THEOCRITUS. WHOEVER fhall carefully examine in Theocritus the compofition of his verses, may perceive that the nature of Bucolic or Paftoral metre requires, that the fourth foot of the verse be a Dactyl, and that the last fyllable of this Dactyl be the end of a word, which must not run into the next foot. The first foot also should rather be a Dactyl than a Spondee, and the cæfura is here alfo to be fhunned. If after the fourth foot there be a paufe, of a comma at least, the verfe will be ftill more elegant ; as Αρχείε βωκολικάς, Μῶσαι φιλαὶ, ἄρχει αοιδάς. Thus the verfes will abound with Dactyls, which, together with the broad Doric dialect, gives a certain ruftic vivacity and lightnefs to the poëly. But yet the above-mentioned rules, if they were constantly observed, would displease, by a tiresome uniformity, and confine the poet too much and therefore a variety is better; as in the line Τηνον χώ κ δρυμοιο λέων ανέκλαυσε θάνοντα. And it is fufficient if the other ftructure predomi nate. Thefe Thefe rules Virgil hath quite overlooked and neglected; and indeed, if we may boldly fay the truth, his Eclogues, with their allegories, their obfcurities, and their fublimities, are beneath those of Theocritus, of whom he is so often the mere tranflator. So that if he had not compofed other and better works, particularly his incomparable Georgics, he would not have had fo high a rank amongst the poets. See the Memoires de l'Acad. T. VI. p. 238. CRITICAL CRITICAL REMARK S ON LATIN AUTHOR S. ARNO BIU S. THIS Father lived in the time of Diocletian, and wrote about the clofe of the third century. He is in many refpects a valuable author, and a good Edition of his works is much wanted: He is but the bad defender however of a good cause; and makes objections to the Pagans, which they might easily have retorted upon Chriftianity, and particularly upon Judaism. He reminds me of a poor fellow, who was put into the Inquifition at Goa. The Inquifitor faid to him, "Sirrah, thou art a Jew, and a worshipper of Mofes."-" Not I, indeed, my lord, faid he. I worship Mofes! I hold him to be an impoftor" "This may be an honest fellow," faid the Inquifitor. Lib. Lib. IV. Page 143. Quis Spartanum [prodidit] fuiffe Martem? Non Epicharmus auctor vefter? Quis in Thraciæ finibus procreatum? Non Sophocles, Atticus, cunctis confentientibus Theatris? Quis menfibus in Arcadiâ tribus et decem vinctum ?-Non Mela fluminis filius ? I correct it thus :-Theatris? Quis in Arcadia ?-Non vos ? Quis menfibus tribus et decem vincè tum ?-Non Melæ fluminis filius ?— Arnobius takes this from Clemens Alexandrinus, whom he perpetually pillages; and who says, Ο αλλοπρόσαλλο τις, καὶ ἀνάρσιος, ὡς μὲν Ἐπίχαρμος Φησί, Σπαρτιάτης ἦν; Σοφοκλῆς δὲ Θρᾶκα διδεν αυτόν. ἀλλοὶ δὲ Ἀρκάδα. Τῆλον δὲ Ὅμηρος δεδέσθαι φησὶν ἐπὶ μῆνας τρισε καίδεκα. Tañ pèv "Apns-x. 1. Pho "Mars, according to Epicharmus, was a Spartan; according to Sophocles, a Thracian: as others fay, an Arcadian: and, as Homer informs us, he was tied neck and heels together for thirteen months." * A like paffage, with little variation, is found in the 2d Vol. of our Author's Remarks on Ecclef. Hift. Book II. Part II. Page $4. AUSONIUS. AUSONIUS. De XII. CESARUM mortibus. Julius interiit Cæfar, graffante Senatu, De Cæfare muft needs be wrong; for they were all Cæfares, and here is nothing to distinguish this emperor. It should be, Expetiit panas de Caio Charea mollis. ECLOGARIUM. De Menfibus, &c. Eternos menfes, et Tempora quatuor Anni, I correct it, Duodenos menfes, &c. The emendation looks like a bold one; but I dare fay it is a true one. So Parentalia, XXIV. 16. Duodeviginti functus Olympiadas. The two first fyllables are contracted into one, BRIXIUS. |