cannot refrain, however, from adding his version of O Philly, happy be that Day, as it is perhaps the very best translation in the whole collection. WILLY EN PHILLY. FRANS DE CORT. HIJ. Gezegend zij de schoone stond, ZIJ. Gezegend zij het plechtige uur, HIJ. Zoo als mijn oor het lentaccoord, Der vooglen daaglijks liever hoort, Wordt langs zoo meer mijn oog bekoord, ZIJ. Zoo als de roze heller gloeit En frisscher geurt hoe meer ze bloeit, Ook in mijn hart de liefde groeit, HIJ. Verguldt de zon mijn rijpend graan, ZIJ. De zwaluw voert van over zee Brengt gij mij aan, o Willy! HIJ. De bij zuigt eedlen honing uit Op uwen mond, o Philly! ZIJ. Zoet geurt, als de avond lavend daalt, HIJ. Fortunas wieltjen draaie vrij! Wat geeft het hoe mijn nummer zij ! ZIJ. Wat vreugden ook het goud bescheer', I now take The Cottar's Saturday Night, by Pol de Mont.1 Mr. Pol de Mont says it is "translated freely from Robert Burns"; and this frank description of his work naturally 1 1 Zaterdagavond op het Land, door Pol de Mont. not only disarms any criticism as to its fidelity, but would render any such criticism pedantic. The high tone and spirit, the deep pathos which characterize that noble poem in the original, are to a great extent preserved in its Netherland garb. What Burns in Holland might have done! Pol de Mont all through the poem applies it to his own country, though oddly enough the faces of the cottar, his wife, and children, and the breed of the dog in the illustrations with which the work is beautifully adorned, are all distinctly Scottish. The following examples show the manner in which the original is departed from "Na gansch een week van eerzaam veldwerk, treedt -'t is morgen Zondag, tijd van troost en vreê ;— gereinigd hark en schop! Hij is ter rust gereed !" 1 "Quick" step is not happy, as the labourer is generally too tired to go otherwise than as Burns so aptly puts it— weary, o'er the moor." The picture is, however, not an unworthy copy of "The toil-worn cottar frae his labour goes, This night his weekly moil is at an end, Collects his spades, his mattocks, and his hoes, Hoping the morn in ease and rest to spend, And weary, o'er the moor his course does homeward bend." In the father's advice to the children we have the same 1 After a whole week of honest field work, departure from the form, though the spirit is there 66 Zoo gaarne geeft hij hun den wijsten raad! 'Een heil'ge wet weze u des meesters woord; zorgt, dat gij steeds uw' man bij d'arbeid staat; wien gij ook dagdief weet, doet gij stil voort... Vergeet het nooit: gij dient den eeuw'gen Heer; blijft dag en nacht getrouw aan recht en plicht; drukt steeds vol moed het enge pad der eer, en smeekt den Hemel om zijn' steun en licht... Wie Gode ootmoedig vraagt, vindt altijd hulp en weer!'"1 The translator does not attempt to reproduce in the sense of the original "An' mind your duty duly, morn and night." This advice from a Scottish parent to his child needs no explanation, as referring to their evening and morning devotions; but here again the whole picture is no mean copy of the original “Their masters' and their mistresses' command, The younkers a' are warnèd to obey; An' mind their labours wi' an eydent hand, An' ne'er, though out o' sight, to jauk or play : An' O! be sure to fear the Lord alway! An' mind your duty duly, morn and night! Lest in temptation's path ye gang astray, Implore His counsel and assisting might: They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright." 1 So gladly he gives them his wisest counsel 'Let your master's word be a sacred law to you; Take care you be behind no one at your work... Whom you know to be an idler, do you persevere quietly, Never forget, you serve the eternal Lord. Continue day and night faithful to your duty. Tread always full of courage the narrow path of honour, Who humbly asks of God finds always help and protection." These are fair examples of this excellent translation or rather copy, and so I refrain from reviewing the other Some expressions which give point and power to verses. the original, for instance, "A strappan youth, he tak's the mother's eye," rendered "Een' flinken knaap,-zóo had zij hem gedroomd, de moeder, voor hare oudste ! " 1 lack the vigorous touch of Burns, but they are not numerous. The family worship scene is reproduced with great beauty and simplicity, though one important verse is unhappily omitted. It is, however, much to be regretted that Mr. Pol de Mont does not attempt even the adaptation of another of the finest verses in the poem, viz., "Then homeward all take off their several way; The youngling cottagers retire to rest : The parent pair their secret homage pay, For them and for their little ones provide ; But chiefly, in their hearts with grace divine preside." Instead of this he introduces what is a completely new Het ‘blakertje' in de linker, brengt de vrouw naar 't net vertrekje, waar hun leger staat, de beide kleinsten, dekt en kust ze trouw. 1A smart lad, such she had dreamt him- |