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In the representation of living personages by ancient myths 

 sufficient opportunity is afforded for satirical allusions. Happy as 

 was the selection of Vondel in representing his hero's misfortune 

 under the name of Palamedes, not less successful was he in the 

 execution of the drama. There, perhaps, does not exist a drama 

 so rich in satire. Sliortly after the death of Prince Maurice 

 this drama was published, and the object of the piece was soon 

 discovered. The author was summoned to appear before the High 

 Coui't at the Hague ; but he concealed himself in the house of his 

 sister, who so little sympathised with him, that she told him, " He 

 had better attend to his shop instead of writing books." " Sister," 

 said he, "I'll tell these people some more truths :" whereupon he 

 composed some powerful satires, which, however, his sister succeeded 

 in destroying. At that time every province in Holland was, as it were, 

 an independent republic, and in conformity with their acknowledged 

 right, the city of Amsterdam refused to give up Vondel, but fined him 

 300 florins (£25) for libel. 



Palamedes, like all his dramas, is entirely on the ancient model. 

 All the unities are observed, chorusses are introduced, and strophes 

 and antistrophes inserted between the acts. It contains scenes equal 

 to any of the Greek dramas, such as Palamedes before the council 

 maintaining his innocence, the description of his last moments, 

 and several others, in which his character remains always the same, 

 calm, conscious of his innocence, and confident of the support of the 

 gods. 



Among the many dramas composed by Vondel, there is none so 

 interesting to the English reader as his " Lucifer," the subject of which 

 is thus described by the author. Lucifer, the chief of all angels, 

 proud, ambitious, and selfish, envied God's unlimited power, and the 

 excellence of man, who, being created in the image of God, governed in 

 his paradise the whole of the earth. This envy was greatly increased 

 when Gabriel, the herald of God, declared all the angels to be but the 

 ministering spirits created to serve God, and to watch over man, and 

 that a glorious future was reserved for Adam. He, therefore, endea- 

 voured, through his agents, Belial and Beelzebub, to sow discontent 

 among the angels, and, concealing his real intentions under the pretext 

 of defending their rights, aroused numbers into open rebellion ; and, 

 notwithstanding the admonition and entreaties of Raphael, led on the 

 rcljellious host against Michael, the general of God. His object had 

 been to become like unto God, and to shut out man from heaven ; but 

 his armies were defeated. Enraged at this defeat, he swore revenge, 



