188 Poetry. 



and its merits have been generally acknowledged* 

 Oberon, an epic romance, by Wieland, discovers 

 the bold and vigorous imagination, and the felicity 

 of description, for which the author has been long 

 celebrated. 



In the Swedish language we also find, in the 

 century under review, two respectable productions 

 of the epic class. The first is entitled Swedish Li- 

 berty, and is a performance of Dahlin, who was 

 before mentioned as the father of poetry in that 

 country. This work, with several essential faults, 

 combines beauties and excellences which render 

 it worthy of attention. The other work, which 

 comes under the same denomination, is The Pas- 

 sage of the Belt, by Count De Gyllenborg, from 

 which the author has derived considerable reputa- 

 tion among his countrymen. The Rossiada of 

 Kheraskof, a Russian nobleman, was before men- 

 tioned as entitled to respectful notice, not only 

 because it possesses considerable merit as a poem; 

 but because it was the first successful attempt to 

 enlist the Russian language in the service of 

 the epic muse, and because its appearance may be 

 considered as forming an important epoch in the 

 history of Russian poetry. 



The translations of different epic poems, in the 

 course of this century, were so numerous, that to 

 give a list and character of them all would lead us 

 into a field far too extensive. But it would be 

 unpardonable, even in this short sketch, to omit 

 taking notice of a few besides those which have 



n the Death of Abel, like several other works of the same author, is 

 written in a kind of loose poetry, unshackled by rhyme, and a precise, 

 uniform adherence to measure. It has been said that this method of 

 writing is peculiarly suited to the German language. It is to be lamented 

 that this work, as well as the Messiah, has never been advantageously 

 presented in English dress. 



o Oberon has been translated, by Mr. Sotheby, into English, in a style 

 of elegance which does him great honour. 



