The Comedies of Carlo Goldoni. Edited, with Introduction, by Helen
Zimmern. (D. Stott.)—Miss Zimmern has prefixed to the four selected comedies a well-written memoir of Goldoni, and a careful appreciation of his powers and place in literature. The selected plays are A Curious Mishap, The Beneficent Bear, The Fan, The Spendthrift Miser. There is not much brilliancy in Goldoni's dialogue ; it does not sparkle with wit and repartee ; but the comedies are certainly readable, pleasant stories of Venetian life. To quote the words of Browning's sonnet, which has been appro- priately given by way of recommendation, they "glass half Venice
"There throng the people: how they come and go,
Lisp the soft language, flaunt the bright garb,—see,-- On piazza, ea le, under portico,
And over bride! Dear King of Comedy.
Be honoured ! non that didst love Venice so, Venice, and we who love her, all love thee !"
Though Goldoni "loved Venice," he spent the last thirty-two years of his life in Paris, and had the misfortune to live down to the Revolution. His pension, granted by the King, was with- drawn. The National Convention, moved by the pleadings of Andre Chenier, restored it to him—the day after his death.
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