SCHLEGEL, AUGUST WILIIELM VON, ft distinguished critic, poet, and scholar, was h. at Hanover, Sept. 8, 1767, and studied at GOttingen, where lie acquired a reputation by his devotion to philological and classical studies. He first began to assume a prom inent positiorr in literature while a lecturer at Jena, contributing assiduously to Schiller's Morass and Ifusen-illnianach, and to the Allgemeine Literaturreitung. About the same time his translation of Shakespeare began to appear (9 vols. Berl. 1797-1810), the influ ence of which on German poetry and the German stage was equally great. Subso. quently the poet 'neck, with Schlegel's consent, undertook a revision of the work, together with a translation of such pieces as Schlegel had omitted (12 vols. Berl. 1825, 1839, 1843); and from their conjoint labors the people of Germany are able to form a faithful idea of the surpassing genius of our countryman. Schlegel also delivered at Jena a series of lectures on aesthetics, and, along with his brother Friedrich, edited the Athena:um (3 vols. Berl. 1706-1800), which in spite of, perhaps because of, the sever. Ity of its criticism, gave a lively and wholesome impulse to the poetry of its time. lie • published Insides his first volume of poems (Gedichte, Trib. 1800); and. again in company with his brother, the Charakteristiken und Eritik,en (2 vols. liouigsb. 1801). In 1802 Schlegel left Jetia for Berlin, where he gave a second series of lectures on literature, art, and the spirit of the time. Next year appeared his Ion, an antique tragedy of considerable merit. It was followed by his Span. Theater (2 vols. Berlin, 1803-0), con sisting of 5 pieces of Calderon's, admirably translated, the effect of which has been to make that poet quite a favorite with the German people; and his Blautenstrdosse der Ital., Span., und Poring. Poesie (Berl. 1804), a charming collection of lyrics from the ' sunny south, from the appearance of which dates the naturalization in German verse of the metrical forms of the Romanic races. Probably his most valuable, and certainly
his most widely popular work. was his Vorlesungen fiber drantatische Kunst und ',aerator (3 vols. Heidelb. 1809-11), originally delivered at Vienna, iu the spring of 1808, and translated into most European languages. During 1811-15 Schlegel published a new collection of his poems (Postische Werke), which contains his masterpieces, "Anion," "St. Lucas," and is notable for the richness and variety of its po.nie forms, as also for the singular facility and elegance of the versification. In 1813 Schlegel, now raised into the ranks of the nobility, and privileged to use the sacred von before his name, was appointed professor of history in the university of Bone, and devoted himself especially to the history of the flue arts add to philological research. He was one of the first students of Sanskrit in Germany, established a Sanskrit print ing-office at Bonn, and an Indiache Bibliothek (2 vols. Bonn, 1820-23). Among the proofs of his scholarly activity in this department of knowledge may be mentioned his oditioa of the Artagarad Gila, an episode from the epic poem Arakiibhii rata, with a Latin t teals lotion (21 ed. Bonn, 1846), and of part of the landyana (Bonn, 1829-39). His other works it is unnecessary to mention. Schlegel was not happy in his domestic relations. He was twice married, first to a daughter of prof. Michaelis of Gottingen, and again to is daughter of prof. Paulus of Heidelberg, but in both cases a separation soot becainc necessary. &Weird was quarrelsome., jealous, and ungenerous in his relations with literary men, and didnot even shrink from slander when his spleen was excited. Ho died May 12, 1815.