Page images
PDF
EPUB

weighing the editor's mode of proceeding in those passages against which Mr. Wakefield produced his artillery. Their opinions may also be guided and confirmed by an examination of the notes which have been quoted from Mr. Porson's annotations, in the course of this article. We must recommend those, however, who are desirous of forming a more minute and accurate judgment of these new editions, to derive it from the books themselves; and we may urge them to observe the patient accuracy of the editor, in restoring a variety of atticisms to the text of his tragedies, some of which had been totally neglected, some only mentioned in annotations, and some perhaps partially restored.

Mr. Porson, it must be remarked, has wholly rejected the divisions into acts and scenes; which, we apprehend, are not to be found in any MSS.: but he has marked the first entrance of the characters, by prefixing the names in capitals, in a separate line, before their first speech; after which, they are placed on the side of the page.

In the Choral Odes, Mr. P. has omitted the numerous technical terms which some editors have added from the metrical Scholia of Triclinius, who had borrowed them probably from Hephestion; and where a monostrophic chorus, as in Orestes, from 1346 to 1519. has been divided frequently into several popa, it appears in this edition without any such distinction. With respect to the emendations and explanations which have been proposed in the notes and various works of modern critics, those only are recorded which possess some kind of probability. Due attention is generally paid to the exertions. of Valckenaer; while the ramblings of Reiske are mostly condemned to a merited oblivion.

In his own notes, the Professor has carefully registered the Attic Canons established by former critics, whenever a proper opportunity occurred; and he has added others to the general stock, which claim the attention of his younger readers, and are entitled to the praise of the learned, for their truth and acuteness. In the composition also of his own animadversions, it must be particularly stated, Mr. P. has given his remarks with a brevity and decision which can spring only from a mind which, after long and patient study, has well digested its author. Let the real admirer of the Greek stage peruse them with no common degree of attention: they will teach him that a cluster of cant phrases and smart quotations, and an assemblage of jejune remarks and unnecessary or indefensible conjectures, are not the sole materials which are requisite. for the formation of an useful commentary on an antient au❤ thor.

It must be observed, however, that this laudable brevity, at which Mr. Porson has aimed so successfully, is in some instances productive of a degree of obscurity, and must render many of the notes difficult to be comprehended by young readers. We would recommend rather a fuller style to the learned Professor, in his illustrations of the remaining tra gedies; and though the size and, perhaps, the price of each little volume may be increased by such a plan, it will render them doubly valuable to the purchasers.

In enumerating the various lections of MSS., and in recording new readings, Mr. Porson is clear and perspicuous; and in general all conjectures are referred with considerable care to their original author. In giving the references to the antient writers who have imitated Euripides, or have alluded to him, or have introduced passages from his plays into their works, our lamentation has already been expressed, that the learned editor did not exhaust the subject. He, and he probably alone, could have given such a collection of passages from the whole circle of Greek literature, as would have illustrated his own author and the quoter; as might have rendered luminous many dark passages; and would have delighted the veteran scholar, while he informed the less enlightened student. Mr. Porson, as was formerly stated, for the most part confines himself to the mention of those passages in which any various lection is preserved; or from which some explanation may be

derived.

It is much to be wished that the Greek writers should be illustrated, as far as may be possible, by each other. In order to render our meaning more clear to the reader, we have transcribed, from the margin of our Euripides, a list of the passages which are quoted, or to which reference is made, by Eustathius in his Commentaries on Homer. It is placed at the end of this portion of our critique; and though, as we apprehend, it may be enlarged, yet still it may render some service to young scholars. To them we beg to recommend, as an excellent exercise, an examination of each place; that they may note carefully whether it be merely an incidental remark, or slight quotation; or whether it will confirm old readings, or suggest new lections, which claim record at least, if they be not entitled to adoption.

INDEX locorum, ex EURIPIDIS HECUBA et ORESTE ab EUSTA THIO in Comment. ad HOMERUM citatorum, accommodatus ad paginas Editionis Basiliensis, M.D.LX.

*

HECUBA.

V. I. Eustathius in Iliad. Y'. p. 1294. 7. et p. 1397. 3. et p. 1490. 5.-Vid. in I. T. 1409. 51.-V. 3. II. A. 776. 23. II. 1109. 33.-V. 8. II. Z. 512.-V. 9. II. E. 970. 4.V. 14. II. A. 36. 17.-V. 21. II. E. 413. 50. K. 790. 38. N. 939. 43. Hac tria loca laudat R. P. Addas II. A. 780. 38. II. X. 1374. 6.—V. 25. II. N'. 1490. 5.-V. 29. II. P. 1144. 40.-V. 41. Il, Z. 518. 33.-V. 64. II. B. 189. 20.-V. 65. II. A. 876. 12. Il. T. 1232. 39. Odyss. P'. 624.9. Vid. etiam II. A. 19.-V. 70. II. B. 131. 23. et Od. T. 713. 49. R. P.— V. 80. II. E. 970. 5.-V. 100. II. N. 884. 17.-V. 104. II. B. 184. 10.-V. 125. Vid. Il. B. 215. 28.-V. 134. II. B'. 152. 37.-V. 208. Vid. Od. K. 390. 7.-V. 247. Od. A. 166. 8.-V. 264. Od. K. 381. 45. R. P. Addas. Il. T. 1244. 53-V. 290. Il. A. 97. 32.V. 292. Vid. II. A. 115. 36. Od. A. 63.7. Adjung. Schol. Ar. Pl. 87.-V. 298. Vid. 11. B. 158. 25.-V. 299. II. . 614. 15. Od. X. 788. 38.— V. 321. Od. . 749. 53.-V. 323. II. A. 351. 48. I. H. 535. 12. II. K. 720. 16-V. 324. I. H. 568. 40. Od. . 320. 5.-V. 325. I. . 1411. 8.-V. 341. Od. T. 710. 50.-V. 346. IĮ. A. 97. 31.-V. 349. II. N. 928. 46. II. 1094. 2.-V. 352. 11. 2. 1195. 1.-V. 363. II. г. 314. 48.-V. 425. II. Z. 639. 57. Add. Il. . 1498. 22.— V. 445. II. T. 301. 19. Od. A. 34. 13.-V. 446. II. K. 729. 15.-V. 454. Od. A. 450. 22.-V. 462. Od. Z. 254. 10. 255.50.-V. 529. 11. Q. 828. 6—V. 557. II. A. 21. 42. -V. 574. II. B. 163. 40. R. P.-V. 595. II. B. 252. 43. II. K. 708. 9. Od. A. 37. 32. V. 604. II. E. 393. 27. IL E. 967. 43.-V. 606. Od. E. 665. 23.—V. 607. II. N. .900. 44. R. P. Add. II. T. 1282. 32.-V. 611. II. A. 42. 38. Vid. Od. II. 612. 32.-V. 639. II. г. 301. 16.-V. 642. II. A. 41. 37.-V. 643. II. A. 31. 42. II. T. 300. 52. II. II. 1076. 17.-V. 648. II. A. 18. 10.-V. 685. Il. B. 182. 46. R. P.-V.698. Vid. II. A. 97. 40. et Il. F. 291. 4. et Odyss. A. 40.8.-V. 717. Od. E. 552. 43.-V. 730. II. 2. 1173. 22. Od. . 292. 4.-V. 734. Vid. II. B. 165. 21—V. 802. II. I. 653. 5. R. P.-V. 820. Eustathii locus, quem memorab. R. P. est in Iliad. A. 777. 49. et Stobai locus est Flor. III. 15. -V. 831. Vidend. forte in Il. B. 198. 20-V. 851. Od. II.

*In Harles's edition of Fabricius, BIBL. GREC. Vol. I. p. 475. FOUR passages are registered, as cited by Eustathius from the Hecuba, and only ONE from the Orestes.

II. B. 183. 35.

II. M. 865. 7.-V. 917. II.

II. E. 963. 9.

609.47.-V. 881. II. H. 571. 3.-V. 904. Il. B. 143. 13. II. H. 528. 34. Il. K. 700. 41.-V. 911. V. 914. II. E. 409.-V. 916. T. 345. 40.-V. 919. II. H. 568. 20. V. 925. II. B. 156. 14. R. P.-V. 927. V. 936. II. F. 326. 38. II. H. 565. 21. . 1420. 38. Od. II. 608. 24.-V. 938. V. 939. II. A. 18. 10.-V. 967. Od. II. Il. K. 707. 10. et Il. Y. 1312. 20. R. P. 29.-V. 1009. Il. H. 553. 11. Il. N. 892. P. 1168. 38.-V. 1080. Il. B. 271. 33.-V. 1081. Od. e. 323.34.-V. 1255. Od. г. 127. 17. R. P.-V. 1281, II. B. 142. 37.-V. 1284. Vid. Il. N. 884. 17.

ORESTES.

II. E. 963. 16.I.T. 1231. 23. II. II. B. 287. 28.613. 29.-V. 990. Addas Il. A. 39. 25.-V. 1046. II.

V. 6. 7. Vid. Eustath. in Od. A. 457. 7.-V. 12. II. E. 459. 15. II. T. 1273. 19.-V. 26. II. B. 250. 38. R. P.-V. 40. II. A. 32. 31. Od. A. 444. 45.-V. 43. II. B. 128. 50. Il. E. 399. 29.-V. 54. Il. A. 98. 12. R. P.-V. 55. II. B. 190. 4.-V. 72. II. T. 639. 22.-V. 81. I. Z. 517. 32.-V. 87. Il. A. 110. 28. et II. K. 730. 47. et Od. T. 683. 19. R. P.V. 115. II. A. 375. 25.-V. 126. II. B. 131. 7. II. Z. 509. 31.— V. 127. II. T. 290. 34.-V. 129. II.Z. 524. 34.-V. 190. Od. A. 71. 10. Eustathius citat ex Euripide, algopalou un gos, (quæ tamen sunt verba Sophoclis, Trach. 1125.) pro πalgopóvov μalgos.V. 205. Vid. II. E. 973. 4.—V. 207. II. A. 17. 31. ‚Od. N. 845. 1.-V. 222. Il. K. 705. 20.-V. 228. Vid. II. P. 1124. 43. Od. A. 38. 50. Od. §. 761. 18. in quibus locis du, at recte yun, in Od. II. 601. 17.-V. 245. II. E. 417. 22.-V. 250. II. I. 678. 26.-V. 254. II. A. 53. 49.-V. 256. II. M. 863. 53. II. Z. 994. 38.-V. 324. II. A. 332. 38-377. Il. B. 189. 47. -V. 382. II. . 573. 53.-V. 387. II. I. 667. 19. R. P. Addas II. T. 1236.11. II. Y. 1405. 40.-V. 407. II. A. 639. 23. -V. 420. II. I. 695.31. II. K.745.2. II. II. 1066. 6.—V.451. Il. A. 128. 49.-V. 470. II. Z. 517. 37.-V. 545. Vid. Od. A. 171. 47.-V. 613. II. A. 43. 47.-V.646. II. E. 435. 45. -V. 692. II. . 576. 37.-V. 699. II. . 592. 30.V. 710. II. Y. 1396. 36.-V. 725. II. I. 688. 25. I. N. 895. 4.-V. 838. II. X. 1363. 15.-V. 868. II. X. 1363. 14.-V. 909. II. II. 1082. 25. Il. N. 1463. 1. et Il. E. 1215. 21.-V. 922. "Omissum versum citat Eust. in II. B. 270. 43. et alicubi ad Dionysium, nisi fallor." R. P.-Non fallitur vir doctissimus. Laudat Eustath. in Dionysium. V. 347. p. 172. Edit. Oxon. 1697. de omisso. Addas qusque Eust. in II. B. 242. 18-V. 970. II. X. 1366. 33.-V. 1001. Od. M. 475. 49. R.P.-V. 1015. II. . 595. 49.-V. 1024. Conf. in

[ocr errors]

II. A. 56. 30.-V. 1084. Il. H. 538. 17.-V. 1111. Od. A. 157. 21.-V.1113. I. I. 684. 6.-V. 1123. Vid. II. B 128. 50.-V. 1134. II. E. 435. 461.-V. 1135. I. B. 185. 37.V. 1160. II. K. 720. 20-V. 1187. Procem, in Iliad p. 3. 45. -V. 1203 II. H. 564. 26. Il ☺. 619 18.-V. 1248. Vid. Il. A. 55.40.-V. 1258. Il. E. 417. 12.-V. 1279. II. E. 948. 22. et Od. E. 230. 14. R. P. Addas Il. 2. 1517. 19.-V. 1365. II. . 1475. 43 -V. 1370. II. E. 399. 4.-V. 1379. II. X. 1380 5.-V. 1383. II. B. 287. 29.-V. 1564 Vid. Il. A. 97. 40.-V. 1637 II. B. 214. 9 II. T. 290. 43. II. T. 1238. 51. -V. 1657. Vid. Il. A. 15. 38.

It was intended to have noted what each of these passages contributed to the illustration of these two tragedies: but we must again plead want of room for not fulfilling our intention. [To be concluded in our next Number, by some Remarks on the Compa ratives terminating in 19N.]

MONTHLY

Art. 12.

CATALOGUE,

For JULY, 1799.

NOVELS.

Charite Polydorus, a Romance.

Translated from the French of the Abbé Barthélémy. 12mo. 25. sewed. Dilly. Art. 13. Carite & Polydorus; to which is prefixed a Treatise on Morals. By J. J. Barthélémy. 12mo. 35. sewed. Otridge. 1799. To these translations are prefixed a neat life of Barthelemy: at

the close of which, in the last-mentioned edition, an interpretation, different from our own, and (we hope) a truer, is given to a pointed speech of the author,-on we know what authority.

Enough has already been said (Rev. vol. xxvii. p. 525.) of the original the versions are both elegant.

:

Art. 14. Ildegerte, Queen of Norway. From the German of Augustus Von Kotzebue. By Benjamin Thompson, jun. 12mo. 2 Vols. 7s. sewed. Lane. 1798.

This prose epopea may bear comparison with several of the heroic romances of Ossian. It is indeed not narrated with equal loftiness, nor with equal taste; and many modernisms occur, as at the begin nings of the cantos, and at p. 140. vol. 1. which disturb the illusion, and unpleasantly recall the imagination from other times to our own : -but the story has great interest; the style has a poetical glow, and a rhapsodical rapidity; the touches of deep pathos and sublime sentiment are many; and the interspersed allusions to Gothic mythology are classically selected.-At Hanover, in 1698, was printed in 12mo. a German romance entitled Hildegard, whence the fable of Ildegerte is chiefly borrowed. This romance is in its turn derived partly from the ninth book of Saxo Grammaticus, and partly from the second book of the Danish history of Johannes Meursius.

Art.

« PreviousContinue »