THE FOREIGN SACRED LYRE. Metrical Versions of Religious Poetry FROM THE GERMAN, FRENCH, AND ITALIAN, TOGETHER WITH The Original Pieces. BY JOHN SHEPPARD AUTHOR OF THOUGHTS ON DEVOTION," ETC. ETC LONDON:-JACKSON & WALFORD, 18, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD. 1857. 147. d. 64. PREFACE. Ir is believed that a sufficient plea for the practice of translation may be drawn from the ascertained and established excellence of some foreign writers, which renders it desirable to possess more of their productions, (even under the disadvantage of a version,) rather than some, at least, of those very numerous pieces called original, that are continually offered by our British press. Several of the foreign poets from whose works the following pieces, of religious character, are here presented, have especial claims on respectful notice. Indeed, by lettered readers generally, their reputation is too well known to require that it should be announced. Yet a few remarks and testimonies concerning them respectively may not be deemed superfluous or uninteresting. Michel-Angelo (Buonarotti) was at once painter, sculptor, architect, and poet. Of the unrivalled celebrity which he attained, no literary person can be ignorant. His poetry, indeed, was but a secondary or occasional b |