28 AUGUST 1897, Page 24

Dante, Petrarch, and Camoens : One Hundred and Twenty-Four Sonnets.

Translated by Richard Garnett, LL.D. (J. Lane.)—Dr. Garnett has manifestly spent much labour on this volume, and has achieved a success which, if not complete—and what is harder in translation than the rendering of a sonnet ?—may be favourably compared with anything that has been previously

done in the same direction. There are twenty sonnets from Dante, sixty-four from Tetrarch, and forty from Camoens. We are inclined to put some of the Tetrarch translations first in order of merit, and next to these some of the Camoens. Here is a specimen of each :-

P1"1BARCH (No. III. in" Marsand and Leopard").

" Blest flowers and glad, herbs fortunately sown

Where pensively my Lady's foot is set ;

Earth that dost hearken her sweet voice, nor yet All vestige of her dainty foot disown ; Slim shrub. green lesflet, bud not fully blown. Anemone, and pallid vio:et : Forests my Sun bath smitten to beget The shade and towering pride in you forthshown 0 land of loveliness! () stainless burn, Laving the winsome face and eyes so bright, And living lustre borrowing in turn, That I might share your innocsnt delsght !

Book be not found in you too rude to learn To glow with me as fires of mine invite."

CANOCNS (No. xi, , "I.Turomenha "). "Oa revisiting Cintra after the death of Catheriaa. Apparel of green woods and meadows gae ;

Clear and fresh waters innocent of stain, Wherein the field and wood are found again, As from high rocks ye take your downward way ; And shaggy peak and ordered disarray Of crags abrupt, know that ye strive in vain, Till Grief consent, to soothe the eye of Pa o, Showe the same scene that Pleasure did sarvey. Nor as erst seen am I beheld by you,

Rejoiced no more by fields of pleasant gram, Or lively runnels touching as they dart Sown be these fields with seeds of ruth and rue. And wet with brine of welling tears, till seen Sere with the herb that suits the broken hear."