The Martyrs

the author we are translating, is a duty that we invariably endeavor to fulfil. Chateaubriand's work is now, for the first time, given to the English reader in its integrity.

This work is of such a nature that we have been obliged to depart from our usual practice of literal translation; the highly colored, elevated, harmonious language of the original, the poetic indefiniteness of the style, the metaphors that, thus to speak, float, cloud-like, in the atmosphere of the book, have made it necessary to paraphrase, but we have endeavored to adhere strictly to the thoughts and sentiments of our author.

Other volumes from Chateaubriand will be added, and in its proper place we shall give a lengthy prolegomena, embracing a life of the author, critical and bibliographical notices, etc.

SEPTEMBER, 1859.

O. W. WIGHT.

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Invocation. Exposition. Diocletian holds the Reins of the Roman Empire.

Under the government of this Prince, the Temples of the true God begin

to dispute Homage with the Temples of Idols. Hell prepares to join

Battle in a Final Combat to overthrow the Altars of the Son of Man. The

Eternal permits the Demons to persecute the Church, in order to try the

Faithful; but the Faithful will come out triumphant from the Trial; the

Standard of Salvation will be planted on the Throne of the Universe; the

World will owe this Victory to two Victims chosen by God. Who are

these Victims? Apostrophe to the Muse that is about to make them

known. The Family of Homer. Demodocus, the last Descendant of

the Homeridæ, Priest of Homer in the Temple of this Poet, on Mount

Ithome, in Messenia. Description of Messenia. Demodocus consecrates

to the Worship of the Muses his only Daughter, Cymodoce, in order to

conceal her from the Pursuit of Hierocles, Pro-consul of Achaia and

Favorite of Galerius. Cymodoce goes alone with her Nurse to the Festival

of the Lymnæan Diana; she loses her Way, and finds a Young Man asleep

by the side of a Fountain. Eudorus conducts Cymodoce back to the house

of Demodocus. Demodocus sets out with his Daughter to offer Presents

to Eudorus, and to thank the Family of Lasthenes,
31

BOOK SECOND.

Arrival of Demodocus and Cymodoce in Arcadia. They meet an old

man at the Tomb of Aglaus of Psophis, who conducts them to the Field

where the Family of Lasthenes are gathering in their Harvest. Cymo-

doce recognizes Eudorus. Demodocus discovers that Lasthenes' Family

are Christians. Return to the House of Lasthenes. Customs of the

Christians. Evening Prayer. Arrival of Cyril, Bishop of Lacedæmon,

the Confessor and Martyr, who comes to urge Eudorus to relate his

Adventures. The evening Repast. The Family and Strangers take their

seats after Supper in the Orchard on the Banks of the Alpheus. Demo-

docus asks Cymodoce to play the Lyre. Song of Cymodoce. Eudorus

sings in his Turn. The two Families retire to Rest. Dream of Cyril.

Prayer of the holy Bishop,

BOOK THIRD.

The Prayer of Cyril ascends to the Throne of the Almighty. Heaven. The

Saints and Angels. Tabernacle of the Mother of the Saviour. Sanctuary

of the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit. The Trinity. The Prayer

of Cyril is presented to the Most High, who receives it, but declares that

the Bishop of Lacedæmon is not the Victim that must ransom the Christ-

ians. Eudorus is chosen as the Victim. Reasons for his Choice. The

Celestial Forces take up Arms. Canticle of the Saints and Angels, 67

Cyril.

BOOK FOURTH.

The Christian Family. Demodocus and Cymodoce meet again on

an Island at the confluence of the Ladon and Alpheus, to hear the Son of

Lasthenes recount his Adventures. Commencement of the Recital of

Eudorus. Origin of the family of Lasthenes. It opposes the Romans at

the time of the Invasion of Greece. The eldest of Lasthenes' Family is

obliged to repair as a Hostage to Rome. The Family of Lasthenes em-

braces Christianity. Childhood of Eudorus. He sets out at the age of

sixteen for Rome as a Substitute for his Father. The Tempest. Descrip-

tion of the Archipelago. Arrival of Eudorus in Italy. Description of

Rome. Eudorus contracts an intimate Friendship with Jerome, Augus-

tine, and Prince Constantine, the son of Constantius. Characters of

Jerome, Augustine, and Constantine. Eudorus is presented at Court.

Diocletian. Galerius. Court of Diocletian. The Sophist, Hierocles,

Proconsul of Achaia and favorite of Galerius. Enmity of Eudorus and

Hierocles. Eudorus falls into the irregularities of Youth, and forgets his

Religion. Marcellinus, Bishop of Rome. He threatens Eudorus with

Excommunication if he does not return to the bosom of the Church.

Excommunication hurled against Eudorus. Amphitheatre of Titus.

Forebodings,

Continuation of the Recital.

Naples. House of Aglaia.

Their Conversation at the

BOOK FIFTH.

The Court goes to pass the Summer at Baiæ

Walks of Eudorus, Augustine, and Jerome.

Tomb of Scipio. Thraseas, the Hermit of

Vesuvius. His History. Separation of the three Friends. Eudorus re-

turns to Rome with the Court. The Catacombs. Adventure of the Em-

press Prisca and her daughter Valeria. Eudorus, banished from the

Court, is sent an Exile to the Armies of Constantius. He quits Rome,

and journeys through Italy and Gaul. He arrives at Agrippina, on the

Banks of the Rhine. He finds the Roman Army ready to carry War into

the Country of the Franks. He serves as a Private Soldier among the

Cretan Archers, who compose, with the Gauls, the Vanguard of the Army

of Constantius,

102

BOOK SIXTH.

Continuation of the Story. March of the Roman Army through Batavia.
Encounter with the Army of the Franks. The Field of Battle. Order
and Enumeration of the Roman Army. Order and Enumeration of the
Army of the Franks. Pharamond, Clodion and Merovius. Songs of the
Warriors. War Songs of the Franks. Beginning of the Action. Attack
of the Gauls upon the Franks. Cavalry Combat. Remarkable Encounter
between Vercingetorix, Chief of the Gauls, and Merovius, Son of the
King of the Franks. Vercingetorix is vanquished. The Romans give
Way. The Christian Legion descends the Hill and renews the Combat.
Mêlée. The Franks retreat to their Camp. Eudorus obtains the civic
Crown, and is appointed Chief of the Greeks by Constantius. The Com-
bat recommences at Break of Day. Attack on the Camp of the Franks
by the Romans. Rising of the Waves. The Romans flee before the Sea.
Eudorus, after a long Struggle, falls, pierced with several Wounds. He
is succored by a Slave of the Franks, who bears him to a Cavern, . 125

BOOK SEVENTH.

Continuation of the Recital. Eudorus becomes the Slave of Pharamond.

History of Zacharius. Clothilde, the wife of Pharamond. Dawn of Christ-

ianity in the Country of the Franks. Customs of the Franks. Return of

Spring. The Chase. Northern Barbarians. Tomb of Ovid. Eudorus

saves the life of Merovius. Merovius promises Liberty to Eudorus. Re-

turn of the Hunters to the Camp of Pharamond. The Goddess Hertha.

Festival of the Franks. Deliberations with the Romans on the Question

of Peace or War. Dispute of Camulogenus and Chloderic. The Franks

decide to treat for Peace. Eudorus is freed, and goes to make Proposals

of Peace to Constantius. Zacharius conducts Eudorus to the Frontiers

of Gaul. Their Adieus,