A.NTONINA, OR TIER FALL OF ROME. * MIL COLLIN'S has s ucceeded

better in his romance of the fifth cen- tury than might have been expected from. his previous training as a biographical writer, or the choice of a theme so remote from our own experience, and an age of whose manners few pictures have been preserved,. Indeed,, this latter :difficulty is rather evaded by the stykO, 001111¢PO4cfa than overcome. Mr. Collins is a fol- lower of,t,be, ,R11rA,,q,..Chutaaubria,nd and Bulwer ; possessing many of th ' Big*, 144; .th the inherent defects of the rhetori- cal style. ' ig ptured. in too high a_ key— muds jpond; of that stupendous air and agri.v."ble come niver there." For a brief .sfitte this ale dal manner is striking, but for a long • '11 the rendgefleir." T k iepose, the congruity, the variety of ' e. In - e'' Ire AM') bp pid, the narrative stalks on stilts; e--descripti6 6 -inlib ' the glare and mannerism of the Ir.,„1.ise. . d t ;. ! At. '• :5 3/fii 4 'nE • 14-:-"; and the dialogue itself has otions of the characters partake {TWA. ' • • . :I, , ,,, , II

: ifflequence. Nature and the sub-

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'tV ' fdita 1P to the composition of the writer: WI. . •WI the rhetorician's exaggeration. mu : . .• g 4 i' °I° 161ilta*. i.6 - : A the story for reflections, with a 11117. I I .ViL. fi,' g II : trast, strong effects, and glitter;

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WI ,. H. aie,,,,* Of Nature," but tricking her 14'4 --,a re. When freshly taken, or only "g1,:ns'W6haVe- just observed, is very striking; lfti t • , : see; to which the uniform and artificial tribute. The reader is tired, not so much • degis of his school Mr. Collins is not free, iiltfWe have mentioned: but Antonina is romance. The author has a paint- la' eloquence of a florid kind, clever in the incidents, with some tenderness 'died his subjects so as to be possessed gas of the age. lie comprehends the 'ties of the period, if he has not caught its ous, effeminate, unprincipled patricians ifaNies of the indifference of the stoic _r are there; not perhaps as they ae- ing too much of abstract qualitie,s *.-they are, skilfully and effectively Pig' Christian Romans are shown to the 'st with them the barbarian vigour of 'contrasted with their temporary allies, Huns. Neither are individual per- zealot, anxious to reform the abuses vive the !Olt of the primitive ages, is Matched ikregi.4.liy fanatic, who devotes his life to ,_tifietrevenge for the personal and reli- qua litY the expulsion o ins brethren from • ivnill7treatment. Goisyintha,whose husband ye em sti the treacherous massacre of the Go- t r a 14,4: (which, really or pOlitically, was a as contrasted, in her furious but, • 1° g Roman, with the milder and

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.1" es his way to the Gothic ; a ii• ‘. • one°Tof the aficers. • atailaliN ° e' aVoTUII,1,741,1; kig‘ankTe tilt- e iiRli Century. By W. Wilkie coitus; nuileirrefuthSWLOWWilliarealliiiii, Ch." In three volumes. Pub- lished by Bentley.

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UP$1,-siiitt'What may be termed historical ':11) tke fall pretty closely connected ta'teally centres upon. Antonina. ihe devoted. Christian in whose is sheltered as a pretended convert, Vetranio, an Epicurean senator, to onSents to admit him to Antonina's surprised by Numerian. Misled iniders his daughter guilty. Ante-

on:VW:We oth Rome ; to fall into the hands of

Ati4vggilIbi. `the revenge of Goisvintha. A love 140. 416 right hand is disabled by Gois-: by command of Alaric, for absence back by ITIpius, driven mad ARidoif Marie of his offer to lead the 7J45R0i Antonina again meets her fa- kahregards Yetranio : she suffers -Ttair°; s,avecl from death by e- WilièItñ of preventing him from burn- lirdifigiritt" the close of a last banquet ;

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_ 8411` ys displayed by histmical novel kiiiingt 6i ■ • • ed his historical personages to 60, alp lane; and they seldom appear, ,r1.:1161:61nduct of the story, and as actors blarkable 'figures in the piece; and • ',11 • II " I • IT, a Marie spoke to the young warrior in the Gothic language, thus—'Leave the man with me: return to your post ; and there await whatever commands it may be neceseary that I should despatch to you tonight.' that von have spoken truth,' retorted theicieg, with-a tough laugh. : grant it me, and—' . , f , [,.. , first time,and.speaking in the Latin language, the Gothic leader briefly and king instantly eaught him in his•strre* grasp, and placed him on the wooden tongue of the husbandman : show- me your. Open! glides,: and I will believe and his tremulous voice to grow firm andiisteady in:the:very bitterness of his ne home, no loves, mil-de-4s, no possessions ! 'I live in Rome a solitary in: had risen during the interview, and •ealinly desired his new ally to explain the condition on the granting of whieh. depended his promised. betrayal Or

the city of Rome. • • - - .

man unprotected. and funknowti. .Thet• eitiathis :Will never -yield- to your significantly intimated to his unknown visitant that they were now alone. . brightened till they abSolately Omitted, but lie seemed incapable of uttenng- a word ; his features lieciime.hriaibly convulsed; the Liam gathered about his lips; he staggered .forward, .044;WoMicl 14ave fallen to the ground had not the tained down the stranger's theciat. ': • • - - - - • - . • of my body is scarce; strong apaugktopreserve it to pee s. single day! I have- the midst Of the miiltitude, ti- pagan in a city of apostates!' What is my life negade; no ordinary, spy; no shaRovr imposter; who might be 'driven. from hi, glow of -triumph, as he beard the sudden mildness and moderation of . the king's demand ; he raised his head proudly and advanced a few steps, as he master of the chief city oft& empire you are labouring to subvert.' inlet to the city, I will introduce Men enotigh of the Gall's 01 murder with numberg of your wholiiinvadinftoreesP il'Itiiile net to :despise the aid of a • Krick-age ; you shrink; frforarrisking - the , dangers of ap,eAsault; the legions of chest that hiliad hitherto occupied hiniablf. ' . .

tered Alaric,"ite 'lie. took the ' sktill:etip Mid pottrecleome of the wine it eon- man's features, and ponsempstiess to his mind. Itemised himself from the seat, (lashed off the a persruration tint overspread his forehead, and stood. upnght before the' er-E-the solitary', pewerless old Man, before the vigorous lotd. of thoustilidOn einitifitof his warriors—without a tremor in his steady eye or a prayerforlifieteetion on-hishaughty: lip. .

wars with the weapon off: e .9,16■ d ,er ipi,r, her people, her palaces, and her treasures, into the da of _ c.. , th.'

from bini irriMpatieneeliOcoittini ' .21 .11 .'II ''''.' '''.2 --: ' ' ' - ' - -

starved, shrivc44,-***14N, from any,pkee butAteme ?..Since I quitted.

the Gotiat in#'0iitei iiiiiitghtr' '' ' •:‘ , ' " ' ' ' contempt as as he. spoke. ' My life I : J lick it not of your power ! The wreck to me ? I cherish it bat' tot the seiiice of thetods;.'WhOseinattuinents'of vengeance against the tuition that him denied them I would make you and your heath! If you slay-mei:it is a sidn to me from them that I am worthless m their cause. I shall die content:. „ . . . bluntness and carelessness that had hitherto characterized it, and assumed an attention soda seriousness morein-aecordance with his high station and im.-- portant respensibilitiek J ' He biigun- to' regard the 'stranger tot no common re- tent with disdain; Indus a man important enoogii. be heard and ambition's' enough to be distrusted. Accordingly, he resumed the seat from which he thus" loudly. and abruptly resumed—' Assure to . me the overthrow of the Christian Churches, the extermination of the Christian priests, and the uni- versal revival of the worship of the gods, and this • night shall make you played in such a pprositlipi,,apd emanating from such a source; so astounded. the mind Of Alaric'es to de live him for the moment of speech. The stran- ger, .perceiving his tittil - ' ''''ioialiilkto"answer him, broke the 'silence which: ensted,.and oritinii -A-I-S My celidition a hard one? A conqueror is all-powerful;. r helium tkerthrcivi theworehip, as he can overthrow the go- vernment of a. nation.. ,,W11,1 , platters. it to you, . while empire, renown, and treasure are yours, whatLdwifls, the people adore ? Is it ,a great price to pay for an easy conquest, ter _Make # change which threatens neither, your power,. rank and • renown; for theirmainie• I.. hare etiffered :degradation and ivo - for their restoratioriI will.pIetil epithet, -.dierr -,Assure / me then,, byeath, 'that• with a new rule you will, erect an ancient worship, and through my secret security the sentinels at' the 'etiardliunSes; and open the gates Of Rome to the Ravenna are reported on r heir; way hitherwaN ,: outcast as :I am, I tell it to- you here, in the midst o zureciamp—your speediest assurance of success. rests on my disccrio . ' ' cried; fixing. eyes atrfillions:scorn and indignation On the stranger's face, Think you, rene , t,h# year city could have .resiated,inehad I chose,n to- the city, an how hinfliareniz past; and liy.phe wslyi tlait,11611 it the forces of.

your-fanie, nor vour we.Moth'f 'Do yonmarvel that I desire from you such a- revolution as this ? I:Watiein for the 'gods.; in their fief-vice:I inherited' nihilated,wkt.h. re and) ypt,hosittirthetai# of one of the herd of traitor* the hardy seutsib#itiea-oflAe cifitlaie liepo.:i '.Eye ineiagn, Could I come Storni it on the is , y:when encamped before its walls?, - Know you that your effeininate to ;-flitiklaid. gaffe the armour of their ancestors; be- cause their puny ... 'es-htitoi, feeble-to bear its weight; ' and that the half of my army here trebles Use whole of .the guards of Rome? Now, while you stand be„temapp,01,11,19te,ht tospraappicl and the city shall be an- mind, the' Iiiit h- .h ,adarA*DIr The sheet olia. an answer as he now heard 6146tped I& stthireiihniididtrid,, as• a • flash of lightning strikes 'prates to me silioutithellegions of haymina_ and thei-disigers.of an assault ?- cowering bones ,sli 14:its • -elefen4d 'stalls !'

with ;blindness. • Rei regarded -the Mute:with. a bewildered stare, waving his band- tremulously, hachwatclgiapd , forwaille. before ..his. face, as if to 'dear some imaginary darlmerfa Off Iiissyes ; then his arm fell helpless by his side,; his head drooped iipe.iillit bli-deitt, and im Moaned' olki'blowi 'iacant tones-- ti cried Marie, dissIsi,uplix„ „iyhereyer I meet with your accursed Woks I WM' tut-your ttni. Igibifir.ednanes, and cut yourbitages Of wood into hit, Melt, thitm, :awn tamear,f5q. illy warriors and alio& for my honieg i __I latifor the itifeb.- ' iiifIniyfluistal* - " I ''' - slave under the lash.„. „..,, , _ 'Ile restoration of the-fedi—that is the Conditioti of conquest—the restore- side of the -tent, and shrinking under the Merciless words of the Goth, like a =i:4, ..‘ ,Ir6Onleinot.hitheit,tot the. tool of a frantigiond,fergotten pries - • l''' Idy'life I.' cried the Roman ; and 'fi. shinitken' form seemed to expand,' ' " lie ceased. The kifis'a manner, as he listened to him., gradually lost ,the.".. ' "The king started, Ioali • . . : to . 'd,..- it moment, and then turned .."-The, liquor was -itameiliptely.; successful in restoring -composure to the -"The pain-Worn and despondent features of Ilipius became animated by a on of the •goiti.'.• 1.,2,,,-ii '1', ' ,, 1,':::• '-: ,-: ' '- .° `It a Romall-,*.:liaioegian;T`,Oome Amp Ailoale, against which the invader. " After again fixing his eyes in severe scrutiny on the person of the Roman, " Hermanne unmediately departed. Then addressing the stranger for the " il betray the city,' restuncd theman„sternly, 'but on one condition; " I Can a starving ROMA ha-re escaped from the beleaguered city ?' mut- " The proof of ;the liaihmst is hi the 'fititintity1Of Afie 'grain, not in the "The- kin s infilderily from: ' his seat'—' What feel or madman,' he " A I•lie : Mobil qi _ersusithe elithindasp wits btabn dignity. that affected even' "The boldness, : thei,.ceimpsehensiveness, the insanity of wickedness dis- "As'Alario'" ' Ifivisibiglili' ey Seeieed .g. crash; body and "'Slav intiaad be silent' greanectlhoiaan, staggering back against the ' The man's parched HO moved, opened; ' quivered ; his wild hello* eyes J will grant you vow life,' intettthated-AlOric.Iniughtily. i

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A - "'I leave the shielding of such blood as yours to your fellow Romans,' answered the king; they alone are worthy of the deed !' "