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248

MODERN GREEK LITERATURE.

composed by George, the Son of Nicholas Soutzos, formerly Grand [μɛyáλoc] Interpreter of the powerful Ottoman Empire. At the expence of that most useful gentleman Eustathius Mitze. In the year 1805. By the care of Theodosius of Ioannina." What is singular, it bears at the bottom of the page the notification in Italian "CON REGIA APPROVAZIONE. But whose be the royal appro

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bation is a matter of no small doubt.

This collection is curious. There are four pieces, of which the first is called "TO AXYΛΟΝ ΤΟΥ ΦΘΟΝΟΥ,” The Asylum of Envy, in three short acts, partly composed in verse, and partly in prose. The names of the actors areWISDOM,

RICHES,

CONSANGUINITY,

VIRTUE,

SIN, the mother of Envy,

ENVY, the son of Sin,

and the CHORUS.

The next bears the title of the "Illuminated

Courtier," and represents the following cha

racters:

ORIGINAL DRAMATIC POEMS.

249

THE COURTIER,

LOVE OF TRUTH,

DECEIT, under the appearance and in the name of VIRTUE.

AMBITION, under the appearance and in the name of HONOUR.

VENALITY, under the appearance and in the name of FRIENDSHIP.

It is comprised in two acts, and is entirely prose.

The third part of the volume is called “The Country of Fools," in three acts. The description of the dramatis personæ is singular; MANIARCHES, the leader of the fools, POTAMORRYTOS, the prodigal fool,

VRONTOKROTOs, the irritable fool,

CHREMATOPHILOS, the covetous fool,

KALLIANCHIA, the vain female fool,

TERPSITHYMOS, the gay (or noisy) female

fool,

and

Servants, who do not speak.

This piece is composed chiefly in

prose,

but

there are rhyming passages scattered about. The fourth division is perhaps the most curious of the whole: it is denominated "The

250

MODERN GREEK LITERATURE.

Catechumen; or the Cosmogonical Theatre," and relates to the various opinions of ancient philosophers respecting the origin of the world. Adam and Moses are among the number. Dramatis Persona.

CATECHUMEN, or Student,

ANAXAGORAS,

ARISTOTLE,

EPICURUS,

A DISCIPLE OF EPICURUS,
CARTESIUS, [Des Cartes,]

NEWTON, [NEYOON, pronounced Nevthon,]
ADAM,

MOSES.

66

σε Τουτο

In the second act, at the conclusion of the fourth scene, the Catechumen, after listening to the arguments of Newton, remarks, το σύστημά σου μοὶ ἐφάνη καὶ πιθανώτερον, καὶ προκριτώτερον των λοιπων· ὅθεν καὶ υποσχομαι επὶ ζωῆς μου νὰ τὸ ἔχω εγκεχαραγμὲνον εἰς τὴν καρδίαν μου. Φεύγει* Finally, however, he declares for the system of Moses,

دو *

*This system of yours appears to me both more probable and more eligible than the rest: therefore, I promise, through my life, to hold it deeply engraved within my heart.-He goes out."

which he

ORIGINAL DRAMATIC POEMS.

251

pronounces “ τὸ τελειότερον, καὶ τὸ Θειότερον ὅλων τῶν λοιπῶν παλαιῶν τε καὶ νεωτέρων * »

It is written in prose, and contains three

acts.

* “The most perfect, and the most divine of all others, old and new."

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TUESDAY, 15th Feb.-Preparations made for leaving Smyrna, the quarantine flag already hoisted. Besides the family of the vice-consul aforesaid, and three or four families of Greeks, we have another passenger, a Mr. Bulwer, one of the agents for the Greek committee, apparently in the last stage of consumption. Mr. Bulwer came out from England several months ago in company with Mr. Hamilton Browne. They landed at Napoli, where the first of these gentlemen caught the yellow fever. We hear that the Greeks took advantage of his unhappy situation to pilfer him on all sides; his Greek physician demanded and received two hundred dollars for his assistance, and the government required him to decamp immediately, lest he should spread the contagion farther. And this was done to persons who entered the country

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