nius Rhodius, with Scholia, commentaries &c. by Mr. Beck of Leipsic.

"Empedocles Agrigentinus. De vità et philosophiâ ejus exposuit, carminum reliquias ex antiquis scriptoribus collegit, recensuit et illustravit, præfationem et indices adjecit F. G. Sturtz" 1805. Gæschen, Leipsic, one vol. 8vo. The same learned editor published in 1804, 66 a Lexicon Xenophonteum." In 1805, a collection made with exquisite critical skill, of the historical fragments of Pherecydes, Hellanicus, Acusilaus; in 1807, a Dion Cassius, and a very correct edition of Maittaire's "Dialecti linguæ Græcæ;" and in 1809, Mr. Sturtz favored the world with a dissertation, "De dialecto Macedonicâ et Alexandrina." Leipsic 1 vol. 8vo.

The Greek lyric poets have been rather neglected of late in Germany. A third edition has been published, however, of the excellent Anacreon of Mr. Degen. Professor Kricthan has also published in 1809 at Dortmund an essay, tending to prove that the Olympic hymns of Pindar are not only of a dramatic nature, but in fact real dramas. The author has added to this curious dissertation some inquiries as to the bases of Greek prosody.

There has been lately published a critical edition of the fables of Esop. "Aiorov Muto. Fabulæ Æsopicæ Græcæ, cum adnotationibus I. Hudsoni et I. M. Heusingeri. Accessit index omnium vocabulorum &c." Leipsic 1808.

Passing to the Greek Prose writers, Herodotus first presents himself to our view. The high approbation bestowed by the learned world on the edition of the father of history, published by Professor Borheck of Duisbourg, has induced that learned gentleman to give a new and still more correct edition, which has made its appearance at Lemgo.

For several years the learned have been expecting the continuation, promised by Mr. Schæfer, of the edition of Herodotus, begun by the late Professor Reitz, and the second volume of this valuable work has at length appeared under the following title: "Herodoti Halicarnassei Historiarum libri ix. Musarum nominibus inscripti; edit. F. V. Reitzii morte interruptam contin. G. H. Schæfer." Lips. 1808. The new editor candidly confesses that he has profited much by Mr. Larcher's learned notes on Herodotus.

The third volume of the critical edition of Diodorus Siculus by Mr. Eichstedt of Jena has made its appearance.

The following valuable collection of the Greek historians anterior to Herodotus will ensure to the editor a high rank among modern scholars Historicorum Græcorum antiquissimorum Fragmenta, collegit, emendavit, explicuit, ac de cujusque Scriptoris ætate, in

:

genio, fide, commentatus est Frid. Creutzer Eloquentiæ, Literar. Græcar. et Lat. in Academia Heidelbergensi Professor ordinarius. Hecatæi (Millesii) historica, itemque Charonis et Xanthi omnia." 1806. The above is the first volume of the collection; the second is about to appear. Besides the more remarkable critical parts of the work, we find some inedited notes of Gronovius, which were found on the margin of an old copy in the possession of Mr. Creutzer. Mr. Phil. Kayser, who has already shown his skill in critical matters by a collection of the fragments of Philetas of Cos, assisted Mr. Creutzer on the above occasion. In 1803, Mr. Creutzer then of Marbourg, published a most interesting work with the title of "L'art historique chez les Grecs; de sa naissance et de ses progrès." The characters of the principal Greek historians, and their method of treating their subjects, are explained with great precision in the above book.

In 1807, a good Greek and Latin edition of Diogenes Laertius was published at Nuremberg by Mr. Neuernberger, and a translation of the same historian by Mr. Borheck of Duisbourg.

The honor of giving a new edition of the works of Plato is due to Professor Heindorf of Berlin. His " Specimen conjecturarum in Platonem" published ten years ago, gave rise to his present work. Between 1802 and 1805 Mr. Heindorf has published in succession ten different dialogues of Plato, with a translation and Latin notes, written in the same spirit which dictated the " Specimen." These dialogues have been collected and reprinted in three volumes at Berlin (1806). The remainder of the works of Plato will soon appear. An edition variorum of the Phædon by Mr. Buchling appeared at Halle in 1804. The books of the Republic have had two editors, one Mr. Ast, (Jena 1804,) the other Mr. Stutzman, Erlangen, 1805. The following is another publication on the subject: "In Platonis qui vulgo fertur Minoem ejusdemque libros priores de legibus, ad virum illustrem F. A. Wolfium, commentabatur Aug. Bæckh, Cadensis, Halle 1806." Mr. Bæckh, who is now Professor in the University of Heidelberg, where real learning and criticism florish in all their vigor, confirms by new proofs the opinion already advanced by Mr. Wolf, and adopted by Mr. Schleyermacher, that the Minos has been falsely ascribed to Plato. The same scholar has published a Specimen editionis Timæi Platonis dialogi," which renders it desirable that he should publish the whole.

A young student at Halle, Mr. David Schultz, has given a proof of early genius and critical discrimination. The celebrated disciple of Hemsterhuis, Valckenaer, had said, without supporting his dictum by any evidence, that the last chapter of the Cyropædia was not the composition of Xenophon, but rather of a pseudo-anonymous author, who had already published, under the name of Xenophon, the Apology of Socrates and some other pieces. Several critics had confessed that they had discovered no reasons for the opinion thus

hazarded by Valckenaer; and Fischer alone had supported it in his commentary as published by Mr. Kunal. Mr. Schultz has treated this subject with great acuteness in, the following dissertation: “De Cyropædiæ epilogo Xenophonti abjudicando." Halle, 1806.

"Meletematum criticorum specimen primum, Dionysii Halicarnassensis Artem rhetoricam tractans. Scripsit G. H. Schæfer, Lipsiensis," Leipsic, 1806. This is a small work filled with new and striking observations on the work ascribed to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, with corrections and interpretations of the text. The Editor, who is a Professor in the University of Leipsic, has acquired some celebrity in the learned world by his edition in 1808 of the treatise "De compositione verborum," by the same ancient author, with notes variorum. The notes are by Sylbourg, Hudson, Upton, Reiske, and the Editor himself. The translation is by Bircov, revised by Upton, but almost entirely re-written by M. Schæfer. Mr. H. A. Schott gave at Leipsic in 1804, a very respectable edition of the work "De Arte Rhetoricâ."

We shall now briefly mention some eminent productions on the Greek language and its theory. In 1806, Professor Harles of Erlangen, gave the second volume of his " Supplementa ad introductionem in historiam linguæ Græcæ." This new volume presents important additions and corrections. The fame acquired by the author for this performance is already well known, and he has added to it by an abridgement with the following title: "Introductio in literatuam Græcæ linguæ, in usum studiosæ juventutis conscripta." 1808.

Mr. Schæfer, whose name has been already mentioned, published during the present year a new edition of the "Ellipses Græcæ" of Lambert Bos, in which we find, besides the corrections of the Editor himself, the valuable labors of Schwebell, Schoettgen, Berns keld, Leisner, Michaelis, Stosch, on this modern grammarian, who has deservedly acquired the authority of an ancient classic.

Mr. Weiske, a learned teacher in the school of Pforta in Saxony, published at Leipsic in 1807, an excellent book under the title of "Pleonasmi Græci, sive commentarius de vocibus, quæ in sermone Græco abundare dicuntur.".

To Mr. Wagner, the Professor of Greek and Latin in the Caroline College of Brunswick, we are indebted for an excellent treatise on the accent in the Greek language. 1 vol. 8vo. Helmstedt, 1807.

The science of grammar has derived peculiar advantages from the modern spirit of criticism. Among the more recent Greek Grammars produced in the German school, we may distinguish those of Mr. Battman, Mr. Jacobs, and though last, not least in estimation, the work of M. Matthiæ.

VOL. VIII.

Cl. J.

NO. XVI.

2G

Mr. Thiersch, Professor of the ancient languages in the Gymnasium of Gottingen, has published in seven folio sheets some very ingenious grammatical tables for the study of Greek, and which exhibit a new and more simple, as well as accurate, method of ascertaining the paradigma of the Greek verbs.

It is almost superfluous to notice the new edition which has just appeared at Leipsic and Jena in 2 vols. 4to. of Mr. Schneider's Greek and German dictionary. It has been universally pronounced by the continental critics to be the most philosophical work hitherto published: and Mr. Villers displays more than usual warmth in his commendations of it. Mr. Schneider is a veteran in the department of ancient criticism, having been engaged for thirty years past in editing Greek classics, among whom, Pindar, Anacreon, Strabo, Appian, and Plutarch, have engaged most of his attention. His

Scriptores rei rusticæ veteres," which appeared at Leipsic in 1800, in 9 parts 8vo. justly added much to his celebrity.

Besides Mr. Schneider's, there have lately appeared a good Greek and Latin dictionary by Mr. Born, and a variety of smaller Lexicons for the use of schools.

M. Villers arranges his Researches under thirteen different heads, viz.-Encyclopedia and Methods of Classical Studies Latin Literature-Greek Literature-Translations-Oriental Literature-Biblical Literature of the Old and New Testament-Palæography-Archæology and Mythology-Ancient Geography-History-History of Religion and of the Church-History of Literature-ProgrammataTheses and other minor productions.

Many valuable literary notices on the above are given under the proper heads, which are too numerous for us to repeat.-We must refer our readers to the articles themselves.

The Rev. Mr. Maurice has appended to his Westminster Abbey, with other Occasional Poems (just published by subscription in large octavo, with three splendid Engravings, of which one is the head of Sophocles, for 17. 5s.) a free Translation of the Oedipus Tyrannus of Sophocles. It was written as an exercise, whilst the author was under the tuition of Dr. Parr, at Stanmore. Only a few copies of it were printed at the time. It had the good fortune "to pass under the eye of Dr. Samuel Johnson, who condescended to write the preface, which bears internal evidence of its origin." As this preface contains some remarks on the plan of this play, we doubt not that our readers will be obliged to us for presenting them with it entire.

"The Tragedy of which I have attempted to convey the beauties into the English language in a free translation, stands amidst the foremost

of the classical productions of antiquity. Of tragical writing it has ever been esteemed the model and the masterpiece. The grandeur of the subject is not less eminent than the dignity of the personages who are employed in it; and the design of the whole can only be rivalled by that art with which the particular parts are conducted. The subject is a nation laboring under calamities of the most dreadful and portentous kind; and the leading character is a wise and mighty prince, expiating by his punishment the involuntary crimes of which those calamities were the effect. The design is of the most interesting and important nature; to inculcate a due moderation in our passions, and an implicit obedience to that Providence of which the decrees are equally unknown and irresistible.

So sublime a composition could not fail to secure the applause and fix the admiration of ages. The philosopher is exercised in the contemplation of its deep and awful morality; the critic is captivated by its dramatic beauties; and the man of feeling is interested by those strokes of genuine passion which prevail in almost every page -which every character excites, and every new event tends to diversify in kind or in degree.

The three grand unities of time, place, and action, are observed with scrupulous exactness. However complicate its various parts may on the first view appear, on a nearer and more accurate examination, we find every thing useful, every thing necessary; some secret spring of action laid open, some momentous truth inculcated, or some important end promoted: not one scene is superfluous, nor is there one episode that could be retrenched. The successive circumstances of the play arise gradually and naturally one out of the other, and are connected with such inimitable judgment, that if the smallest part were taken away, the whole would fall to the ground. The principal objection to this tragedy is, that the punishment of Oedipus is much more than adequate to his crimes: that his crimes are only the effect of his ignorance, and that consequently the guilt of them is to be imputed not to Oedipus, but Apollo, who ordained and predicted them, and that he is only Phabi reus, as Seneca expresses himself. In vindication of Sophocles, it must be considered that the conduct of Oedipus is by no means so irreproachable as some have contended: for though his public character is delineated as that of a good king, anxious for the welfare of his subjects, and ardent in his endeavours to appease the gods by incense and supplication, yet we find him in private life choleric, haughty, inquisitive; impatient of control, and impetuous in resentment. character, even as a king, is not free from the imputation of imprudence, and our opinion of his piety is greatly invalidated by his contemptuous treatment of the wise, the benevolent, the sacred Tiresias. The rules of tragic art scarcely permit that a perfectly virtuous man should be loaded with misfortunes. Had Sophocles presented to our view a character less debased by vice, or more exalted by virtue, the end of his performance would have been frustrated; instead of agonizing compassion, he would have raised in us indignation unmixed, and horror unabated. The intention of the poet would have been yet

His