Retrospect of French Literature—Poetry. 
ble de Bourbon; the power and abilities 
of Charles V.; the battle of Pavia; the 
gallant couduct of the French king after 
that event; the campaigns of Montmo- 
renci, &c. afford a variety of interesting 
details for history. 
It is easy to perceive, that Italy always 
afforded a desirable object for the ambi- 
tion of the kings of France, and it was 
the civil wars and disorders which pre- 
railed during the reigns of Francis Il. 
Charles IX. and Henry III. which alone 
prevented those monarchs from attempt- 
ing to subjugate a country, then esteem- 
ed not only the finest, but the richest 
portion of Europe. 
Accordingly at a future period, we be- 
hold a number of the best generals of 
their age, distinguishing themselves by 
their exploits in that country. The et- 
forts of these, however, are all eclipsed, 
by the rapid marches, the. able disposi- 
tions, the celebrated victories, &c. of the 
Emperor Napoleon, who is here flattered 
as equally great in art as in arms, and 
termed at once the wonder and the ad- 
miration of mankind! 
“ Voyage en Italie, &c.”—An Account 
of a Journey to Italy, with the Particu- 
lars of a Voyage to, and Remarks on the 
{sland of Sicily; by M. Crevze pe Les- 
SER, SVO. 
‘' Plusje visl’estranger, plus j’aimai ma patrie.” 
This is the motto adopted by the | 
present traveller, who prefers France 
to Italy, and indeed to all the world. 
The women of Rome, and the other 
great cities; are not only inferior to his 
own countrywomen, but also to those of 
any other natiou he had ever seen before, 
with an exception in regard to such of the 
English females as repaired to Paris, im- 
mediately after the Treaty of Amiens, 
who in his opinion, in dress, person, and 
attractions, were hideous! He forgets to 
add, that, notwithstanding their ugliness, 
many of them were seized and detained, 
in express opposition to the law of na- 
tions, and that too by [Bonaparte, in 
whose praise he is so lavish. 
The battles of Lodi and Marengo af- 
ford ample opportunities to launch into 
military details, and the custom which 
sanctions every Italian lady of any rank, 
to possess two males, the one a husband, 
and the other a Cicisbeo, is described with 
considerable talent. 
POETRY. 
Some of the Parisians have been lately 
amusing themselves,in composing mottos, 
in French and Latin, for the grand pub- 
lic monuments which adorn their capital. 
661 
We formerly exhibited a specimen of 
some of these, and now give a few others, 
from a corrected edition :— 
Pour le Palais des Sciences et des Arts. 
Artes hic Templum posuére, Scientia Se- 
dem: 
Hic sua sunt Phebo, sua sunt altaria 
Musis. 
La France, dans ce Temple aux Muses con- 
sacié, ; 
Des Sciences, des Arts nourrit le feu sacré. 
Pour U Ecole de Médecine. 
Edocet hic aptas gris mortalibus artes 
Indulgens fidis Epidauril numen alumnis. 
Esculape ence lieux, Précepteur tutélaire, 
De son art aux humains dévoile le mistére. 
Pour le Jardin des Plantes. 
Hic plantee € variis collecte partibus orbis 
Diversis pandunt nztalem gentibus her- 
tuny ° 
Ici des végétaux l’assemblage divers 
A fait de ce jard.n celui de Univers. 
Pour Hotel des Invalides. 
Hic, Patriz salva pro libertate, dicato 
Exciit Hospitio las$s pia Gallia cives, &c. 
Of the Descent of Odin, from Bartholi- 
nus, we shall give a short specimen :— 
*¢ La Descente D’Odin, dans le séjour d’ He- 
lab*. Fragment imité de la langue norse. 
(Doriginal se trouve dans louvrage de Bar= 
tholinus, intitulé De causis eontemnenda mortiig- 
Hafnia 1689. In-4°). 
° . ° . . e 2 e @ . e 2. 2 2 
<¢ Le héros est fidéle a la voix qui le guide; 
Il se léve ; et saisi d’un transport généreux, 
I] dirige les pas de son coursier rapide __ 
Vers Pasyle of d’Hélah est l’autel tenébreux. 
Soudain a son aspect, d’une gueule écumante, 
Le dogue de l’Enfer ouvre la profondeur;  __ 
Puis déchire en lambeaux la dépouiile san 
glante 
Qui palpitatit encor sous sa dent en fureur. 
Mais le monstre,entouré des débris du carnage 
Les griffes en arrét, Jes yeux étincelans, 
S’est armé vainement des efforts de sa rage: 
Lecharme le subjugue, et ses longs hurlemens 
N’ébranlent point le front du guerrier qui 
S’avance. 
Laterre en vain mugit et tremble sous ses pasy 
Il voit d’un eil serein, il observe en silence 
Les neuf accés profonds des portes du trépas. 
6 Mails lorsqu’il apergoit la porte orientale 
Il s’arréte plongé dans le recueillement 5 
Et bientdt il s’assied prés de V’urne fatale 
Quijcouronnait le haut d’un sombre monu- 
ment. 
* Héleah, déesse de la Mort, présidait dans 
l’Enfer des peuples gothiques, ll était comx 
pos-de neuf mondes destinés 4 recevoir ceus 
qui mouraient partout ailleurs que dans les 
combats. 
