be altered for the worse in the course of another year. At present, even though not entirely explicit, it may be said to be a Protestant and a Trinitarian system; but we dread its extension. Our statesmen are friendly to Popery; they countenance it, they foster it; nay they would gladly endow it. They refuse to pledge themselves to a protestant education scheme. Hence our suspicions in reference to the present movement. Hence the real danger to be apprehended from the plan. It may be unprotestantized in a few months; and it may thus smoothe the way for the endowment of the Irish priesthood. Were government to satisfy the country on this point; were they to base their measure on protestant principles; were they to take their stand, either on the Bible, or on the British Constitution, as interpreted by the standards of the two Establishdishments, and refuse every solicitation to lower that standard, they would deserve a nation's thanks; they would build a monument for themselves on which posterity would gladly inscribe their names; and they would do much towards saving the mightiest kingdom on which the sun has yet shone not only from calamity and crime and blood, but from dissolution and extinction, CRITICAL NOTICES. Il Veggente in Solitudine Poema Polimetro. By GABRIELE ROSETTI, Professor of the Italian Language and Literature at King's College, London. London: 1846. " For many years no country has attracted so much attention as Italy has done. That smiling yet unhappy country, that land blessed by God, and cursed by man," has drawn upon itself the eyes of all Europe. The power which has so long domineered over mind and conscience has begun to tremble. Italy has shown symptoms of awakening from the slumber into which she has been thrown by the mesmeric power of despotic tyranny. She gives alarming proofs that she is not broken, although crushed; that her ancient spirit is arousing, and that the time is not far distant when her sons will again dare to think and act for themselves. It is, alas! true, that in many cases democracy is the spring of this unquenchable love for liberty, revolution, and change; but there are bright exceptions to the rule. There are many, very many men of talent and wisdom among the oppressed Italians, who feel and know that "He is the freeman, whom the truth makes free, And all are slaves beside;" : who desire a moral change, a spiritual renovation; who long for liberty, but not for licentiousness. These men should excite our warmest sympathies. Our birthright is freedom of conscience; so is theirs but they are unjustly deprived of this right. A very pleasing specimen of the thoughts and feelings of this enlightened class of Italians is now on our table, in the shape of a newly published poem by Gabriele Rosetti, who is well known as professor of the Italian language at King's College, London. The title is "Il Veggente in Solitudine," and the work is a series of reflections on various events and circumstances. It is divided into two periods of nine days each, and is highly interesting, not merely for the elegance of the language and the purity of the style, but also for the deep pathos with which the author mourns over the misfortunes of his native land, without the slightest taint of revolutionary ideas. 199t on Liberty is his darling theme, and what Briton is there in whose breast the following impassioned exclamation will not find an echo?ow s of sousuítai "O Libertà, ch'hai nel mio petto un'ara 961 01 214b697 Quanto mi costi più, più mi sei cara.” (P. 14.) The lines we now proceed to quote as conveying the ideas of one of the best and wisest of the sons of an oppressed country, must be interesting to those who do enjoy freedom, especially to us, as they are a true description of the constitution of our own happy land. “O felice quello stato, Da tai leggi regolato, Se chi è libero obbedisce, Immutabil, veneranda Regna allor la libertà." (P. 43.) Next to the love of liberty, no feeling is stronger in the Italian mind than l'amour de pays. An animated proof of this is given at page 77. "O Italia! Il tuo figliuol, se veglia, o dorme, E il dolor, come prisma, in varie forme, Torna spesso a ridire quel-che ha già detto.” Yet that a smiling climate and glowing sky do not confer happiness, he fully allows. "Ma non basta a farmi invito Ciel sereno e suol fiorito; JdBut a feature of the highest importance in this work is its real Protestant feeling, and this should be a very great recommendation to us. Objections have been made to Italian literature in general, that it is fearfully impregnated with Popery. How far this assertion is correct, we will not now stay to examine. It cannot be denied that protests against that system of abominations have been uttered by the greatest men that country ever produced. Few, however, have dared to condemm so boldly and openly the religion of the Papacy as the author of the work now before us. Having published the book in a city where the press is comparatively free, (Paris,) he could avow his sentiments, and we feel assured he speaks for many of his countrymen. To mention all he has brought forward on this subject, would be almost to reprint the work. Some of the most striking passages, which testify to the degrading influence of Popery, we cannot refrain from quoting, and we refer our readers to the work itself for the remainder. Among other weapons, the author has not failed to avail himself of satire, and such an application of it as we find in the following lines would doubtless arouse the ire of "the Holy Father," (if he were to see them,) for few weapons strike home so unerringly as satire. Although its too frequent abuse causes it to be generally regarded with suspicion, such truth as accompanies these sharp darts must disarm all deprecation of the use of such means of warfare. "Sfacciata! Ed a ripetere ci riedi Cio ch'è smentito da 'tuoi rei costumi ? Per la grazia di Dio dunque tu siedi grazia di Dio tutto tu puoi ?" (P. 103.) "Qual mai fra lieti prandi e liete cene Più l'ore inganna? Ahi come Potrai crederlo, O mondo? Egli è quel desso, Quel che di Vice-Dio s'arroga il nome! Ei Vice-Dio si dice Ma di qual Dio sostien fra noi la vice? Ahì di splendor mentito L'angelo delle tenebre è vestito ! Chi per tal lo tenea, fra sdegno e affanno 'Pap 'è Satan' gridò 'Pap 'è Satanno!'" (P. 104.) The satirical adaptation of Pluto's mysterious cry (Dante, Inferno) is very bitter and yet truthful. "SERVO DI SERVI ei suol firmar se stesso, Ma signor de' signori esser si crede, Vuol che il ciel gli s'umilii (o infando eccesso) Il crociato pie gli baci in trono! (p. 107.) One or two more passages bearing on the subject we must cite, as most pleasing and correct descriptions of the contrast Popery presents to real religion. Capo è del culto suo lo stesso Verbo ; governo; Re mortal tien vicario, e non l'Eterno!" (P. 182.) We should be most deficient in our duty towards the author, if we failed to bring forward his expression of gratitude to the Queen, in whose dominions he has found safety and liberty. His graceful compliments to our beloved Sovereign ought not to pass unnoticed. He compares the "Tre coronate donne giovinette" to three stars, but exalts our own Queen above the others. "Stella ci fia la Lusitana Gloria Stella maggior l'Iberica Isabella Tu che in mezzo alle due splendi più viva O fossi tumen bella, o almen più forte." (P. 47.) We most earnestly recommend this work to our readers; it is richly worth perusal. It is a proof that the spirit of poetry is still vigorous in Italy. Bowed down as the Italian mind is now, it is not destroyed. A time of freedom may ere long evince that she is as great and glorious as ever. The author's blindness calls also for our sympathy. His allusion to it is plaintive and touching. "eterna notte è meco Italia, Italia, il tuo Veggente è cieco!" (P. 431.) With one extract from his valedictory verses we take leave of our readers, again commending to them this interesting work. "La mia vita è presso al termine, Gia ne tocco il punto estremo, Edai principi, edai popoli Nulla spero, e nulla temo. Viva luce già riverbera Ed ai popoli, ed ai principi Manifesto il ver ch'io scerno." (P. 456.) We are not surprised to hear that in less than two months after the publication of this work, a second copious edition of it should have been printed by a bookseller at Lausanne, who writes that he has a large demand for it from Italy. |