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    caret ! little for translations in general , and Spanish in particular ; in fact , that for a translation to liavo any chance of success , it should be from- the works of an author well known , and of European reputation . " To the fact , that all plays and poems are very much better in their national idiom , I most unhesitatingly succumb ; hut my object was not to induce the Spanish scholar to read aii English translation of plays so infinitely superior in their original text , but to support my assertion that Spain ' at the present clay owns authors whose compositions well deserve the attention even of those who do not understand the language . " ! 1 vrliiirri \\ TTanA 7 rVlon mill falrinrr frrf model Mr liCWeS book it suiu waiti iux 1 j . »» . » -v ~~ » v

    T r > en v rn n v . r »« r rnv . x ucuiumgiy uuviseu a new pian , ng mj nw" ^ . ..,.. V .. on Lope de Vega and Calderou , endeavoured to select such parts of the dramatic writings of the authors above named as I thought most worthy of notice ; but here another difficulty presented itself , —my name was utterly unknown to the literary public ; the work was one requiring considerable research and accuracy , as well as time ; and I confess I did not feel disposed to undertake such a task , without at least a hope that when accomplished , my book might have some chance of success . Moreover , from the reasons I have stated , until a writer has some hold on public sympathy and opinion , the passages of his selection may agree very well with his own , but be utterly opposite to the public taste .

    " Finally I determined on sending forward , as an experiment , one of these plays without any curtailment ; as even if it proved a total failure , it would at least have involved less sacrifice . " The first thing that struck us in the Flower of a Bay was its essentially undramatic spirit ; the second , its essential unlikeness to the old Spanish plays ; the third , its resemblance to one and all of the dramas-published by our own Unacted . Is it that bad dramas are necessarily all after one model ? or is it that the genius which is not dramatic must , by some law of its own , wander from the right path in only one particular direction ? Whatever the cause , the facfc is certain—all unactable dramas are alike ,

    alike not only in the negative quality of being unadapted for the stage , but in the positive defects whereby they differ from actable dramas . Here is a play by a modem Spanish poe £ which might have been published by Saunders and Otley . Yet—curiously enough—this play is , Mr . Parker assures us , very popular in Spain : a fact the more curious when we think of the ancient Spanish drama , so illustrious for the rapidity and ingenuity of its plots , and breathless situations . The personages enter , speak , and depart in the most undramatic style . Thus , a Negro servant ( coming to inform the heroine that his master is about to pay his respects ) is stopped by the fair lady , — « Sav—wilt thou tell the tale

    Of thy past life to me : " _ . ¦ _ which , of course , he is only too happy to do , and does it in a speech of two pages and a half , setting forth how Don Diego saved him from " a panther fierce . " This tirade delivered , tlxe Negro bows and departs . Presently , another gentleman is announced , and this scene takes place : — " The Mae ' qtjis , Lola , and afterwards the Babox . Marquis . Lady , I beg to offer my respects . Are you the Baron ' s daughter ? By my faith , The world hath not belied your beauty ' s fame . Lola . You are too courteous . Marquis . Pray do not ascribe To ilattcry , what alone is your desert . Lota . Marquis , a thousand thanks . ( Enter the 15 aeon . ) Marquis . Baron , I rise . Jiaron . My house is hut too honoured when I see Tho Marquis of Montero as my guest . Marquis . You are too kind . On leaving Santander , Your . sister begged that I would call to ask After your health , Lola . Father , shall I retire ? Marquis . I should feel sorry that my visit hero Should cause your absence—and the more , that oft 1 heard from Dona Anna of her nieco As oho of nature ' s paragons . Lola . Poor Aunt ! Huron . My sister speaks too fondly of my child . Marquis , Tho noble lady feels her strength decline By moments , and divides her every thought lietwoen her nieco 8 nd you . And , by my iiufcli , ' She in u lady of high presence . I Owe to her 'friendship numy a pleasant hour . Jiaron . Throughout tho war we , have heard much of you . Marquis . Yes , Baron ! I , like many , took up arms Against our foes , the French . Jiaron . And no small fame Gained in tho war . Marquis . To give n sabre , stroke Olio does not need much genius . ¦ Uaran . Do you still l ' umu ! the . same career ? Marquis . When Brigadier , . 1 asked for my retirement from thu King . 1 did not serve for honours . Jiaron . ' But you hold A high renown for valour and for skill . ' Marqtcis . A hopojess love had made mo desperate . Reckless of life , I fought not to defend ' . My country— -1 . hut sought distraction , and I'J ' en thin 1 could not find in war . Jjola . Wero thon All ties to life ho prematurely crushed . Marquis . What help had I 1 ' the wound still throhs at times . Lola . WtiM yours n . n unrequited passion i Marquis . Wo , Tiiulv : that < loea not kill .

    ¦¦ ¦ Lola . Then perhaps you gave Your heart to one unworthy of your love ? Marquis . Yes , and was cruelly deceived . My soul— - My being—all my feelings were engrossed By ono loved , worshipped girl ; for one fond hope I gave my peace—my rest ; when this was lost What passions could exist in the parched soul ? . . ¦¦ Fierce jealousies which drive to madness—Ifeen "Distrust of all—a Weariness of life—The cold—cold ashes of a thing that was . Lola . In truth I pity you . Marquis . These , lady , are The inner mysteries of the heart , which you Have not yet learned . I sought to find a grave In battle—but the wretched never meet Their death when wished for . Lola . Was your grief so keen , It made you wish for death ? Marquis . When you have learned All I have suffered , you will know my love . Baron . But time and change will give you back your peace . Marquis . Who gives me back the virgin purity Of soul—the faith—the hopes that I have lost , E ' en should oblivion blot this scene from life . , Baron . Marquis , you should not say , I will not drink A draught like this—the future God alone Disposeth . Marquis . Blessed be the voice winch tells Of hope to me . Lola . Marquis , there is a God Who watches over the unfortunate . Marquis { aside ) . Why knew I not this woman in the hour That I could love ? Lola ( aside ) . There is a bitter force In all his words , that interests my heart . Marquis ( rising tip ) . I fear I trespass on your time . Baron . Not so , 'Tis we are honoured by your company . I trust our friendship may increase by time . . itf __ _• _ r- \ r * t » j __ _ ? __ j ¦ \

    jyj . arquis . ji sucn society one ne er can tire . Adieu- ^—( giving his hand to the Baron ) . Adieu , lady— ( aside ) how beautiful she is !" Has not the reader read that in a hundred dreary dramas ? How easy and natural the transitions ! how unforced the topics ! and then the sudden love of the marquis for a young lady , whose principal remark is , that there is a God watching over the unfortunate ! Don Diego , the betrothed of Lola , now appears , to inform her father that he is summoned away to Buenos Ayres , and begs the Baron " will grant his prayer , that Lola may become his w ifc ; " a prayer tho B aron refuses on the not very intelligible ground , — "I did not think thou would'st prevent her tears From falling on an aged father ' s grave . " But Diego seems satisfied , and departs w ith the assurance that Lola shall be his wife on his return . Of course , on his return she has married another ; and that other tho most ingenuous reader cannot but havo guessed to be tho melancholy marquis . She tells us , however , that she didn't lovo the marquis , — " I gave my hand through pride and not thro' love . " Tho marquis , it appears , has just boon saved from drowning—of course by his rival —( returned lovers always take care of the inisc en schic , that their re-appeararico may be a coup de thSdtre )—and very wonderful it ia to see upon how slight an indication Lola , who fancies him in Buenos Ayi-es , instantly divines the stranger to be Diego : — " Tho sailors strove their utmost to assist Our failing strength , but could not near us , for The surf would not allow it—when a man . Jumped from the nearest boat , and swum at onco To our assistance , caught me in his arms As if a straw , and bore ; me to his boat . What strength of arm ! Good God !—Jjola . i hope you wen ? Most generous to the gallant sailor . Marquis . No , He was no sailor , but a gentleman Most brave , most polished-dark , of pleasing form—Well dressed , not foppish—with u giant ' s heart , And a child ' s frankness . Wishing to repay ( 1-iO . TiA . listens with , ( jrc . al uneasiness . As far as in mo liew his noble act , I begged him to come here , hut he refused . I led , hint sit his inn , and sinco have Kent Our carriage , praying him to honour us At least to-night—and , Lola , pray receive ¦ My guest as ono who saved your ' husband ' ci life . i ^" *> Lola , ( aside ) . This is a judgment sent from You nro pale .... . Lo 1 " - Yes , yt * ' . . . I am not woll—I tremble - " Wo Imvo quoted enough to indicate to any experienced ayo U > f ? ¥ * o IJi . h piooo . Kvon Mr . !> arker , who l . nmHlaten it , doen not n ' l ^ h'tf " * ot us urnnuiuc qualities : — " Thr iriowrr of a /><„/ in 1 ... L < an old tale , and often told : ' the uiwvrf * Bopurntion oi two lovero , and tho infidelity oftho lady ; who , like tho four l »»« '

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    860 THE L E APE R . [ SA ^ ty RDAY ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 3, 1853, page 860, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2002/page/20/