14 SEPTEMBER 1872, Page 26

Fables and Leyends of Many Countries rendered in Rhyme. By

John Godfrey Saxe. (Triibner.)—Mr. Saxe has got some old favourites here, and some new, or rather newly found, "fables and legends," which are not unworthy of being ranked with them. These he puts into easy, flowing verse, such as not unfroquently reminds the reader of Leigh Hunt's manner of telling a tale. Here is a specimen, which we feel sure will make some readers anxious to see more of Mr. Saxe's work :—

"THE VISION OF THE FAITHFUL.

"Upon the faithful in the common things Enjoined of duty, rarest blessings wait. A pions Nun (an ancient volume brings, The legend and the lesson), while she sate Reading some scriptures of the Sacred Word, And marvelling much at Christ's exceeding grace, Saw in her room a Vision of the Lord, With sudden splendour filling all the place. Whereat she knelt, enraptured ; when a bell Signalled her hour to feed the convent poor ; Which humble duty done, she sought her cell, And le the Vision, brighter than before, Who, smiling, spoke, 'Even so is Heaven obtained, I—had'st thou lingered here—had not remained.'"