Thus we have stated our notions of the time. the place, the persons, of this conversation poem. \\'e desire the reader to transport himself and his conceptions into the palace of the highly favored king of Israel; to make one among those honored with a station in the train of Solomon, when his betrothed spouse, newly arrived from Egypt. with her mother, surrounded by all the pomp which the superb Pharaoh himself could depute to aggran dize his daughter in the eyes of beholders. Egypt was at this time in its glory as to riches and power, and Solomon was rising into the greatest repute for magnificence and into a proverbial fame for wisdom. Thus introduced, let tic attend the conversations of these illustrious lovers, hut let us remember that they are expressed and trans mitted in the energetic, the impassioned. the figurative language of poetry. of eastern poetry; comprised in metaphors, easy. familiar, and even constant. in the place and country where we hear them; that a great part of the gallantry attending a courtship conversation is (by usage) included in them, and that the promptitude of the repartee to such allusions, metaphors, similes. compari sons. etc.. is accepted as no small test of the sprightly wit. felicity of fancy. readiness of reply and mental dexterity, of the persons between whom they pass.
(7) Illustrations of the Proposed Version. We are now prepared to review the characters of the principal speakers in this interesting poem. Ihe bride has been a ranger of parks, plantations, etc., is fond of gardens and rural enjoyment, and has a property of her own, of the same nature; yet is a person of complete elegance of taste and of manners; magnificent in her personal ornaments and liberal in her disposition. She has been edu cated by her mother with the tenderest affection, and is her only daughter ; though her mother has several sons. The bridegroom is noble in his per
son, magnificent in his equipage, palace and pleas ures ; active, military, of pleasing address and compliment, and one on whom his exalted rank and station sit remarkably easy. The bride's mother does not speak in any part of the poem; it is only by what is said of her that we find she accompanied her daughter: whether thisperson age be her natural mother, or any confidential friend, deputed to that office, might engage con jecture. bride's companions speak but little; we think only once, at the close of the fourth day. if then. The bridegroom's companions speak also only nn the same occasion. The ladies of the harem, or visitors to the bride, are the first per sons to compliment and to cheer her ; and we think they seem to accompany in her train throughout the poem. It is likely that these visitors praise her in the first day, describe the palanquin in the third day. converse with the bride in the fourth day, and admire her dress in the fifth day. These parts have hitherto been attributed to the bride's Egyp tian attendants; but we rather suppose the infor mation they give, and the sentiments they com municate, imply persons well acquainted with the bridegroom and his court—that is, Jewish attend ants, maids of honor to the bride—or, may these passages be spoken by thy queen mother of the bridegroom? (See QUEEN MOTHER.) Some other persons also speak once at the opening of the sixth day; their remark indicates that they stand near, or at the palace; for want of more precise knowledge of them they are called "Attendants at the house ;" say, the chief officers of the palace. But is this spoken by the ladies of the Harem or by the queen mother?