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The Sixth Book commences with the history of Arachne, and closes with the amour of Boreas and Orithyia.

The Seventh Book contains The Expedition of the Argonauts-The Story of Medea and Jason-Her Incantations-She restores Æson to Youth-Murder of Pelias --Medea's Flight-Story of Theseus-Minos declares War against the Athenians

-Eacus describes to Cephalus the Mortality in Ægina, and the Transformation of Ants into Men-Story of Cephalus and Procris.

Such is a brief abstract of the nature and execution of the volume already published. The author expresses his intention of finishing the whole in about a twelvemonth, and when we consider the variety of entertainment which this Roman poet is calculated to afford, we think the translator fortunate in the work he has selected as a trial of his skill. How far he has been equally fortunate in his execution, the foregoing extracts will enable our readers to form their opinion.

RICARDI PORSONI ADVERSARIA. Notæ et Emendationes in Poetas Græcos quas ex Schedis Manuscriptis Porsoni apud Collegium SS. Trinitatis Cantabrigia repositis Deprompserunt et Ordinarunt nec· non Indicibus Instruxerunt JACOBUS HENRICUS MONK, A. M. CAROLUS JACOBUS BLOMFIELD, A. M. 8vo. pp. 334. with vignette of the Author. London, Mawman. Pr. 11. 5s. 1. p. 31. 38.

CONTINENTUR HOC VOLUMINE,

Præfatio Editorum-I. Prælectio in

Euripidem, recitata in Scholis Publicis

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Cantabrigiæ 1792. Græcarum Literarum Professionis adeundæ causa-II. Observationes Variæ -III. Notæ et Emendationes in Athenæum-IV. Notæ et Emendationes in Eschylum-In Promethea Vinctum-In Septem contra ThebasIn Persas-In Agamemnonem-In Choephoros-In Eumenidas-In SupplicesV. Notæ et Emendationes in Sophoclem -In Edipum Tyrannum-In Edipum Coloneum In Antigonam-In Tra chinias-In Ajacem-In Philoctetem -In Electram-In Fragmenta-VI. Notæ et Emendationes in Euripidem -In Hippolytum-In Alcestin-In An dromacham-In Supplices-In Iphige niam in Aulide-In Iphigeniam in Tauris -In Troadas-In Bacchas--In Cyclopem-In Heraclidas-In Helenam-In Ionem-In Herculem Furentem-In Electram-In Danaen-In Fragmenta -VII. In Incertos Tragicos-VIII. In Aristophanis Fragmenta-IX. In ceteros Comicos-X. Emendationes in Stobæum -XI. Emendationes in diversos Poetas -In Apollonium Rhodium-In Aristonem-In Asclepiadem-In Babrium--In Callimachum-In Choerilum-In Crina. goram-In Gregorium NazianzenumIn Hymnum Homericum in Cererem→ In Meleagrum-In Mimnermum-In Nonnum-In Paulum Silentiarium-In Philodemum-In Pindarum-In Simonidem-In Theognidem-In Tryphiodorum-In Sententias Singulares-Index Auctorum, qui emendantur, defenduntur, illustrantur-Index Rerum et Verborum.

The admirers of classical literature must receive with gratulation, these varied productions of their departed instructor:

Ανδρὸς τοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ κάθ ̓ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον"Αργος.

Respecting the attainments of Porson, we may be allowed to speak with less reserve, since he has now paid the tribute of mortality, and his merits have long been sanctioned by the approbation of all who are capable of appreciating his researches. They are acknowledged by all who can avail themselves of those results which flowed from the supreme and felicitous union of sagacity, taste, memory, and learning; combined,

to a degree of intellectual power which defied competition, in the person of an individual scholar.

On those effusions of Porson which are not included in the work, some interesting observations are afforded by the Preface, which we shall give intire.

PREFATIO EDITORUM.

efflux

quo atque erudito lectori. 66 QUADRIENNIUM prope it, ex quo gravi et vix reparabili literarum damno Porsonus nobis ereptus est, cujus similem Criticum nostra ætas certe haud vidit, postera ut videat, optandum magis quam expectandum est. Is vero moriens schedas quasdam reliquit, quæ cum magnas inter doctos spes excitarunt, tum inprimis inter familiares ejus et amicos, quibus Vir egregius haud obscure indicare solitus est, se magnam rerum varietatem, non modo memoriæ, qua maxime pollebat, in custodiam dedisse, sed in chartulas etiam et librorum oras accurate diligenterque conjecisse. Quidquid legisset mente repositum servare, et in loco meditate ac lucide proferre, Porsoni fere proprium fuit. Idem tamen, siquid ei inter legendum ad rem criticam spectans occurrerat, id omne in futuros usus recondendum putabat, literisque fidelibus committebat. Postquam igitur repentinæ mortis acerbitate expectationes, quas de inceptis ejus homines susceperant, evanuerunt, de chartis istis, librisque manu ejus ornatis, statim quæri cœpit. Hæc. omnia, paucis post mensibus ab hæredibus Tou panagirov pretio haud exiguo redempta, inter sua sua reposuit SS. Trinitatis Collegium, cujus ipse, dum vita suppetebat, decus fuit atque ornamentum. Viri igitur doctissimi, penes quos fuit rei istius arbitrium ac potestas, nos dignos judicarunt quibus id officii conVOL. I.

crederetur, ut, commentariis istis diligenter excussis, delectuque adhibito, istinc depromeremus quidquid cum republica literaria communicandum videretur. Nos autem, aliis rebus, quarum uterque nostrum satagebat, posthabitis, omni studio enisi sumus, ut expectatione Collegii nostri et doctorum omnium expleta, Porsoni simul famæ consule

remus.

"Si quis vero miretur hunc librum tam sero prodire, cum ante biennium nos isti labori destinati simus, is intelligat opus susceptum supra quam credi potest plenum difficultatis fuisse. Quippe pleraque, minutissima scriptura exarata, sine certo ordine literis mandarat Vir eximius, modo in adversaria et commentariolos, modo in librorum impressorum margines, modo in plagulas quasdam et chartas singulares conjectis, quæcunque ei inter legendum visa erant notatu digniora. Quo factum est, ut non sine magno temporis et oculorum dispendio, observationes, hinc inde corrasas, suis quasque locis digerere potuerimus, et, quasi folia Sibyllina, in ordinem revocare. Hoc autem ut efficeretur, singula quæque manu nostra diligenter et exacte describenda erant. Quod monemus, non quasi de temporis aut laboris jactura quereremur, satis enim magnam operæ mercedem ducimus, bonis literis quantulumcunque prodesse, sed ne quis moram nobis cautamve cunctationem criminis loco objiciat.

Satis

"Et hactenus quidem de ratione istius, quam in nosmet suscepimus, provinciæ. Jam pauca de ipsa libelli materie præmonenda sunt. magnam partem observationum, quas hodie in lucem emittimus, earum præsertim quæ ad Tragicos spectant, adversariis suis Porsonus juvenis illeverat, ut abunde manus ejus testatur. Ex his autem existiNO. II. R

mare licet, qualis fuerit ejus a teneris, ut aiunt, unguiculis diligentia, qui ineunte ætate eo pervenerit, quo senes iisdem studiis innutriti rarissime enituntur. Nempe illud in Porsonum cecidit, quod de paucissimis affirmari potest, Non ætate, verum ingenio adipiscitur sapientia.'

"Fieri autem possit in tanta tamque diversa rerum copia, nos nonnulla in vulgus edidisse, quæ auctor ipse, si in hominum coetu versaretur, mutata aut indicta vellet. Quod si pauca quædam hujusmodi (nam certe paucissima sunt) doctiores hic illic offenderint, idque nobis vitio vertatur, meminerint accusatores, nos veritos esse, ne, acerbiore delectu instituto, nimis arroganter egisse videremur.

"Voluminis nostri primum locum tenet Oratio Inauguralis de Euripide, a Porsono apud Cantabrigienses suos habita, cum Græcarum Literarum prælegendarum munus Professorium auspicaretur.

Con

stat eum hanc disputationem, suavitate, elegantia, et judicii subtilitate admirabilem, intra perbreve tempus, unius atque alterius diei spatium, absolvisse. Nemini vero, uti speramus, displicebit, nos pene extemporale opus in lucem emisisse. Nempe visum est neque injucundum fore neque inutile, inter tot summæ diligentiæ ac laboris monimenta, uno exemplo ostendere, quid Vir, accurata doctrina instructissimus, festinans efficere potuerit.

"Prælectionem excipiunt Observationes Variæ, ad scriptores Atticos spectantes, quas in adversaria sua conjecerat Porsonus, quæque speciminis loco esse possint Operis Miscellanei Critici, quod ipse olim meditatus erat. Istud consilium quanta cum literarum jactura deposuerit, vel ex his fragmentis intelligi potest.

"Sequitur amplissima emenda

tionum series in Athenæi Deipnosophistas, quem librum per majorem vitæ partem Vir egregius ita tractabat, ut vix unquam eum de manibus deponeret. Poetarum, præsertim Comicorum, fragmenta, quæ ibi. conservata sunt, tanti æstimabat, lepores veneresque eorum tam impenso amore prosequebatur, ut ad hæc sananda restituendaque omnes eruditionis copias, ingenii vires, ac judicii acumen afferre solitus esset. Huc accesserunt exquisita quædam sermonis Attici perceptio, et singularis rei metricæ peritia, ab arte simul atque auribus profecta. Unde omnes Criticos, qui in hoc campo decurrerunt, longe longeque superavit: quin et illud vere affirmari potest, non tot ex Athenæo corruptelas ab universa virorum doctorum gente sublatas esse, quot ab unius Porsoni manu felici. Has vero emendationes, prope infinitis librorum et chartularum locis, et longis temporum intervallis exaratas, nos undique decerpsimus, et in unam seriem, juxta Casauboni editionem, anni 1657. qua ipse uti solitus est, disposuimus. Quod opus pene immensi erat laboris, cum eadem loca in schedis diversis, in marginibus editionum Aldinæ, Casaubonianæ, Schweighauserianæ, prout fors tulit, sæpenumero tractasset.

66

Ubique ipsissima Porsoni verba edidimus, et siquid nobis explicandum erat, brevitati quam maxime consuluimus. Illud vero monendus est lector, quidquid ab Editoribus dictum est, cursiva typorum forma excusum esse. Harum emendationum pleræque ante editum a Schweighæusero Athenæum scriptæ sunt: paucas igitur ab isto editore præceptas, ut Porsoni auctoritate firmarentur, nobis edendas esse judicavimus. Idem dictum puta de quibusdam etiam Tragicorum locis, ab aliis Criticis, prout Porsonus

correxerat, postea vulgatis. Cum nonnullas emendationum in Athenæum ipse in Appendice ad Toupium, et in notis ad Euripidem, publici juris fecisset, nobis visum est verba, quibus ibi usus erat, iterum lectoribus apponere.

"Cum maxime optandum videretur, ut omnia, quæ in Athenæum scripserat Porsonus, quatenus id fieri potuit, colligerentur, buc relatæ sunt duæ præstantes emendationum series, in binis exemplaribus editionum Casauboni penes Viros doctissimos, Ricardum Heber et Henricum Drury, ipsius manu exaratæ. Quæ priore libro continentur, omnia exscripsit et ad nos transmisit Vir, tum eruditionis ubertate, tum amicitia Porsoni notus, J. C. Banks. Alterum exemplar humanissime nobis accommodavit possessor. Quæ autem ex his libris dedimus, literis R. H. et H. D. designantur.

"Unam Athenæi paginam, scilicet 339. a summo Critico integritati restitutam, nobiscum communicavit Vir, doctis omnibus bonisque desideratissimus, et idem Porsono amicissimus, Matthæus Raine S. T. P. qui tamen non ob id solum beneficii nobis nominandus est: quippe hujus consilio atque opera factum est, quod hæc Porsoniani ingenii monimenta non disjecta sint et dissipata, sed in Collegii sui manus conjunctim delata.

"Notulæ vero in Tragicos, quas maximam partem ex oris variarum editionum deprompsimus, pleræque non tam emendationes dicendæ sunt, quam emendandi materies, et critica supellex. De Sophocle inprimis notari potest, permulta Tragici istius loca emendasse Porsonum, quorum haud pauca, qua semper erat benignitate, amicis doctioribus indicavit, nonnulla in scriptis a se editis persanavit, ceterorum vero correç

tiones, nunquam chartis commissas, invidit nobis repentinus iste casus, qui Græcas literas vindice suo et statore orbavit.

"Docti quidem omnes nobiscum impense optabunt, ut conjecturæ istæ, quas amicis suis impertiverat, unde unde corrasæ, et ab aliquo in singularem libellum conjectæ, olim in lucem proveniant. Nostrum vero non erat hujusmodi lacinias conquirere, quibus id tantum negotî datum est, ut schedas Porsoni apud nos adservatas publici juris faceremus.

"Porro inter Comicos exiguam tantum hujus voluminis partem vindicat sibi Aristophanes; in quem tamen expoliendum semper incumbebat Porsonus, et in hoc omnes nervos intendebat: quin etiam credibile est, si vita suppeditasset, Comicorum principem demum exiturum fuisse, a principe Criticorum innumeris fere locis restitutum, Atticoque suo nitore postliminio donatum. In adversariis igitur exstat magna notarum copia, ad superstites Aristophanis fabulas pertinentium, quæ forsan novæ editioni aliquando occasionem dabunt. Quapropter Collegii nostri rectoribus placuit, has in aliud tempus sepositas servari.

"Restant adhuc edenda, quæ in prosæ orationis scriptores, in Lexica Græca, et in auctores Latinos conscripserat Porsonus; præclara quidem ingenii ac doctrinæ specimina, inter quæ curæ ejus in Hesychium maxime eminent. Hæc ut quam celerrime publici juris fiant, magnopere cupimus. Quominus a nobis huic libro adjicerentur, obstitere rationes, quas non est hujus loci enarrare. Ibidem etiam adservatur insignis iste Photii Lexici MSti apographus, quem ex codice olim Galeano manu sua emendate descripsit Vir egregius; cujus quidem edendi curam a nemine susceptam

esse vere et ex animo dolemus. Αλλ' ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι

κεῖται.

"Iis profecto, qui posthuma, ut aiunt, scripta digerenda et edenda suscipiunt, utpote rem periculos plenam ale tractantibus, multa condonanda sunt. Quod si in hoc, qui hodie prodit, libello, nævi quidam diligentiam nostram effugerint, lectorem etiam atque etiam rogamus, ut editoribus potius quam auctori imputentur. Nobis tamen fas sit sperare, hoc opus haud indignum fore Collegio, cui olim præfuerunt Viri, in suis seculis eruditorum principes, Pearsonus, Barrovius, Bentleius; quodque his nostris temporibus, inter alios complures magni nominis, summus ille Porsonus ingenio suo ac doctrina longe præstantissima illustravit."

This volume contains the Notes and Emendations on the different Greek Poets, which were the fruits of the learning and sagacity of the first scholar of the age. At all periods of his life Porson was in the habit of noting restorations of corrupt passages and the grounds of his opinion, in the margins of books, in copy-books and loose papers. After his death the whole of these precious remains were purchased of his executors by Trinity College, Cambridge. This society, anxious to satisfy the public curiosity, as well as to consult the fame of their late illustrious member by the publication of this collection, committed to Professor Monk, Mr. Dobree, (whose temporary absence from England prevented his assisting in the work) and Mr. Blomfield, the charge of extracting and editing whatever was fit to meet the public eye. These gentlemen have been above two years occupied in this task, and have now completed a

volume containing all that was left by Porson concerning the Greek Poets. His observations are digested and arranged in the mode most convenient to the reader, and an additional value is given to the publication by two copious Indexes. One, of the authors emended or illustrated; the other, of the subjects treated. The volume is not large, but the matter contained in it, if expanded in the ordinary mode, would fill many volumes. In the corrections of the fragments in Athenæus, Porson has given specimens of his critical acuteness, aided by his astonishing memory and learning, that exceed all belief.'

The preceding advertisement published in No. XI. of the Classical Journal, we have thought proper to extract, as it gives a brief account, 1st, of the contents of the volume before us; 2d, of the steps taken for the preservation of the materials from whence it was composed; and 3d, of the parties to whom originally was entrusted, and by whom ultimately executed, the task of preparing for public perusal, the MSS. papers of Richard Porson.

In each of these three points, taken in their reverse order, our classical readers will not be displeased to meet with additional information, collected chiefly from the preface which Messrs. Monk and Blomfield have prefixed.

It appears, that although four years have elapsed since the death of Porson, the editors have been employed little more than two in the performance of a labor disinterestedly undertaken and creditably executed. However long this period may have seemed to the lovers of Greek Literature, whose curiosity has been on the stretch in

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