Juppiter sphæra est alata; ex ea producitur serpens: circulus divinam naturam ostendit sine principio et fine; serpens ostendit verbum ejus quod mundum animat et fœcundat; ejus ala spiritus Dei, qui mundum motu vivificat. T. W. ADVERSARIA LITERARIA. NO. XLIX. Classical Criticism. Absentem qui rodit amicum; Qui non defendit, alio culpante; solutos Qui captat risus hominum, famamque dicacis ; Qui nequit; hic niger est; hunc tu, Romane, caveto. Hor. lib. i. sat. iv. 81. WILL you permit me to offer a few words in reply to a very extraordinary question which occurs at p. 332 of your last Journal? The learned author of the article On the Mysteries of Eleusis commences his paper in the following manner: "A learned Platonist of our own time, Mr. T. Taylor, in a Dissertation on the Eleusinian Mysteries, has attempted to prove that they were intended to teach allegorically the Platonic philosophy. Pray, does Mr. T. suppose that they originated among the Platonists ?" Pray, does the writer consider himself a wit or Mr. Taylor a fool? If he had given himself the trouble to peruse either Mr. Taylor's Dissertation, or the Introduction to his Translation of the Hymns of Orpheus, he would have found it most satisfactorily demonstrated that the Orphic, Pythagoric, and Platonic philosophy was one and the same; that by Orpheus it was promulgated mystically and symbolically; by Pythagoras enigmatically, and through images; and by the "mighty, magnificent, and immortal philosopher of Athens," scientifically. That the Grecian theology was derived from Orpheus is clearly established by Iamblichus in his Life of Pythagoras, and Proclus in his Commentaries on the Timæus. Before your correspondent again attacks a statement supported by such irrefragable testimony, I beg to remind him of an excellent and appropriate passage in Quintilian: "Modeste tamen et cir cumspecto judicio de tantis viris pronunciandum est, ne, quod plerisque accidit, damnent quæ non intelligunt." I take this opportunity to apprise those of my readers who may not possess Mr. Taylor's original Dissertation, that a second and enlarged edition was given in Nos. 15 and 16 of the Pamphleteer; and also to assure them that by the aid of this elaborate and masterly treatise, they will be enabled to form a more correct idea of the true end and design of these farfamed mysteries than they could possibly hope to derive from any other source. I have only to add, that Mr. Taylor's luminous interpretation is supported and corroborated by very copious extracts from rare and valuable Platonic manuscripts. It appears, however, that this feeble attempt to cast a slur on Mr. Taylor's invaluable labors, is merely to pave the way for the writer's own explication of the mysteries, and which is by far the strangest part of the whole affair. J. J. W. Epigramma. Errabundus Amor vere versatilis oram R. P. J. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION. THE FAMILY CLASSICAL LIRRARY; or English Translations of the most valuable Greek and Latin Classics. To those who are desirous of obtaining a knowlege of the most esteemed Authors of Greece and Rome, yet possess not the means or leisure for pursuing a regular course of study, the present undertaking must prove a valuable acquisition. As the learned languages do not form part of the education of females, the only access which they have to the valuable stores of antiquity is through the medium of correct translation. So diversified also, in the other sex, are the objects to which general education is at present directed, that sufficient time cannot be allowed, in most instances, to lay the foundation of an adequate acquaintance with the languages, in which these remains have fortunately been preserved to us. In those instances even, in which the object has been attained-where the taste has been formed, and the habit of occasional recurrence to the Classics has been preserved-the facility of reference to a Series of correct and elegant Translations must afford pleasure, and occasional assistance, even to the scholar. To him who, as Dr. KNOX observes, although engaged in other pursuits, is still anxious to "retain a tincture of that elegance and liberality of sentiment which the mind acquires by a study of the Classics, and which contributes more to form the true gentleman, than all the substituted ornaments of modern affectation," such a Collection will, it is confidently hoped, prove acceptable. The present Selection is intended to include those Authors, whose works may with propriety be placed in the hands of the youth of both sexes. The whole will be presented to the public in a CHEAP, ELEGANT, and UNIFORM SIZE, forming a complete " FAMILY CLASSICAL LIBRARY," alike useful for the purposes of instruction and amusement. Indeed, as Dr. PARR says, "if you desire your son, though no great scholar, to read and reflect, it is your duty to place into his hands the best Translations of the best Classical Authors." The excellence, as historiaus, of HERODOTUS and XENOPHON, will place them foremost in the collection of Prose Authors: these will be followed by THUCYDIDES, LIVY, SALLUST, TACITUS, &c.—HOMER, VIRGIL, and HORACE, will justly take precedence among the Poets. The size to be small 8vo, hot-pressed, and neatly covered, Price 5s. each Volume, containing 400 pages of handsome letter-press. The publication to commence on the 1st of January 1830, and to be regularly continued on the first day of every month, with the Magazines and Reviews. To secure regularity in the monthly publication, considerable progress has already been made. Each Author may be purchased separately. Printed by A. J. Valpy, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London; and published by Longman and Co.; Baldwin and Co.; Whittaker and Co.; and all other Booksellers in Town and Country. LATELY PUBLISHED. The Delphin and Variorum Classics, Nos. 129 to 132, containing Plautus and part of Cicero. Pr. 17. 1s. per No. Large paper, double. Present Subscription, 983.-The Work will not exceed eight more Numbers, making 140 in the whole. As it may not be convenient to new Subscribers to purchase at once all the Nos. now published, Mr. Valpy will accommodate such by delivering one or two Nos. monthly, till the set is completed. Very few copies are left for disposal, VOL. XL. Cl. Jl. NO. LXXIX. L Mr. Valpy has, at the desire of several schoolmasters, just printed the Greek Septuagint in one handsome octavo volume, for the use of students at college and upper classes in schools, to read in chapels and churches. Price 21s. The text is taken from Holmes and Bos. The Apocrypha is added at the end, but may be omitted if objected to. This volume is so printed as to bind up uniformly with Valpy's Greek Testament, which is published in three vols. with English Notes. Hoogeveen on the Greek Particles; translated into English, and abridged for the Use of Schools, on the plan of Viger's Greek Idioms Abridged; by the Rev. J. SEAGER. Pr. 7s. 6d. It is the intention of the Editor to undertake, on the same plan, Bos, Maittaire, and Hermann; which will be published as soon as possible. Edipus Coloneus of Sophocles, chiefly according to the text of Brunck: with Critical, Philological, and Explanatory Notes; Illustrations of peculiar Idioms; Examination Questions; and copious Indices. For the use of Schools and Colleges. By the Rev. J. BRASSE, D.D. Price 5s. SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GREEK CLASSICS, with English Notes, Questions, &c.-At the express desire of many eminent schoolmasters, Mr. VALPY has commenced the publication of a SERIES of such of the GREEK AUTHORS as are chiefly read in the upper Classes of Schools and in Colleges. The best Texts are adopted, and the CRITICAL and EXPLANATORY NOTES are presented, it is presumed, in a more inviting and accessible form than those of Latin Commentators, by avoiding that profuseness of annotation which frequently anticipates the ingenuity, supersedes the industry, and consequently retards rather than promotes the improvement, of the pupil. EXAMINATION QUESTIONS, adapted to the points discussed in the Notes, and INDEXES, are also added; and the Series, it is hoped, will constitute a convenient introduction to the niceties and elegancies of Greek Literature, and to the perusal of that portion of the relics of antiquity which is best calculated to interest a youthful mind. Each volume will be sold separately; and it is intended that all shall be published in a cheap duodecimo form. The following are already published: EURIPIDES.-Hecuba. By the Rev. J. R. MAJOR, of Trin. Coll. Camb. and Master of Wisbeach School, 5s. Medea. By the Same. 5s. Phænissa. By the Same. 5s. [In the Press.] SOPHOCLES. Edipus Tyrannus. By the Rev. J. BRASSE, D.D. late Fellow of Trin. Coll. Camb. 5s. Edipus Coloneus. By the Same. 58. Antigone. By the Same. [In the Press.] THUCYDIDES, HERODOTUS, XENOPHON, DEMOSTHENES, &c. will speedily be published in succession. Valpy's Epitome Sacræ Historia. With English Notes. Fifth Edition. 2s. A New Edition of Bradley's Latin Prosody; with Exercises and Questions; designed as an Introduction to the scanning and making Latin Verses. 3s. 6d. Also, a new Edition of Bradley's Ovidii Metamorphoses Selecta with English Notes, and Geographical and Historical Questions. Every objectionable expression has been expunged. 4s. 6d. Thesaurus Ellipsium Latinarum, sive Vocum, quæ in sermone Latino suppressæ indicantur, et ex præstantissimis auctoribus illustrantur, cum indicibus necessariis. Auctore ELIA PALAIRET, Reverend, in Deo Patri, Joanni Bangoræ Episcopo, a sacris, et in Regia Æde Vicario. Londini, apud Joannem Nourse, 1760, 8vo. Recensuit et cum additamentis suis edidit E. H. BARKER. Pr. 8s. 6d. bds. Parriana; or Notices of the Rev. Samuel Parr, LL.D. collected from various sources, printed and manuscript, and in part written by E. H. BARKER, Esq. of Thetford, Norfolk. Vol. II. FOREIGN LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. Contents of the Journal des Savans' for April, 1829. 1. Grammaire de la Langue Maltaise, par M. Michel-Autoine Vassalli. [M. Silvestre de Sacy.] 2. Rélation d' Expérience pour déterminer la Figure de la Terre d'après les longueurs du pendule à secondes, par M. Edouard Sabine. [2nd Art. de M. Biot.] 3. Ordonnances des Rois de France de la troisième race, recueillies par ordre chronologique. XVIIIe vol. par M. le Marquis de Pastoret. [M. Raynouard.] 4. Cours de Culture et de Naturalisation des Végétaux, par André Thouin. [M. Tessier.] 5. Histoire des Gaulois, depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu'à l'entière soumission de la Gaule à la domination Romaine, par M. Amedée Thierry. [2nd Art. de M. Daunou.] May.-1. Traité d' Anatomie Pathologique, par M. I. F. Lobstein. [M. Abel-Rémusat.] |