nours and immunities as the kith and kin of a sage, who in his own day was a wandering exile, and a persecuted preacher of righteousness: and Confucius himself is now an object of idolatry to his indebted countrymen.

Dr. Morrison has furnished us with some curious particulars relative to this extraordinary man: as, that miracles and wonders happened at his birth; that he was born with an inscription on his breast, signifying" universal lawgiver;" that (like Saul, and Musæus,) he grew to a gigantic size; that he was a prophet, and was warned of his own dissolution by a dream; and the like. It is well known that the stable rule of government, founded on the fifth commandment, as it has for ages existed in China, mainly originated with Confucius, whose sacred bocks on Education, Moderation, and Conversation turn chiefly on the principle of filial duty: a system alike in accordance with nature, reason, and religion, although in common with all others, liable to abuse.

The sayings of Confucius, which have come down to us, confirm his fame: almost in so many words, he (as also indeed did Milesian Thales,) gave the golden rule of conduct, "Do as you would be done by ;" his sentiments on life, society, character, and virtue, were admirable: and that he thought well politically, take as an example the following sentence out of his Lungyieu, ch. xvii. § 15. “A mean man cannot serve his king: for when he is out of office his only object is to obtain it, and when he

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is in office, his only care is to keep it. In the unprincipled dread of losing his place, he is ready to go all lengths." Confucius himself was an eminent example of disinterestedness: for, finding his efforts for his country's good thwarted by the profligate conduct of the king and court of Loo, he threw up his dignities and offices, and became a private but influential teacher of morals in more temperate Siam: a conduct worthy of imitation, so as pique be not mistaken for proper self-respect, nor obstinate selfishness for uncompromising patriotism.

PINDAR.

YE harp-controlling hymns! triumphant praise,
That heralded to his delighted home

The blushing victor of departed days

From Elis, or Nemæa, or the dome Of sacred Delphi,-spirit-stirring songs,

Even now your echoes linger on mine ears,

And to your Theban father still belongs

That name, time-honoured twice a thousand years,

King of the sounding lyre: nor alone

For music be thy praise, but for a heart Strung with affections of deep-thrilling tone

And patriot feelings that in lightning dart

Through the mute souls of all, with charmed sus

pense,

Listening in love thy honied eloquence

The αναξι φόρμιγγες ὕμνοι of Pindar are odes in honour of the successful candidates in the Olympic games; chiefly remarkable for a boldness of flight which has perhaps never since been surpassed; and varied with many episodes of patriotic warmth, divine zeal, and human sympathy. The stream of time, and it is now twenty-three centuries since the bard of Thebes was in his prime, has spared to us comparatively few specimens of his exalted genius; but long before the day of Horace as long after our own, it is true of Pindar, that he was, is, and will be, 'Laureâ donandus Apollinari.'

The epithet honied' is an allusion to the anecdote told of him that the wild bees dropped their honey on his lips as he lay a sleeping child.

At the risk of some censure, the writer has subjoined in unadorned English a specimen of Pindar: he has endeavoured to render it almost literally, in opposition to the usual style of loaded ornament, and with the original metre and accent as much as possible preserved; a task of considerable difficulty, and for which due allowance should be made. One great stumbling block in the way, is caused by the very diverse feelings with which moderns now regard such physical contests as were displayed at the

Olympic games: our imaginations immediately picture to us boxers and horse-jockeys, and are saturated with mean, if not ridiculous notions: whereas the ancients viewed the successful candidate in those solemn games as a hero, a conqueror, a man of high, though sudden, political importance, nay as a religious competitor favoured by heaven; he was a chief of men, praised by the old, and worshipped by the young; he was carried in a triumphant procession to his native town, which thereby acquired new dignity, and instead of entering by the gate, he was carried in by a breach in the city wall, to signify that while such a hero was within the place, there was no need of ramparts.

TO MELISSUS OF THEBES, A VICTOR IN THE CHARIOT-RACE.

STROPHE.

If the man, whom fortune blesses

Either in all-glorious prizes

Or in power of wealth, refrain

His soul from chilling insolence,

Worthy is he to be greeted with his fellows' praise : Mightier excellence flows from thee, Zeus, to mortals; And their weal, it grows for ever,

Who follow thee with their hearts; but the joys

Of the froward in their budding

Wither always fast away.