the unseen world and other essays-第51章
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il our own time。 By reason of the practical freedom of action thus secured； the Italian civic republics； the Hanse towns； and the cities of Holland and Flanders； were enabled gradually to develop a vast commerce。 The outlying position of the Netherlands； remote from the imperial authorities； and on the direct line of commerce between Italy and England； was another and a peculiar advantage。 Throughout the Middle Ages the Flemish and Dutch cities were of considerable political importance； and in the fifteenth century the Netherland provinces were the most highly civilized portion of Europe north of the Alps。 For several generations they had enjoyed； and had known how to maintain； civic liberties； and when Charles and Philip attempted to fasten upon them their 〃peculiar institution；〃 the Spanish Inquisition； they were ripe for political as well as theological revolt。 Natural laws were found to operate on the Rhine as well as on the Tagus； and at the end of the great war of independence； Holland was not only better equipped than Spain for a European conflict； but was rapidly ousting her from the East Indian countries which she had in vain attempted to colonize。
But if we were to take up all the interesting and instructive themes suggested by Mr。 Motley's work； we should never come to an end。 We must pass over the exciting events narrated in these last volumes； the victory of Nieuport； the siege of Ostend； the marvellous career of Maurice； the surprising exploits of Spinola。 We have attempted not so much to describe Mr。 Motley's book as to indulge in sundry reflections suggested by the perusal of it。 But we cannot close without some remarks upon a great man； whose character Mr。 Motley seems to have somewhat misconceived。
If Mr。 Motley exhibits any serious fault； it is perhaps the natural tendency to TAKE SIDES in the events which he is describing； which sometimes operates as a drawback to complete and thoroughgoing criticism。 With every intention to do justice to the Catholics； Mr。 Motley still writes as a Protestant； viewing all questions from the Protestant side。 He praises and condemns like a very fair…minded Huguenot； but still like a Huguenot。 It is for this reason that he fails to interpret correctly the very complex character of Henry IV。； regarding him as a sort of selfish renegade whom he cannot quite forgive for accepting the crown of France at the hands of the Pope。 Now this very action of Henry； in the eye of an impartial criticism； must seem to be one of his chief claims to the admiration and gratitude of posterity。 Henry was more than a mere Huguenot： he was a far…seeing statesman。 He saw clearly what no ruler before him； save William the Silent； had even dimly discerned； that not Catholicism and not Protestantism； but absolute spiritual freedom was the true end to be aimed at by a righteous leader of opinion。 It was as a Catholic sovereign that he could be most useful even to his Huguenot subjects； and he shaped his course accordingly。 It was as an orthodox sovereign； holding his position by the general consent of Europe； that he could best subserve the interests of universal toleration。 This principle he embodied in his admirable edict of Nantes。 What a Huguenot prince might have done； may be seen from the shameful way in which the French Calvinists abused the favour which Henryand Richelieu afterwardsaccorded to them。 Remembering how Calvin himself 〃dragooned〃 Geneva； let us be thankful for the fortune which； in one of the most critical periods of history； raised to the highest position in Christendom a man who was something more than a sectarian。
With this brief criticism； we must regretfully take leave of Mr。 Motley's work。 Much more remains to be said about a historical treatise which is； on the whole； the most valuable and important one yet produced by an American； but we have already exceeded our limits。 We trust that our author will be as successful in the future as he has been in the past； and that we shall soon have an opportunity of welcoming the first instalment of his 〃History of the Thirty Years' War。〃
March； 1868。
XI。 LONGFELLOW'S DANTE。＇33＇
＇33＇ The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri。 Translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow。 3 vols。 Boston： Ticknor & Fields； 1867。
THE task of a translator is a thankless one at best。 Be he never so skilful and accurate； be he never so amply endowed with the divine qualifications of the poet； it is still questionable if he can ever succeed in saying satisfactorily with new words that which has once been inimitably saidsaid for all timewith the old words。 Psychologically； there is perhaps nothing more complex than an elaborate poem。 The sources of its effect upon our minds may be likened to a system of forces which is in the highest degree unstable； and the slightest displacement of phrases； by disturbing the delicate rhythmical equilibrium of the whole； must inevitably awaken a jarring sensation。〃 Matthew Arnold has given us an excellent series of lectures upon translating Homer； in which he doubtless succeeds in showing that some methods of translation are preferable to others； but in which he proves nothing so forcibly as that the simplicity and grace； the rapidity； dignity； and fire； of Homer are quite incommunicable； save by the very words in which they first found expression。 And what is thus said of Homer will apply to Dante with perhaps even greater force。 With nearly all of Homer's grandeur and rapidity； though not with nearly all his simplicity； the poem of Dante manifests a peculiar intensity of subjective feeling which was foreign to the age of Homer； as indeed to all pre…Christian antiquity。 But concerning this we need not dilate； as it has often been duly remarked upon； and notably by Carlyle； in his 〃Lectures on Hero…Worship。〃 Who that has once heard the wail of unutterable despair sounding in the line
〃Ahi； dura terra； perche non t' apristi？〃
can rest satisfied with the interpretation
〃Ah； obdurate earth； wherefore didst thou not open？〃
yet this rendering is literally exact。
＇34＇ As Dante himself observes； 〃E pero sappia ciascuno； che nulla cosa per legame musaico armonizzata si puo della sue loquela in altra trasmutare sanza rompere tutta sue dolcezza e armonia。 E questa e la ragione per che Omero non si muto di greco in latino； come l'altre scritture che avemo da loro： e questa e la ragione per che i versi del Psaltero sono sanza dolcezza di musica e d'armonia； che essi furono trasmutati d' ebreo in greco； e di greco in latino； e nella prima trasmutazione tutta quella dolcezza venne meno。〃 Convito； I。 7； Opere Minori； Tom。 III。 p。 80。 The noble English version of the Psalms possesses a beauty which is all its own。
A second obstacle； hardly less formidable； hardly less fatal to a satisfactory translation； is presented by the highly complicated system of triple rhyme upon which Dante's poem is constructed。 This； which must ever be a stumbling…block to the translator； seems rarely to interfere with the free and graceful movement of the original work。 The mighty thought of the master felt no impediment from the elaborate artistic panoply which must needs obstruct and harass the interpretation of the disciple。 Dante's terza rima is a bow of Odysseus which weaker mortals cannot bend with any amount of tugging； and which Mr。 Longfellow has judiciously refrained from trying to bend。 Yet no one can fail to remark the prodigious loss entailed by this necessary sacrifice of one of the most striking characteristics of the original poem。 Let any one who has duly reflected upon the strange and subtle effect produced on him by the peculiar rhyme of Tennyson's 〃In Memoriam；〃 endeavour to realize the very different effect which would be produced if the verses were to be alternated or coupled in successive pairs； or if rhyme were to be abandoned for blank verse。 The exquisite melody of the poem would be silenced。 The rhyme…system of the 〃Divine Comedy〃 refuses equally to be tampered with or ignored。 Its effect upon the ear and the mind is quite as remarkable as that of the rhyme…system of 〃In Memoriam〃； and the impossibility of reproducing it is one good reason why Dante must always suffer even more from transl
