PREFACE.

THE expediency of undertaking the present work, was suggested by a recent alteration in the course of classical study pursued in the University of Dublin. Accordingly, the plays appointed for undergraduates, who aspire to honors, have been omitted, and the character of the annotations has been adapted to the wants of those, who are not sufficiently advanced, to appreciate the niceties of critical research, or are preparing to enter on Collegiate studies. The Editor, however, has attempted to attain this object, rather by adding, what the inexperienced would require, than by omitting what the enquiring and more accomplished student might reasonably expect. No pains have been spared, by him, in selecting from the best editions, whatever appeared useful in explaining or illustrating the sense and allusions of the Author; whilst he has himself added such remarks, as appeared calculated to guide the taste, remove obscurity, or familiarize the idioms of the language.

The text of Zeunius has been generally adhered to, except in those places where the metre seemed to require a change. Here the readings of Bentley or of Hare have been substituted, conjectural lections, however, having been, in all cases, excluded.

In the Scansion, the Editor trusts, that the facilities which he has afforded, will be acceptable to the student. Notification of the changes of metre throughout is given in the notes, and every instance of comic license is pointed out in the text.

So much the Editor has deemed it requisite to state in explanation of the design and plan of this publication. If he have succeeded in the main objects, which have influenced his labors, he shall not regret the imputation of temerity, which he may, possibly, have incurred. The necessity for such a work may justify his pleading in behalf of deficiencies, to those who may be disposed to condemn,-πλὴν ἴσως οὐχ οὕτως αἰτιᾶσθαι τῶν ἐκλελειμμένων, ὡς αὐτῆς τῆς ἐπινοίας καὶ σπουδῆς ἄξιον ἐπαινεῖν.

On the typographical accuracy, the utmost care has been bestowed. For the few errors which may have escaped detection, the Editor claims the indulgence, which his remoteness from the press, may warrant the reader to extend. In justice to the printers, however, he should state, that the effects of this inconvenience were considerably diminished, by the correctness with which they executed the work.

DUBLIN, 35, UPPER BAGGOT STREET.

January, 1836.

EXPLANATION

OF

SIGNS, ABBREVIATIONS, &c.

IN THE TEXT.

I. A consonant, or the first vowel of a word (if there be no consonant) being printed in Italic character, indicates that the word is a syllable less in scansion than in ordinary pronunciation. Thus :—grandiuscula; introire; eorum ; ait and ea, are respectively,—a tetrasyllabic; a trisyllabic; a dissyllabic; monosyllabics.

II. A vowel (in a word which has a consonant) being printed in the Italic character, indicates that it is to be shortened, though long by authority or prosody. Thus-satis pericli, i. e. satís pericli; uxorem, i. e. uxorem.

III. A final letter, before a vowel, being a small capital, indicates that it is not to be elided. Thus:-dum id, i. e. dăm id; se ames, i. e. se ames.

IV. Where u is printed v, it is to be pronounced, in scansion, w; as "tvum" for "tuum."

V. Nihil and mihi, when monosyllables in scansion, are printed, nil and mi.

IN THE NOTES,

1. When a metre is mentioned, it is to be considered as acatalectic, unless it be otherwise specified.

2. When a reference is given in mere figures, the play in which the note occurs, is intended.

3. The annotations of the Editor are distinguished by having the sign (¶) prefixed. The first two sheets had passed into type, before this sign was

adopted.

are: the IAMBIC, TROCHAIC, BACCHIAC, and CRETIC; the latter two being generally classed under the common name Pæonic.

[A verse is called acatalectic, when neither redundant nor deficient by an odd syllable, or part of a foot;-catalectic, when it is deficient in that way;-hypercatalectic, when it is redundant in that way;-brachycatalectic, when deficient by an entire foot.]

IAMBICS.

The feet admissible are, the spondee (--), dactyl (-~~), anapæst (~~-), tribrach (~~~), proceleusmatic (~~~~), and iambus (-). Any of these may occur in any place, with these restrictions: that in an acatalectic verse, an