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such scholars, as may "challenge the world to do them reverence."

Hitherto there has been a great deficiency in the means of agreeable as well as profitable study of the classics. Not a few of those who have had the most ardent desires of distinction as linguists, have found themselves embarrassed by very disheartening difficulties. They have felt that their task was somewhat like that of the Israelites, under the Pharaoh that knew not Joseph. They have had but a moiety at best of the requisite materials and tools. Lexicons and grammars they have had, and, perhaps, a classical dictionary. But these have been extremely defective. Every page of a classical author suggests inquiries, which neither the lexicon, nor the grammar, nor the classical dictionary, would enable us to resolve. No other sources of light may have been at command; and the student has groped in " darkness visible."

It is with much pleasure that we have observed some recent attempts to supply these deficiencies. We have now better editions of the classics for text-books, and better lexicons and grammars. Various works might be named, which are worthy of much praise. But we are not acquainted with any work, as yet offered to the public, more entitled to a liberal and grateful patronage than Prof. Fiske's edition of Eschenburg's Manual of Classical Literature.

In July last, a notice of the Manual, was published in the Repository. We had not anticipated a second edition so early. But the work has such claims upon the attention of all who are interested in the study of the classics and of ancient history, that we do not marvel that the first edition was so soon exhausted.

We cannot doubt that this work will be more and more in demand, just as far as its merits shall be known. And that we may give it greater publicity, we would again notice it in these pages.

The Manual of Classical Literature, as it comes to us, is not a mere translation, nor a translation with occasional notes. The labor of translating the original text, must have employed but a small part of the time, which has been expended in its preparation for the American public.

"As to the translation itself," says Prof. Fiske, "my aim has been throughout to express the author's meaning with strict fidelity; but in doing this I have endeavored to avoid the long periods and involved arrangement of words and clauses, for which the German

language is of known celebrity; I have almost uniformly employed shorter sentences, and have sometimes departed very much from the phraseology of the original.—The alterations are not many; in some instances I have omitted a clause or sentence, and in a few a whole section or paragraph, without any notice to the reader; in a few cases also I have altered the arrangement of the sections. Otherwise, wherever I have not presented the author entire and unaltered, a distinct intimation of some change by the translator is given to the reader, by one of the marks which will be explained below. The additions are very considerable; and whatever may be their pertinency or their value, they certainly have cost some labor. In making them, I have endeavored to keep constantly in mind the grand design of the work, and to render it more complete in the respects, which, as has been before remarked, constitute its peculiarity, distinguishing it from every other work on these subjects in our language. The additions may generally be distinguished from the original, either by the size of the type, or by particular marks; as will be described under the Explanations below. It will be seen, that large additions have been made in the portion relating to the Greek Literature and Authors; it was my intention to make similar additions to the View of the Roman Authors; but the design was renounced for the reasons stated in the Advertisement on page 290. I regretted, on receiving Mr. Cruse's Translation, to find that it did not include the notices of editions and illustrative works mentioned by Eschenburg; and should the present effort meet with approbation, it is my purpose to prepare for separate publication something more complete on the Roman Literature. I flatter myself, that the condensed view of the sacred writings and the writings of the early Christians, as found in the Greek language, will be considered a useful addition. The whole of Part V. is also added by the translator, as explained on page 572; only it ought to be further remarked, that a few paragraphs pertaining to the remains of Athens and Rome, placed under Antiquities by Eschenburg and omitted in the translation, are introduced, with alterations, in this part under the Topography of those cities."-Preface, pp. 6, 7, 1st ed.

It will be seen from the foregoing extract, that the work is divided into five parts. These are, 1. Archaeology of Literature and Art; 2. History of Ancient Literature, Greek and Roman; 3. Mythology of the Greeks and Romans; 4. Greek and Roman Antiquities; 5. Classical Geography and Chronology. It is obvious, that if these subjects are well treated, such a work is just what has been long and urgently needed.

A very cursory inspection of the Index of Subjects, or of the volume itself, is sufficient to convince any intelligent mind, that a vast amount of useful information may here be found. Upon

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some topics, we might wish to have more minuteness of detail but, in general, there is much more of matter, well digested and happily expressed, than we could reasonably require in a TextBook, necessarily so comprehensive. The references are so numerous, that it is very easy to pursue investigations upon any subject and to any desirable extent. In a word, the plan of the work is so complete and the execution so successful, that in a very few minutes we may solve inquiries, which, without this resource, would consume whole days and, perhaps, weeks, although we might have access to our best libraries.

Since we have examined The Manual of Classical Literature, we have thought of the feelings of James Otis, upon the publication of Blackstone's Commentaries. His enthusiasm of admiration was repeatedly expressed in the strongest language. "Blackstone's Commentaries," said he, " would have saved me seven years' labor, poring over and delving in black letter."

In the second division of the work, we have evidence that professor Fiske has greatly improved upon the labors of Eschenburg. We perceive the Editor's mark at the head of some of the most valuable sections, which are so incorporated into the body of the work, that at first sight they might be attributed to Eschenburg. We refer particularly to the sections, which relate to the Greek Orators, Philosophers and Historians.

Perhaps the labors of professor Fiske cannot be seen to better advantage, than by contrasting the "History of Greek" with that of "Roman Literature." This last is a mere translation by professor Crusé. We regret that professor Fiske has been unable to fulfil his implied promise in respect to this part of the work. But "the unexpectedness of the call" for a new edition, is an ample apology.

We wave minute criticism upon the Manual. We should hardly feel warranted to quote so much at length, as would be necessary to illustrate and verify particular remarks. But we must not omit to say, that while the literary character of the volume is unexceptionable, there is a moral spirit which is peculiarly grateful in a work of this kind. To the American editor we are in this respect also greatly indebted. The Manual of Classical Literature cannot fail to subserve important purposes of moral as well as intellectual improvement.

It is with no ordinary satisfaction, that we can thus freely commend the American edition of Eschenburg's Manual, to the very favorable regards of all, who are interested in the promo

tion of classical learning. The study of the classics is not soon to be abandoned. We shall, from time to time, be annoyed by the clamors of reform "so called, but falsely." Invectives as contemptible as they are contemptuous, must still be expected. But the classics, as recent experience proves, will steadily gain favor with the intelligent and the candid. We cannot do without them, if we would. We must have the Scriptures of the New Testament and the other early records of Christianity, delivered to us in a different tongue; we must be able to dispense with our approved and established nomenclature of science, and with the most common medium of intercourse between the learned of different modern nations; we must cease to have occasion for a critical study of the dominant languages of the European continent; in a word we must have a new line of ancestry, a new being and a new speech, before we are at liberty to begin to question the necessity of the classical studies in a plan of liberal and finished education. Such an education without the aid of the classics is an absolute impossibility.

But how little did the bard of Scio ever imagine the destiny of those numbers in which he sung the wrath of Achilles? How little did the prince of orators anticipate, that the thunders of his Olynthiacs and Philippics would still be rolling and reverberating, two thousand years after the knell of his country's freedom had driven him to self-immolation? Of all that ever stood upon the pinnacles of the glory of Athens or of Rome, no one could have ever conceived that their poets, their historians, their philosophers, and their orators were living for all mankind; that their breathing thoughts and burning words would breathe and burn on throughout all generations; that future millions in other countries and of other tongues would delight to do them. homage; that youth would repair to them for its earliest lessons, manhood for its refined amusements, and old age for an alleviation of its weariness. With unutterable amazement would the oracle have been received, if some Sybil or some Pythian had predicted to any of those ancient worthies, that their perishable manuscripts would survive the ravages of time, and become the text-books of literary institutions, not only in all Europe, but in a New world.

Is it then some traditionary delusion which has infatuated the votaries of letters, and driven them in throngs to sprinkle odors upon the laurels of the classic dead? No, it cannot be. There is no mystery in the case. The men who have been so

much honored, were of "nature's noblemen." They drank deep at the sources of intellectual life and strength. Most of them lived in times of extraordinary excitement, and were animated and nerved by the ennobling influences of civil freedom. Their minds were tasked to the full extent of their capabilities. And with such perfection of art did the master-spirits of classic antiquity mould themselves into "the beautiful forms of universal nature," that they will be admired, so long as any can be found to appreciate the highest order of intellectual workmanship.

From the example and influence of the scholars of the old republics, we of this land may derive lessons of wisdom and duty. They erected enduring monuments of their own and their country's glory. They have long contributed invaluable assistance in the education of the most gifted and the most fortunate of the children of Christendom. And yet they were Pagans! what then ought to be accomplished by the scholars of Christian America-this land the very 66 stones and dust" of which are dear to her sons as they return to her from their wanderings. Here we have the Light of Everlasting Truth. Here we have "glorious liberty." Here every child may take possession of the "keys of knowledge." Truly the lines are fallen to us in pleasant places, and we have a goodly heritage. Every breeze that sweeps over us proclaims some new and splendid trophy in the onward march of national enterprize and aggrandizement. And shall we then have no poetry and eloquence, no history and philosophy, that shall be an immortal memorial of the combined and the concentrated inspirations of freedom, and knowledge and Christianity?

If gratitude is motive, what incitement do we need? If opportunity is obligation, how imperative the voice which summons to exertion? What a country is ours even now? And if heaven shield the palladium of our hopes, what a country it. is soon to be? Our villages and our cities multiply faster than the geographer can dot them upon his map. He who now writes a work, which can claim a seal of approval from the signet of Truth and Goodness and Beauty, may live to hear of blessings upon his name from a thousand American cities and tens of thousands of American villages. Nay more. The ends of the earth may resound his praises.

Let then a holy ardor fire the souls of our educated men. Let them live for the whole world and for all time. Let them

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