e to bring their characteristics
plainly before the public. In addition to these, there were numerous
parodies and original poems, which helped to emphasize the importance
of things German. This influence, moreover, was aided by the
translations of prose works and by articles on German literature,
history and biography, which are scattered through the pages of these
periodicals. The American magazines accomplished considerable for
German in this country. The movement here treated grew until it
assumed a widespread importance a few decades later, but the period to
the end of 1810 is interesting as marking the beginning. It was the
first epoch of this type of literary activity in America.

II.

TRANSLATIONS OF GERMAN POETRY.

THE OLD MAN.
From Gesner.
From the London Magazine, Oct. 1773.

[Prose translation.]

_Royal Amer. Mag._, p. 14, Jan. 1774, Boston.

[Reprint from the _London Mag._, p. 437, Sept. 1773, London. Preceding
the title: "For the London Magazine."

Salomon Gessner, _Palemon_, Idyllen, Erste Folge. Concerning the prose
translations from Gessner, cf. p. 16.]

For the Pennsylvania Magazine.

MIRTIL AND THIRSIS.
A PASTORAL.
From the German.

[Prose translation.]

_Penna. Mag._, I-359, Aug. 1775, Phila.

[S. Gessner, _Myrtil. Thyrsis_. Idyllen, Erste Folge.]

Description (with an elegant Engraving) of the celebrated Tomb of
Madame Langhans, executed by Mr. John Augustus Nahl, late Sculptor to
the King of Prussia, and which is to be seen in the choir of the
parish church of Hindlebanck, two leagues from Berne.

As the inscription and verses of the Tombstone, which were written by
the celebrated M. de Haller, could not with propriety be introduced in
the engraving, we insert them here, in a free translation from the
original German.

Hark! the majestic sound! the trumpet hear!
See the astonish'd tombs give up their prey!
Oh God! my Savior! 'tis thy voice I hear!
And with my child, I come t'eternal day,
Awake my infant; open now thine eyes,
Leave the corruption of thy mortal birth,
Arise my child, to thy Redeemer rise,
And taste at length the joy denied on earth,
Before his face death must