ideal product of art. There is a curious story about the fortune of this piece with the public, that will interest our readers. The first success of "Athaliah" was not great. In fact, it was almost a flat failure. But a company of wits, playing at forfeits somewhere in the country, severely sentenced one of their number to go by himself, and read the first act of "Athaliah." The victim went, and did not return. Sought at length, he was found just commencing a second perusal of the play entire. He reported of it so enthusiastically, that he was asked to read it before the company, which he did, to their delight. This started a reaction in favor of the condemned play, which soon came to be counted the masterpiece of its author. First, in specimen of the choral feature of the drama, we content ourselves with giving a single chorus from the "Athaliah." This we turn into rhyme, clinging pretty closely all the way to the form of the original. Attentive readers may, in one place of our rendering, observe an instance of identical rhyme. This, in a piece of verse originally written in English, would, of course, be a fault. In a translation from French, it may pass for a merit; since, to judge from the practice of the national poets, the French ear seems to be even better pleased with such strict identities of sound, at the close of corresponding lines, than it is with those definite mere resemblances to which, in English versification, rhymes are rigidly limited. Suspense between hope and dread, dread preponderating, is the state of feeling represented in the present chorus. Salomith is the leading singer:-- SALOMITH. The Lord hath deigned to speak, But what he to his prophet now hath shown-- Who unto us will make it clearly known? Arms he himself to save us, poor and weak? Arms he himself to have us overthrown? THE WHOLE CHORUS. O promises! O threats! O mystery profound! What woe, what weal, are each in turn foretold? How can so much of wrath be found So much of love to enfold? A VOICE. Zion shall be no more; a cruel flame Will all her ornaments devour. A SECOND VOICE. God shelters Zion; she has shield and tower In His eternal name. FIRST VOICE. I see her splendor all from vision disappear. SECOND VOICE. I see on every side her glory shine more clear. FIRST VOICE. Into a deep abyss is Zion sunk from sight. SECOND VOICE. Zion lifts up her brow amid celestial light. FIRST VOICE. What dire despair! SECOND VOICE. What praise from every tongue! FIRST VOICE. What cries of grief! SECOND VOICE. What songs of triumph sung! A THIRD VOICE. Cease we to vex ourselves; our God, one day, Will this great mystery make clear. ALL THREE VOICES.