Songs of a Revolutionary Epoch. By J. L. Joynes. (Foulger
and Co.)—The " German revolutionary poets " are the singers whose utterances Mr. Joynes renders into English verse, and renders, we may say, with much spirit. Heine and Freiligrath are the chief of the names. The others will scarcely have reached beyond their native country. But there are some vigorous things to be found in what they wrote. Thus, Georg Herwegh writes :- "They whose high fortunes here are made Still promised him a throne as high : 'Tie thus the Peoples' debt is paid In drafts upon the sky."
And again, in words that certainly have not lost their significance
now :—
" THE ONE THING NEEDFUL.
The cry goes up from hearts that bleed, Goes up in every nation In this halt Europe bitter need, In that half sheer starvation ! Crops fail, and taxes press full sore
Upon the poor mane shoulders; But one thing waxes more and more,
The multitude of soldiers.
And debt increases fast as well To pay for warlike trifles.
Powder and cannon, shot and shell, And ntw repeating-rifles.
Still gape the Governments for gold,
To get them guns and raiment ; The poor for pay are bought and sold, The rich kick at the payment."
This is certainly a volume worth looking into. The translator has entered with no common sympathy into the spirit of his originals.
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