The river Laos was full at the time the author passed it; and, immediately above Tepaleen, was to the eye as wide as the Thames at Westminster; at least in the opinion of the author and his fellow-traveller, Mr. Hobhouse. In the summer it must be much narrower. It certainly is the finest river in the Levant; neither Achelous, Alpheus, Acheron, Scamander nor Cayster, approached it in breadth or beauty. 27. And fellow-countrymen have stood aloof. Stanza Ixvi. line 8. Alluding to the wreckers of Cornwall. 28. the red wine circling fast. The Albanian Mussulmans do not abstain from wine, and indeed very few of the others. 29. Each Palikar his sabre from him cast. Stanza lxxi. line 7. Palikar, shortened when addressed to a single person, from Пaλinagi, a general name for a soldier amongst the Greeks and Albanese who speak Romaic-it means properly "a lad." 30. While thus in concert, &c. Stanza Ixxii. line last. As a specimen of the Albanian or Arnaout dialect of the Illyric, I here insert two of their most popular choral songs, which are generally chanted in dancing by men or women indiscriminately. The first words are merely a kind of chorus without meaning, like some in our own and all other languages. The Albanese, particularly the women, are frequently termed "" The last stanza would puzzle a commentator: the men have certainly buskins of the most beautiful texture, but the ladies (to whom the above is supposed to be addressed) have nothing under their little yellow boots and slippers but a well-turned and sometimes very white ankle. The Arnaout girls are much handsomer than the Greeks, and their dress is far more picturesque. They preserve their shape much longer also, from being always in the open air. It is to be observed, that the Arnaout is not a written language; the words of this song, therefore, as well as the one which follows, are spelt according to their pronunciation. They are copied by one who speaks and understands the dialect perfectly, and who is a native of Athens. 1. Ndi sefda tinde ulavossa 1. I am wounded by thy love, and have loved but to scorch myself. Udi vura udorini udiri cicova If I have placed my hand on Udorini talti hollna u ede cilti mora caimoni mora. thy bosom, what have I gained? my hand is withdrawn, but retains the flame. I believe the two last stanzas, as they are in a different measure, ought to belong to another ballad. An idea something similar to the thought in the last lines was expressed by Socrates, whose arm having come in contact with one of his "Toxoxo," Critobulus or Cleobulus, the philosopher complained of a shooting pain as far as his shoulder for some days after, and therefore very properly resolved to teach his disciples in future without touching them. 31. Tambourgi! Tambourgi! thy 'larum afar, &c. Song, Stanza 1. line 1. These stanzas are partly taken from different Albanese songs, as far as I was able to make them out by the exposition of the Albanese in Romaic and Italian. 32. Remember the moment when Previsa fell. Song, Stanza 8. line 1. It was taken by storm from the French. 33. Fair Greece! sad relic of departed worth, &c. Stanza lxxiii. line 1. Some thoughts on this subject will be found in the subjoined papers. 34. Spirit of freedom! when on Phyle's brow Thou sat'st with Thrasybulus and his train. Stanza lxxiv. lines 1 and 2. Phyle, which commands a beautiful view of Athens, has still considerable remains: it was seized by Thrasybulus previous to the expulsion of the Thirty. 35. Receive the fiery Frank, her former guest. Stanza lxxvii. line 4. When taken by the Latins, and retained for several years. See GIBBON. 36. The prophet's tomb of all its pious spoil. Stanza lxxvii. line 6. Mecca and Medina were taken some time ago by the Wahabees, a sect yearly increasing. 37. Thy vales ever-green, thy hills of snow Stanza lxxxv. line 3. On many of the mountains, particularly Liakura, the snow never is entirely melted, notwithstanding the intense heat of the summer; but I never saw it lie on the plains, even in winter. |