GERMAN BALLADS. THE ballad has nowhere been so completely naturalized as in Germany. The German ballads are not mere imitations of the rude songs and traditions of antiquity. They combine, in a wonderful degree, the polish and refinement peculiar to an advanced state of civilization, with the simplicity and nature of the older fragments of popular tradition. Almost all the great poets of Germany have occasionally descended from the severer labours of more elaborate composition, to the delassement of ballad-writing; and the consequence is, that Germany is, at this moment, richer in this species of literature, than all the rest of Europe (Spain excepted) put together. Goethe, who has attained excellence in almost every department of literature, has displayed the same pre-eminence in the light and gay strains of the ballad, as in the magnificent creations of " Faust," &c. Some of his ballads are distinguished by a solemn supernatural effect; others, by an exquisite archness and naiveté, and all of them by a captivating simplicity of language, which, while it increases very much the effect of the original, presents a very formidable difficulty to the translator. That we have subjoined is versified nearly as literally as the differences of the language will permit. "" THE FISHER. From the German of Goethe. The water roll'd-the water swell'd, Calmly his patient watch he held Beside the freshening tide : And while his patient watch he keeps, The parted waters rose, She spake to him, she sang to him Why lur'st thou so,my brood, With cunning art, and cruel heart, From out their native flood? Ah! couldst thou know, how here below Thoud'st leave thine earth and plunge beneath Bathes not the golden sun his face, The moon too in the sea; And rise they not from their resting-place And lures thee not the clear deep heaven And thy form so fair, so mirror'd there In that eternal dew?'. The water roll'd-the water swell'd, It reach'd his naked feet; He felt as at his Love's approach She spake to him, she sang to him, His short suspense is o'er ; Half drew she him, half dropp'd he in, And sank to rise no more." SWIFT. THE Scriblerus Club, consisting of Pope, Arbuthnot, Swift, Gay, Parnel, &c., when the members were in town, were seldom asunder: and they often made excursions together into the country, and generally on foot. Swift was usually the butt of the company; and if a trick was played, he was generally the sufferer. The whole party once agreed to walk down to the house of Lord B. about twelve miles from town. As every one agreed to make the best of his way, Swift (who was remarkable for walking) soon left all the rest behind him, fully resolved upon his arrival to choose the best bed for himself; for that was his custom. In the mean time, Parnel was determined to prevent his intentions, and, taking horse, arrived at his lordship's gate long before him. B Having apprised Lord B. of Swift's design, it was resolved, at any rate, to keep him out of the house; but how to effect this was the question. Swift had never had the smallpox, and was very much afraid of taking it. As soon, therefore, as he appeared striding along at some distance from the house, one of his lordship's servants was despatched to inform him, that the small-pox was then making very great ravages in the family; but that there was a summer-house, with a field-bed, at his service, at the end of the garden. There the disappointed Dean was obliged to retire, and take a cold supper that was sent out to him while the rest were feasting within. However, at last, they took compassion on him, and permitted him to make one of the company. MACPHERSON'S " LAMENT." MACPHERSON was executed at Banff, in the year 1701, eight days after his trial, and his execution took place at a much earlier hour than was appointed by his sentence; the magistrates of Banff being apprehensive of a rescue. It was even reported, that, either by fraud or violence, an express, with his pardon, was detained between Turreff and Banff. An unhappy 'girl, whose love for him, and grief for his fate, ended in distraction, came to Glenorchy and Upper Lorne, in the following summer. She could give no distinct account of herself; but the incoherent hints drawn from her, led to a conclusion that her parents were reputable; but that, infatuated by a passion for Macpherson, she had passed some time with him among his gipsy associates, had been admitted to him in prison, and learnt the "Lament," which, he hoped, would engage the populace to assist his friends in delivering him from the civil power, when disencumbered from his fetters, preparatory to execution; but, as she said, "they wadna trust the music o' his voice, but choked him before his time." She had left her “ain fouk to gang to Badenoch, the laund o' her dear, and her dool," and she insisted. Glenorchy was Badenoch, because the people spoke. Gaelic, and there were "bonny lads, and |