Codicis Msti Avieni collatio cum Editione Maittairiana, que anno 1713. prodiit.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CLASSICAL JOURNAL.

Lull with Amelia's liquid name the Nine,

And sweetly flow thro' all the royal line, POPE,

you will of course give place to the Prize Ode on the Death of the Princess Amelia, you will allow, perhaps, a few remarks to accompany its publication.

The subject is easy enough, and well suited to Greek

sapphics. For however melancholy in itself and august in its associations, he must be a δεινὸς σοφιστής, who could raise much more out of it after all than-Versus inopes rerum nugæque canoræ: and this task Mr. Bailey has not unhappily fulfilled. But if, after making good the first part of the distich, his ambition extend seriously to realise the second; a greater, a more substantial, and a more gloomy work is opening before him, in the setting of the Georgium Sidus itself

-of that star, whose eventful career if traced for half a century in our horizon, might demand a Pindar for "thoughts that breathe, and words that burn," and a Gray for felicity and address in the selecting and combining of the topics. Leaving this friendly hint with Mr. Bailey, whose good sense will not fail to appreciate and profit by it, I shall offer a few remarks on the particular ode before me, and then suggest what has occurred to my mind on the composition and structure of the Greek sapphic in general.

The successful candidate on these occasions must not be reproached, if he fail of attaining the dark grandeur of Ramsden or Rennell, if he be less perspicuous than Tomliné, or fall short of that inimitable union of the phrase of Greek with the English poesy which distinguishes the Juvenum Curas of Tweddell. It is enough, if he carries off the prize from the rivals of his own day. If to an inferior production the medal be awarded, the shame lies with others, not with the conqueror. Sedit, qui timuit, ne non succederet. True: but true also, decus et famam rectè petit experiens vir. So much is due τῷ ἀεὶ πρωτεύοντι τῶν καθ ̓ ἑαυτόν, So much at least is due to Mr. Bailey.

The beauties of this ode, which, to do the author justice, is very clear and intelligible, will immediately recommend themselves to the candid reader. To the critic belongs an office less pleasing to him, but more instructive and useful to others. I proceed in the attempt to discharge it. The following are very striking faults.

Of all reflections, the one most calculated to soothe the sorrow of those who survive the objects of their love, is that which arises from the hope of meeting again in a better state. This sentiment, even when poorly touched by the Pagan poet,

delights the heart: but what fascination should spring from it on the Christian lyre? It is very strange then, that Mr. Bailey has not only left this fine source of consolation unopened, but absolutely adopted the lugubrious ideas of the Greek poet,

Εὔδομεν αὖ μάλα μακρὸν ἀτέρμονα νήγρετον ὕπνον,

and exhorted the father not to weep over his child for the tritest of all trite reasons—θανεῖν χρὴ τοὺς βροτούς. "And is this all ?"

A second instance of bad management where the good seems obvious, appears at the close of the ode. To tell the King, encompassed as he then lay, with darkness and misery, that he should yet be happy; if intended of happiness in this life, was right in the face of all human probability. If of the felicity so promised the scene is to be sought in another world, why not more explicitly develope the thought? Why not, after the fashion of Tweddell,-apis Matinæ more modoquecatch the bright images from the sequel to Beattie's Hermit; and paint the gloomy night in which the Sun of Britain was rapidly falling, as prelusive only to a glorious dváσtaσis of light and life and joy for ever!

A short specimen of minuter remarks shall close this part of my letter.

St. iv. v. 14. of the nightingale wailing, Tavauspeúsı-how much inferior in truth and pathos to the "Flet noctem," &c. of Virgil !

St. vi. v. 21, 2. Χάριτες....γέλασσαν, hoc est, ἐγέλασαν—a form ambiguous at least, and much better avoided. Generally, the omitted augment should be more charily allowed.

St. viii. v. 29. οὐδὲν οὐ χραίσμησε; κ. τ. λ. Is this mode of combining the negatives correct? Surely it is not usual.

St. xi. a charming stanza, wonderfully tender and delicate. St. xvi. v. 63. The hiatus of xal in this part of the verse before oux not tolerable. More on the open vowel hereafter. These are little points; I grant it; the sooner therefore they are decisively settled, the better.

St. xvii. v. 65. ooì so circumstanced, is placed ill and awkwardly.

St. xxi. v. 81, 2. Tε...... óλwλe-Mr. Bailey ought to know, is now that she is dead." He doubtless meant,

"when she died."

And so rightly below, st. xxv. v. 97, 8. ὅτε...περίαπτε·· St. xxiii. v. 91, 2. λέγειν τι | ἔσχετο φωνὰ κ. τ. λ. Is there sufficient authority for xero, longed? one should rather expect Tero or piero in that use and meaning.

I remain, Sir,

Harrowgate, August 1811.

Your's, &c.

"CORONA VULGI."

SIR,

BIBLICAL CRITICISM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CLASSICAL Journal.

BEING wholly unacquainted with the Hebrew language, I should consider myself greatly indebted to any of your learned correspondents, who would, through the medium of your Journal, transmit me a literal translation of Genesis xxxvi. 24.

The reasons which induce me to request this favor, are the four various ways, in which this verse is rendered.—Our commonly received version of the Bible, has "This was that Anah, that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zebeon his father." The learned Brotier, in his note upon "Grex asinorum agrestium," (Tacit. Hist. lib. v. cap. 3.) quotes the verse in these words; "Iste est Ana, qui invenit aquas calidas in solitudine, cùm pasceret asinos Sebeon patris sui." Again, in an old Latin Bible, (Tremellius') printed at London in the year 1585, by Henry Middleton; I find it thus interpreted-" Is est Hhana, qui invenit mulos in And to deserto, cùm pasceret asinos Tzibhhoni patri suo."

the words "invenit mulos" is added in a note, "id est, artem excogitavit, quâ ex admissurâ asini & equæ, muli procrearentur." Neither does the Septuagint clear up this passage to tur."-Neither me, since I cannot discover the meaning of ròv 'Iaμelv in any Lexicon, to which I have had recourse. The words in the