All Arabia's warlike flower,
Guardians of the mountain tower,
Hard by Caucasus, who shine,
Famed in battle-fields, combine
Thy misery to deplore.

Him too erewhile mine eyes beheld,
Standing by the western main,
Captive bound in iron chain.
Atlas, the Titan deity;
For ever on his weary head

The sky's stupendous weight is cast,
And, still in endless torture bowed,
He groans beneath the burden vast.
Lamenting for his fearful woe,

The waves of ocean moan;
Earth weeps round,

The depths resound;

The realms of night are muttering low

With many a hollow groan;

ANTISTROPHE 2.

And sacred streams their voice have lent,

In one deep note of sorrow blent.

PROMETH. Oh! think not that 'tis pride and high self-will

That keep me silent, but my inmost thoughts

Prey on my spirit, when I see myself
Thus injured and insulted; yet 'twas I,
Nor any other, who to these new gods
Distributed the honours they possess.-
But let that pass,-for well you know the whole;
And listen to the story of the gifts

Bestowed on men, who, senseless once as infants,
Wisdom received from me, and right discernment.
Nor blame I them for this; but speak to show
How great good will I bore them, who, of old,
Though seeing saw not, hearing heard in vain;
But, like the shadows that in dreams appear,
Long lived a random life, nor knew the art
Houses of stone to raise, or framed of wood;
But, burrowing in the earth like ants, they dwelt
In caves, where never shone the beams of day;
Nor of the seasons had they certain knowledge-

Winter, or Spring, or Summer's fruitful reign;
Nor followed judgment in their acts, till I
Taught them how rise the stars, and how depart,
Inexplicable motions. Number, too,

Chief work of wisdom, I bestowed, and writing,
And memory-mother of all arts confessed.
'Twas I that taught them to subdue the beasts,
And tame them to the yoke; steeds too, of wealth
Chief ornament, I harnessed to the car,

That toils, once borne by man, they now might bear.
None other, before me, devised for him

Ships chariots of the waves-with canvass wings
That wander over ocean, breeze-impelled.
Such arts I found for mortals; for myself
No art can find by which, perchance, t' escape
The woes that now encircle and constrain me.

CHORUS. Disgraceful are the insults thou endurest;
But reason's guidance thou hast lost, and like
Some ignorant physician, by disease

Attacked thyself, despairest, knowing not
What med'cines to apply.

PROMETH.

But hear the rest,

And let your wonder grow,—what arts for man,
What methods I discovered, but of all
This greatest; for of old, when dire disease
Oppressed with pain, no remedy they knew
Of food, or drug, or ointment; but by want
Of med'cines were they wasted, until I
Instructed them to mingle potions mild,
Sure safeguard 'gainst diseases. Many forms
Of augury I taught them, and bestowed
Skill to distinguish true dreams from deceitful.
Omens of sound, and such as men on journeys
Are wont to meet, I showed them; and determined
The flight of birds, both what propitious are
And what portend misfortune; and of all,
The several natures, enmities, and loves;
The smoothness of th' intestines, and the colours
Which mark the gods well-pleased; of bile and liver
The variegated streaks, propitious signs,

I taught them; and the limbs by fire consuming,

And loins, rich offering! thereby guided thei
To every hidden art of divination.

And signs from flame derived, uncertain once,
And clouded to their sight, I rendered clear:
So far in this; but more-the secret treasures
That rest within the earth, of brass or iron,
Silver or gold, none other, before me,
Laid open to their vision; none but I

Can claim this honour, save in boastings vain.
But, in a word, the mortal race derive

Their every art from Wisdom.

Be not thus over-careful, of thyself

Neglectful, though by wretchedness oppressed.
For I am full of hope that, from these bonds
Released, thou yet shalt equal Jove in might.

PROMETH. Not such the will of fate, not yet th' event
Inclines to its fulfilment; first must I,

By many a pain, and many a woe, be bowed,

Ere liberty be mine; for what is art

Against necessity's decree?

Directs the rudder of necessity?

PROMETH. The triple Fates, and the avenging Furies. CHORUS. Is, then, the might of Jove to them subjected? PROMETH. E'en he cannot escape his fated lot. CHORUS. What lot for him, but everlasting rule? PROMETH. That may not be revealed; press not the question. CHORUS. Sure 'tis some weighty secret thou thus hidest. PROMETH. Quit, then, the subject; 'tis not yet the time To speak it; but in closest secrecy,

It still must be involved; for this concealing,

I hope these woes and torments to escape.

(To be continued.)

LITERARY NOTICES.

MAY is here—the blooming maiden that strews flowers before Summer's royal feet, and spreads the verdant carpet on her queenly path: sunshine glitters in her golden hair, and paints the garland on her brow; she smiles! and man, rejoicing, turns from the deserted hearth of winter to follow in her train. In the footsteps of May, spring up fresh flowers in their beauty; we love them best, for they are the first to greet us when we exult over the banishment of Winter. We love the flowers,-their forms, their colours, and their fragrant scents; but when we know how gloriously these little gems are made, then rise our hearts in adoration of Him who clothed the lilies of the field, so that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. None who have leisure should let summer pass and fail to improve the opportunity that flowers offer of gazing at the unmasked form of beauteous Nature, and adding one more triumphant testimony to those each day has already afforded of the bounteous goodness of his God.

At the commencement of the Spring, we trust, therefore, that a few notices of works tending to this object will not be considered labour thrown away.

De Candolle's Vegetable Organography. Translated by Boughton Kingdon. Second Edition, in 2 Vols. 8vo. Houlston & Hughes.

Possessed of an interest to the lover of nature far superior to the details of artificial system, or catalogues of classification, are those departments of botany which lead us through the ways of Providence, and point out with what surpassing wisdom the living plant is made: its structure, and the laws by which its life is governed, form the most profitable and entertaining departments of our study; and it is to these that this work is devoted. An eulogy on De Candolle as a botanist would be something like an expression of approbation upon Shakspeare as a poet: he stands the acknowledged chief among his brethren; and throughout Europe the opinions of the great French botanist are looked up to with admiration and respect. Of the present translation, however, it may be worth while to speak: we are proud that from our own College has arisen one who has presented to the British public this work of standard authority, in a manner most worthy of encouragement. Mr. Kingdon we know to be an experienced botanist, and this translation has been a labour of love. It is a faithful version.

Le Jardin des Plantes. 8vo. Paris: L. Curmer. London: Clarke, Finch-lane. Pp. 440.

In this age of cheap illustrated works, we must unhesitatingly award the palm of victory to the one before us. It is "gotten up" in the first style of elegance ; the typography is beautiful; and the wood-engravings, of which there are about 400, are exquisite specimens of an art which here appears to have reached perfection. There is also a large number of engravings on steel, and a pretty collection of coloured plates of birds, flowers, &c. The letter-press (French) not merely gives an account of the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, but consists also

of a complete introduction to the various branches of Natural History—Zoology, Ornithology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology, &c. and all this is conveyed in the amusing and piquant style so peculiar to our French neighbours. The work has another recommendation-it is not only one of the most beautiful, but, unquestionably, the cheapest book ever published.

rear.

Floricultural Magazine. Tyas. No. 71, April, 1842.

This periodical has gone on gradually improving; and since it began to take the lead, it has left all its monthly gardening rivals still more and more in the The coloured plates of the most beautiful modern flowers are executed in a style of excellence not hitherto met in these sixpenny works. The Letterpress is as practically useful as the plates are beautiful; we can confidently recommend every one who has a garden, whether it be large or small, to take it in.

Florist's Journal. April, 1842. How and Parsons.

This is another number of the numerous family of gardening periodicals. Its coloured plates were once highly finished, but latterly we fear that they have degenerated. The drawing of Oncidium papilio ought not to have been made from a faded withering specimen; and as for Dahlias, they are all so much alike, except in colour, at least upon paper, that sketches of these great flowers are not much to our taste. We would also advise the Editor to make his remarks more practical and rather less theoretical. Nevertheless, the work is by no means a bad one.

British Moths and their Transformations. No. VI. 4to. Smith, Fleet Street. This very beautiful number contains three plates, in which are delineated, in the most accurate and artistical manner, about eighty sketches of Moths, Larvæ, Pupæ, and plants. As most young ladies are more or less entomologically inclined, we know of no work more calculated for a present to them than the one now before us.

Ornamental Perennials. By Mrs. Loudon. 4to. Smith, Fleet Street.

Each Part consists of three plates, containing several highly-coloured figures of ornamental plants, with illustrative letter-press. The work is in every respect worthy of recommendation.

The Botanist. Manns, Bromsgrove. Groombridge, Panyer Alley.

A work designed for the use of amateur gardeners, and completely answering the purpose for which it is intended. Each number contains four very excellent coloured plates, of the newest and ornamental varieties of flowers, exotic cr hardy. The descriptions attached to each are as well popular as scientific, and generally wind up with a moral. To those whose botany extends chiefly to the adornment of their own green-houses and gardens, this work will be a profitable aid.

Miscellaneous Notices are necessarily deferred.