destructive power, is in reality more strictly rendered into English in its metaphoric sense, arched brow, than in its literal arched club. So also the term لب sugar-lipped, which, with ourselves, conveys a ludicrous idea, is more fairly rendered sweet-lipped, as a gene ral phrase, or honey lipped, as an equivalent metaphor.' P. xxvi. After having furnished notices of the translations that exist in different languages-omitting, however, those of HERDER, KLEUCKER, and DOEDERLEIN, as well as the parts most exquisitely turned by VOLTAIRE-Mr. Good proceeds to acknow ledge the aids he has received, and thus closes his account. To these sources of assistance I have also to add the name of my highly valued friend, the late Dr. Geddes, to whom I communicated my undertaking a few weeks prior to his decease, and from whom I received some manuscript observations and criticisms, which have been, as every reader will suppose they must, of eminent advantage to me. Had the life of this profound scholar and indefatigable critic been pro longed, the attempt now offered would have been less imperfect; and had his own biblical labors extended to this part of the Scriptures, he would be found, as I have already observed, to have supported an arrangement of the Song of Songs-if not, like the present, in distinct and unconnected idyls,-yet not widely different from such a plan; although he would not have united with me in allowing it to possess an esoteric and allegoric meaning. The pursuit of truth, however. was his grand and habitual object; and as no man was more resolute in claiming the right of private judgment for himself, so no man was more ready to allow the same privilege to others. P. xxxvi. Ready as we are to acknowledge the merits of every man, and far from being disposed to depreciate the dead, the interests of truth and religion compel us, on this passage, to inter pose our dissent. Not warped by the bias of friendship, as we must consider Mr. Good to have been, we knew enough of Dr. Geddes to estimate his character. It is therefore upon this ground we affirm, that, to whatever extent he might admit the right of private judgement in theory, no man could be less tolerant in practice. His extreme vanity and fondness for disputation perpetually involved him in disgraceful squabbles. Consi dering himself as equally master of every subject, no position could be stated, which he would not oppose, for the sake of showing his acuteness. When over-powered in argument, which generally happened, from the absurdity of the opinions he undertook to maintain, the irritability of his temper hurried him into the most indecent excesses, and, in our judgement, most opposite to a solicitude for the discovery of truth, or the free spirit of the Christian religion. The knowledge of Hebrew; Arabic, &c. which he arrogated as pre-eminent, those who have examined his translation and notes, cannot but have CRIT.REV. Vol. 38. July, 1803. Υ found to be very superficial; nor was his acquaintance with the Greek much more accurate. Latin was more familiar to him, from the course of his education: but, while the specimen of his verses to Dr. Disney is defective, both as to purity of expression and metre, we admit the merit of his doggrel compositions. Respecting the German, he knew enough to plunder their scriptural explanations; and this his notes show he has done without mercy. His Modest Appeal for the Catholicks is certainly his best work: but though it amuses the reader, by its vivacity and smartness, we conceive it lies open to many objections. But enough of Dr. Geddes:-pace quiescat! Let us proceed to Mr. Good's translation:-This he hath introduced under the title of Song of Songs, or Sacred Idyls, and given both in prose and verse, in opposite pages; the former preserving the divisions of the Bible translation, and the latter, references to the notes, which are printed in a smaller type, and make by much the greater part of the volume. The whole composition is divided by Mr. Good into TWELVE Tyls. The first consists of the first eight verses of the first chapter: the second idyl goes on thence to the seventh verse inclusive, of the second chapter: the third proceeds to its end. Idyl the fourth, beginning with the third chapter, contains the first five verses: the fifth idyl includes the seventh verse of the fourth chapter; and the sixth, thence commencing, takes in the first verse of chapter the fifth, erroneously printed ch. ii, 8. The seventh idyl begins with the second verse of the fifth chapter-erroneously printed fourth-and proceeds to the eleventh verse of chapter the sixth. The eighth idyl contains only the three remaining verses. Idyl the ninth consists of the seventh chapter to the tenth verse. The tenth idyl includes the rest of that chapter, and four verses of the eighth. Idyl the eleventh contains only the three verses that next follow; and the last idyl takes in the rest. As Mr. Good's idea of the composition at large is hypothetical, these divisions, being subordinate, must be arbitrary. How they may approve themselves to others, we know not: but we think they might have been arranged otherwise, and, perhaps, better. In respect to his prose version, Mr. Good has advantageously incorporated much from our Bible translation; nor should we have censured him, had he taken more; for, in some instances, simplicity is sacrificed to the desire of precision. It might seem invidious to point them out: they are left, therefore, to the discrimination of the reader. Such is the dissimilarity between the poetry of the East and our own, that nothing can be imagined more difficult, than the transfusion of the one into the other. Whoever, therefore, docs this with effect, is entitled to no small praise. Among the most successful attempts, we consider the version before us; and, though it cannot boast the facility of an original composition, it evidences, in the translator, great ductility of talent. We cite the fifth idyl, as a proof, at once, of his prose and his verse. 8 ROYAL BRIDE, ' IDYL V. ATTENDANT VIRGINS, KING SOLOMAN (after wards). SCENE-A Chiosk or Pavilion. VIRGINS. Ch. III. 6 What is this coming forth from the wilderness With frankincense, and all the powders of the merchant ? OTHER VIRGINS. 7 Behold! it is the palanquin of Soloman: 8 They all bear swords, being expert in war; Against the peril of the night. 9 King Soloman hath made for himself "This bridal" couch of the wood of Lebanon; 10 Its pillars hath he formed of silver, Its inside of gold, its hangings of purple; Its covering is paved with needle-work By his best-beloved among the daughters of Jerusalem. 6 ROYAL BRIDE. 11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion! And behold king Soloman, With the crown with which his mother crowned him On the day of his espousals, On the day of the gladness of his heart. 'KING SOLOMAN (introduced). Ch. IV. 1 Behold! thou art fair, my love! behold, thou art fair! Thine eyes are as "the eyes of" doves beneath thy locks; Thy hair is as a flock of goats That browse about Mount Gilead. 2 Thy teeth are like the shorn flock And none is bereaved among them. As the blossom of the pomegranate, A thousand shields are hung up against it, 5 Thy two breasts are like two young fawns, 7 Thou art all beautiful, my love! • IDYL V. ROYAL BRIDE, ATTENDANT VIRGINS, KING SOLOMAN (after wards). • SCENE-A Chiosk or Pavilion in the Royal Pleasure-Grounds. VIRGINS. Lo! what is this, in clouds of fragrant gums, OTHER VIRGINS. • Behold the couch for Soloman prepared! ROYAL BRIDE. Go forth, O'maids of Zion heavenly blest! Crowned with the crown which, o'er the royal spouse, When all his heart was gladness, and the land KING SOLOMAN (introduced by attendant Virgins). How fair thy form, my love! how wondrous fair! Thy honied speech all blandishment and love. Beneath thy fragrant tresses, as they flow, Look where I may, my love! thy beauteous frame We now come to the notes, which are not only the most extensive, but the best part of the work: they everywhere display erudition, feeling, and taste. The notes on the fourth idyl are an appropriate specimen, and are therefore subjoined with the idyl itself. IDYL IV. ROYAL BRIDE. Ch. III. 1 On my bed, in the night, I sought him whom my soul loveth. 3 The watchmen of the city beheld me:- 4 But a little had I passed from them When I found him whom my soul loveth. I held him, and would not let him go Till I had brought him into my mother's house, My beloved until he please. • IDYL IV, ROYAL BRIDE. 'Twas in the night: my head the pillow pressed, Intent I sought him-but I sought in vain2, |
