AINSI VA LA MONDE, a Poem on the French Revolution, 4to. Second Edition.
MONODY to the Memory of the Queen of France, written during the Reign of Robespierre, with a find Engraving, 4to.
MODERN MANNERS, a Satire, in Two Cantos, 4to.
THE SICILIAN LOVER, a Tragedy, in Five Acts.
VANCENZA, a Romance, in Two Volumes. Fifth Edition.
THE WIDOW, a Novel, in Two Volumes. The German Translation printed at Leipzig.
ANGELINA, a Novel, in Three Volumes. Second Edition.
HUBERT DE SEVRAC, a Romance of the Present Century
Dr. Johnson defines a sonnet, "a short poem consisting of fourteen lines, of which the rhymes are adjusted by a certain rule." This species of verse is of italian origin. It was, probably, thought peculiarly favourable to harmony in that language. In english, it has, of late, been commonly used as a vehicle for exhibiting a single sentiment or picture. The ancient, or as it is generally denominated, the legitimate sonnet, takes a wider compass, and presents in a series of sketches, some historical, or imaginary subject. Milton among the english poets, and Petrarch among the italian, have furnished examples of the use of the sonnet. Mrs. R., with whose poetical talents our readers are not unacqainted, in the elegant little work now before us, very happily applies this species of sonnet-writing to the story of Sappho.
The prefixed account of the Lesbian muse, as Sappho has been called, is drawn up with taste and ingenuity. The character of her poetry, as far as it can be ascertained from the few stanzas which remain, and from the general report of antiquity, is perhaps fairly estimated in the following apologetic eulogy.
[The author here excerpts a long quote from the Preface which runs from page 24 (beginning with "The scarce specimens now extant . . .) to page 27 (ending with . . . the idolized the MUSE, and not the WOMAN].
The story of Sappho, as Mrs. R. justly remarks, presents to the imagination a lively example of the human mind, enlightened by the most exquisite talents, yet yielding to the destructive control of an ungovernable passion. In these sonnoet the progress of this passion is delineated; and with the glowing picture of her soul, are mingled such moral reflection, as may serve to excite that pity, which, while it proves the susceptibility of the heart, arms it against the danger of indulging a too luxuriant fancy. -- [The author repeats the titles of all the sonnets in the collection, and then follows this with a reprint of Sonnet VI ("Characteristics of Love), Sonnet XX ("To Phaon"), and Sonnet XLI ("Resolves to Take the Leap of Leucata").]
The subject of these sonnets is certainly well chosen to suit the powers of the writer. The varieties of Sappho's passion are expressed with tenderness and harmony not unworthy of the theme. If the poetess have [sic.] not attained the simplicity of her model, she has at least the merit of avoiding, in a great measure, those playful conceits, with which her earliers pieces to much abounded. Mrs. R., in her preface, certainly calumniates her country, when she pronounces it of all enlightened countries the most neglectful of literary merit; the calumny will, we hope, be refuted by her own experience.
To this volume, which is elegantly printed, is prefixed a beautiful head of Sapho, engraved from a marble bust in the palace of prince Giustiniani at Rome.