TO THE READER. THIS work, the result of long and conscientious labour, owes, in a great measure, its origin to the encouragement given to me, by the critical Periodicals of this country, when some years ago I published my first Essay on the subject. Of the many difficulties I had to contend with, one of the greatest-the materials once collected-has been to give to every group its symmetrical proportions, to assign to the prominent figures their proper places, so as to enable the Reader to survey with ease the whole literary landscape like a vast panorama. Hence the necessity for introducing order and simplicity into the arrangement; my object being not so much to write a learned work (of which there exist already many), as to produce one that should be intelligible, because concise; and thus prove practically useful to the Reader. To attain this desideratum, I have treated the subject chronologically in the various Introductory Essays, and alphabetically, as regards the Writers and their Works, in the Lists accompanying each period. The Translations, either prepared by myself, or selected from British authors of acknowledged literary standing, will, I trust, be acceptable to the Reader. I am anxious to express here, how deeply indebted I feel to the many gifted British interpreters of the literature of my native country, among whom the gentle sex are so conspicuously and worthily represented. The Reader will, I am sure, know how to appreciate those beautiful hymns, so well translated by MISS WENKWORTH, MISS SWANWICK's stirringly graphic and truthful version of the passages taken from Faust, and ETA MAWR's exquisite Poem, 'Devotion.' He will, no doubt, in reading SIR EDWARD BULWER LYTTON's translations from SCHILLER, the many citations from the celebrated author of Göthe's life, Mr. LEWES, Mr. EDGAR TAYLOR's beautiful Minstrel Songs, the successful versions of German Poems given by Messrs. BOWRING, MERIVALE, KNOX, MARTIN, AYTOUN, ANSTER, HAY WARD, COLERIDGE, IRVINE, CARLYLE, and others, endorse the generally expressed opinion as regards the intrinsic merit belonging to their translations. Conscious of my obligations towards them all, and other British writers who so worthily keep up, in the critical Periodicals, the literary fame of a country which produced a Shakespeare, I must here express my unfeigned regret, that the limits assigned to this portion of my work, precluded the possibility of availing myself still more extensively of so many other valuable specimens of their genius, an omission unavoidable; but which I hope to make good, if spared, in the Second Volume of my Review. I have derived also, and I acknowledge it gratefully, the utmost advantage from the excellent, deservedly appreciated, works on German Literature, of VILMAR, JULIAN SCHMIDT, MENZEL, GERVINUS, KOBERSTEIN, FINDEL, BERNAYS, Professor MAX MÜLLER, KURZ, and PÖLITZ, of DÜNTZER'S and DEYCK's erudite commentaries on 'FAUST,' but especially from the first and last mentioned writers. As a foreigner, and purposely unaided in the compiling, writing, and correcting of this work, I appeal to the indulgence of the British Reader. We live in times when the study of Foreign Literature, has, owing to the increased intercourse between nations, become both a necessity and a duty. Nothing tends more to the spread of civilisation than reciprocal mental intercourse; for nations, who all have their merits and demerits, will, by studying one another, soon learn how to appreciate and respect each other. Gradations and varieties exist in the physical and intellectual world,-Providence willed it thus; but, in the aggregate, they form a beautifully harmonious unit. This harmony in the universe, so often ignored by man, is the Eternal Standard on which are emblazoned indelibly the words— 'Order, Peace, Love.' Let us, in following it, remember Schiller's words, so full of import- Seid umschlungen Millionen.' ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY, WOOLWICH. THE AUTHOR. December, 1862. ARMINIUS. AN INTRODUCTORY POEM, WRITTEN BY THE AUTHOR. ANN Berge und Thäler glühen, Arminius fteigt hernieder, Und schwebet über'm Rhein. Es leuchtet sein Auge fo düfter, Er feufzet tief und schwer; Stumm blicket umher der Cherusker, "Einft fochten die alten Teutonen, Beim ew'gen Wodan, die waren Des deutschen Namens werth! "Sie sangen, dass mächtig erdröhnten Wald, Hain und Felfenkluft; Das fchreckte die wilden Geier "Noch jetzt zu den feligen Höhen, Steigt Sang und Rauch empor; Doch zieh'n wir der ewigen Leier Die Schwerterklänge vor.” Die Stimme des greifen Cheruskers Die steigen empor aus den Grüften, Sie fingen mit donnernder Stimme, (Es horcht die Loreley), Vom Volke einst gross und mächtig, Den Barden ftark und frei! Von Varus und feinen Legionen, Des alten Reiches Pracht! Vom Wahren, das Allen frommet, Und von der Einheit Band, Den treuen und starken Herzen, Von Freiheit, Vaterland. Die Wipfel der heiligen Eichen, Die Gauen umher und die Haine Und wie die Stimmen verhallen, Und rauschen langfam vorüber, Die längst verblich'nen Gestalten Gar mächtig ertönt in der Ferne, Von Roland und Durandarte, Dem Schwert von gutem Klang. Der Urzeit heilige Töne, Wecken der Seele Schmerz; Durchschaueren und ergreifen Gar fehr das deutsche Herz. |