We have transcribed the Advertisement respecting this intended Series of Greek Authors, in 12mo., because it briefly and satisfactorily conveys those sentiments, which we should ourselves have expressed in the notice now submitted to the readers of the Classical Journal. Our limits will not permit us to enter into any detailed account of these very useful and acceptable publications, and perhaps we shall best fulfil our duty to our readers by subjoining a few extracts with remarks. The Hecuba of Euripides has been edited in a very satisfactory manner, and abounds with information valuable to the student. On v. 32. Τριταῖον ἤδη φέγγος αιωρούμενος, the editor has written the following note: “ Τριταῖον φέγγος, a remarkable expression for the simple τρίτον. Euripides supports himself by another instance, Hipp. 277. Πῶς δ ̓ οὐ, τριταίαν γ ̓ οὖσ ̓ ἄσιτος ἡμέραν; (where see Monk) It is singular that this very expression, rpiraíav μépav, is used by the Schol. on Aratus Dios. 57. p. 99. ed. Oxon. The author of the Christus Pat. had this line in view, 1779. 2016. Porson. Τριταῖος ἤδη αιωρούμενος would have been the correct use of the word. See Schleusn. Lex. N. T. v. Terapratīos." In the second volume of the Parriana, p. 680. Mr. Barker quotes with approbation the following stricture on Porson's note by G. Wakefield, in his Diatribe: "Incogitantiam equidem V. D. satis mirari nequeo, nimirum quisquis αἰωρεῖται τριταίαν ἡμέραν, per tres dies αἰωρεῖται : qui vero Tρírηv hμépav, per unum solummodo ex tribus. Optime et Græcissime, D. Joannes, 11. 39. Κύριε, ἤδη ἔξει τεταρταῖος γάρ ἐστι. Age vero substitue rérapros, et omnia corrumpes ac pessum dabis; nec rpírov tamen minus Euripidis menti disconveniret, nisi verborum tenorem mutes, et ingenium constructionis. Hoc autem, sit licet non nihil inconstantiæ scriptoribus, generaliter verum est et rectum. Ut quid velim, breviter definiam, rpiraía μépa in eadem .re successionem indicat, rpírn non item.' 3 "Terapratos," says the Rev. E. Valpy in his Greek Testament, John 2, 39. "This is the fourth day. Numerals in atos are used to signify the interval of days since any thing has happened; and the place and circumstance, says Hermann on Viger, 3, 2, 15. will -supply the proper periphrasis, by which they are to be rendered." On examining the Schol. Arat. Dios. 57. we find the expression to be, τριταίαν ἡμέραν ἄγουσα, for which the poet has, τρίτον ἦμαρ ἄγουσα. But though the poet Aratus may use τρίτος for τριταῖος, it does not necessarily follow that the poet Euripides has used or could have used 7piratos for rpíros, because, according to the remark of G. Wakefield, an event may have occurred on the third day of a period of time limited to three days, but not on the first and second days; if, however, an event is stated to have happened on the rpiraía nμépa, the uninterrupted, continued duration of it for three days is implied. The locutio in Euripides, if insolita and mira at all, is so in reference to this point only, viz. that péyyos is used for ἡμέρα, and an idiomatic expression, τριταία ἡμέρα, varied by poetic license into τριταῖον φέγγος. Mr. Major's own critical remarks are always sensible, and we are but very seldom disposed to differ from him. We will give one little specimen of annotation. On vv. 1167-8. Mr, M. writes: Πολλαὶ γὰρ ἡμῶν, αἱ μὲν εἴσ ̓ ἐπίφθονοι, "Blomfield in his remarks on Matth. Gr. Gr. 358. adduces this as an instance of a figure termed by the grammarian, Lesbonax, τὸ σχῆμα Αττικὸν, in which the nominative is used for the genitive, as in the following instances, Od. M. 73. Oi de duw okóπελοι, ὁ μὲν οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἱκάνει, Thuc. 1. 89. Οἰκίαι αἱ μὲν πολλαὶ ἐπεπτώκεσαν, ὀλίγαι δὲ περιῆσαν, Virg. En. 12, 161. Interea reges, ingenti mole, Latinus Quadrijugo vehitur curru-Hinc pater Eneas.' But this line is not an example to the point, because the gen. uv is given; the sentence is merely pleonastic, woλλai,—ai μὲν, αἱ δὲ, being used for πολλαὶ μὲν, πολλαὶ δέ: cf. 1133. See Seager's abridgment of Viger's Idioms, 1, 4, 7-8." We would suggest to Mr. Major, when he reprints these plays, to mark the notes of Porson by inverted commas at the beginning and end of each note, and to make the learned annotator's name conspicuous by putting Porson in capitals; for at present the name is in italics, and it sometimes happens that italics precede the word Porson, and produce confusion as to what is meant by it. "The Edipus Rex of Sophocles, chiefly according to the Text of BRUNCK, with Critical, Philological, and Explanatory Notes, Illustrations of peculiar Idioms, and Examination-Questions. By the REV. JOHN BRASSE, D.D. late Fellow of Trin. Coll. Cam." 1829. pp. 104. We do not remember to have seen any distinction made between criticism, philology, and explanation. The ancient and common division is into criticism and philology, and by the latter term is understood what relates to the interpretation of the text, the his torical and geographical allusions, the construction of the sen→ tences, metrical discussions, &c. Dr. Brasse's Preface, as it is short, shall be quoted entire :"So many excellent editions of Sophocles have within the last twenty years issued from the press, as well in this country as on the continent, under the superintendence of highly-gifted Greek scholars, that some explanation and apology seems necessary for offering the present publication to the notice of the literary world. "The labors of Elmsley, Hermann, Erfurdt, and others, were chiefly directed to the establishment of a correct text. Their annotations therefore, though extremely valuable to the advanced scholar, and exhibiting the extent of their researches, the soundness of their judgment, and the accuracy of their discrimination, consist chiefly of philological remarks, and critical disquisitions. Brunck has attempted, though not always very successfully, to improve and settle the text; and has also occasionally illustrated particular idioms and explained obscure allusions. But of whatever nature the notes of these distinguished editors may be, they all throw an impediment to their usefulness in the way of the tyro by being written in Latin, which he is either unable to comprehend, or unwilling to submit to the trouble of reading. As however the ancient system of learning and teaching the Greek through the medium of the Latin language is now deservedly and generally sinking into disuse, it seemed desirable to give to the world a cheap edition of those plays of "The Attic Bee,' which still remain, in a concise form, with short English notes, explaining the more difficult words and passages, illustrating manners, customs, allusions, and idioms, and stating the reasons for altering the text of Brunck where it was deemed necessary. By this means, the young scholar will not unwillingly seek in his own native tongue, and readily find, that assistance, which he formerly declined to accept, when presented under the uninviting garb of verbal criticism and of bald Latin, Such were the considerations which prompted the publication of the Edipus Rex; generally placed the first in the collection, as it is decidedly the best, of the plays of Sophocles. Though the text of Brunck has been generally used, yet the emendations of Porson, Elmsley, and many others have been adopted, where manuscript authority or satisfactory arguments have been produced for the alteration. Notes bearing on, or illustrative of, any particular passage, have been translated, and introduced from the works of the first critics; and a collection of questions on all the notes is subjoined for the use of teachers, who may wish to examine their pupils as to the extent of their proficiency. "The utility of the present attempt, to facilitate the endeavors of the student in understanding the Edipus Rex, has been satisfactorily proved on a small scale by the Author himself for some years he therefore ventures to introduce it to the favorable notice of those who are engaged in the arduous and important task of classical tuition. "Should this little work be found generally useful, the rest of the plays of Sophocles will be published on the same plan with all due expedition."-Preface. The commendations, which we have bestowed on Mr. Major's Hecuba and Medea, are equally merited by Dr. Brasse's performance. Many passages are well illustrated, many difficulties are satisfactorily solved, many expressions and idioms are rightly explained; much scattered information is collected, and the whole series of annotations reflects credit on the good sense and sound judgment, the learning and research, the industry and perseverance of the editor. This might be expected from one, who was educated by a very able master, and who has been for a long series of years engaged in tuition. "The Anabasis of Xenophon, chiefly according to the Text of HUTCHINSON, with Explanatory Notes, and Illustrations of Idioms from Viger, &c., Examination-Questions, and copious Indexes. By F. C. BELFOUR, M.A. Oxon. F.R.A.S. LL.D. and late Professor of Arabic in the Greek University of Corfu." 1830. pp. 270. The following is Dr. Belfour's preface, and it will show the reader the advantages which this edition offers to the Greek student: "Since the excellent edition of the principal works of Xenophon given about the middle of the last century by that illustrious scholar Hutchinson, several German critics have exercised their ingenuity on the improvement and illustration of Xenophon's text. The latest Editor, John Gottlob Schneider, Professor in the Prussian University of Frankfort on the Oder, was enabled, chiefly by the attentive use of the Paris Ms., to amend various readings neglected by his predecessors; but indulging too freely in alterations, authorised solely by the Eton Ms., and frequently inconsistent with ordinary neatness and purity of style, he may be said in general to have altered the text, not improved it. In the present work such of his variations from the usual text have been adopted, as seemed recommended on the acknowleged principles of the Greek language and the concurrent authority of ancient manuscripts and editions: but in most instances the received readings, as found in Hutchinson, have been restored, and the wanton introduction of dissonant barbarisms has been reversed. "To facilitate the endeavors of the English student to comprehend the history and seize the grammatical elegancies of his Attic author, the employment of the Latin language in the Notes has been dispensed with. The ancient system of learning through that medium is now generally and very judiciously discontinued ; for the student's own language, whatever proficiency he may have made in his studies of the Roman classics, will ever be the readiest and most efficacious instrument in the work of his instruction, and he will ever more eagerly accept the assistance which is proffered him, when it is presented in the familiar and genuine idiom of his mother tongue, than if obscurely involved in intricate periods of spurious Latin. "The Summary of Contents, wanting in most of the former edi tions, will, it is hoped, be found of great use in expediting the perusal and knowlege of the History; and the collection of Ques tions on the Cambridge plan, to which the subjoined Indexes will serve as a key, will materially contribute to the proficiency of the pupil, by guiding and preparing his examination."-Preface. We have examined this edition, and we find in it a valuable body of critical and philological information, including many interesting remarks on Oriental manners, customs, and habits. It is an excellent manual for the student, and the editor is evidently a man of judgment and taste, as well as of various knowlege. PROLOGUE TO PHORMIO: PERFORMED AT WESTMINSTER SCHOOL, DEC. 1829. CUM forte nostri in mentem colloquentibus Vita exprimitur, et mores: an obviam alicui In plateis juvenis? en rursus tibi, Antipho! Sales leporis, vos favete, et plaudite. 1 |