To an injury (he would say) that puts the means of my well-being or existence in alarm, I would apply the Laws of my Country.-INJURY is an assassin who levels his pistol at my head; but for INSULT, who is but a deserter from the ranks of Honour, my own bosom should be the Court-martial that I would try him byAnd a mer ciful Court it is, brother Toby-(cried my father one day as my uncle said this) - a thousand drops of blood would sooner flow from thy feeling heart, than the sentence of a hundred lashes fall from thy lips! But discipline!-cried my uncle Toby The discipline of Humanity!said Yorick My uncle Toby blushed deeply; for he blushed from two dis-" tinct causes: My father's eulogium on his Court-martial touched that natural diffidence so predominant in the mind of my uncle Toby-he blushed from modesty: He blushed too on the reflection of Yorick -The discipline of Humanity, (thought he to himself,) and the discipline of an Army, are not the same things, then. Doctor Slop quitted the room.-Trim followed him, How often do we see a composition of worthlessness in front, with modest merit lagging in the rear! My father, my uncle Toby, and Yorick drew closer round the fire, which seemed to burn brighter-while the Genius of Humanity hovered over their heads! O BENEVOLENCE! eternal ocean of our joys! source divine of pure delight! what being would not cast his cup within thy stream, and drink the precious draught!-Thou art the SPRING of comfort, which bloweth to birth all the blossoms life can give, or mortal enjoy! 'Tis thou who causest the lovely dew-drop of Gratitude to gem the eye of Human Nature, promptest thy children to relieve the hopeless, and shed the tear of fellow-feeling!--Thou art the noblest link in the great chain of existence; and when thou breakest, NaTURE must divide !' This little elegant volume concludes with a more substantial imitation of Sterne's manner than that of his breaks and dashes: we mean his exquisite art of unfolding the circumstances of a pathetic Tale: but we fear that even the piteous story of the unfortunate ANNA will be liable to the censure of those who, though they may, with our compassionate advocate for "Peace on earth, and good-will towards men," consider war as an evil, will yet contend that war is at times a NECESSARY evil. On this head, Sir Roger de Coverley, were he still living, would probably observe that "much may be" (indeed, much is)" said on both sides."To what purpose, however, is all this saying? Shall we ask the Seceders from the House of Commons? Their answer is already given. ART, ART. VII. The Poems of Caius Valerius Catullus, in English Verse, with the Latin Text revised, and Classical Notes. Prefixed, are Engravings of Catullus and his Friend Cornelius Nepos. 8vo.. 2 Vols. 12s. Boards. Johnson. 1795*. THE HESE volumes are introduced by a preface, in which the translator expresses his surprise that no complete English version of Catullus has yet appeared; mentions the principal translations into other languages, and the best editions+ of the original; and explains his own design and plan. In regard to his having now presented to us a complete and unmutilated edition, he observes: • Those indecencies occurring so frequently in our poet, which I have constantly preserved in the original, and ventured in some way to translate, may be thought to require apology; for I have given the whole of Catullus without reserve. The chaste reader might think them best omitted; but the inquisitive scholar might wish to be acquainted even with the ribaldry and broad lampoon of Roman times. When an antient classic is translated and explained, the work may be considered as forming a link in the chain of history: history should not be falsified; we ought therefore to translate him somewhat fairly; and when he gives us the manners of his own day, howe ever disgusting to our sensations and repugnant to our natures they may oftentimes prove, we must not in translation suppress, or even too much gloss them over, through a fastidious regard to delicacy.' We think that there is little plausibility in this attempt to apologize for republishing, without any reserve, the poems of Catullus, and for in some way' translating them all. Every scholar of refined taste, and not too inquisitive,' must regret the gross ribaldry and the nauseous obscenity which disgrace so many pages of this licentious poet. We deem it unbecoming to pursue in detail our objections to many of his poems and passages: but he has yet many beautiful verses, many delicate and elegant sentiments, much brilliant imagery, and many instances of the sublime and the pathetic in his writings; and though we may appear fastidious to the present translator, we confess that in our opinion a judicious selection of his poems would have been more acceptable to the public. To our English readers, we shall, on this occasion, offer those passages which, we think, will at the same time give them amusement, and a fair opportunity of judging of the merit of the translator's versification. The following short poems express amorous effusions with warmth of feeling and an Though this date stands at the bottom of the title-page, the work has but lately come to our knowlege. He has, however, omitted the correct edition printed, a few years ago, by an Alderman of London :-but it was not sold. energy of expression, yet with great delicacy and simplicity of sentiment. • To Lesbia. 72. No nymph, amid the much-lov'd few, As my fond love, sweet maid, for thee! I cannot love thee more, nor less!' On Lesbia. 88. Lesbia rails without ceasing at me the whole day; To Calvus, on Quintilia. 91. If ever to the dumb sepulchral urn, The tribute of a tear could grateful prove; Each deed of ancient friendship, and of love: • Less sure, fond youth, must thy Quintilia grieve Than joys her parted spirit to perceive How much her Calvus lov'd her, and how well.' The following poem will convince the reader that the unrestrained libertinism of Catullus had not extinguished in his breast the amiable feelings of fraternal love and friendship: On the Funeral Ceremonies at his Brother's Tomb. 96, . I come, I'll bring each mystic gift, each funʼral rite: Adieu to him who sleeps in yonder grave! The fourth line of the original is very tender; "Et mutum nequicquam alloquerer cinerem.” The parallel line in the translation is deficient in pathos by -the omission of the term in vain. We We are prevented by its length from presenting to the reader the fine epithalamium written on the marriage of Peleus and Thetis, (vol. ii. p. 2.) in which the translator has shewn considerable powers of correctness and energy; though we think that, in the noble and pathetic episode of Theseus and Ariadne, the two following beautiful lines are not accurately turned: "Aut ut eam tristi devinctam lumina somno Liquerit immemori discedens pectore conjux ?" L. 149 and 150. The ample notes of the translator are in general compiled with a diligence which proclaims him a scholar, and they are in most instances applied with judgment. The following perhaps are questionable: "Ad Pocillatorem Puerum. 24. "Minister vetuli: Puer Falerni, Inger mi calices amariores," &c. • With Falernian, that's old, let the goblet be crown'd; Bring it hither, sweet boy, be the bitter draught mine!" The translator has adduced the following passage of Cicero, in support of the bitter taste of old wine: "vina primo dulcia austeritatem annis accipiunt, et rubra fiunt." We cannot think that the harshness, which Cicero ascribes to old wine, is synonimous to the bitterness of Catullus. We know that old wine contracts a tartness, and that the language of poetry is not always precise in describing sensations: but bitter wine seems a solecism in taste. In poem 49, addressed by Catullus to himself, we think that the translator has totally mistaken the sentiment of his author. To explain our meaning, we will transcribe the original, with the English copy. "Quid est, Catulle, quid moraris emori? Sella in curuli Struma Nonius sedet: Per consulatum pejerat Vatinius. Quid est, Catulle, quid moraris emori?" To himself, on S. Nonius and Vatinius. Catullus, prithee, tell me why Then, dear Catullus, tell me why We conceive that Catullus means to say, Why do I delay to die,' when" impious men bear sway," in the spirit of Cato; and to repeat the question why he should despair and wish to die, after he had stated these objections to living among such wretches, appears in the translation a great oversight, and renders the dignity of the sentiment and expostulation feeble and impertinent. Though we would praise this translator for his general correctness with respect to the English version, yet his inattention to rhime is too gross and too frequent not to incur censure. Such unlucky attempts at rhime as the following very often occur: throne, town; beheld, reveal'd; wed, maid; goes, vows; word, regard; too, bestow; transferr'd, ador'd; far, tear; theme, flame; &c. The Greek quotations introduced into the notes are scarcely ever spelled rightly; and we were surprised to find, in line 13 of poem 12, a Greek word (if it be one) so written, as to militate both against the sentiment meant to be expressed, and the metre which the verses have adopted. In the note on that word, the translator has reprinted it with the mistake; though the Latin term at the beginning of the note might have directed him. The frontispiece of each volume is ornamented with an engraving, the one being a portrait of Catullus, and the other of his friend Cornelius Nepos, taken from the statues of these two authors over the Palazzo di Consiglio or council-house at Verona; though, as the translator's preface informs us, their authenticity is doubtful. The figures are in good taste :-the classical reader will observe that the books which the statues hold in their hands are unusual, and of square forms. This edition is enriched by a life of Catullus, by a delineation of the various metres which he adopted, and by a general index of persons, places, and subjects mentioned in the two volumes. ART. VIII. Remarks on the Antiquities of Rome and its Environs : being a classical and topographical Survey of the Ruins of that celebrated City. Illustrated with Engravings. By Andrew Lumisden, Esq. Member of the Royal and Antiquary Societies of Edinburgh. 4to. pp. 478. 11. 11s. 6d. Boards. Nicol 1797. IF F we have been rightly informed, Mr. Lumisden was for many years domesticated at Rome with the chiefs of the unfortunate house of Stuart; and in this situation enjoying much leisure, he availed himself of the best opportunities of acquiring |