Tales from Ariosto. By J. Shield Nicholson. (Macmillan and Co.
6a.)—It is open to question whether it be ever worth While to "adept," or translate with any freedom, the work of nations or centuries other than our own; and we are inclined to believe, when it is a geestion of Ariosto's poetry, that there is no happy compromise between leaving it altogether alone, said working slowly through the original of the "Orlando Furioso," in an effort to recapture the fine spirit of Renaissance Italy, and to learn, by slow perseverance, what that was which made so great appeal to the world of education and culture of the early sixteenth century. For Ariosto, reproduced in modern English prose, shortened and arranged to meet the requirements of modern haste and lack of leisure, is hardly Ariosto. Professor Nicholson seta clearly forth in his preface
the aim of his work "The object of the present venture is to do something to revive the interest of the ordinary English reader in Ariosto. . . . The present volume is intended to give some of the chief stories of the 'Orlando Purim in such a way as to bring out also the main plot." To accomplish this Professor Nicholson has made a bold mingling of the " Orlando Innamorato " and the "Orlando Enrico)"; he has sometimes translated, sometimes paraphrased, here and there drawn upon Boiardo's earlier work, but he is everywhere inspired by love of the extravagant, adorable romance of Saracens and nymphs, and courteous gentlemen ; and his writing is light and vivid enough to convey much of the eharm and infinite variety of the Italian.
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