departments of France in favour of the Revolution, of the retreat of the despot and the welcome of the citizen king. Our purpose was only to glance over the events of the three days-the ever memorable and glorious days. Be one reflection allowed to us. Aristocratic virtues have been lauded to very weariness, but here we demand some admiration for the virtues of the people. Let him who henceforward shall dare to speak of "the mob," of the many, with insult, scorn or contumely, prepare himself with some page out of the chronicles of the "higher orders," of the few, which shall bear a comparison with that which records the deeds of the people of Paris. The people, the people, it was the people that did all. They had neither leaders, nor plans, nor organization; nothing but their own noble qualities, and it may be doubted if leaders, plans, and organization would have led to so prompt, so perfect a triumph. Each man acted as if the cause of his country were committed to his individual care. The suggestions of wisdom, from whatever lips they fell, became the rule of conduct; intelligence alone was by common accord elevated to the posts of command, and all the enthusiasm of the universal heroism grouped around it. Discipline and order grew out of seeming chaos. Every irregularity was instantly suppressed, every crime was promptly punished. When all the representatives of authority were scattered, safety and regularity and justice were secured by the Police of the people. They rose for no purpose of plunder, from no love of outrage. They thought more of their country than of themselves. They did their great and sublime deed, and they returned to their daily labours. In truth, we are entering upon a new era, and there is much to ponder on, both for oppressors and oppressed. ART. XV.-The Edipus Coloneus; chiefly according to the Text of Brunck, &c, By the Rev. J. Brasse, late Fellow of Trinity Coll., Cambridge. London. Baldwin and Co. 1830. THI HIS little book forms one of the series entitled "School and College Greek Classics, with English Notes, &c." Before we make a few remarks on the execution of this part of the series, it will be useful to premise some observations on the general plan and design of the publication. Nothing is more wanted in schools and colleges than cheap and portable editions of classical authors, or those parts of them that are used in college lecture-rooms: a text carefully established on the best MS. readings, with notice of conjectural emendations, whenever they are introduced, is nearly all that is wanted. An Index of Proper Names is a useful addition. With an honest and diligent instructor to guide him, and to make suitable comments on all passages that require it, a student will proceed in his pur suits with zeal and confidence; nor will he look for the assistance of cumbrous and expensive editions which, under the present trading system of schools, are more profitable to the master (the intermediate vender) than to the pupil, or any body else. For those who are self-instructors, short notes, chiefly expla natory, are useful and perhaps necessary; and we contend that to write them in any other language than English is a gross absur dity. This specimen of the School and College Classics" has short notes, chiefly of the explanatory kind, and in English: so far it merits approval. But on the score of cheapness we must enter our protest: a small octavo of a hundred and twelve pages, consisting mainly of a reprint of what can can be procured without expense, and accompanied by notes, which certainly could not bring a high market-price, is offered for the moderate price of 5s. Should the learned editor present us with the seven plays of Sophocles at 5s. each, the sum total will be 17. 15s., which, considering the mode in which the thing is got up, is not cheap, but very dear. But the principle by which a high price is asked for a work is well known to the Bungay publishers, and others of the same stamp; a man will buy eternally their separate numbers without being wise enough to see that he is thus paying a higher price than he ought. It must be on this principle, and no other, that a book is sold for 5s., which, if it suc ceed in getting a reasonable sale, would pay well at the price of 3s. 6d. The edition of the Edipus Coloneus, by Dr. Brasse, is not a book that is useful for a scholar, because the editor does not always give the MS. variations where they are important, and, in some instances, the emendations of Brunck, or others, stand in the text without any intimation being given. For example, line 364, instead of pic, the MS. reading, we find pws, the conjecture of Tyrrwhitt, followed by Brunck, and others; there is a note on the verse, but no notice is taken of the alteration, which may be safely pronounced to be unnecessary, and injurious to the general meaning of the sentence. In another instance where he informs us that Brunck's emendation is preferred to the MS.; we differ in opinion from the editor: line 274, we find in the MS. sira ToÙS JEOVS μoipais (οι μοῖραν) ἡγεῖσθε μηδαμῶς, which is probably slightly corrupted. The remedy of writing polpa is less violent than VOL. XIII.-Westminster Review. 2 K Brunck's emendation, and to substitute pav for μoipais or μoipav is one of those desperate remedies which are worse than the disease: ἐν μοίρῃ ἄγειν is established on the authority of Herod. ii. 172. and tends to protect the usage of μoipa in this passage. It is rather difficult, and, in many instances, impossible to ascertain Dr. Brasse's opinions on particular points or passages; for, instead of giving the desired information, he very frequently refers us to his own Edipus Tyrannus, or to the plays of Drs. Blomfield and Monck. But Dr. Brasse cannot expect a man, who has bought his Edipus Coloneus for the purpose of thoroughly studying it, to procure his Edipus Rex, and his Greek Gradus, and Blomfield's plays, and Monck's Hippolytus, and a dozen other books to which he refers for that information which he ought to have given, and which could be given in few words. In line 1445, the word key Xavo occurs, and here is an excellent opportunity of explaining to the pupil this class of verbs in -avo, but, instead of it, we find a reference 'to Blomfield's Seven against Thebes, and to Monck's Hippolytus; but suppose the student to procure Blomfield's Persæ, full of expectation to know the Bishop's opinion, what does he find? a note that teaches nothing, a quotation from the Etymologicum Magnum, and a reference to Monck's Hippolytus. Again, on referring to the Index, we find this item: verbs in avw, formation of, 1446;" but, on turning there, nothing more is discovered than the two references just mentioned. Verily, our Hellenists seem to be in a league to tax the pockets of all readers of Greek; and long, long ago, have our getters-up of play editions been recommending the books of one another in fulsome notes, with indiscriminate panegyric. Those who have attended to the condition of Greek learning in this country as exhibited in our editions of Greek plays, cannot fail to be struck with the puerile character of many remarks, particularly those which are intended to illustrate the moral or religious notions developed in the Attic dramatists. While we find in some of these editions, as, for example, those of Elmsley, great acuteness in verbal criticism, and excellent philological precepts derived from the usage of the scenic poets; in others, as in this play of Dr. Brasse, we have the most childish remarks, both on the matter and the words. That there are no useful notes in Dr. Brasse's book, cannot be truly said some are good, to which he has attached the names of Elmsley, &c.; others that are good, we suspect not to be his own, because of the numerous trifling remarks which are undoubtedly from his hand. Line 1599, Edipus receives the announce ment of his approaching end: 'krutnoɛ μèv Zeus xlóvios, on which we have this note, "Subterraneous Jupiter, i. e. Pluto, See Blomf. Æ. P. V. 1029." It is not every body that has a copy of the orthodox Prometheus, and we do not know what is its interpretation of the Zeus x0óvios; but the Doctor should have told his pupils that the Zeus x0óvios is a personification of the earthquake, which, if he should ever have the good fortune to feel, he will at once comprehend. Line 1336, Polynices speaks of the triumphant success of his brother, and this gives rise to the following profound remark: "The ridicule of a triumphant enemy seems to have been the bitterest degradation and insult which was calculated upon by the ancients, and worse than death itself. Medea murdered her children, rather than afford herself to be a laughing-stock to her enemies ;" and then comes a crowd of references to prove this doubtful point, which is also important enough to be inserted in the Index. It is difficult to say which is more worthy of admiration, the Doctor's deep insight into human nature, or the correct language in which it is expressed. The curious will find other notes worthy of attention. Dr. Brasse belongs to that school of Greek criticism commonly called the Porsonian, of which Dr. Blomfield may be considered one of the most shining ornaments. The founder of this dynasty, who, we believe, never expected so long a line of successors, was a man of mettle, and of sound learning. We do not think, however, that he directed his attention to the best. parts of his subject. The characteristics of this school in its present decrepitude, are, a disposition to canonize, i. e. make canons, or absolute laws, where, in some cases, certainty is unattainable, and in others, facts are against them; to labour hard to establish minute differences; to compare any given line or word of 'a dramatic writer with every other that has the least resemblance; to neglect the best prose writers: to continue ignorant of the real etymological structure of the Greek language, to which, as far as we can judge, Porson himself had paid little attention. In the notes of Dr. Brasse, we stumble at every step on some old remark, or some puerile explanation, well known to those who have listened to lecture-room prelections, in which sound and talk predominate over sense. Line 397. We have the usage of кparéw explained: "кparéw κρατέω with a genitive, signifies to rule over, or be master of: with an accusative to possess or hold. See Matt. Gr. Gr. S. 338, b." We admit that some slight shade of difference may perhaps be established between the verb with these two cases respectively; but we do not admit that Dr. Brasse's definition contains within it the least notion of difference; nor can we reconcile this note with another line, 648 "кparéw with a gen., expresses a vic tory over; with an accusative, command, rule. See Greek Gradus in V." The Greek Gradus referred to is the work of Dr. Brasse, which together with his Edipus Tyrannus; must be purchased before the student can know his opinions on many passages of the Edipus Coloneus. The Gradus has obtained praise. It would be difficult to prove that it deserved it. Dr. Brasse's faults are those of omission, as well as com÷ mission. Line 1440 we find oov OTEρn, the MS. reading! Brunck unadvisedly changed & into v, but Elmsley de→ fends and maintains the MS. reading, and refers to Edip. Tyran. 1. 198, where the genuine reading is al with the subjunctive, not. The Doctor does not refer us to his Edip. Tyran. though the question, as a matter of Greek philology, is much more important than some which he discusses. Compare Herod. i. 57. Xen. Anab. iii. 2. 22. on the usage of & with the subjunctive. Though Dr. Brasse has published a Greek Gradus, which somebody calls a monument "of taste, learning, and indefatigable industry," we are of opinion, that he knows just as little of Prosody as when he began to compile his book. Line 511, we have this note, "the second syllable of deλaías must be scanned as short on account of the metre." Now, what does this mean "the second syllable must be scanned as short"? It merely presents a difficulty to the student, but does not remove it. One of the most important general facts in the Prosodial System is expounded by the precept of "scanning as short."Where is placed between two vowels, it may be attached in pronunciation to either of them: in the former case, it is one of those liquid sounds, well known in many European languages; in the latter, it still belongs to the same class of sound, and may be fairly represented by our letter y. Thus, then, we may pronounce Salaíaç-deilay-as, or deilă-yas: in the former example we say the second syllable is long; in the latter, it is short: those who have heard Greek pronounced by a native, or who are acquainted with any modern language, besides their own, will understand what is meant. We mean to affirm, then, that wherever is placed between two vowels, it may be attached to the former, and thus make what is technically called a long syllable; or it may be pronounced with the latter vowel. The list of diphthongs in the grammar ought to be increased in accordance with the principle laid down. Line 456 begins ἀλκὴν ποιεῖσθαι where the first syllable of ποιεῖσθαι is |