YOL. 3.]

Juliet's Tomb at Verona.

mate the marriage; for he thought that intentions. Juliet agreed to this plan, by this means, a reconciliation might be who for the sake of her lover would have effected between the two families, and run a far greater risk, and having swalthat perhaps he should thereby ingratiate lowed the potion at the prescribed hour, himself with Signor Bartolomeo, and all lost gradually her senses, and finally all Verona. Lent, and the time of confession motion; so that, imagined dead by all, having arrived, Juliet went with her mo- she was removed for burial to the cemether to the church of St. Francesco in tery of her family in the church of St. Cittadella,and seating herself in the con- Francis. In the mean time, Lonardo fessional chair before her mother, and sent an account of all that had been done having replied to the usual questions, was to Romeo; but he having been premarried to Romeo, through the grating, viously informed by some one else of the who, with the father, stood on the other death of his Juliet, came unexpectedly side. A few days afterwards, by means with one attendant to Verona, and havof an old woman of the house of Juliet ing reached the gates of the city on the they consummated their marriage in a very evening of the interment of Juliet, garden by night, belonging to Juliet, did not receive the message sent him by supporting themselves with the hope, that the father. The unhappy lover having Lonardo would be able to persuade their reached Verona, and night having set in, respective families to be satisfied with the without setting his foot in the city, he match. Easter being over, while they went straight to the church of St. Franwere hoping that the father would fulfil cis, where he knew that his beloved Juhis promise, it happened that a party of liet was interred, and having opened the the Capelletti had a furious encounter tomb, which was without the church, and with some of the Montecchi, near the got within it, began to shed an abundant gate of Bensari, towards Castel Vecchio. and bitter flood of tears. Having wept Among the Capelletti was one Tebaldo, for some time over his beloved, he detera first cousin of Juliet's, a gallant young mined to die, and swallowed poison, man, who while he was encouraging his which for this purpose he carried with party, behind Romeo, (who for the sake him: laying himself by her side, he died, of Juliet, did all be could to put an end just at the moment that Lonardo reached to the contest), made a blow at his head, the spot, to remove Juliet from the tomb. which was parried by Romeo, who stab- Finding the servant stretched on the bed his adversary in the throat, and kil- ground, and Romeo dead in the tomb, led him on the spot. Romeo upon this motionless and horror-struck, he stood fled into banishment, and he who knows wondering how it had occurred, when what disappointed love is, may judge Juliet, whose soporific powder had exhow bitter must have been that expedi- hausted its efficacy, came to herself, ent. He retired to Mantua, for the sake and seeing Romeo dead by her side, and of being as near as possible to his Juliet, Lonardo and the servant hanging over of whom he often received accounts, him, she was all aghast at the spectacle. through the medium of Lonardo. Juliet She presently discovered from the father, was now compelled to marry by her fa- and the servant how the catastrophe had ther and mother, and not knowing what happened; was seized immediately with part to take, she had recourse to the father the strongest grief, and feeling her spirits Lonardo for advice, who, after long con- extinguished within her, without uttersultation, finally agreed to send her a cer- ing a word, fell dead in the lap of her tain powder, which, mixed with wine or Romeo. The next morning the calamany other liquor, would lull her to sleep, ity was speedily propagated through the so as to make her appear dead; that then city, and Signor Bartolomeo, with the she should be buried, in the sepulchre be- intent of discovering all the circumstanlonging to her family, which was in the ces which led to the unfortunate event, church of St. Francis, that he should accompanied by many gentlemen, went take her out of the monument by night, to the church of St. Francis, where a and that she should escape in disguise to great crowd was collected, attracted by her Romeo at Mantua, whom he would the novelty of the occurrence. Here he forewarn by faithful messengers of their enquired circumstantially both from Lo

Juliet's Tomb at Verona.

[VOL. 3

nardo and Romeo's servant, into the de- This fine tragedy, which the celebrattails of the case, and afterwards gave or- ed Schlegel eloquently styles the "fuders that the bodies of these unfortunate neral and apotheosis of love," will always lovers should be honorably buried, which be deemed by the best critics, one of the was willingly agreed to both by the choicest of our poet's productions. PerMontecchi and Capelletti. Splendid ob- haps it is to be regretted, that he deviated sequies took place; and with the consent from the true story, in making Juliet of both parties, the bodies were replaced stab herself. He need not have had rein the same monument, which was of course to this; for there is nothing more hewn stone, a little above ground, which I tragic than that poignant grief which, as have often seen close to the well of the soon as it seizes, kills; and which, acpoor disciples of St. Francis, while the cording to Della Corte, threw Juliet dead building was raising to their order. I in the lap of her lover. Her manner of have conversed on this subject, with dying in the tragedy is rather too much Signor Boldiero, my uncle, by whom I "after the high Roman fashion" for a was shewn the scene of this catastrophe; delicate girl not fifteen years. he shewed me, besides the above mentioned tomb, a hole in the wall towards the monastery of the Capuchins, where, as he said, he had heard that many years since, this tomb was placed, and that in it were found some ashes and bones."

Verona has been so fully described by Maffei, that I shall not attempt to touch on its antiquities. But the genius of Shakspeare adds such an interest to every spot over which it hovered, that your readers will not accuse me of being romantic, if I attempt to describe the tomb of Juliet. I left the inn Le Due Torre at six in the morning, accompanied by the Cicerone, who, in the way, pointed out some small houses built in

Such is the relation of Girolamo della Corte. Those who may take the trouble to compare it with the tragedy of Shakspeare, will no doubt remark how little the poet has deviated from what we have reason to believe are the circumstances of the time of the Capelletti: crossing the the true story. His Escalus, Prince of Brà, a square so called, and marked by Verona, is evidently Signor Bartolomeo the grand remains of the Roman amphiScali the mayor; Marcurio, whom Ju- theatre, we soon reached the church of liet first danced with, the Poet giving San Francesco in Cittadella, where Rohim rather warmer hands than the histo- meo and Juliet were married. The. rian, is his Paris. The name of Marcu- church is modern, built about a century rio probably suggested, with a slight al- ago, on the site of the old one, which teration of letters, the Mercutio of the was destroyed by fire. poet, who acts however a very different Contiguous is a small garden, formerly part from Marcurio in the history. It is attached to the Franciscan monastery, worthy of remark that in Act II 1. but now in private hands: in the midst Mercutio, who, with Shakspeare, is the of it, is an old sarcophagus, which, time friend of Romeo, uses the words "A la immemorial has been shown as the tomb stoccata," the identical words which of Juliet. It is much eaten by age, and Della Corte uses in his description of has sunk considerably into the earth. It Romeo's encounter with Tybalt: a suf- is exactly six feet long, and is just wide ficient proof to my mind that Shakspeare enough to contain two bodies. Close to got hold of the original work of Della it, is the well, mentioned by Della Corte, Corte; if we had no other evidence to which to me is a sufficient proof that the make us think so. Montague in the Ita- sarcophagus is the same as what he saw lian is Montecchio; Capulet, Capellet- with his uncle. The serenity of the to; Frate Lonardo is the Friar Law- morning, and affecting catastrophe, sugrence of the poet; and the attendant of gested the following lines, which have no Romeo in the history, is the Balthasar other merit than that of being composed of the tragedy. Friar John appears to be on the spot. one of the confidential messengers sent by Lonardo to Romeo, at Mantua. Of the female persons, Lady Montague is the only one not alluded to in the history.

Let Affectation droop her head and mou

Disastrous love o'er tender Juliet's urn.

coquettes avaunt! away each simpering belle !

Envy the lot of her who loved so well;

We have debated with ourselves in what manner we should review this work. Were we to analyse the story, we might write an interesting article; but would it be just towards the author, or kind towards our fair friends, who hate and detest the foreknowledge of the denouement of any book which appeals so strongly as this does to their curiosity and feelings? No! we will not take advantage of our rapid publication, to antedate one of the principal enjoyments to be derived from the perusal of Rob Roy: with an abstinence deserving of all praise, we will endeavour to deliver our opinions, without encroaching upon the mysteries of the narrative, and the eclaircissements of the conclusion.

From the Literary Gazette, January 17, 1818.

TH

HIS long-looked-for novel, by the and accuracy of delineation, as absoluteauthor of Waverly, Guy Manner- ly to have been reviewed, by the most ing, and the Antiquary, has at last made able periodical works in the world, as if its appearance; and can we speak more they were real and authentic records of highly of it than to say that it is worthy events which happened as they detail. of his hand? The same power of delusion belongs to Rob Roy. It is impossible to fancy any part of it a fable. The men and women of its dramatis personæ live before us ; the scenery is perfect nature; the incidents are identical history. The accession of the House of Hanover, the attempts of Jacobites, the existence of a country called Scotland, do not seem more undeniable, than the whole train of facts herein related, and the actual being of the Osbaldistones, Jarvies, M'Gregors, &c. who people the world created by the poet's imagination, and perform the things he has told us they performed. Not Shakspeare himself has been more true to his characters: we think, if they acted otherwise, more or less, than they do, there would be some appearance of fiction; as it is, there is none.

In some respects this novel seems inferior, and in come superior, to its precursors. It is inferior in the general style and composition; which, though highly wrought in many parts, are yet carelessly enough slurred over in others: and it is, perhaps, inferior in depth of interest to Waverly and Guy Mannering. As a picture of manners, and as affording distinct portraits of characters (which are individuals, yet a class) it is equal to the best which have gone before. And in adapting the particular story to a frame-work consistent with the nature of the times interwoven with each other. Sir Hildeand state of the country in which the scene is laid, we think the Rob Roy superior to all its predecessors.

Without forgetting our initiatory promise, we may state, that the plan of this delightful work consists of the adventures of Mr. Francis Osbaldistone, the son of a rich London merchant, who refusing to engage in commercial pursuits, as desired by his father, is sent to an uncle's m Northumberland, almost disinherited. In his journey to the north, he fails in with Robert Campbell, a cattle dealer, alias 1b Roy, and by a skilful connexion of their fates, they become from that period

brand Osbaldistone (the uncle) and his six sons, form a massive group in this canvass, and the chief light is found in a Relative, who is living at Cubhall, Miss Diana Vernon, on whose character the author has exerted all his energies. It is

The plots and intrigues preceding the rebellion of the year 1715, afforded admirable ground for much more of the marvellous than our author needs to employ in that of Flora Mac Iver, somewhat softthe construction of his volumes, which are ened, and embracing many different so distinguished for their historical truth shades; equally exalted, but perhaps

6 Rob Roy, by the Author of Guy Mannering, the Antiquary, &c. [vol. 3

more natural. The only other female who terly portraiture of villany. Morris, a figures in the piece, is the wife of Rob cowardly Employé of government, is anRoy; a ruthless and desolate-hearted A- other specimen of the skill of the author: mazon. The Chieftain of the Clan, Gre- his subserviency, and his lamentable cagor himself, is admirably drawn, though tastrophe, present a useful lesson to manin him there has been less of invention kind. The description of his death, innecessary than in others. He seems only deed, is one of the most dreadful and less barbarous, or, we may say, more ci- touching that we ever read. He is treachvilised, than common fame has handed erously left as a hostage for the safety of him down to us. A Scotch gardener, An- Rob Roy, who is thus betrayed into the drew Fairservice, is well depicted; a hands of his foes. Brought a prisoner to worldly, time-serving, selfish fellow; the wife of the Chieftain, immediately afneither overburthened with sense nor ter she has been excited to fury by a principle; but yet contriving, by his of- sharp contest with, and victory over, a ficiousness, to occupy a conspicuous sta- party of the military, whom Dougal mistion in this drama. A Highland follower leads into a dangerous pass among the of Rob Roy, named Dougal, and a Mac- mountains, on the borders of a lake, we gregor, forms a contrast to Fairservice, are told by Francis Osbaldistone, who is He is faithful, brave, and devoted, cun- also a prisoner, ning,shrewd, and dexterous. Owen, the principal clerk of the house of Osbaldistone and Tresham, is another portrait of unassuming pretensions, but of exquisite fidelity. The great city, and the wild hills of Scotia, alike submit their children to the developement of our acute and masterly delineator. His images are equally vivid, whether drawn from the desk or the heath, the busy hum of men, or the solitude of deserts. But not one of the characters has delighted us more in the pencilling than Baillie Jarvie of Glasgow. If M Wheble gave the hint for this admirable likeness, it is so full, so finished, and so thrown out by circumstances, that it leaves us nothing to wish for. We question whether any but Scotch readers will be able to appreciate the perfection of this sketch. The mixture of the pride of birth, though connected with an outlaw, and the opposite habits of a manu. facturing education; the combined qualities of the son of Deacon Jarvie, honest man! Heaven be merciful to him! and the cousin of Rob Roy, for whom a hem en cravat is so surely predestined; the pacific and yet bold, the sober yet eccentric, the prudential yet generous act of the worthy Glasgonian, constitute a tout design on the person of Rob Roy, whom ensemble of the richest order. Even in he swore he loved and honoured as his the minor characters, there is a degree of own soul. In the inconsistency of his variety quite Homeric. The family of terror, he said, he was but the agent of Osbaldistone are forcible examples of others, and he muttered the name of this. Percival, Thorncliff, John, Richard, Rashleigh. He prayed but for life-for and Wilfred are all, alter et idem, and life he would have given all he had in the Rashleigh, the youngest brother, a mas- world;-it was but life he asked-life,

"The wife of Mac Gregor commanded that the hostage exchanged, for his safety should be brought into her presence. I believe her sons had kept this unfortunate wretch out of her sight, for. fear of the consequences; but if it was so, their humane precaution only prolonged his fate. They dragged forward at her summons a wretch already half dead with terror, in whose agonized features, I recognized, to my horror and astonishment, my old acquaintance Morris.

"He fell prostrate before the female chief with an effort to clasp her knees, from which she drew back, as if his touch had been pollution, so that all he could do, in token of the extremity of his humiliation, was to kiss the hem of her plaid. I never heard entreaties for life poured forth with such agony of spirit. The ecstasy of fear was such, that, instead of paralyzing his tongue, as on ordinary occasions, it even rendered him eloquent; and, with cheeks pale as ashes, hands compressed in agony, eyes that seemed to be taking their last look of ali mortal objects, he protested, with the deepest oaths, his total ignorance of any

VOL. 3.]

Rob Roy, by the Author of Guy Mannering, &c.

if it were to be prolonged under tortures shriek with a loud halloo of vindictive and privations; he asked only breath, triumph, above which, however, the yell though it should be drawn in the damps of mortal agony was distinctly heard. of the lowest caverns of their hills. The heavy burden splashed in the darkblue waters of the lake, and the Highlanders, with their pole-axes and swords, watched an instant to guard, lest, extricating himself from the load to which he was attached, he might have struggled to “I could have bid you live,' she said, regain the shore. But the knot had been 'had life been to you the same weary and securely bound; the victim sank without wasting burthen it is to me that it is to effort; the waters, which bis fall had disevery noble and generous mind.-But turbed, settled calmly over him, and the you-wretch! you could creep through unit of that life, for which he had pleadthe world unaffected by its various dis- ed so strongly, was forever withdrawn graces, its ineffable miseries, its constant- from the sum of human existence." ly accumulating masses of crime and sorrow, you could live and enjoy yourself, while the noble-minded are betrayed while nameles and birthless villains tread on the neck of the brave and the longdescended, you could enjoy yourself, like a butcher's dog in the shambles, battoning on garbage, while the slaughter of the brave went on around you! This enjoyment you shall not live to partake of; you shall die, base dog, and that be- fear it is difficult to accomplish this fore yon cloud has passed over the sun.' pose within the scope of extracts consist

This grand and agonizing description brings Lord Byron forcibly to our recollection; and even by the side of that transcendant painter of human misery and mortal throes, it must be allowed. that the writer of our quotation need not shrink from a sense of inferiority.

We could wish to set before our readers some traits of Baillie Jarvie ; but we pur

"She gave a brief command in Gaelic ent with our limits, and with our deto her attendants, two of whom seized clared design, not to weaken the interest the prostrate suppliant, and hurried-iam of the novel by garbled anticipations. to the brink of a cliff which overhung When Mr. Osbaldistone asks his advice the flood. He set up the most piercing as to the best way to act for his father's and dreadful cries that fear ever uttered, advantage, and his own honour, the dia-I may well term them dreadful, for logue thus proceeds,

เ

they haunted my sleep for years after- "Ye're right, young man-ye're wards. As the murderers, or execution- right,' said Jarvie. Aye, take counsel ers, call them as you will, dragged him of those who are aulder and wiser than along, he recognized me even in that yoursell, and binna like a godless Rehomoment of horror, and exclaimed, in the boam, who took the advice o' a wheen Jast articulate words I ever heard him ut- beardless callants, neglecting the auld ter, 'O Mr. Osbaldistone, save me! save counsellors who had sate at the feet o' me!' his father Solomon, and, as it is weel put by Mr. Meiklejohn, in his lecture on the chapter, were doubtless partakers of his sapience. But I maun hear naething about

"I was so much moved by this horrid spectacle, that, although in momentary expectation of sharing his fate, I did attempt to speak in his behalf; but, as honour-we ken naething here but about might have been expected, my interfer- credit. Honour is a homicide, and a ence was sternly disregarded. The vic- blood-spiller, that gangs about making tim was held fast by some, while others, frays in the street; but Credit is a debinding a large heavy stone in a plaid, cent, honest man, that sits at hame, and tied it round his neck, and others again makes the pat play."

66 6

stripped him of some part of his dress. Assuredly, Mr. Jarvie,' said our Half-naked, and thus maaacled, they friend Owen, credit is the sum total; hurled him into the lake, there about and if we can but save that, at whatever twelve feet deep, drowning his last death- discount--'

"It is impossible to describe the scorn, the loathing and contempt, with which the wife of Mac Gregor regarded this wretched petitioner for the poor boon of existence.