that, in Athens, curiosity, inquisitiveness, a craving for something new, became a characteristic of the place. "The people passed their time in nothing else." It may have been even worse in the dominions of Abdallah. It may have happened, that in consequence of this prevailing vice, state secrets had been disclosed, possibly through the instrumentality of women. Serious consequences may have followed. Abdallah himself, or perhaps his predecessors on the throne may have suffered for it. A law for the suppression of curiosity may have been demanded by the general voice of the people. It may have extended to both sexes. It may have been confined to women only. At all events, it was not an ex-post-facto law, nor could Fatima with any justice have complained of it. She accepted a trust, knowing perfectly well the penalty which attached to a breach of it. She might have refused to receive the key of the fatal chamber on such conditions, but she did receive it. She forfeited her trust deliberately, and with her eyes open; and surely, it is not for us to defend her, or to condemn the execution of her sentence. The same stern necessity which compelled our own sovereign Henry VIII., and his daughters Mary and Elizabeth, to sign the death-warrants of so many of their subjects, must fairly be urged as an apology for Abdallah, and our sympathies be henceforth enlisted for him, instead of for the justly condemned offender against his law. We submit these considerations to the candid judgment of our readers. There is one point more to which we ought fairly to call their attention, so as to enable them to dispossess their minds of undue prejudice in the estimation of the character of our hero, and then we have done. We have spoken of his beard, of its size, and also of its F F remarkable colour. Now we honestly believe that a great portion of the abhorrence with which Abdallah has hitherto been regarded, at least by our younger friends, is attributable to what they have been accustomed to hear spoken of as his "great horrid, nasty, blue beard;" and we are just as much convinced that the prejudice entertained by them on this account, is utterly unjust and without foundation. A more remarkable instance of unmerited obloquy perhaps never occurred, or one in which the misconception admitted of an easier solution. What will our readers say when we assure them that the colour of his beard is an entire mistake? that in fact it was not blue at all? Will they not be inclined to say at once—“ Prove this, and it will go far to change our opinions. Show us that his beard was a handsome black one, like that of a Crimean hero, or even a militia captain, and we will be satisfied. We dont care so much for his cutting off his wives' heads. Perhaps there may be a good deal said on both sides: but a blue beard! that is quite unpardonable." Let them then listen to the reasons which we have to urge for the position which we have advanced, and we are content to leave the case in their hands. We have said that we are ignorant of the precise locality of Abdallah's dominions, and consequently of the language spoken by his people. But we know that he was an eastern prince, probably of Greek origin, or of some cognate race. Now we have lately learned a good deal about the names of colours, as used by one eastern author, and he the first of all, whether ancient or modern, from the pages of Mr. Gladstone; and we confess we turned with no little curiosity to the third volume for some information upon the subject upon which we have long entertained rather a strong opinion. What is the adjective used by Homer, which most nearly approaches to our idea of blue? Referring to page 459, Vol. III., we find that the closest approach to blue is «váveos, which is rendered by Mr. Gladstone as "indigo." To what object then is this word applied by Homer? Turn to page 463, and we shall see the question at once stripped of all doubt, and Abdallah shines forth, not only not as a monster, but actually as a model (in this respect at least) of manly beauty. "The word kvάveos, then, is applied by Homer (463, g) to the eyebrows of Jupiter and Juno, Il. i. 528, xv. 102, xvii. 209. (h) "To a dark cloud of vapour. Il. xxiii. &c. (i) "To the hair of Hector. Il. xxii. 402. And to the beard of Ulysses, when he is restored to beauty by Minerva. Od. xvi. 176. Od. xvi. 176. With this we may compare the hyacinthine hair of Ulysses in Od. vi. 231. (k) "Thetis put on mourning garments for Patroclus when about to appear to Achilles. Il. xxiv. 92. 66 κάλυμμ' ἕλε δια θεάων κυάνεον τοῦ δ ̓ οὔτι μελάντερον ἔπλετο ἔσθος. "Here Homer is careful to inform us that the xáλvμμa, or hood and mantle, was the blackest garment possible; and since in Il. iv. 287, we find that he was acquainted with pitch, we need not scruple to assume that here he speaks literally, and either means a real black, which, nevertheless he calls κvávcov, or sees no difference between the genuine black and the colour of κύανος. Having, then, done our best to disabuse the minds of our readers of the undue prejudice which arises from an unpleasant association of ideas, and having, as we would fain believe, established the position (which is of no little importance) that the term "Blue Beard" is a misnomer, and that the appendage to his face, which our hero no doubt possessed in fair proportions, was not a deformity, but rather an element of personal grace and manly beauty; we will leave his character, as a prince and a husband, with the observations which have occurred to us, for their impartial consideration. It may be that ancient prejudices are too deeply rooted to be overcome; at all events, we will request them to reperuse the extract from Mr. Froude's history, which we have inserted at the commencement of our essay, and ask whether his quotation from Ulpian may not with equal fairness be applied to the ill-used Abdallah? whether in fact it does not resemble him far more closely than the extravagant conception which floats in the modern belief? "He was a prince of singular prudence, of passing stout courage, of invincible fortitude, of dexterity wonderful. He was a springing well of eloquence, a rare spectacle of humanity; of civility and good nature an absolute president, a special pattern of clemency and moderation, a worthy example of regal justice, a bottomless spring of largess and benignity." FRAGMENT OF AN UNPUBLISHED PLAY. ΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΔΡΑΜ. ΠΡΟΣ. (Τριακοντα-επτὰ ἐπὶ Δημοσθένη.) Ο Διδάσκαλος. Χορὸς νεανίων. ACT I. Scene.-The Quadrangle. The Fifth Form discovered, with books in their hands. 1st FELLOW. I say, old fellow, tell us just one bit, Down there-third line-I can't quite make it out. 2nd FELLOW.-No more can I; I'm certain to be floored If I'm put on:-but we must take our chance. 3rd FELLOW.-How do you take?-Confound it, here he comes. Enter O Addoxalos through the gate. Exeunt omnes into the Fifth Form School. After the lapse of an hour, re-enter the Form. CHORUS.-Air," Death of Nelson." 'Twas on a whole school day, Each brow was lowering then; We feared the grievous yoke The Greek was tough as oak, And sorely posed our men. The lesson o'er, forth poured the wave Of fellows tall, with faces grave, Who thought their work no beauty; While through the room this warning ran, "Mind, I expect that every man This half will do his duty!" (Exeunt through the gate.) |