Sect. I.] Epk Poetry^ 11 



Death of Abel is not less familiar to every intelli- 

 gent reader, and its merits have been generally 

 acknowledged*. Oberon'fy air epic romance, bj 

 Wieland, discovers the bold and vigorous imagi- 

 nation, and the felicity of description, for which 

 the author has been long celebrated J. 



In the Swedish language we also find, in the 

 century under review, two respectable produc- 

 tions of the epic class. The first is entitled Szve- 

 dish Liberty, and is a performance of Dahlin, who 

 was before mentioned as the father of poetry in 



fast and well-pl;mnetl building, resting on ancient columns ; 

 Klopstock's is an enchanted dome, echoing Avith the softest and 

 purest tones of human feeling, hovering between heaven and 

 earth, borne on angels' shoulders. Milton's muse is masculine : 

 Klopstock's is a tender woman, dissolving in pious ecstasies, 

 warbling elegies and hymns. When Music shall acquire among 

 us the highest powers of her art, Avhose words will she select to 

 utter bijt those of Klopstock ?" Letters on Humanisatiofu This is 

 quoted from the Literary Hours of Dr. Drake, wh(t says that 

 " impartial posterity avIU probably confirm the judgement of 

 Herder." A good English translation of The Messiah is still a 

 desideration. 



* The Death of Abel, like several other works of the same' 

 author, is written in a kind of loose poetry, unshackled by 

 rhpue and a precise uniform adherence to measure. It has been 

 said that this method of writing is peculiarly suited to the Ger- 

 man language. It is to be lamented that this work, as well as 

 the Messiah, has never been advantageously pj-esented in an 

 Eqglish dress. 



f Oheron has been translated b)^ Mr. Sotheby into English, in 

 a style' of elegance which does him great honour. 



t Oberon, though the best, is not the only epic poem produced 

 by Wieland. His Llris, his Neucn Amad/s, and his Liebe um 

 Liebe, were prior in time, but inferior in merit. They have, 

 however, been highly commended, particularly by the critics 

 itt the author's own country, 



