high starved by short commons, Foxes pilgrim- at heart, and furnished even with shoes, cut ng to Rome for absolution, Cocks pleading from the living hides of Isegrim and Isegrim's at the judgment-bar, make strange mummery. much-injured spouse, his worst enemies How, Nor is this wild Parody of Human Life with- the Treasures not making their appearance, out its meaning and moral: it is an Air-pa- but only new misdeeds, he is again haled to geant from Fancy's Dream-grotto, yet Wis- judgment; again glozes the general ear with dom lurks in it; as we gaze, the vision be- sweetest speeches; at length, being challenged comes poetic and prophetic. A true Irony to it, fights Isegrim in knightly tourney, and by must have dwelt in the Poet's heart and head; the cunningest, though the most unchivalrous here, under grotesque shadows, he gives us method, not to be farther specified in polite the saddest picture of Reality; yet for us with- writing, carries off a complete victory; and out sadness; his figures mask themselves in having thus, by wager of battle, manifested his uncouth, bestial vizards, and enact, gambol- innocence, is overloaded with royal favour; ing their Tragedy dissolves into sardonic created Chancellor, and Pilot to weather the grins. He has a deep, heartfelt Humour, Storm; and so, in universal honour and au sporting with the world and its evils in kind thority, reaps the fair fruit of his gifts and la mockery: this is the poetic soul, round which bours. the outward material has fashioned itself into living coherence. And so, in that rude old Apologue, we have still a mirror, though now tarnished and time-worn, of true magic reality; and can discern there, in cunning reflex, some image both of our destiny and of our duty: for now, as then, "Prudence is the only virtue sure of its reward," and cunning triumphs where Honesty is worsted; and now, as then, it is the wise man's part to know this, and cheerfully look for it, and cheerfully defy it:

Ut vulpis adulatio

Here through his own world moveth,
Sic hominis et rutio

Most like to Reynard's proveth.*

If Reinecke is nowise a perfect Comic Epos, it has various features of such, and, above all, a genuine Epic spirit, which is the rarest fea

ture.

Whereby shall each to wisdom turn,
Evil eschew, and virtue learn,
Therefore was this same story wrote,
That is its aim, and other not.
This Book for little price is sold,
But image clear of world doth hold;
Whoso into the world would look,
My counsel is,-he buy this book.
So endeth Reynard's Fox's story:
God help us all to heavenly glory!

It has been objected that the animals in Rie necke are not Animals, but Men disguised; to which objection, except in so far as grounded on the necessary indubitable fact that this is an Apologue or emblematic Fable, and no Chapter of Natural History, we cannot in any considerable degree accede. Nay, that very contrast between Object and Effort, where the Passions of men develope themselves on the Interests of animals, and the whole is huddled together in chaotic mockery, is a main charm of the picture. For the rest, we should rather say, these bestial characters were mo derately well sustained: the vehement, futile vociferation of Chanticleer; the hysterical promptitude, and earnest profession and protestation of poor Lampe the Hare; the thickheaded ferocity of Isegrim; the sluggish, glut tonous opacity of Bruin; above all, the craft, the tact, and inexhaustible knavish adroitness of Reinecke himself, are in strict accuracy of

Of the Fable, and its incidents and structure, it is perhaps superfluous to offer any sketch; to most readers the whole may be already familiar. How Noble, King of the Beasts, holding a solemn Court, one Whitsuntide, is deafened on all hands with complaints against Reinecke: Hinze the Cat, Lampe the Hare, Isegrim the Wolf, with innumerable others, having suffered from his villany, Isegrim especially, in a point which most keenly touches honour; nay, Chanticleer the Cock, (Henning de Hanc,) amid bitterest wail, appear ing even with the corpus delicti, the body of one costume. Often also their situations and oc of his children, whom that arch-knave has fe- cupations are bestial enough. What quanloniously murdered with intent to eat. How tities of bacon and other provant do Isegrim his indignant Majesty thereupon despatches and Reinecke forage; Reinecke contributing Bruin the Bear to cite the delinquent in the the scheme, for the two were then in partnerKing's name; how Bruin, inveigled into a Ho- ship,-and Isegrim paying the shot in broken ney-Expedition, returns without his errand, bones! What more characteristic than the without his ears, almost without his life; Hinze the Cat, in a subsequent expedition, faring no better. How at last Reinecke, that he may not have to stand actual siege in his fortress of Malapertus, does appear for trial, and is about to be hanged, but on the gallows-ladder makes a speech unrivalled in forensic eloquence, and saves his life; nay, having incidentally hinted at some Treasures, the hidingplace of which is well known to him, rises into high favour; is permitted to depart on that pious pilgrimage to Rome he has so much

fate of Bruin, when, ill-counselled, he introduces his stupid head into Rustefill's half-split log, has the wedges whisked away, and stands clutched there, as in a vice, and uselessly roaring, disappointed of honey, sure only of a beating without parallel! Not to forget the Mare, whom, addressing her by the title of Good-wife, with all politeness, Isegrim, sore pinched with hunger, asks whether she will sell her foal: she answers, that the price is written on her hinder hoof; which document the intending purchaser, being "an Erfurt graduate," declares his full ability to read; but finds there no writing, or print, save only the print of six horsenails on his own manles visage. And abundance of the like; sufficien

Whereby it would appear, if we are to believe Grimbart the Badger, that Reinecke was not only the cheater in this case, but also the cheatee; however, he makes matters straight again in that other noted fish expedition, where Isegrim minded not to steal but to catch fish, and having no fishing-tackle, by Reinecke's advice, inserts his tail into the lake, in winterseason; but before the promised string of trouts, all hooked to one another, and to him, will bite, is frozen in, and left there to his own bitter meditations.

We here take leave of Reineke de Fos, and of the whole Æsopic genus, of which it is al most the last, and by far the most remarkable example. The Age of Apologue, like that of Chivalry and Love-singing, is gone; for no thing in this Earth has continuance. If we

will again be a sunny Firmament and verdan Earth, as well as a Pantry and culinary Fire and men will learn not only to recapitulate and compute, but to worship, to love; in tears or in laughter, hold mystical as well as logical communion w.th the high and the low of this wondrous Universe; and read, as they should live, with their whole being. Of which glorious consummation there is at all times, seeing these endowments are indestructible, nay, es sentially supreme, in man, the firmest ulterior certainty, but, for the present, only faint pros pects and far-off indications. Time brings Roses!

TAYLOR'S HISTORIC SURVEY OF GERMAN

POETRY.*

[EDINBURGH REVIEW, 1831.]

Burrying nothing into chaos but themselves. | of it, or, which is the still surer course, altoWhile again, Schifier's Tragedy of the Robbers, gether to hold his peace. Hence freedom from which did not inflame either the young or the much babble that was wont to be oppressive: old nobility of Germany to rob in the forests of probably no watchhorn with such a note as Bohemia, or indeed to do any thing, except per- that of Mrs. More's can again be sounded, by haps yawn a little less, proved equally innocu- male or female Dogberry, in these Islands. ous in England, and might still be acted without Again, there is no one of our younger, more offence, could living individuals, idle enough vigorous Periodicals, but has its German for that end, be met with here. Nay, this same craftsman, gleaning what he can we have Schiller, not indeed by Robbers, yet by Wallen- seen Jean Paul quoted in English Newspapers. steins, by Maids of Orleans, and Wilhelm Telis, Nor, among the signs of improvement, at least has actually conquered for himself a fixed of extended curiosity, let us omit our British dominion among us, which is yearly widening; Foreign Reviews, a sort of merchantmen that round which other German kings, of less in- regularly visit the Continental, especially the trinsic prowess, and of greater, are likewise German ports, and bring back such ware as erecting thrones. And yet, as we perceive, luck yields them, with the hope of better. civilized society still stands in its place; and Last, not least among our evidences of Philothe public taste, as well as the public virtue, Germanism, here is a whole Historic Survey of live on, though languidly, as before. For, in German Poetry, in three sufficient octavos; and fine, it has become manifest that the old Cim- this not merely in the eulogistic and recommerian forest is now quite felled and tilled; mendatory vein, but proceeding in the way of that the true Children of Night, whom we have criticism, and indifferent, impartial narrative: to dread, dwell not on the banks of the Danube, a man of known character, of talent, experience, but nearer hand. penetration, judges that the English public is prepared for such a service, and likely to reward it.

These are appearances, which, as advocates for the friendly approximation of all men and all peoples, and the readiest possible interchange of whatever each produces of advantage to the others, we must witness gladly Free Literary intercourse with other nations, what is it but an extended Freedom of the Press; a liberty to read (in spite of Ignorance, of Prejudice, which is the worst of Censors) what our foreign teachers also have printed for us ?-ultimately, therefore, a liberty to speak and to hear, were it with men of all countries and of all times; to use, in utmost compass, those precious natural organs, by which not Knowledge only but mutual Affection is chiefly generated among mankind! It is a natural wish in man to know his fellow-passengers in this Strange Ship, or Planet, on this strange Life-voyage: neither need his curiosity restrict itself to the cabin where he himself chances to lodge; but may extend to all acces

Could we take our progress in knowledge of German Literature since that diatribe was written, as any measure of our progress in the science of Criticism, above all in the grand science of national Tolerance, there were some reason for satisfaction. With regard to Germany itself, whether we yet stand on the right footing, and know at last how we are to live in profitable neighbourhood and intercourse with that country; or whether the present is but one of those capricious tides, which also will have its reflux, may seem doubtful: meanwhile, clearly enough, a rapidly growing favour for German Literature comes to light; which favour too is the more hopeful, as it now grounds itself on better knowledge, on direct study and judgment. Our knowledge is better, if only because more general. Within the last ten years, independent readers of German have multiplied perhaps a hundred fold; so that now this acquirement is almost expected as a natural item in liberal education. Hence, in a great number of minds, some immediate personal insight into the deeper sig-sible departments of the vessel. In all he Dificance of German Intellect and Art;- will find mysterious beings, of Wants and everywhere, at least a feeling that it has some Endeavours like his own; in all he will find such significance. With independent readers, Men; with these let him comfort and manimoreover, the writer ceases to be independent, foldly instruct himself. As to German Literawhich of itself is a considerable step. Our ture, in particular, which professes to be not British Translators, for instance, have long only new, but original, and rich in curious inbeen unparalleled in modern literature, and, formation for us; which claims, moreover, ike their country, "the envy of surrounding nothing that we have not granted to the French, nations:" but new there are symptoms that, Italian, Spanish, and in a less degree to far even in the remote German province, they meaner literatures, we are gratified to see that must no longer range quite at will; that the such claims can no longer be resisted. In the butchering of a Foust will henceforth be present fallow state of our English Literature, ccounted literary homicide, and practitioners when no Poet cultivates his own poetic field, of that quality must operate on the dead sub- but all are harnessed into Editorial teams, and ject only. While there are Klingemanns and ploughing in concert, for Useful Knowledge, Claurens in such abundance, let no merely or Bibliopolic Profit, we regard this renewal ambitious, or merely hungry Interpreter, fasten of our intercourse with poetic Germany, after on Goethes and Schillers. Remark, too, with twenty years of languor or suspension, as satisfaction, how the old established British among the most remarkable and even promis Crime now feels that it has become unsafe ing features of our recent intellectual history. to speak delirium on this subject; wherefore In the absence of better tendencies, iet this, he prudently restricts himself to one of two which is no idle, but, in some points of view, curses: either to acquire some understanding a deep and earnest one, be encouraged. For

ourselves, in the midst of so many louder and more exciting interests, we feel it a kind of duty to cast some glances now and then on this little stiller interest; since the matter is once for all to be inquired into, sound notions on it should be furthered, unsound ones cannot be too speedily corrected. It is on such grounds that we have taken up this Historic Survey.

expositors of German things; that his book is greatly the most important we yet have on this subject. Here are upwards of fourteen hun dred solid pages of commentary, narrative, and translation, submitted to the English reader; numerous statements and personages, hitherto unheard of, or vaguely heard of, stand here in fixed shape; there is, if no map of intellectual Germany, some first attempt at such. Farther, we are to state that our author is a zealous, earnest man; no hollow dilettante hunting after shadows, and prating he knows not what; but a substantial, distinct, remarkably decisive man; has his own opinion on many subjects, and can express it adequately. We should say, precision of idea was a striking quality of his : no vague transcendentalism, or mysticism of any kind; nothing but what is measurable and tangible, and has a meaning which he that runs may read, is to be apprehended here. He is a man of much classical and other reading; of much singular reflection; stands on his own basis, quiescent yet immovable: a certain rugged vigour of natural power, interesting even in its distortions, is everywhere manifest. Lastly, we venture to assign him the rare merit of honesty: he speaks out in plain English what is in him; seems heartily convinced of his own doctrines, and preaches them because they are his own; not for the sake of sale, but of truth; at worst, for the sake of making proselytes.

Mr. Taylor is so considerable a person, that no Book deliberately published by him, on any subject, can be without weight. On German Poetry, such is the actual state of public information and curiosity, his guidance will be sure to lead or mislead a numerous class of inquirers. We are therefore called on to examine him with more than usual strictness and minuteness. The Press, in these times, has become so active; Literature-what is still called Literature-has so dilated in volume, and diminished in density, that the very Reviewer feels at a nonplus, and has ceased to review. Why thoughtfully examine what was written without thought; or note faults and merits, where there is neither fault nor merit? From a Nonentity, imbodied, with innocent deception, into foolscap and printer's ink, and named Book; from the common wind of Talk, even when it is conserved by such mechanism, for days, in the shape of Froth,-how shall the hapless Reviewer filter aught in that once so profitable colander of his? He has ceased, as we said, to attempt the impossible,-cannot review, but only discourse; he dismisses his too unproductive Author, generally with civil words, not to quarrel needlessly with a fellowcreature; and must try, as he best may, to grind from his own poor garner. Authors long looked with an evil, envious eye on the Re-logue, will find help; though for that class, viewer, strove often to blow out his light, which only burnt the clearer for such blasts; but now, cunningly altering their tactics, they have extinguished it by want of oil. Unless for some unforeseen change of affairs, or some new-contrived machinery, of which there is yet no trace, the trade of Reviewer is well nigh done.

On the strength of which properties, we reckon that this Historic Survey may, under certain conditions, be useful and acceptable to two classes. First, to incipient students of German Literature in the original; who in any History of their subject, even in a bare cata

unfortunately, Mr. Taylor's help is much diminished in value by several circumstances by this one, were there no other, that he nowhere cites any authority: the path he has opened may be the true or the false one; for farther researches and lateral surveys there is no direction or indication. But, secondly, we reckon that this Book may be welcome to many of the much larger miscellaneous class, whe read less for any specific object than for the sake of reading; to whom any book, that will, either in the way of contradiction or of confirmation, by new wisdom, or new perversion of wisdom, stir up the stagnant inner man, is a windfall; the rather if it bring some historic tidings also, fit for remembering, and repeat ing; above all, if, as in this case, the style, with many singularities, have some striking merits, and so the book be a light exercise, even an entertainment.

The happier are we that Mr. Taylor's Book is of the old stamp, and has substance in it for our uses. If no honour, there will be no disgrace, in having carefully examined it; which service, indeed, is due to our readers, not without curiosity in this matter, as well as to the Author. In so far as he seems a safe guide, and brings true tidings from the promised land, let us proclaim that fact, and recommend him to all pilgrims: if, on the other hand, his tidings are false, let us hasten to make this also known; that the German Canaan suffer not, in the eyes of the fainthearted, by spurious samples of its produce and reports of bloodthirsty sons of Anak dwelling there, which this harbinger and spy brings out of it. In either case, we may hope, our Author, who loves the Germans in his way, and would have his countrymen brought into closer acquaintance with them, will feel that, in purpose at least, we are co-cited: "A complete History of German Pos operating with him.

First, then, be it admitted without hesitation, hat Mr. Taylor, in respect of general talent and acqairement, takes his place above all our

To such praise and utility the work is just ly entitled; but this is not all it pretends to; and more cannot without many limitations be con ceded it. Unluckily the Historic Survey is not what it should be, but only what it would be. Our Author hastens to correct in his Preface any false hopes his Titlepage may have ex

try," it seems, "is hardly within reach of his local command of library: so comprehensive an undertaking would require another res dence in a country from which he has now been