(3) In the Bodleian Library (799 Arch. F. 58). Assigned by Mr. Coxe to the early twelfth century. Collated by Mr. Conington. (4) In the Library of the British Museum (Add. MSS. 11672). Assigned to the thirteenth century. Collated by Mr. Sims to the fifty-sixth line of Sat. 2. (5) In the Library of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. This MS. contains Juvenalis, Persius cum notis, Dionysii Periegesis ex versione Prisciani, Anonymus de Tropis et Figuris, Ciceronis Orationes in Catilinam cum commentario. The Persius was collated by Hauthal (who finally assigned the MS. to the end of the fourteenth century) in 1831, and subsequently by Mr. Conington. Hauthal communicated the results of all his collations to Jahn (Jahn, Prolegomena, p. ccxiv). H. NETTLESHIP. HARROW, May 18, 1872. LECTURE ON THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF PERSIUS. Delivered at Oxford, January 24, 1855. It is my intention for the present to deliver general lectures from time to time on the characteristics of some of the authors whom I may select as subjects for my terminal courses. To those who propose to attend my classes they will serve as Prolegomena, grouping together various matters which will meet us afterwards as they lie scattered up and down the course of our expository readings, and giving the point of view from which they are to be regarded: to others I trust they may not be without their use as Sketches Historical and Literary, complete in themselves, in which an attempt will be made to bring out the various features and circumstances of each author into a broad general light, and exhibit the interest which they possess when considered independently of critical minutiae. The writer of whom I am to speak to-day is one who, as it seems to me, supplies ample materials both for detailed study and for a more transient survey. It is a very superficial criticism which would pretend that the reputation of Persius is owing simply to the labour which has been spent upon him: still, where the excellence of an author is undoubted, the difficulties of his thought or his language are only so many additional reasons why the patient and prolonged study of him is sure to be profitable. The difficulties of Persius, too, have the advantage of being definite and unmistakable-like those of Aeschylus, not like those of Sophocles-difficulties which do not elude the grasp, but close with it |