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their thirst. But as the interpreter is read once for all, whereas the authors themselves are frequently perused, we need editions, suited for common use, in which that repeated perusal and study may be indulged in without trouble. So then the wishes of most people, I conceive, come to this,16 that there should be at hand a supply of editions easily procurable," the chief recommendation of which should be a correct and neatly-printed text.18 If 19 some good notes can be added, the philological student" will of course reckon this an additional advantage; but the other want is felt by all, and remarked by all,23 without reference to other considerations; and the gift would not be despised even by those whose shelves are crowded with the more voluminous editions, which, however, they cannot read when lounging on the sofa,25 or carry about with them in their carriages. Many, then, would be glad, and would consider themselves aided in these studies, if some one would undertake a reprint of the mere Greek texts of the Greek authors. And perhaps the greater number would prefer that the whole business should be confined within these limits.

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Exercise X.

Characteristics of Horace.

HERE, however, I fear lest all the admirers of Horace should agree in controverting' us, and that too somewhat sharply, for excluding that most elegant poet from the number of those whom we call the chiefs of poetry. But, if in a question of that kind the pleasure derived by them, who read poetry for amusement's sake,' were the first thing to be considered," who would not gladly concede to Flaccus the highest, or, at any rate, all but the highest place, as being certainly' the merriest of all poets? one who most admirably tempers the grave with the gay; and that too not with rude and uncultivated' gaiety, but such as becomes a gentleman,1o so that when once admitted, as Persius says, he plays around the hearts of every one.' To this must be added, that every one of us, I fancy, retains a pleasing recollection of some

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poem of Horace's, or at any rate of a line or two, such as to recal, by the mere sound of the words and syllables, the delights of his boyish years; and whatever dreams, whether grave or cheerful, chiefly pleased him then. Moreover, a circumstance the reverse of which perhaps takes place in most departments of poetry, even when we are growing old, we somehow feel all the greater pleasure in renewing our acquaintance with Horace, probably on account of the admirable knowledge1 of life and character by which he is distinguished, and concerning which we have the judgment of a first rate critic, that Horace's epistles will never be thoroughly known to any one, who has not first raised himself by long experience, by study, by the unconstrained efforts of his own mind, to the same point of view from which Horace looked down upon the subject. But although I grant all this, and more than this, I am compelled 1 nevertheless to admit that I have never yet discovered any source of poetry which Horace can claim as his own. On the contrary,15 I suspect, that he treats every subject with an indifference which prevents him from dwelling on it with any real or lasting emotion. Sometimes he pretends a great love for the country and for agriculture, yet with all this, you see that he dwells on the theme with the feeling rather of a gentleman in the country than of a country 16 gentleman; that his thoughts are all the while in Rome; that he loves his snug little box," not so much for its own sake as for the sake of quiet, fresh butter, and other country treats of the like description; in a word, having no religious feelings, he had joined a sort of Epicurean school, proposing no other end of life to himself than this, 'gladly 19 to seize on the gifts of the present hour, whatever they may be.'

Exercise XI.

B. G. Niebuhr's Advice to a young student of Philology.

WHEN your dear mother wrote me word that you manifested a decided liking for philological studies,' I expressed my satisfaction at hearing this, and recommended her and your

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father not to disturb this inclination by forming other plans for your future life. I believe I told her that as philology was the introduction to all other studies, he who in his schoolboy days applied himself to this branch of learning with as much energy as though it were to be the exclusive business of his life," was preparing himself for any other pursuit which he might select for himself when he got to the university. Besides," I am so fond of philology myself, that I could not desire any better vocation' than this for a youth so near and dear to me as you are.' There is no employment more agreeable and cheerful; none which, from the occupation it involves and the duties it imposes, is more calculated to secure the tranquillity of the heart and conscience;12 and how often have I lamented that I ever left this, and entered upon a life of turmoil, which perhaps, even now that old age is coming upon me, will not attain to any durable repose. The office of an instructor of youth is thoroughly 15 respectable; 16 and, in spite of all the evils which mar its ideal beauty," it is, for a noble heart,18 really one of the happiest modes of life; it was once my chosen vocation,19 and it would have been well if I had been allowed to pursue it to the end. I am well aware 20 that in consequence of the higher sphere of duty"1 in which my active life has passed," I am no longer suited for such an employment; but for a person, for whose interests I feel so sincerely and so earnestly as I do for yours, I would wish that he might not thus spoil himself," and might never long to quit 25 the tranquillity of that narrower circle of avocations, in which, like yourself, I spent the happy days of my youth.

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Exercise XII.

The same continued.

2

YOUR dear mother' wrote me word that you wished to submit to me one of your productions, in order to prove your industry, and to show me what progress you had made already. I advised her to encourage you to do so, not only

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that you and your friends might see from this what interest I take in you; but also because it is just in philology that I am sufficiently acquainted with the true object, and know in what way the student must either attain to that object or lose his route thither; so that I can not only confirm him who has taken the right path, to the end that he may persevere in it, but can also give an authoritative warnings to him who is in danger of going wrong, and can tell him where he will get too if he does not turn back. For myself, I followed for the most part my own guidance, and unfortunately paid no attention to the recommendations of those who, when they might have shown me the way both by precept and example, contented themselves with very sparing hints;" so that I had very uphill and difficult work of it. By some good fortune —for which I am thankful to heaven13-I never altogether lost sight of the object and found the right path again;1 but 16 I should have got much nearer to my journey's end and with much less trouble, had I been previously shown the way. I know" very well that this task was neglected by most of my friends, because they thought it kinder to leave me alone, or because some of them thought it not worth their while to make themselves intelligible to an obstinate and self-willed youth. I know too, that perhaps I might not have liked to follow any counsel which did not square with my preconceived notions. Yet, if the advice had come from a competent person, I should not only not have rejected it, but even though it had been harsh, and had stung me to the quick, I should now rejoice that I had received it.

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I tell you18 with pleasure, and can do so with truth,19 that your essay is an honourable testimony to your industry, and that I am delighted to see how much you have laboured and learned 20 in the six years and more since we last met." perceive that you have read much, and with a love of knowledge and attention." But I must, in the first place, beg you to examine your Latin, and convince yourself that you are deficient in this point.25 I will not be precise about a few grammatical errors. On this point, I am quite of the opinion of my dear friend, the late Dr. Spalding," who was least of all impatient of these faults in the school-room, pro

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vided their indication had the effect of gradually correcting them. It is a much worse fault, that you more than once stick fast in the periods, that you use words in a wrong sense," that your style is inflated and unequal," and that you deal illogically with your metaphors."

Exercise XIII.

The same continued.

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You do not write simply enough to express unpretendingly a thought which presents itself clearly to your own mind.' That you cannot write in a full and finished style is no reproach; for although there have been some, especially in earlier times, who have been able to do this at your age, owing to an unusually happy direction given to a peculiar talent, such perfection is, as a rule, not even possible. Fulness and maturity of expression presume' a maturity of mind which must needs follow the process of development. But what we always can, and always ought to do, is not to aim at an outward appearance of more than we can effect, and to think and express ourselves unaffectedly and correctly. Here also accept from me a wholesome rule. When you write Latin essays, consider with all the exactness of which you are capable, what you wish to say, and clothe your meaning in the most unpretending language. Study the structure of periods" adopted by the greatest" writers, and practise yourself frequently in the imitation of detached passages; in translating these,13 break up the periods," and try to restore the structure when you retranslate the sentences." This is an exercise in which you do not need the help of your teacher; do it simply as a preparatory discipline for the use of your maturer age. When you write, consider scrupulously whether your language is of one colour. It is a matter of indifference to me whether you attach yourself to the style of Cicero and Livy, or to that of Tacitus and Quintilian; but some one epoch you must adopt; otherwise's there will result a motley texture as offensive to the professed'

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