marks, as alluding merely to the epistles and satires. The art of poetry (we still prefer the old name) requires a distinct and separate commentary, and this is the only part of the work where Mr. McCaul has left any employment for succeeding hands. The deep philosophical spirit which breathes through this composition, requires for it a much longer exposition than Mr M.C.'s space would admit. In fact, a good commentary upon Horace's Art of Poetry should be an essay upon criticism, upon language, aud upon human nature; the original has never been equalled, and very probably it never will. In the familiar style of epistolary correspondence, the poet delivers precepts and maxims that have since continued the almost undisputed standard of correct writing, and collecting into a short compass the results of the thought and experience of a life; he has given us at once, a history of the origin, and an essay on the nature of poetic composition,while every remark is fraught with a generality that renders it applicable to all the modifications of imaginative literature. Nor is it the least praise, that his observations preserve, after the lapse of centuries, the same piquancy and point which they originally possessed. Nay, the very satire that is interwoven with the didactic portion of the poem, is as pungent now as in the days of Augustus. The faults that he censured are still prevalent enoughthe criticisms that he passes upon the Roman Theatre are equally applicable to the British Stage. His remarks, founded on a knowledge of human nature, the same in all ages and countries, are unaffected by all the revolutions in literature-all the changes in manners-nay, all the alterations in thought, that have taken place since he wrote. The march of modern intellect has not yet outstepped his. New species of imaginative litera. ture have been invented, but all may be tried by this universal standard-the criticism that was intended for the drama or the epic, is applicable to the novel and the romance; and we are surprised to find the rules and canons of the first century still valid in the nineteenthequally authoritative in Britain and in Rome. In fact, Horace s epistle to the Pisos, is to fiction, what Lucian's aʊyyga is to history, and both these masterpieces of general criticism remain splendid, and, perhaps we might add, unrivalled specimens of acute and philosophical observation. We do not make these remarks with a view to disparage Mr. M'Caul's annotaVOL. III. tions, but rather with the intention of explaining the qualification of our praise. The student will find in his comment upon the art of poetry, as much information as he may be able readily to procure elsewhere. All we wished to prove was, that there is still room for others to labour here with advantage. We have already stated our opinion that in other parts of the work Mr. M'Caul has almost closed the list against new competitors.Not that we agree with him in every thing he has advanced; and had we time and space, we could point out some things that we consider inaccuracies, and in doing so, would, probably, fall into far greater ones ourselves. But such is the maliciousness inseparable from the very nature of a critic, that we cannot resist the temptation of noticing one or two. In the note on the 15th line of the 3d satire of the first book, we differ from Mr. McCaul's exposition of sestertius and sestertium-the latter is merely a contraction for sestertiorum-see Facciolati's Lexicon on the word, and M'Kay's Cicero, Philip. 2d. sat. 16. note 6. We cannot agree with the interpretation given to sat. 1. 6. 13. The ambiguity arises from the fact, that there were two Appii, both censors-one of whom first admitted freedmen to seats in the senate, and the other made his censorship remarkable for severity, particularly by removing all the libertini from the roll of senators. We understand the allusion to be to the latter of these, and suppose the whole passage as said in good earnestsee McCaul on the place, see also Adam's Roman Antiquities. There are a few more passages to which we had affixed our critical mark, but we can only call attention to one-it occurs in the 6th epistle of the first book, line 64. remigium vitiosum Ithacensis Ulysses Cui potior patriâ fuit interdicta voluptas." This all the commentators refer to the cups of Circe, with the exception of the Delphin editor, who gives the true interpretation. If Mr. M'Caul consults the tenth book of the Odyssey, he will find that Homer, at least, gives no authority for his statement; that Ulysses had warned his companions of the danger of drinking Circe's potions." The fact was, the poor devils were entrapped unwarned and in the most perfect innocence. Would it not be much more naturally referred to their roasting and eating the oxen of the Sun, against which horrid impiety they had been warned both by Circe and Tiresias, on the express condition that if they permitted the sacred animals to 2 G graze unmolested, they should reach home in safety, but if not, they should all be drowned. For this beautiful mythological fable, evidently intended to convey the moral which Horace deduces from it, see Odyssey, xi. 105. xii. 127, and from line 276 to end. Mr. McCaul has been peculiarly happy in correcting a common, indeed we believe universal mistake, in his note on Şat 4. line 62. We cannot, however, give our assent to his very ingenious, but we fear untenable translation of that difficult passage, Epist. ii. 1. 13. He may, perhaps, have adduced authorities for each of the anomalies which it involves, but the coincidence of all is at least sufficient to throw suspicion upon his interpretation, besides the common method furnishes a very satisfactory meaning. After what we have already said, it is almost needless to recommend this work to our readers. We may, however, be permitted to express our hope, that it wili be seen upon the table of every college student, both for his own sake and that of the author. As Irishmen, we feel a pride in every work of merit that issues from the Dublin Press, and to any such, a spirit of nationality would induce us to give the preference-but apart from this, we may safely say, that this is the best book which any person who wishes to understand Horace can procure. We regret that we have not been able to devote much space to the consideration of its merits. We would have been glad to have reviewed it in juxta-position with the most approved of the German commentaries, and we are confident it would not have lost by the comparison. We must, however, content ourselves with this hurried notice, and take our leave of the editor, by acknowledging the obligation under which he has placed us, in common with every well-wisher to the classical literature of Ireland. Ovid's Fasti, translated into English prose, by Isaac Butt, Scholar of Trinity College. Dublin: Richard Milliken and Son, Booksellers to the University. 1833. We had anticipated a good deal from the author of the work before us, from the high order of ability which we knew should be brought to bear upon its execution. Mr. Butt's character for extensive classical knowledge, and his well-known intimate acquaintance with general literature, could not fail to ensure the complete success of any task in which it might be his inclination to engage. this work at an earlier period; however, We regret our inability to have noticed an equally sincere, and to the publishers, we doubt not, a more acceptable criticism form of an extensive sale, which cannot has been already passed upon it in the fail to be renewed as the period recurs at which the original work shall be required. Mr. Butt's translation is remarkable both for its elegancy and accuracy, and evinces no ordinary ingenuity in the smoothness, which, from the rather abrupt nature and style of the text, it was a matter of no slight difficulty to impart to a faithful English version. He has also, with a propriety which we would strongly recommend in future to some of his competitors in the same field, omitted the few passages containing those indelicacies from which no classical writer is altogether free, and upon which the importance or value of the work is, in no instance, found to depend. It was rumoured that the Fasti of Ovid abounded so much in objectionable passages, that it was likely to be discontinued after the present year, as part of the ordinary academic course; this impression, which was only yielded to upon hearsay, and that hearsay being utterly groundless, as any one who understood even the ob ject of the work could testify, will not, we presume, be allowed to weigh for an instant against the mature judgment and truly valuable and important classic was the correct taste of those by whom this recommended, and at whose suggestion it was introduced. As long, however, as the original holds ground here, the translation before us must be sought after also; we trust we have said sufficient to prove our own views and wishes with regard to both. UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE. No. XV. MARCH, 1834. VOL. III. CONTENTS. SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF EDWARD LASCELLES, GENT-CHAPTERS I. II. THE SIXPENNY MANIFESTO STANZAS FOR MUSIC THE RETROSPECT OF THE REFORMED MAÎTRE CORNELIUS-FROM THE FRENCH OF BALZAC-CHAPTERS III. IV. "CHANSON A BOIRE" . THE BORES OF MY ACQUAINTANCE-No. II. GRANA WEAL'S GARLAND 1. LAMENTATION OF FIGHTING FITZGERALD'S GHOST, 2. MY NOSE IS AT YOUR SERVICE, 3. THE FINE OLD IRISH GENTLEMAN. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SIR CHARLES LEWIS METZLER VON . Page. 1235 252 253 263 264 265 284 285 292 296 A LETTER FROM CORNELIUS O'BRIEN, ON THE STUDY OF IRISH ANTI. THE LADY'S CHAPEL, ST. SAVIOUR'8, AND THE CHURCHES OF THE WILLIAM CURRY, JUN. AND COMPANY, SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 341 346 353 NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. Contributions, advertisements, and books for Review, may be left with Messrs. Simpkin and Marshall, Stationers'-Court, London, who forward a parcel to our Publisher's weekly. We have received R. C.'s communication, and shall be glad at all times to hear from him. We beg to acknowledge also R. D. C.'s favours, of which we shall avail ourselves at the earliest opportunity. The best answer we can give our kind correspondent C. H. R. will be found in the pages of our present number. We received safely the poetical favours from our friend of the R. M. at Spike Island; judging from the present specimens, we should be glad to have some of his MSS. His lines to R. G. we shall insert with pleasure, as they are not liable to the objection which he will perceive we must make to the rest, from the form in which they have come to us. "Observer's" paper is clever, but too brief for our pages. H. G., W. T., and J. G. P. A., we accept with many thanks. Fitzadam' arrived too late for this month's number. He shall be attended to in our next. We beg our numerous correspondents to observe, that it is impossible to decide upon the merits of an article, submitted to us for consideration, in three or four days. The great quantity of material which requires to be attended to and arranged, precludes a hurried decision or immediate reply upon the subject of any contribution. In future, those contributions of which we cannot avail ourselves for the pages of the Magazine, shall be left at our Publishers on the first of every month. 1 THE DUBLIN UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE. No. XV. MARCH, 1834. VOL. III. SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF EDWARD LASCELLES, GENT. CHAP. I. My dear ✶✶ ✶ BOYISH DAYS. "Thus summer months bring wilding shoot, And years draw on our mortal span, You cannot have forgotten the merry fire-side evenings we spent together last autumn at when after passing a fatiguing day in swaying "o'er pool and stream" the ponderous salmonrod, or in beating for game among the deep and difficult recesses of the forest, we found ourselves snugly seated at the lodge, beneath the cheering influence of a blazing faggot and brilliant argand. On these occasions, while my cherished sposa was engaged at her needle-work, or perhaps in the kindly office of busking hooks for our sport of the morrow-little Edward frolicking gaily round the room, and the faithful Ida slumbering on the hearth I have frequently, at your request, narrated passages from the scenes of my many-coloured life. These, you used to tell me, you listened to with pleasure; and you have often urged me to reduce them to writing, for the entertainment of yourself and the marvel-loving world. I fear, however, that the partiality of your friendship may have induced you to attach to the narrations the interest you felt in the narrator; and you must certainly have left entirely out of mind, that though VOL. III. ROKEBY. my hand is sufficiently familiar with the tiller, it is but little conversant with the pen. "The voice of a friend, however, speaketh the words of persuasion,” and I certainly did intend, on some uncertain and far distant day, to accede to your request; and having first gone forth, in accordance with the advice of the sage, and traced the boundary of my grave, and touched the stone that was to mark my head, and sworn by the sacred majesty of death, that my testimony should be true, unwarped by prejudice, unbiassed by favour, and unstained by malice, to tell in my own plain style the story of my somewhat eventful life. Circumstances however, I am ashamed to say how trivial, have induced me to anticipate this intention, and to commence my task at an earlie period, and without such solemn preparation. Shall I tell you that nothing less than three weeks continued rain, and the prospect of three weeks more, have tempted me at present to my writing-table! The face of nature is indeed sadly changed since you were here. The cheerful azure of the sunny skies has given place to the lowering of gloomy clouds, and the murmuring 2 H |