2 Ranæ ubi montes cornutæ pascuntur amaros. Grandævos annis habuit tres insula patres, Jam, sole exorto, fugiebant etheris umbræ, 9. montes pascuntur amaros.] Id est salsos, non sale communi, sed sale amaro sivé cathartico, ut homines et reptilia medicinam pro victu carpere possunt. 12. Grandevos annis.] Alii legunt "Grandevos peccatia;" constructio fædissima, quæ pariter a versu et sensu omnino abhorret. 20. Dea.] Sive Furiæ, sive Parcæ, sive fortasse' Camænæ. 26. Adstabat patera.] Patera vocata est, quia patet. De natura et forma hujus vasis crebra fuit disputatio. Scaliger vas muletrale fuisse censet, quod ansam habet; interpretatio nequissima, et damnatione æterna dignissima; quis enim igno rat mulctrale ligneum esse, et igitur neque terrenum, neque figuli opus. Melius existimat vir doct. et spectat. Titus Me Fungus naviculam indicatam esse, Anglice a gun boat, nautas autem non magos, sed philosophos fuisse. Mihi vero, re cura ingenti examinatâ, denique statutum est, nihil aliud vasis ab auctore indicari, quam vas necessarium, apud Græcos aúravov, apud Gal los autem pot de chambre nominatum. Hoc enim et terrenum est, et ansam habet, qui gubernaculum affigi facillimè possit. 33. Sed pontum savis, '.] Grande fuit inceptum Magorum, et cui nullius alii comparari potest. Quomodo enim sunt Hector trucidatus, Latium perdømitum, aut vellus ovis surreptum, cum mari exusto, comparanda. 38. Depanautis.] A divas patera vel poculum, et vauras nauta; quia in paterá navigabant. Sunt qui legunt "Casanautis," et sonum propter, et derivationem Cernere erat tres ventres vastos, maxime obesos, Sulcum per mare longum dat spumantibus undis, Quem circum glomerantur aves pictæ æthere pennis, 40 4.5 50 55 60 65 47. aves picta.] Non striges neque vespertiliones, sicut D. Razor pravè censet, sed aves pelagici apud nautas "Mother Gary's chickens." 50 Latificos liquores.] De genere liquoris, quem bibit Neptunus, graves apud interpretes fuerunt lites. Non possumus cum Mundungo aquam salsam, neque cum aliis nectar existimare. Sine dubio mixtura quædam spirituosa fuit, ling. Yank. "gin sling," vel forsan" black strap.” 51. pulcherrima virgo] Objectat vir acutus David Razor Amphitriten, quæ con jux erat Neptuni, virginem esse non potuisse. Huic respondetur non solum puellam innuptam, sed nuptam atque etiam impudicam, virginem vocatam esse. Virgil 6. Ec. 47, et 52. Ovid Ep. 6, 133. 54. Et pontum sævis, .] Spectaculum grande et stupefaciens. Sed interrogat vir acerrimus D. Razor, Quomodo potest aqua maris comburi ? An nescit ille inep tus Vulcanum olim Xanthum fluvium flammis suis incendisse ? Nil miri est oceanum a magis, quibus nihil impossibile, inflammatum esse. 58. Martem.] Bellum, a mare, quia Mars maris non deus est. Alii faciurt a Mágmmanus, quia Mars manus habet. 68. Neptuni calcibus actum.] Incertum est, an calces Neptuni saxum contactu sno accelerabant, an per intermedium Tritonis posteriorum. Scinditur in medio, concussu fracta cum acri, ac Fragmenta et patera, et nautas disperdit in alto. 70 More 70. Scinditur &c.] Mirabilis est hujus versus congruentia sonum inter et sensum; legendum notet lector, Scinditur in medio concussu fracta cum a crack. vetustiorum syllaba cum brevis manet, non per ecthlipsin exscinditur. 73. Carminibusque porta.] "If the bowl had been stronger, My song had been longer." SELECTED. EXTRACTS FROM MARMION, A TALE OF FLODDEN FIELD. The Battle is described," says an English reviewer," as it appeared to the two squires of Lord Marmion, who were left on an eminence in the rear as the guard of Lady Clare: And certainly, of all the poetical battles which have been fought from the days of Homer to those of Mr. Southey, there is none, in our opinion, at all comparable, for interest and animation,—for breadth of drawing, and magnificence of effect,-with this of Mr. Scott's. The Scottish urmy set fire to its camp on the brow of the bill, and rusbed down to the attack, under cover of the smoke of the conflagration." VOLUMED and vast, and rolling far, At times a stifled hum, Told England from his mountain-throne Long looked the anxious squires; their eye At length the freshening western blast But nought distinct they see: 3 E Amidst the scene of tumult, high With Huntley, and with Home. Far on the left, unseen the while, 'Twas vain. But Fortune, on the right, With fickle smile, cheered Scotland's THE BOSTON REVIEW. FOR AUGUST, 1808. Librum tuum legi & quam diligentissime potui annotavi, quæ commutanda, quæ eximenda, arbitrarer. Nam ego dicere verum assuevi. Neque ulli paticntius reprebenduntur, quam qui maxime laudari merentur. PLIN. ART. 13. The Life of George Washington, commander in chief of the American forces, during the war which established the independence of his country, and first president of the United States. Compiled under the inspection of the honourable Bushrod Washington, from original papers bequeathed to him by his deceased relative, and now in possession of the author. To which is prefixed an introduction, containing a compendious view of the colonies planted by the English on the continent of North America, from their settlement to the commencement of that war, which terminated in their independence. By John Marshall Philadelphia, printed and published by C. P. Wayne. Vol. I, 1804, Vol. II, Wayne. Vol. I, 1804, Vol. II, 1804, Vol. III, 1804, Vol. IV, 1805, Vol. V, 1807. [Concluded.] We cannot easily conceive of a more difficult task, than that of Judge Marshall in writing the history of the political administration of Washington. To be the first to narrate the circumstances, which at tended the entire organization and early administration of the government of a great empire, events, at once so numerous, complicated and important, would ur der the happiest auspices be sufficiently arduous. the principal agents in these events But when we recollect, that most of are still alive; that the spirit of now convulses our party, which country, had its origin within the period which he describes; that the fires, which our dissensions then kindled, are still glowing, without even the covering of deceitful ashes; when we consider also the share, which Judge Marshall himself took in the events which he relates, and the peculiar delicacy, which his official station imposes, we must acknowledge, that to no writer could it ever be more truly said: Periculos plenum opus aleæ We commence our examination of the last division of his work with congratulating him on his success. It certainly implies a high and uncommon degree of accuracy, fairness and courtesy, that no publick con futation has been attempted of any of his principal facts. Although his work has now been so long before the world, and although it certainly contains many statements, which, if left uncontradicted, will materially affect the opinion, which posterity will form of some of our most distinguished characters, we have not heard of a single denial of his fidelity, or even an impeachment of his candour and politeness. In this respect, we almost venture to pronounce his work an unique in the annals of political history. Yet we are far from thinking,that by the exercise of this philosophical coolness and impartiality Judge. Marshall has consulted his present reputation, however great may be the honours, with which posterity may crown him. We are all so full of agitation and effervescence on political topicks,that a man, who keeps his temper,can hardly gain a hearing. We have been so long accustomed to strong potations of ardent spirits, that our mouths have become too indurated to relish the soft and mellow flavour of our author's Burgun. dy. Besides, it is not to be denied, that the restraints, which he has imposed on himself,have somewhat impeded the freedom and vigour of his disquisitions, and prevented him from marking his views of the characters and motives of his political opponents with that bold and well defined outline, and that strength and glow of colouring, of which we believe him capable. He seems to write more in the spirit of a spectator of our political gladiators, who has watched attentively and coolly the different motions of the combatants, than of one, who has himself descended into the arena, appeared Byg, and is yet red with the wounds which he gave, and smarting with those which his en But, emies inflicted in return. though the effect of this moderation has been to prevent his work from becoming what, in the language of the trade,is called a very taking book, we confess, the mode he has adopted has our entire approbation. We should probably have read a book, in which he had unfolded his feelings and views of political characters and events without reserve, with greater interest; but, when we should have remembered, that its author was at the head of the jurisprudence of his country, we should have felt, that he had degraded his dignity by becoming the advocate of a party. There is a sanctity in the character of the chief dispenser of justice, which we should have been sorry to have seen violated by the indulgence of bitterness of feeling,however well applied, or vehemence of invective, however justly directed. We do not mean by all this,that there is any want of decision in Judge Marshall's mode of narration. His opinions are every where perfectly visible but then they are usually left to be collected by the deduction of the reader, and are seldom formally stated and defended. The mode, which he has adopted, is generally that of strict narration; and always, when possible, he has preserved the language of the actors themselves. He has given an abstract of some of the most interesting debates in Con gress, and though, like Dr. Johnson, he has taken care " never to let the Whig dogs have the best of it," it may perhaps seem to have arisen from the intrinsick weakness of their arguments, more than from any want of fairness in stating them. In point of fact, indeed,we think it is the most invulnerable book we ever read. We cannot name one of equal importance, which an enemy |