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in Philip II。's time a vast portion of the real estate of the country was held by the Church in mortmain； that forty…nine noble families owned all the rest； that all great estates were held in tail； and that the property of the aristocracy and the clergy was completely exempt from taxation。 Thus the accumulation and the diffusion of capital were alike prevented； and the few possessors of property wasted it in unproductive expenditure。 Hence the fundamental error of Spanish political economy； that wealth is represented solely by the precious metals； an error which well enough explains the total failure； in spite of her magnificent opportunities； of Spain's attempts to colonize the New World。 Such was the frightful condition of Spanish society under Philip II。； and as if this state of things were not bad enough； the next king； Philip III。； at the instigation of the clergy； decided to drive into banishment the only class of productive labourers yet remaining in the country。 In 1610； this stupendous crime and blunderunparalleled even in Spanish historywas perpetrated。 The entire Moorish population were expelled from their homes and driven into the deserts of Africa。 For the awful consequences of this mad action no remedy was possible。 No system of native industry could be created on demand； to take the place of that which had been thus wantonly crushed forever。 From this epoch dates the social ruin of Spain。 In less than a century her people were riotous with famine； and every sequestered glen and mountain pathway throughout the country had become a lurking…place for robbers。 Whoever would duly realize to what a lamentable condition this beautiful peninsula had in the seventeenth century been reduced； let him study the immortal pages of Lesage。 He will learn afresh the lesson； not yet sufficiently regarded in the discussion of social problems； that the laws of nature cannot be violated without entailing a penalty fearful in proportion to the extent of the violation。 But let him carefully remember also that the Spaniards are not and never have been a despicable people。 If Spain has produced one of the lowest characters in history； she has also produced one of the highest。 That man was every inch a Spaniard who； maimed； diseased； and poor； broken down by long captivity； and harassed by malignant persecution； lived nevertheless a life of grandeur and beauty fit to be a pattern for coming generations；the author of a book which has had a wider fame than any other in the whole range of secular literature； and which for delicate humour； exquisite pathos； and deep ethical sentiment； remains to…day without a peer or a rival。 If Philip II。 was a Spaniard； so； too； was Cervantes。
Spain could not be free； for she violated every condition by which freedom is secured to a people。 〃Acuteness of intellect； wealth of imagination； heroic qualities of heart and hand and brain； rarely surpassed in any race and manifested on a thousand battle…fields； and in the triumphs of a magnificent and most original literature； had not been able to save a whole nation from the disasters and the degradation which the mere words Philip II。 and the Holy Inquisition suggest to every educated mind。〃 Nor could Spain possibly become rich； for； as Mr。 Motley continues； 〃nearly every law； according to which the prosperity of a country becomes progressive； was habitually violated。〃 On turning to the Netherlands we find the most complete contrast； both in historical conditions and in social results； and the success of the Netherlands in their long struggle becomes easily intelligible。 The Dutch and Flemish provinces had formed a part of the renovated Roman Empire of Charles the Great and the Othos。 Taking advantage of the perennial contest for supremacy between the popes and the Roman emperors； the constituent baronies and municipalities of the Empire succeeded in acquiring and maintaining a practical though unrecognized independence； and this is the original reason why Italy and Germany； unlike the three western European communities； have remained fragmentary until our own time。 By reason of the practical freedom of action thus secured； the Italian civic republics； the Hanse towns； and the cities of Holland and Flanders； were enabled gradually to develop a vast commerce。 The outlying position of the Netherlands； remote from the imperial authorities； and on the direct line of commerce between Italy and England； was another and a peculiar advantage。 Throughout the Middle Ages the Flemish and Dutch cities were of considerable political importance； and in the fifteenth century the Netherland provinces were the most highly civilized portion of Europe north of the Alps。 For several generations they had enjoyed； and had known how to maintain； civic liberties； and when Charles and Philip attempted to fasten upon them their 〃peculiar institution；〃 the Spanish Inquisition； they were ripe for political as well as theological revolt。 Natural laws were found to operate on the Rhine as well as on the Tagus； and at the end of the great war of independence； Holland was not only better equipped than Spain for a European conflict； but was rapidly ousting her from the East Indian countries which she had in vain attempted to colonize。
But if we were to take up all the interesting and instructive themes suggested by Mr。 Motley's work； we should never come to an end。 We must pass over the exciting events narrated in these last volumes； the victory of Nieuport； the siege of Ostend； the marvellous career of Maurice； the surprising exploits of Spinola。 We have attempted not so much to describe Mr。 Motley's book as to indulge in sundry reflections suggested by the perusal of it。 But we cannot close without some remarks upon a great man； whose character Mr。 Motley seems to have somewhat misconceived。
If Mr。 Motley exhibits any serious fault； it is perhaps the natural tendency to TAKE SIDES in the events which he is describing； which sometimes operates as a drawback to complete and thoroughgoing criticism。 With every intention to do justice to the Catholics； Mr。 Motley still writes as a Protestant； viewing all questions from the Protestant side。 He praises and condemns like a very fair…minded Huguenot； but still like a Huguenot。 It is for this reason that he fails to interpret correctly the very complex character of Henry IV。； regarding him as a sort of selfish renegade whom he cannot quite forgive for accepting the crown of France at the hands of the Pope。 Now this very action of Henry； in the eye of an impartial criticism； must seem to be one of his chief claims to the admiration and gratitude of posterity。 Henry was more than a mere Huguenot： he was a far…seeing statesman。 He saw clearly what no ruler before him； save William the Silent； had even dimly discerned； that not Catholicism and not Protestantism； but absolute spiritual freedom was the true end to be aimed at by a righteous leader of opinion。 It was as a Catholic sovereign that he could be most useful even to his Huguenot subjects； and he shaped his course accordingly。 It was as an orthodox sovereign； holding his position by the general consent of Europe； that he could best subserve the interests of universal toleration。 This principle he embodied in his admirable edict of Nantes。 What a Huguenot prince might have done； may be seen from the shameful way in which the French Calvinists abused the favour which Henryand Richelieu afterwardsaccorded to them。 Remembering how Calvin himself 〃dragooned〃 Geneva； let us be thankful for the fortune which； in one of the most critical periods of history； raised to the highest position in Christendom a man who was something more than a sectarian。
With this brief criticism； we must regretfully take leave of Mr。 Motley's work。 Much more remains to be said about a historical treatise which is； on the whole； the most valuable and important one yet produced by an American； but we have already exceeded our limits。 We trust that our author will be as successful in the future as he has been in the past； and that we shall soon have an opportunity of welcoming the first instalment of his 〃History of the Thirty Years' War。〃
March； 1868。
XI。 LONGFELLOW'S DANTE。＇33＇
＇33＇ The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri。 Translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow。 3 vols。 Boston： Ticknor & Fields； 1867。
THE task of a translator is a thankless one at best。 Be he never so skilful and accurate； be he never so amply endowed with the divine qualifications of the poet； it is still questionable if he can ever succeed in saying satisfactorily with new words that which has once been inimitably saidsaid for all timewith the old words。 Psychologically； there is perhaps nothing more complex than an elaborate poem。 The sources of its effect upon our minds may be likened to a system of forces which is in the highest degree unstable； and the slightest displacement of phrases； by disturbing the delicate rhythmical equilibrium of the whole； must inevitably awaken a jarring sensation。〃 Matthew Arnold has given us an excellent series of lectures upon translating Homer； in which he doubtless succeeds in showing that some methods of translation are preferable to others； but in which he proves nothing so forcibly as that the simp