The very handsome edition of the Dramatic Works of Moliere,
rendered into English by Henri Van Laun (Edinburgh, Paterson), has now reached its sixth and concluding volume. The principal plays in this are "Le Fourberies de Scapin," "Lee Femmes Savantes," and "Le Malade Imaginaire." This last was the great comedian's final effort. He was almost dying when he wrote it, and ho actually expired on the evening of the fourth representation (February 17, 1673). He had taken himself the principal part, and the curtain had to be dropped during the burlesque scene,—a new doctor's admission into the learned fraternity. It is impossible to speak too highly of the way in which Mr. Van Laun has executed his task. If the spirit of the original has some- times disappeared, the loss was inevitable. The translator has done his best to preserve it. On the other hand, nothing could exceed the industry with which he has collected all materials which might serve to illustrate his original, while the paper, printing, and illustrations of his volumes are all of excellent quality.
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