There are two Poetical volumes — The Songs of the Bell,
and other Poems, from the German. Translated by JOHN CAMPBELL, Esq., B. A. National Songs, and Vagaries in Verse. By J. W. LAKE, Esq.
Mr. CAMPBELL'S little volume contains translations of nearly seventy lyrics, selected from the most distinguished German poets. They possess great variety in subjects, sentiments, and Manner of treatment ; and the Style and east of thought of the originals appear to have been caught, and faithfully conveyed. Their poetic spirit has not been so happily attained. Whether from a wish to teach a precise exactness, a choice of metre not always adapted to our language, or a mysticism which the Ger- mans mingle even with their pranks and jollity, there is too much heaviness where nothing but sprightliness should appear, and a prosaic halting where we look for the quintessence of poetry.
National Songs, and Vagaries in Verse, is a collection of bal- lads and small occasional poems, some of which at least are old acquaintances. The sentiments are not new, but they are of the sort that wear well : the versification is neither striking nor .original, but it trips: in short, the whole is so like poetry, that with many it will serve the same purpose.
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