CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 271 



Tn dismissing these observations, we are bound to declare that Mr. 

 Mudie's " Natural History of Birds" is a very clever and a very useful 

 production — that it is ^ot up with great neatness, and at a very small 

 cost, and is extremely reputable to all concerned in its publication. 



Hector Fieramosca, or The Challenge of Barletta : an Historical Tale. 

 By the Marquis D'Azeglio. Translated from the Italian. Long- 

 man and Co. 1835. 



We remember to have read this work in the original Italian some two 

 or three years since, partly on account of its having excited considerable 

 sensation in that country, but principally from the circumstance of its 

 author being a relative of the justly celebrated Manzoni. It has since 

 obtained popularity on the continent, and been translated into French ; 

 and now it makes its appearance in an English dress by a translator who 

 has certainly done justice to the undertaking. There was an opinion, a 

 very current one, at the time, that the author of *'I Promessi Sposi'* 

 assisted in its composition, and that will sufficiently account for the 

 eagerness with which it was sought on the continent. 



This is principally a work of fiction, but there are so many historical 

 facts and real characters mixed up with its imaginative scenes, that the 

 positive information with which it abounds must give interest to its 

 perusal. A brief historical account of the Challenge of Barletta, and 

 the subsequent combat, usually referred to in history as the Battle of 

 Quadrato, will be found in Mr. Roscoe's " Life of Leo the Tenth ;" but 

 those who have access to the works of Guicciardini, Muratori, Giovio, 

 and others, will find it described more in detail, and the investigation 

 will not be unattended with interest. The state of Italy, at the period 

 thus described, is not so generally known as it ought to be. It is usual 

 for travellers to speak of the Italian character as it exists at the present 

 moment — they are now an oppressed, an enslaved people, but in former 

 ages a braver or more chivalrous race of men never threw the lance, nor 

 wielded the battle-axe. 



The hero of this tale was the son of a gentleman of Capua, grown old 

 in the wars that lacerated Italy during the fifteenth century — he resigned 

 his sword to his son, the youth considering the military profession as the 

 only worthy one — nor could he be expected to have ideas superior to the 

 time in which he lived, when force of arms had the certain effect of 

 increasing wealth and reputation. Nature had bestowed on him the 

 precious gift of being, from his very disposition, urged on to whatever is 

 beautiful, virtuous, and sublime. But, brought up as he had been from 

 early years to the profession of arms, his correct judgment soon learnt 

 what limit is of necessity required even to goodness itself, to prevent its 

 degenerating into weakness ; and the stern rigidity often acquired by 

 being exposed to continual dangers, became in a heart like his a proper 

 firmness — the worthy and valuable endowment of a manly bosom. His 

 intellect increased with his age ; and during the brief intervals of peace, 

 instead of spending his leisure hours in the common pursuits of youth, 

 he was fond of studying literature, and becoming acquainted with the 

 ancient authors, and the honourable deeds of those who had shed their 

 blood for the good of their country. In his early years he had accom- 

 panied his father, whom important business had called to Naples. At 

 the Court of Alphonso he was introduced to the celebrated Pontano, 

 who, struck with the boy's beautiful person, mind, and disposition, became 

 much attached to him ; and receiving hira into the academy, since called 

 the Pontanian Academy, he began to instruct him with great earnest- 

 ness, and obtained in return from the youth that reverent affection which 

 is commonly inspired by gratitude united with admiration. The love 



May, 1835. — vol. ii. no. x. 2 N 



