318 TRAVELS 
ther new to poetry, has fomething in it very {Iriking, is prettily 
introduced and well turned. This little piece, confidered as the 
production of a girl who could neither write nor read, is a won¬ 
derful performance. It is nature’s poet delivering the dictates of 
her heart in the words which love has fuggefled, and “ fnatching 
“ a grace beyond the reach of art.” This Finnifh Sappho, amidlt 
all the fnows of her ungenial climate, difcovers all the warmth 
of the poetefs of Lefbos. I (hall lay before the reader two tranf- 
lations of this fong, the one in profe, the other in verfe. 
The following profe tranflation is as near the original as the 
Englifh language can approach the Finnifh—• 
I. 
“ Oh ! that my beloved were now here ; That his well-known 
“ figure were but before me ! How fliould I fly into his arms. And 
“ kifs him though his face were befmeared with the blood of a 
“ wolf! How fhould I prefs his hand, Even though a fnake were 
44 twilled round it!” 
II. 
44 Alas ! why have not the winds underflanding ? And why is 
44 the breeze bereft of fpeech ? The winds might exchange fenti- 
44 ments betwixt my beloved and me. The breezes might every 
44 inflant carry my words to him and bring back his to me.” 
III. 
44 How then would the delicacies of the reClor’s table be ne- 
44 gleCtcd ! How inattentive fliould I be to the drefs of his daugh- 
%< ter ! 
