S34 Extracts from Lost Works of Aristotle, &c. The ancient author of those fragments of Metaphysics first published by Aldus, and ascribed by him and others to Theophrastus, observes concerning the simple energy of intellect as follows; μεχρι μεν ουν τινος δυναμεθα δι' αιτιου θεωρειν τας αρχας, απο των αισθήσεων λαμβανοντες. όταν δε επ' αυτά τα ακρα και πρωτα μεταβαινωμεν, ουκ ετι δυναμεθα, είτε δια το μη εχειν αιτίαν· ειτε δια την ἡμετεραν ασθένειαν, ώσπερ προς τα φωτεινοτατα βλεπειν· ταχα δ' εκείνο αληθέστερον, ώς αυτῳ τῳ νῳ ἡ θεωρια θιγοντι, και οἷον αψα μενῳ διο και ουκ εστιν απατη περι αυτα χαλεπη δε και εις αυτο τουτο και ἡ συνεσις και ἡ πίστις· i. e. "To a certain extent, therefore, we are able to survey principle, through cause, deriving assistance for this purpose from the senses. But when we pass on to summits, and things that are first, we are no longer able to do this [i. e. to survey them through cause]; either because they have no cause, or on account of our imbecility to look as it were at the most luminous of things. Perhaps, however, the assertion is more true, that the contemplation of intellect is by contact, and as it were adhesion. Hence there is no deception in the survey of these objects by intellect. But such a perception as this, and the faith by which it is attended, are difficult." This simple and self-visive energy of intellect, by which it speculates things themselves, and by intuition and contact becomes one with the object of its perception, is called by Plato in the Phædo, esos λoyos, divine reason; and by the best of the Platonists, vospa exißoλn, intellectual intuition. Conformably to what is said in the above extract from Theophrastus, Aristotle, in the last chapter of the 9th book of his Metaphysics, observes, concerning the objects of the intuitive perception of intellect, "that in these, truth is obtained by contact and assertion :” το μεν θίγειν και φαναι αληθες. And he afterwards adds: "but not to pass into contact with them, is to be ignorant of them:” το δ' αγνοειν μη θιγγάνειν. Shortly after likewise he adds, " With respect to such things as are beings and in energy, about these it is not possible to be deceived, but they are either intellectually apprehended or not :" oσa on EσTIV όπερ είναι τι και ενεργεια, περι ταυτα ουκ εστιν απατηθήναι, αλλ' νοειν, η μη. With respect to these beings in energy, which are the same as the truly-existing beings of Plato, Ta ovτws ovτa, Aristotle says, in the 8th chapter of the 12th book of his Metaphysics, (Aldus's edition): "It is necessary that each of the revolutions of the celestial orbs should be moved by an essentially immove able and eternal essence; and that these essences should be as many in number as the revolving spheres." To these first essences also he alludes in the following beautiful passage, in the second book of the same work : ώσπερ γαρ και τα των νυκτε ρίδων όμματα προς το φεγγος έχει το μεθ ̓ ἡμεραν, ούτω και της ήμετερας ψυχῆς ὁ νους προς τα τη φύσει φανερωτατα παντων i. e. ô 66 As are the eyes of bats to the light of day, so is the intellect of our soul to such things as are naturally the most splendid of all." THOMAS TAYLOR. Manor Place, Walworth. ADVERSARIA LITERARIA. NO. L. A Striking Coincidence between a Chinese Author and Hesiod. “The highest order of nen [called Shing, PERFECT, or inspired] are virtuous or wise, independently of instruction; the middle class of men [Heen, GOOD, or moral] are so after instruction; the lowest order [Yu, stupid, or woRTHLESS] are vicious in spite of instruction.” Οὗτος μεν ΠΑΝΑΡΙΣΤΟΣ, ὃς αυτος παντα νοήσει, Quarterly Review, No. 81. p. 97. According to the Platonic philosophy, in every order of beings there are ὑπεροχη, συστοιχία, ύφεσις, i. e. transcendency, co-ordination, and diminution. Thus in the human species, the highest class, from the proximity and alliance which it has to natures superior to man, possesses, with respect to the rest of mankind, transcendency. The second class possesses the characteristics of human nature in such a way as neither to transcend, nor fall below these characteristics. And the third class, from its proximity to the brutal species, composes what the 1 Αναγκη και τουτων ἑκάστην των φορων ὑπ ̓ ακινητου τε κινείσθαι καθ' αύτο, και αΐδιου ουσίας. φανερον τοινυν, ότι τοσαυτας ουσίας αναγκαιον είναι, την τε φυσιν αΐδιους και ακινητους καθ' αύτας, και ανευ μεγεθους, δια την ειρημένην αιτίαν προτερον. Chaldean oracle calls the herd of mankind, or, in the emphatic language of Burke, the swinish multitude. The first of these corresponds to the παναριστος ανηρ, the second to the εσθλος, and 'the third to the αχρήιος ανηρ of Hesiod. For further information on this subject, see p. 324. of Taylor's Translation of the Phædrus, p. 336. of the Phado of Plato, and p. 229. of the 3rd vol. of the same gentleman's translation of Pausanias. J. J. W. The Earth Cavernous. "Franciscus Patritius, a man famous enough for his learning, in a certain book of his Of the Rhetoric of the Ancients,' written in Italian, and printed at Venice by Franciscus Senensis, 1562, has the following pleasant story, which he says Julius Strozza had from Count Balthazzar Castillon, and he had it from a certain Abyssinian philosopher in Spain. This wise Abyssinian did say, that in the most ancient annals of Ethiopia, there is a history of the destruction of mankind, and the breaking of the earth. That in the beginning of the world the earth was far bigger than now it is, and nearer to heaven, perfectly round, without mountains and vallies, yet all cavernous like a sponge, and that men dwelling in it, and enjoying a most pure æther, did lead a pleasant life," &c.-The Abyssinian Philosophy Confuted, by Robert St. Clair, M.D. 12mo. 1697. p. 88. The foregoing is in perfect accordance with the Platonic philosophy, e. g. "For I am persuaded that there are every where about the earth many hollow places of all-various forms and magnitudes. * * We are ignorant, therefore, that we dwell in the cavities of this earth, and imagine that we inhabit its upper parts. * * * For dwelling in a certain hollow of the earth, we think that we reside on its surface."-Plato, the Phado, p. 220 of Mr. Thomas Taylor's invaluable translation, 8vo. edition. See also p. 140 of the translator's masterly and luminous introduction to that most beautiful dialogue. In the subjoined passage from Olympiodorus, there occurs the very same simile as given above in Italics: Ιστεον ὅτι οἱ φιλοσοφοι οιονται συριγγας έχειν την γην ώσπερ την κισσηριν, και ότι διατετρηται άχρι του εσχατου του κεντρου αυτής.-Olympiod. Schol. Mss. in Plat. Gorgiam. J. J. W. 337 ARCHEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF ROME UNDER the immediate protection of His Royal Highness the Hereditary Prince of Prussia, an Antiquarian Society has within a few months been formed at Rome, and intitled, the Instituto di Corrispondenza Archæologica. Through the kindness of an ingenious member of the new society, we have lately received the "Bullettino degli Annali" of the Institute, (an octavo volume of 56 pages,) and from the first article we learn that under the royal auspices above-mentioned, this society enjoys the patronage of many illustrious personages, foreigners as well as Italians, eminent for their love of antiquities; and comprebends among its members several accomplished archeologists and artists. In the list of distinguished foreigners we find the names of our fellow-countrymen Sir William Gell, Mr. Millingen, and Mr. Dodwell; all are associated under the presidency. of the Duc de Blacas d'Aulps. It is a main object of this institution to describe all the new, discoveries, especially those made in excavations or in researches among monuments of classical antiquity. The volume of annals which it is proposed to publish every year will be divided into three parts: the first containing particular descriptions of excavations and of monuments hitherto unknown or imperfectly noticed; and of the accessions made to antiquarian museums. The second part will consist of literary compositions and communications on the subject of archæological researches; and the third will comprehend such illustrations as may arise from the inspection and comparison of monuments. These annals will be accompanied by a general report concerning the progress of archæology, and a Bullettino of notices tending to promote the principal objects of the institution. To the annals will be annexed a collection of chosen engravings, representing monuments hitherto unpublished, serving to illustrate archæology, sculpture, painting, and other interesting branches of antiquarian study. It is proposed to publish every year at least forty sheets (in octavo) of letter-press, from papers written in Italian, French, Latin, or other languages, with twelve plates, in royal folio, exhibiting monuments of which no delineations have ever before VOL. XL. NO. LXXX. CI. JI. Y been offered to the public, and various engravings of a smaller size. It is expected that the annual sum of two louis d'or should be contributed by each person desirous of patronising this new association; in return for which they will receive the volume and plates above-mentioned. But to those who contribute manuscript articles or drawings, this sum of two louis d'or will be returned or allowed. Any communications and correspondence relative to these publications may be addressed to the Royal Hanoverian Legation at Rome, and particularly marked, Per l'Instituto di Corrispondenza Archæologica. In the first fasciculus of engraved monuments are comprised six plates of very large folio size. The first two are divided into five compartments, and represent the walls and gates, with plans of the ruined city of Norba, designed and engraved by John Knapp, architect. The third plate (published by Mr. Dodwell, and engraved by Mr. Knapp) represents the extraordinary gate of Segni. In plate IV. are delineated several figures as they appear on a beautiful painted vase, from a communication of Edward Gerhard, Royal Professor of Berlin. The painting on this vase exhibits Ceres and Triptolemus, Hecate, and other personages. Plate V. is divided into two large compartments showing. the devices painted on four vases, and representing 1. Apollo: and Mercury. 2. The death of Orpheus. 3. A poet who seems to fly from a winged female figure. 4. A young man receiving the reward of literary merit. These are from communications of Theodore Panofka. Plate VI. exhibits a remarkable dance comprehending seven figures of which five are females, from a drawing communicated by the learned antiquary, Mr. Millingen, in whose collection is preserved the vase on which this extraordinary scene is delineated. A particular explanation of all these plates, and a description of the various monuments which they represent, will be given in the first fasciculus of the "Annals." There is reason to expect that in the next number of this Journal we shall be enabled to gratify our antiquarian readers with an account of these interesting monuments. Meanwhile the octavo "Bullettino degli Annali" before us contains much curious information, more especially concerning discoveries made in excavating the ancient Etruscan city of Tarquinia, not far from Corneto. It had long been known that within the vast circumference of its Necropolis were scattered many remnants of Tarquinia's former magnificence. Winkel |