tifully introduced. She beseeches Admetus to become to her children a mother in her place. σε Σύ νυν γενοῦ τοῖσδ ̓ ἀντ ̓ ἐμοῦ μήτηρ τέκνοις.” We are surprised that no commentator, not even the Professor himself, has reminded us of the exquisite imitation of this pas sage by Propertius in his last Elegy: "Fungere maternis vicibus pater; illa meorum The whole of this Elegy should be referred to by the reader of the Alcestis. In one material point there is a difference. In Euripides, Alcestis deprecates the very idea of a step-mother for her children, and most solemnly adjures Admetus to be content with a widower's bed. In Propertius, Cornelia leaves her husband to his choice, and requires her children to shew their love to their deceased mother by cheerful obedience to their new parent. This may perhaps appear the more generous, but we should doubt if it were the more natural conduct, especially when we remember that Alcestis, by her death, continued to her husband his life. Perhaps also, among the Romans, a step-mother was held in more honor than among the Greeks. Alcestis dies upon the stage, surrounded by her husband and her two children; the lamentations of the elder, are extremely touching. After a very spirited song of the chorus in praise of Alcestis, a new character is introduced before us, being no less a personage than Hercules, who having been sent by Eurysthus against Diomed, the monarch of Thrace, and his cannibal stud, arrives at the palace of Admetus to claim the hospitality of an old friend. Admetus, unwilling to dismiss Hercules without affording him the rights of hospitality, conceals the death of Alcestis, and parries off all his inquiries as to the person for whom his house are now in mourning. The chorus concludes this scene with an ode in praise of the hospitality of Admetus. A curious interview now ensues between Admetus and his old father Pheres, in which the son reproaches him with much feeling for suffering Alcestis to suffer instead of himself; the old man rejoins with much spirit and some justice, till the Chorus puts an end to their mutual reproaches. In the part answering to our fourth act, Hercules comes upon the stage in high spirits from the good cheer of Admetus, uttering sentiments which would not disgrace the warmest disciple of Epicurus. "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die."-Finding the servants however not according with his jollity, Hercules questions them as to the cause, and discovers that Alcestis had died that very day. He is so struck with the hospitality of Admetus in concealing his sorrows, that he resolves if possible to rescue Alcestis from the hands of Death. After this scene Admetus returns from her funeral. His lamentation on finding his house now desolate, and its aspect so changed from that which he was accustomed to behold when he returned to the arms of his wife, is beautifully expressed. After another song of the Chorus, Hercules returns with a woman veiled, whom he represents as the prize of a great victory, and as such offers to present her to Admetus. This scene is well imagined, and admirably executed. Hercules uses every argument to induce Admetus to receive her; but in vain. Admetus at last consents, much against his will, to take her by the hand, she unveils and proves to be his own Alcestis, whom Hercules had rescued from the arms of death. And thus the play shortly concludes. The equivoque, as our modern play-writers term it, of the last scene, is happily kept up, and would act exceedingly well. Much might be made, as our readers will perceive, out of the materials which Euripides has furnished, by an able dramatist. For the French stage little else need be done but to translate Euripides word for word; our English stage however would require a new cast and formation of the whole. We are too well aware of the dislike of an English audience to Heathen Mythology, to recommend the production even of the recast play under its present names and characters. If Cavaros were converted into a grand Vizier or an Angelo, and Hercules into un Amurath or a Duke, the improbability of the play might be done away by Alcestis taking a sleeping portion, like Juliet, which would equally well ensure the distress of the beginning, and the equivoque of the conclusion. We throw this out as a hint in the present scarcity of decent tragedies, to the ingenuity of our modern dramatists. Of the critical merits of the edition before us we have now to speak in the very favourable terms which it so justly deserves. The text is given in a very pure and corrected form. The notes are such as do the highest credit to the professor's taste and reading. They present a neat precis of all that previous commentation have advanced which is worth recording, aided by many very ingenuous original remarks, and all this in a form the least cumbrons and tiresome. As a specimen we shall present the reader with the Professor's remarks upon v. 285-287, being the longest annotation in the volume. G g VOL. VI. OCTOBER, 1816. 66 μή « μὴ, πφὸς σὲ θεῶν, τλῇς με προδοῦναι, σε 2857. In Aldina legebatur Μὴ πρὸς τῶν θεῶν τλης με προδόται, ̓Αλλ ̓ ἀνατόλμα. Hunc locum egregie restituit Porsonus ad Med. 325. Ipsum audias; Hiatum tollit Musgravius, e MSS. inserendo versum, Μὴ πρὸς παίδων, οὓς ὀρφανείς. Optime. Sed duo menda, quanquam levicula, restant. Vix enim credo, compositum istud apud Graecos exstare, ανατολμώ. Recte ed. Lasc. ̓Αλλ ̓ ἄνα, τόλμο. ̓Αλλ' ένα est phrasis Homerica ; a Sophocle etiam usurpata Aj. 194. Præterea Tragici in ista adjurandi formula nunquam articu Ium addunt; Comici pro libitu vel addunt, vel omittunt, sed fre quentius addunt. Cum igitur T omittat Lascaris, quid planius, quam legendum esse Μὴ πρὸς σὲ θεῶν πλῆς με προδύναι 3 Porsonum secuti sunt Gaisford. Matthiæ. Hujus adjurandi formulæ, in qua pronomen inter præpositionem et nomen inseritur, satis exemplorum dedimus ad Hippol. 601. Locis a Porsono indicatis, eximendus est Alcest. 673. addendus v. 1117. Μή, πρὸς σὲ τὸ σπεί ραντα άνομαι Διός. • Ibid. τολμάν et aoristus τλήναι (nam τλήμι et τλάω non extant) valent sustinere, quæ quidem significatio late se extendit. Est enim sustinere, (Angl. to endure) non obstante vel periculo, vel pudore, vel superbia, vel dolore animi, vel misericordia. 1. Primæ signif. cationis exempla sunt inf. 473. σὺ τὸν αὐτᾶς Ἔτλας πόσιν ἀντὶ τᾶς ἀμείψαι Ψυχῶς ἐξ Λίδα. 955. Ὦ πολλά τλᾶσα καρδία, ψυχή τ' ἐλή. Hom. Il. Δ. 94. Τλαίης κεν Μενελάῳ ἐπιπροέμεν ταχὺν ιόν; Esch. Prom. 243. Ἐγὼ δ ̓ ἐτόλμησ', ἐξερυσάμην βροτός, Τὸ μὴ διαῤῥαισθέντας εἰς Αἴδω μελεῖν. sic enim legendum puto cum ed. Rob. et duobus Codd. pro τῶ μὴ δ. In his et similibus recte vertitur audere, to have courage. II. sustinere citra pudorem: And. 171. Ἡ παιδὶ πατρὸς, ὃς σὺν ὤλεσεν πόσιν, Τολμᾷς ξυνεύδειν. Οrest. 1541. Μῶρα, εἰ δοκεῖς με τλῆναι σὴν καθαιμάξαι δέρην. ubi pro σαν mallem σ' ἄ, κ. δ. III. Valet to deign, condescend, submit ; ut ν 1. ἐν οἷς ἔτλην ἐγὼ Θῆσσαν τράπεζαν αἰνέσαι, θεός περ ὤν. 589. Ἔτλα δὲ σοῖσι μηλονόμας Ἐν δόμοις γενέσθαι. #sch. Prom. 1035. Τόλμησον, ὦ μάταε, τόλμησόν ποτε Πρὸς τὰς παρούσας πημονάς ὀρθῶς φρονεῖν. IV. inducere animum, quod Angli dicerent, to prevail upon himself: v. 568. τοσαύτης ξυμφορᾶς προσκειμένης, "Αδμητε, τολμᾷς ξενοδοχεῖν; 757 Ὃς πρῶτα μὲν πενθόντα δεσπότην ἰδων, Εἰσῆλθε κατόλμησ' αμείψασθαι πύλας. 1185. Τόλμα προτείνειν χεῖρα καὶ θιγεῖν ξένης. Hom. Οd. Λ. 172. οὐδὲ ὃν υἱὸν Ἔτλη ἔσαντα ἰδεῖν, οὐδὲ προτιμυθήσασθαι. V. Postremi sensus exemplum noster suppeditabit versiculus, μὴ τλῆς με προδέναι, do not have the cruelty to abandonme. Med. 812. ̓Αλλὰ κτανεῖν σὺ παῖδε τολμήσεις, γύναι ; 1992. Ητις τέκνοισι σοῖσιν ἐμβαλεῖν εἰς Έτλης τεκέσα. Soph. Αj. 1932. τὸν ἄνδρὰ τονδε, πρὸς θεῶν, Μα πλῆς ἄθαπτον ὡδ' ἀναλγήτως βαλεῖν. Notæ satis longe finem imponam, postquam postquam monuero apud Latinos scriptores verbum posse iis fere sensibus usurpari quibus apud Graecos τολμάν et τλήναι. Virg. En. ΙΧ. 481. tune, illa senecta Sera mea requics, POTUISTI linquere solam, Crudelis? X. 306. quos nulla fatigant Prælia, nec victi POSSUNT absistere ferro. Plura suppeditabit Lectoris memoria." P. 35. Note. The Professor has given us a satisfactory explanation of λιπαρχι when applied to a city, especially to Athens. σε 464. λιπαραί, Athenarum epitheton perquam frequentatum, sonabat præstantes, vel splendida, interprete Spanhemio ad Callim. H. in Del. 155. et 164. Noster quidem Tro. 501. Λιπαραῖοι κότ σμεν ̓Αθάναις. Pind. Nem. IV. 29. λιπαρᾶν εὐωνύμων ἀπ ̓ ̓Αθαναν. et sie Isthm. II. 30. Idem apud Schol. Aristoph. Acharn. 637. Αἱ λιπαραὶ καὶ ἰοστεφανοι ̓Αθῆναι. et apud Schol. Nub. 299. λιπαραί καὶ ἀοίδιμοι, Ελλαδα, ἔρεισμα, κλειναὶ ̓Αθῆναι. Hujus tituli amorem aperte ridet Aristophanes, Acharn. 630. Εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν ὑποθωπεύσας λιπαρὰς καλέσειεν ̓Αθήνας, Πὕρετο πᾶν ἂν διὰ τὰς λιπαρὰς, ἀφυῶν τιμὴν πει ριάψας. et in Eq. 1329. Hæc loca, cum aliis quibusdam eodem facientibus, indicaverunt, præter Spanhemium, Wesselingius Probab. p. 42. Wyttenbach. Bibl. Crit. III. i. p. 50. Schneider. ad Fragm. Pind. Tom. III. p. 74. ed. Heyn." P. 55. Note. The constant practice among the ancients of referring all calamities to the envy of the gods is well remarked upon by the Professor. We do not remember to have before ever all these instances brought together in one point of view. σε 1154. Veteres solebant graves fortunæ vices Deorum invidiæ referre. Vid. Æsch. Pers. 367. οὐ ξυνεὶς δόλον Ελλην©· ἀνδρὸς, ἰδὲ τὸν θεῶν φθόνον. ibi citat Blomfieldius in Glossario Orest. 963. Φθόνο γιν εἷλε θεόθεν. Suppl. 347. εἰ δὲ μὴ, βίᾳ δορὸς Ἤδη του ἔσαι, κὐχὶ σὺν φθόνῳ θεῶν. Iph. Α. 1097. Μή τις θεῶν φθόνο ἔλθοι. Herod. ΙΙΙ. 40. "Αμασις Πολυκράτει ὧδε λέγει· Ἡδὺ μὲν πυνθάνεσθαι ἄνδρα φίλον καὶ ξεῖνον εὖ πρήσσονται —ἐμοὶ δὲ αἱ σαὶ μεγάλαι εὐτυχίαι ἐκ ἀρέσκεσιν, ἐπιςαμένῳ τὸ θεῖον, ὡς ἔςι φθονερόν. VII. 46. ὁ δὲ θεὸς, γλυκὺν γεύσας τὸν αἰῶνα, φθονερὸς ἐν αὐτῷ εὑ ρίσκεται ἐών. Adjici potest Pind. Isthm. VII. 55. ὁ δ ̓ ἀθανάτων Μὴ θρασσέτω φθόνω. Soph. Philoct. 776. Ἰδοὺ δέχου, παῖ· τὸν φθόνον δὲ πρόσκυσον, Μή σοι γενέσθαι πολύπον αὐτά. Conferas Valck. ad Herod. p. 216, 59.” P. 124. Note. We certainly consider this edition of the Alcestis to do much credit to the Professor, and what is of much more consequence, to be a most useful book for every student, whether young or old, who may be desirous of making himself acquainted with one of the most elegant and pathetic dramas of antiquity. The type and the style of printing do much honour to the University Gg 2 University press; the editions of the Tragedians which have issued from thence of late, under the auspices of Mr. Blomfield and Professor Monk, besides their intrinsic worth, are among the most beautiful specimens of English typography. The price also is reasonable in the extreme: unlike the Adversaria of Porson, for which, though marching forth into the world SUMPTIBUS COLLEGII S. S. TRINITATIS, iwenty five shillings were demanded, the number of pages not doubling that of the volume before us. We are happy however to inform our readers that a German edition of the same work is imported, which may be had at about one third of the price required for the original edition. To complete his edition of the Alcestis Professor Monk has added the beautiful version of Buchanan. We trust that the Professor will follow up his success with all the activity and zeal which he is so well known to possess. The literary world stands especially in need of an edition of the Iphigenia, such as he is so undoubtedly qualified to produce. These two exquisite tragedies are but seldom read by younger students for want of a compendious and a correct edition. We trust that the Professor will soon remedy the deficiency. ART. IX. A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of Carlisle, by Samuel, Lord Bishop of that Diocese, at his Third Visitation in June, 1816. Published at the Request of the Clergy. 4to. pp. 24. Rivingtons. 1816. THE importance which we attach to the Charges from time to time delivered by the Dignitaries of our Church, has induced us already within the present year to recommend three to the attention of our readers: and we are persuaded that such of them as take an interest in religious concerns, have not found elsewhere, within the same compass, so much well-considered remark, or seasonable information. The Charge now before us has a substantial claim to be comprized in the foregoing observation. It is the production of a Prelate of great solidity of judgment, and remarkable for a manly openness in the avowal of his sentiments on all points in which Christian principle is concerned and these are its cha racteristics. It opens, very naturally, with a congratulatory reference to the repose at length vouchsafed to Europe from the tremendous convulsions with which it has been agitated for the last twentyfive years; a passing glance, upon the horrors of which, traced up |