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ated by the Greek poets many centuries before the Christian era.

SCOTT.

There is certainly somewhat of Grecian simplicity in the old song itself; and if Pindar had been an Irishman, I think he would have celebrated this favourite haunt in a style not very different from Millikin's classic rhapsody.

PROUT.

Millikin, the reputed author of that song, was but a simple translator from the Greek original. Indeed, I have discovered, when abroad, in the library of Cardinal Mazarin, an old Greek manuscript, which, after diligent examination, I am convinced must be the oldest and " princeps editio" of the song. I begged to be allowed to copy it, in order that I might compare it with the ancient Latin or Vulgate translation which is preserved in the Brera at Milan; and from a strict and minute comparison with that, and with the Norman-French copy which is appended to Doomsday-book, and the Celtic-Irish fragment preserved by Crofton Croker, (rejecting as spurious the Arabic, Armenian, and Chaldaic stanzas on the same subject, to be found in the collection of the Royal Asiatic Society,) I have come to the conclusion that the Greeks were the undoubted original con

trivers of that splendid ode; though whether we ascribe it to Tyrtæus or Callimachus will depend on future evidences; and perhaps, Sir Walter, you would give me your opinion, as I have copies of all the versions I allude to at my dwelling on the hill.

SCOTT.

I cannot boast, learned father, of much νους in Hellenistic matters; but should find myself quite at home in the Gaelic and Norman-French, to inspect which I shall with pleasure accompany you: so here I kiss the stone!

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The wonders of "the castle," and " cave," and "lake," were speedily gone over; and now, according to the usage of the dramatist in presenting his characters to the spectators, modò Roma, modò ponit Athenis, we shift the scene to the Grecian tabernacle of Father Prout on Watergrasshill, where, in that rustic parlour described in the last Number of REGINA, round a small table sat Scott, Knapp, and Prout a triumvirate of critics never surpassed in keen and judicious scrutiny. The papers before them fell into my possession when the table was cleared for the subsequent repast; and thus I am able to submit to the world's decision what these three doctors could not decide, viz. which is the original version of the "Groves of Blarney."

The Groves of Blarney.

LE BOIS DE Blarnaye.

I.

The groves of Blarney,
They look so charming,
Down by the purlings
Of sweet silent brooks,
All decked by posies

That spontaneous grow there,
Planted in order

In the rocky nooks.
"Tis there the daisy,
And the sweet carnation,
The blooming pink,
And the rose so fair;
Likewise the lily,
And the daffodilly-
All flowers that scent

The sweet open air.

I.

Charmans bocages!

Vous me ravissez,
Que d'avantages

Vous réunissez!

Rochers sauvages,
Paisibles ruisseaux,
Tendres ramages

De gentils oiseaux:
Dans ce doux parage
Aimable Nature
A fait étalage

D'éternelle verdure;
Et les fleurs, à mesure
Qu'elles croissent, à raison
De la belle saison
Font briller leur parure!

II.

'Tis Lady Jeffers

Owns this plantation;
Like Alexander,
Or like Helen fair,
There's no commander

In all the nation,
For regulation,

Can with her compare.

Such walls surround her,
That no nine-pounder
Could ever plunder
Her place of strength;
But Oliver Cromwell,
Her he did pommel,
And made a breach

In her battlement.

II.

C'est Madame de Jefferts,
Femme pleine d'adresse,
Qui sur ces beaux déserts
Règne en fière princesse.
Elle exerce ses droits
Comme dame maîtresse,
Dans cette forteresse
Que là haut je vois.
Plus sage mille fois
Qu'Hélène ou Cléopatre,
Cromvel seul put l'abbâtre,
La mettant aux abois,

Quand, allumant sa mêche,
Point ne tira au hasard,
Mais bien dans son rempart

Fit irréparable brèche.

Ἡ Ὑλη Βλαρνικη.

Blarneum Nemus.

α.

Της Βλαβνιας αἱ ὑλαι Φερισται, καλλίφυλλαί,

Όπου σιγῇ ρεουσι
Πηγαι ψιθυρίζουσαι·
Έκοντα γεννηθεντα
Όμως τε φυτευθέντα
Μεσσοις εν αγκονεσσιν
Εστ' ανθή πετρώδεσσιν.
Εκει εστ' αγλαίημα
Γλυκυ και ερυθημα,
Ιον τ' εκει θαλον τε

Βασιλικον ροδον τε.
Και λείριον τε φυεί,
Ασφόδελος τε βρυει,
Παντ' ανθεμ' & καλῃσιν

Εν ενδιαίς αησιν.

β.

Ταυτης ΙΕΦΕΡΕΣΣΑ

Καλη και χαρίεσσα
«Ως Ελενη, ὡς τ' υἱος

Του Αμμονος ὁ διος,
Φυτείας εστ' ανάσση.
Ιερνη τ' εν άπαση
Ουτις βροτων γένοιτο
Ος αυτή συμφέροιτο
Οικονομειν γας οι δε
Τοίχοι τόσοι τοιοι δε
Αυτην αμφιστέφονται,
Πολεμικη ὡς βροντη
Μάτην νιν βαλλ' ὡς ἡρως
Κρομύελλος Ολιψηρος
Έτερσε, δι' άπασας

Ακροπολεως περάσας.

I.

Quisquis hic in lætis
Gaudes errare viretis,
Turrigeras rupes
Blarnea saxa stupes!
Murmure dum cæco

Lympharum perstrepit echo,
Quas veluti mutas

Ire per arva putas.
Multus in hoc luco

Rubet undique flos sine fuco,

Ac ibi formosam

Cernis ubique rosam;

Suaviter hi flores

Miscent ut amabis odores;

Nec requiem demus,

Nam placet omne nemus!

II.

Fœmina dux horum

Regnat Jeferessa locorum,

Pace, virago gravis,
Marteque pejor avis!
Africa non atram

Componeret ei Cleopatram,
Nec Dido constares!
Non habet illa pares.
Turre manens istâ

Nullâ est violanda balistâ:

Turris erat diris

Non penetranda viris ;
Cromwellus latum

Tamen illic fecit hiatum,

Et ludos heros

Lusit in arce feros!

III.

There is a cave where

No daylight enters,

But cats and badgers
Are for ever bred;

And mossed by nature
Makes it completer
Than a coach-and-six,
Or a downy-bed.
'Tis there the lake is
Well stored with fishes,
And comely eels in
The verdant mud;
Besides the leeches,
And groves of beeches,
Standing in order
To guard the flood.

III.

Il est dans ces vallons
Une sombre caverne,

Où jamais nous n'allons
Qu'armés d'une lanterne.
La mousse en cette grotte
Tapissant chaque motte
Vous offre des sofas;
Et là se trouve unie
La douce symphonie
Des hiboux et des chats.
Tout près on voit un lac,
Où les poissons affluent,
Avec assez de sangsues
Pour en remplir un sac;
Et sur ces bords champêtres
On a planté des hétres.

IV.

There gravel walks are
For recreation,

And meditation

In sweet solitude.

"Tis there the lover

May hear the dove, or
The gentle plover,
In the afternoon;
And if a lady

Would be so engaging
As for to walk in

Those shady groves,
'Tis there the courtier
Might soon transport her
Into some fort, or
The "sweet rock-close."

IV.

Ici l'homme atrabilaire
Un sentier peut choisir
Pour y suivir à loisir
Son rêve solitaire,

Quand une nymphe cruelle

L'a mis au désespoir,

Sans qu'il puisse émouvoir
L'inexorable belle.
Quel doux repos je goûte,
Assis sur ce gazon!
Du rossignol j'écoute
Le tendre diapason.
Ah! dans cet antre noir
Puisse ma Léonore,
Celle que mon cœur adore,
Venir furtive au soir!

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