Dryden is very far from doing justice to Virgil in the translation of this passage, and yet, we must say, that the original, much as it has been praised, falls greatly short of the exquisite description by Apollonius. How much does that most impressive image in the sixth line of the Grecian poet exceed any effect produced by Virgil's _pictæ volucres_, or "particolored fowl," however ornate the language, and liquid the melody of his highly wrought lines. But Byron--shall we risk the criticism--Byron, in our judgment, surpasses every example we have quoted, and even had we added, as we might have done, Shakspeare and Milton to the list. 'Twas midnight--On the mountains brown The cold round moon shone deeply down Blue rolled the waters, blue the sky Spread like an ocean hung on high; Bespangled with those isles of light, So widely, spiritually bright. Who ever gazed upon them shining, And turned to earth without repining! The sea on either shore lay there, Calm, clear, and azure as the air; And scarce the foam the pebbles shook, That murmured meekly as the brook. The winds were pillowed on the waves; The banners drooped along their staves; And that deep silence was unbroke, Save where the watch his signal spoke; Save where the steed neighed oft and shrill, And echo answered from the hill. _Siege of Corinth._ Our concluding example is from the Scriptures. We challenge not for it a superiority simply on the ground of its inspiration. Every reader may judge for himself how immeasurably it excels any thing of the kind to be found in ancient or modern poetry. How full of _natural_ sublimity, and, at the same time, how profoundly impressive the _moral_ lesson of this night scene from Job! In thoughts from visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, Fear came upon me, and trembling, And made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair of my flesh rose up. It stood. An image was before mine eyes, And yet I could not discern the form thereof. There was silence-- And yet I heard a voice--saying-- Shall a mortal be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker? * * * * *