brightest gem, its sublimest attribute, namely its infinity, its eternity is gone for ever; by the very act of loving again do we learn that the feeling is perishable and evanescent, appearing and disappearing like all other earthly things." "Herman and Dorothea" is a poem in hexameters, modelled after Homer; the subject is a "Jerry and Betsy" has appeared on our stage as a musical opera, entitled "Batley." obtain uninterrupted activity, change, and bustle; We forbear to make any extracts, as so many translations of this drama exist, among which those by Dr. Anster, and Lord Leveson Gower, rank highest. | "Wilhelm Meister's Peregrination," although retaining marks of the master's hand, and not wanting in beauties, betrays occasional tokens of the prosiness and garrulity of age. "Die Wahlverwandschaften" (Elective attractions) is a novel containing many beauties, and some scenes of great delicacy and interest; but its moral bearing is peculiar, and unsuited to English opinions. The sequel to Faust, Pandora, and some few other of his later dramatic and poetical writings, betray a deficiency of power; but even to the last Goethe was the master-spirit of the age. The universality of his genius was one of the most striking features in this great poet's literary character. No writer ever attempted such a variety of styles, and succeeded so well in all; and none ever possessed, in so high a degree, the power of carrying his reader along with him, and exciting his most perfect sympathy. None was ever so persuasive, so fascinating, and gifted with such unlimited command of language. It is almost impossible to escape the spell which his enthusiasm throws over our senses. "Wilhelm Meister's Lehrjähr" (apprenticeship) is a prose work, imbued with great enthusiasm of imagination and feeling, united with glowing and faithful descriptions of the beauties of nature. It Fully to understand his greatness, we must also contains one of Goethe's most admired lyrical pro- observe that he may in some measure be regarded ductions, of which Byron has given us a beautiful as the creator of German literature; for before his version in his ballad, "Know'st thou the land of time little had been written in the language that the cypress and myrtle." The main purpose of could be said to possess any decided superiority this work is to exhibit the progress of a youth who, of thought or style. He trod no beaten path, but though at first ignorant of the world, and filled created a bright world of his own, peopled it with with the most romantic ideas, becomes in process the beings of his own imagination, and then deof time an accomplished gentleman. It contains lighted his countrymen with the vivid and graphic many valuable criticisms, not the least of which is pictures which his eloquent pen sketched of its that on Shakspeare's Hamlet. The gentle, roman-scenery, its inhabitants, and their feelings, passions, tic, confiding Wilhelm; the sceptical Jarno; the and actions. business-like Werner; the calm, polished Lothario; the unearthly and enthusiastic Harper; the gay, lively Philena; and the mysterious and almost spiritual Mignon, who sat for the model of Scott's Fenella and Victor Hugo's Esmeralda; all are sketched with a truthful and masterly hand; all blend together to form one harmonious whole, wherein man's passions, life, and business, feelings, hopes, and purposes are imaged out in types of poetic and beautiful significance. "Dichtung and Wahrheit" is an exquisite work, wherein perfect knowledge of the world is united with tolerance and candour of judgment; as an autobiography it is unrivalled; would that we He was an enthusiastic admirer of the beautiful wherever it is found, shone in polished society, and was in life and opinions a decided aristocrat. Among his own countrymen there are two distinct parties, one claiming supremacy of poetic skill for Goethe, the other for Schiller; and many and various are the opinions put forth by each. We quote two. Jean Paul Richter says, "There is in Goethe a plastic rounding, a dictatorial determinateness, which betrays the manual artist, and makes all his works resemble a gallery of bronze and marble statues." Novalis says of him, "He is in his works what the English are in their manufactures-simple, convenient, and useful; and has done in German | And nuns entomb'd at dead of night, literature what Wedgwood did among English artists." And Menzel, even while he does due homage to the "mighty mind," to the graphic powers, and artistic skill of this great poet, adds, "But Goethe has infected our youth with a baneful disease, not of body, but of mind; leading them to desire to be more than their nature admits of, to strive after impossibilities, or coldly and superciliously to look down on the world, and complain that it is far too common-place for them. Many really talented individuals have been led astray by this fallacious reasoning; the idea that they are shining lights, and as such ought to be worshipped, has turned the brain of many clever youths, and prevented them from afterwards becoming what, in a more healthful frame of mind, they were fully capable of being." But our remarks have already far exceeded their due limit, and were we to make them doubly as long, our faint praise could add nothing to the honour of him of whom we speak. Goethe is the pride of his own country, the admired of every nation to which his fame and works have reached. EDITORIAL TRIALS. BY MRS. ABDY. Lady, amid the crowd who gaze Adapted to all tastes and ages, The anxious toils of thy employment— How many deem its duties fraught With constant pastime and enjoyment! But I, who may presume to guess At midnight, by the gleaming taper, Amid vast piles of scribbled paper. "Tributes to Friendship"-"Woodbine Bowers" Musings by Moonlight on the Waters". Songs of a Sad One"-Faded Flowers""Stanzas to Infant Sons and Daughters""Sonnets to Freedom"-" Last Farewells"Odes to pet lap-dogs and canariesLays from desponding "Isabels " And lyrics from deserted "Marys !" And tales in prose of flames and darts, And ruthless sires and broken hearts, And children chang'd by treacherous nurses! And seamen toss'd upon the billow, Co on; nor in thy efforts tire, Experience thou shalt thus acquire, Habits of prompt and cheerful zeal, And power to think, to act, and feel, With rational and firm decision. Would that thy sex were all endow'd, Give meek timidity a trial, IMPROMPTU ON RECEIVING THE Dear Lady, would I more deserved If worthier than-white paper stain'd, SONG. BY DAVID LESTER RICHARDSON. As quickly as the light leaf shivers, Beneath the magnet's power; Not long the storm-vexed stream could dally And sought with thee the calm delight, Of all English rustic employments with which we are acquainted, haymaking is assuredly the most delightful. Talk, as much as you please, about the "merry harvest field," and "the reaper's joyful band;" write songs and sonnets on them, and revel in descriptions of sturdy youths, and dark-eyed gleaners, they belong not, after all, to our island under southern skies, they are beautiful enough; but, in England, say what you will, the most picturesque aud delightful rural scene is presented by the hay-field. We never yet encountered any one who did not like haymaking, and if it should ever be our lot to meet such an individual, we shall immediately pronounce him altogether destitute of sympathy with the pleasures of the country, and cold and callous to nature's fairest prospects. however great, will be destroyed for ever; for we shall then all have entered into a state where neither crowns, nor principalities, nor powers, will anything avail, but the upright heart and pure will receive its exceeding reward. Surely, then, it is well for us, during our pilgrimage here, to mingle freely at times with those fellow mortals who, though their names are unrecorded by the herald's pen, perhaps possess souls capable of thoughts as lofty as our own; in whose bosoms may beat hearts less polluted by pride and sin. They lose much both of pleasure and knowledge who, haughtily environing themselves with state, refrain from inquiring into the feelings by which the humbler classes are actuated. What noble sentiments, though couched in rude language, we occasionally hear fall from peasant lips! what beautiful ideas are sometimes given utterance to by those whose talk might reasonably be expected to be of nought but oxen. They themselves are wholly unconscious of it; their mental faculites have never been cultivated, and, devoid of education, they labour on, holding, it may be, in secret, a sweet, but unutterable, communion with the choice things of nature that surround them; breathing to the wild flowers, and the sighing zephyrs, and the stars of night, those thoughts which, under more favourable circumstances, would have conferred immortality; and having finished their course noiselessly, they are borne to the burial-place of their fathers, and there laid down to mingle ashes with ashes, and dust with dust, unnoticed and unremembered. Unremembered, said we? Nay, verily, even for them Memory has a shrine in the fond hearts of surviving kindred and friends, and the fair maidens whom they loved when living will visit their graves with tears as precious, and, it may be, far truer than those shed on the tombs of coronetted rank. So passes away many a young rustic genius, ignorant of his own powers, but happy in that very ignorance. He enjoys the pleasant things which God has made for all as much as does the most renowned. He breathes the fresh air of heaven, and listens to the lark's sweet song, and inhales the dewy fragrance of the meadow blossoms, and so goes on, contented and rejoicing, until the dread messenger calls him, and, like one of those blossoms, he quietly lies down to moulder in the lap of our mother earth, thus putting off the mortal for the immortal. If the world has not known him, he, on his part, has not known the cares of ambition; therefore we may, without error, in this Can anything be more charming than a stroll through a newly-strewn field, when the sweet scent of the fresh-cut hay is perfuming the evening breeze, and rendering the whole atmosphere odoriferous? Can anything be more delightful than to mingle with the merry groups of haymakers whilst they are busily engaged in turning the fragrant crop, or raking it into winrows previous to getting? No other employment seems half so healthy or exhilirating. All are brimful of mirth, that vents itself in innocent jests and hearty laughter. The old actually recover their energy for a while, and the indolent are roused to activity; the flush of health is recalled to pallid cheeks, and so equalising is the influence of the situation (as indeed is always the case when persons of different ranks are brought together in natural scenes), that Pride unbends his haughty brow, and Humility loses at least one half her timidity. We like this; for, although no one is readier, in proper place and season, to yield or claim honour for those to whom it is due, we abhor that frigid stateliness, that unapproachable pomp, which arrogates to itself a superiority in body and spirit above its human brethren, and sitting enthroned in a sort of mysterious and self-pronounce him happy. created semi-divinity, bears written on its front, "Touch me not, for I am better than ye." We all entered into the world alike, and alike we must all depart; bringing nothing with us, and taking nothing away. Even during our stay here, despite the different ranks and callings which necessarily exist, we participate in the self-same feelings. The noble and the peasant, the rich and the poor, have the same thoughts, cherish the same hopes, weep the same tears, and suffer the same emotions of sorrow or joy, although modified by fortuitous accidents: and when a few transcient years shall have passed away, all distinctions, But we are wandering from the haymakers and their pleasant task. Let us return, and, entering yonder field, walk down the line of joyous and laughing maidens who are moving so briskly across it, turning, as they go, the hay which was strewn yesterday. It is a well known fact, that the climate of England, notwithstanding its variable character, is peculiarly favourable to beauty; and, consequently, we find the females of our lower orders not only possessed of charms we vainly look for in the same class in continental countries, Spain perhaps excepted, but also retaining them at a period of life when foreigners have lost all pre |