short, according to this general principle, and it ought to be pronounced po-yeisthai: in Porson's and Dobree's Edition of the Plutus of Aristophanes Tow is written wow, which, if it be done for metrical reasons, is an unnecessary alteration. While we are on this subject we may remark that the word vids may be pronounced either hōo-yos, or hwe-os, in conformity with what has been explained; and if we admit (what can not be well disputed) that the Greek v is well represented by the Italian sound of w, and the by the long sound of e in me, it will then be some relief to those who have long complained of the difficulty in this verse of Homer Il. i. 9. Λητοῦς καὶ Διὸς υἱὸς ὁ γὰρ, &c. to pronounce the word hoō-yos.

Occasionally the Doctor ventures on an original remark or explanation for the sake of showing that he has done something: line 104, &c. Edipus prays for an end of his sufferings, "unless the deities may think that he has not suffered enough (εἰ μὴ δοκῶ τι μειόνως ἔχειν,) though always a slave to the greatest sorrows.' The Doctor translates it thus "Unless I seem to be somewhat too low or mean [for your protection]": this is presumed to be original, as no name is attached to it.

But though many of the Doctor's expositions and suggestions are trivial or inexact, he is a better critic than one whom he lauds in no common terms. Line 422 begins as our' av, &c. where we learn in the note that Dr. Blomfield proposes, vor d' instead of wc, which is as unnecessary an alteration as most that he has made. The editor, in this instance, wisely keeps to his text. Line 149 Dr. Brasse is on the word Puraλuos where he says, "Dr. Blomfield, who with his great learning and good sense, illustrates the meaning purados": this is the usual style in which a brother critic is introduced; and so frequent and so indiscriminate is our editor's panegyric, that those who deserve praise would be glad to escape from the Doctor's laudations. The "great learning" alluded to certainly does not exist in the Glossaries to Eschylus; and the remark on the "good sense" is only excusable because it was written before the publication of the Bishop of London's correspondence with the Rev. Theodore Williams. The Doctor has found out a few who are deserving of his panegyric, but they surely cannot like the gross sauce with which it is seasoned. In one more instance at least, his praise is as much misplaced, as where he speaks of Dr. Blomfield's "good sense;" line 412, we are referred to Dr. Butler's most useful Manual of Ancient and Modern Geography. That which is bad in design, imperfect and inacurate in its execution, deserves and receives the praise of those who are unable to judge.

Many of Dr. Brasse's explanations are founded on certain notions of ellipses, and of one thing being put for another, in which he has often the sanction of good scholars, whom he quotes or refers to. But many of these illustrations are really obscurations, and do, as far as in them lies, render that dark, which without them is clear. Line 142. We have the reply of Edipus to the surprise which the Chorus expresses at his wretched appearance: οὐ πάνυ μοίρας εὐδαιμονίσαι Πρώτης, ὦ τῆσ δ ̓ ἔφοροι Xupas. This is the editor's explanation: "not a person to be congratulated for the very first destiny." Evdanovica, he says, "is governed of wore, and uoipas of Eveka understood." This explanation has its origin in a notion that the Greek words are not rightly arranged, that half of them are omitted, and that to do them into English they must be first set right: this operation is called supplying ellipses, and putting the words in the "ordo," and is one that is much practised by all half-learned persons.

Dr. Brasse, no doubt, will reject the proposed translation as zealously as he would a heresy: "not at all of a fortune to congratulate me on as the first," where, though we add the word as, we do not mean to say that any thing is wanting in the Greek, but we affirm that the whole English phrase corresponds to the whole Greek phrase. It is not with the English or the meaning of Dr. Brasse, that we quarrel; but we wish to show that neither veкa nor ore are required for the explanation of the text: the latter elliptic word suggested, is not necessary, and the former is injurious. His mode of expressing evda Movioaι by a passive verb, is unnecessary, and leads to certain confused notions, which are comprised in the language of the craft by" activum pro passivo."

At the end of the book are printed one hundred and ten examination questions, many of which are very appropriate, others are trifling, and are part of a system which is bad. The special object of this paper is to prepare youths to get into the first class at a college examination.

Before taking leave of Dr. Brasse, let him once more be warned against his friend Dr. Blomfield, and let him not take for true all that his learned associate says. We are informed, line 673, that μívvpoc is a young bird: it would be quite as accurate to say that it is a young whelp. A word, which denotes a particular kind of sound, must not be explained by telling a young student, that it designates any animal whose particular note or cry the word happens to express.

ART. XVI.-1572 Chronique du Temps de Charles IX-Par l'Auteur du Theatre de Clara Gazul. Paris. 1829.

THIS is another production of M. Merimée, the very clever author of Clara Gazul; displaying as much talent, brilliancy and wit as his first production. The young Parisian has all a Frenchman's tact for les ridicules of society; he shows discernment in his portraiture of manners, delicacy of observation in all those slight touches which individualize the outward appearances of men and things. A representation of manners was what he aimed at in la Jaquerie. But drama does not afford canvas wide enough for the painting of manners; character and passion and interest of situation are its peculiar province; the two last form, in spite of their deficiency in the first, the chain of the great French dramatists-all three are united to a wonder in our Shakespeare. There is a secret in the drama which would seem more masonic and exclusive than that of any other composition, or why have not our great novelists, masters of passion, plot or character, produced dramas equal to their romances? Why has almost every modern attempt proved a failure-cold inanities?-Clara Gazul possessed, however, a great deal of dramatic talent-there was not the spirit of a high sustained tragedy, but there were dramatic scenes of very great merit. A novel is the very frame to encase a picture of manners, and that especially is what M. Merimée has aimed at in his Chronicle. There is some carelessness, and a good deal of crudeness, but there are vigor, life, and wit. The story is not very striking, the scenes, many of them, are of the deepest in

terest.

The moment of time chosen is on occasion of the hollow peace patched up between Charles IX and the admiral de Coligny on the very eve of the Massacre of Saint Bartholomew. Bernard de Mergy, a cadet of a noble Protestant family, travels to Paris to find service in the army. His elder brother preceded him, but he has become a convert to Catholicism, and therefore is regarded as an enfant perdu by his junior. Mergy on his road falls in with some German Protestant troopers-he contrives to get rifled by them, and thus arrives pennyless in the metropolis; his first rencontre is with his elder brother George, who is a gallant fellow, who left the Protestant cause because he had been ill used by its chief, but who retains every generous and amiable quality. The brothers become friends immediately, and George introduces the young adventurer to his friends, the young and dissipated noblesse of France; and the same evening induces him, by the hope of seeing a certain beautiful

lady of the court, to whom in a very sudden manner he loses his heart, to go and hear a popular Catholic preacher's evening sermon. We are led to the sacristy where the friar is asking a text of the gay noble Parisians with whom Mergy had dined. "Quick, my text," cried the Monk- Mort de ma vie-by this time I ought to have mounted the pulpit-"

""Peste! father Lubin! You swear as lustily as the king," said captain de Mergy.

"I wager he won't swear in his sermon," said Beville.

"Wherefore not-if I take it into my head?" replied father Lubin,

boldly.

""I wager ten pistoles that you dare not-"

"Ten pistoles! done!"

666

Beville," said the captain, " I'll go halves in your bet."

No, no," replied the other, "I wish to win the good father's money myself, and if he swears-faith! I shall not regret my ten pistoles. A preacher's oaths are worth the cash."

"I declare to you," said father Lubin, "that I have already won. I will begin my sermon by three oaths-ah, gentlemen cavaliers, you imagine that because you wear a rapier at your belt, and feathers in your caps, that you alone have a talent for swearing-now you shall see."

With these words he quitted the Sacristy and mounted the pulpit-a profound silence reigned through the assembly.

The preacher threw his eyes upon those who pressed round his pulpit, as if to seek him with whom he had made his wager-when he perceived him leaning against a column exactly opposite to him; he knitted his brows-put his arms a kimbo-and in the voice of a man in a rage began thus :

"My dear Brothers,

"Par la vertu ! par la mort ! par le sang!-By virtue! by death! by blood!"

A murmur of surprise and indignation interrupted the preacher, or rather filled the pause he purposely made

"Of God," "continued the cordelier, with a very devout nasal twang, we are saved and delivered from hell."

'A burst of laughter now interrupted him. Beville drew his purse from his girdle, and shook it before the preacher, thus confessing that he had lost.'-p. 87.

The book can hardly be said to have a regular story, it rather presents a series of pictures colored after those times the lady who attracted de Mergy's admiration, was the countess de Turgis, who was then attended by a certain Comminges, not because she liked him, but because he challenged and killed every one who interfered with him. She looks favourably on Mergy, and Comminges half insults him. An amateur of duels perceives the occurrence and addresses the provincial→

666

"My dear friend," said the Baron, "you are quite new here, and perhaps, do not know how to conduct yourself?"

'Mergy looked at him with an air of astonishment.

"Your brother is occupied and cannot advise you; if you will permit me, I will supply his place."

""I am not aware, sir, of what-"

"You have been deeply injured-you seem pensive, and I do not doubt that you are considering how to revenge yourself."

"Revenge myself? On whom?" asked Mergy, blushing up to his

eyes.

"Did not little Comminges brush rudely past you, just now? All the court saw the circumstance, and will expect you to take it to heart."

"But,' said Mergy, "in a crowded apartment it is not strange that some one should involuntarily have pushed against me."

"M. de Mergy, I have not the honour to be intimately acquainted with you-your brother is my friend, and he can tell you that I practise, as much as possible, the divine precept of the forgiveness of injuries. I do not wish to force you into a quarrel, but at the same time I think it my duty to tell you, that Comminges did not push you accidentally. He did it because he wished to affront you, and even if he had not touched you, he insulted you; because in picking up the countess of Turgis's glove, he usurped a right that belonged to you. The glove was at your feet; ergo, you only had the right to pick it up and present it. Besides, turn and you will see Comminges at the other end of the gallery pointing at you, and ridiculing you.'

6

Mergy turned and saw Comminges surrounded by five or six young men, to whom he related, laughing, some circumstance which excited their curiosity. Nothing proved that he was the subject that occupied them: but, on the insinuation of his charitable adviser, Mergy felt a violent anger awaken in his heart." I will seek him after the hunt,” said he, “I will shew him"

"O do not put off so good a resolution-besides you will offend God less in calling out your adversary in the first heat of injury, than after having given time for reflection. In a moment of transport it is but a venial offence-you appoint a meeting-and you keep it in order to avoid the still greater sin of breaking your word. Oh! I forgot I was speaking to a Protestant. At all events arrange a meeting immediately-I will bring him to you directly.'

"I hope he will not refuse to excuse himself."

"My good friend, undeceive yourself; Comminges never said in his life, I was in the wrong. But he is a brave man, and will give you every satisfaction." "-p. 125.

After a little more discourse, the Baron de Vaudreuil brings up the practised duellist. Comminges, hat in hand, bowed with a very impertinent air, saying, in a soft tone of voice, "You wish to speak to me, Sir?"

'Anger made the blood suffuse Mergy's face, and he instantly