RACINE, in conjunction with Boileau, was appointed Historiographer to Louis XIV.* who *The collections which these clever poets had made for the History, were burnt in a fire which happened at M. Valencour's house. VOL. II. B had once ordered him to attend him to a siege that was carrying on in Flanders. Racine, however, remained at Versailles, and when the King, on his return, expressed his surprise at it, and told him it was by no means a journey of any length: "Very true, Sire," replied the Poet, "we had ordered our campaign dresses, but our tailors made us wait so long, that when they brought them home, the town your Majesty went to besiege had long been taken." POLITICAL POETRY OF THE IRISH. "IRISH Songs are abundant, and may be easily procured; but few have been committed to paper. This may be ascribed to two causes: first, being short compositions, they are easily remembered; and, secondly, their treasonable nature. Many of these songs are extremely comic, from a richness of humour delivered with a peculiar quaintness, which it is impossible to convey in translation. Allusions to the Greek and Roman mythology are occasionally introduced with propriety and good taste, but more frequently in the most absurd way, One village bard has described his mistress as looking 'just like Venus or Jove.' "The songs of the people are always worth attention; and it appears extraordinary that the most positive treason should, for many years past, have been published in Ireland, apparently without notice. Of about four hundred popular ballads, in English, (chiefly printed at Limerick, purchased without selection, in 1821, more than one-third were of a rebellious tendency, particularly a song entitled "Cathaleen Thrail," (Catherine the Slave,) so is Ireland allegorically styled. The first, second, and third verses describe the meeting of the author with Cathaleen Thrail, the genius of the country; the fourth, sixth, and part of the last verse are here copied, on account of the prophetic strain which runs through them;~— "You, Sons of poor Erin, therefore dont fail From Cork to Kinsale, and off to Cape Clear, And divorce the Black-weed from Cathaleen Thrail. I conversed with many in my circuit most pleasing Until I came to my native land, sweet Donoughmore, |