The Young-students-library containing extracts and abridgments of the most valuable books printed in England, and in the forreign journals, from the year sixty five, to this time : to which is added a new essay upon all sorts of learning ... / by the Athenian Society ; also, a large alphabetical table, comprehending the contents of this volume, and of all the Athenian Mercuries and supplements, etc., printed in the year 1691.

The Works of P. Virgilius Maro, Il∣lustrated with the Interpretation and Notes of Charles Ruaeus, of the Society of Iesus, by the Command of the most Christian King, for the use of the Dauphin, according to the Edition of Paris. London 1679. in 8vo. p. 610.

THis Edition of Virgil is not less fine for its being one of the first Books, which were Printed in England in the same form as the Authors printed it in Holland, cum Notis Variorum. And it may be said, that no Authors have been better printed in France, than this; and its hoped that divers more will be printed in the same manner. There is at the end an Idea of all the Words, which may almost serve as well as that of Erythraens, provided it is correct, which is pretty difficult in so great a number of errors. As for the Text, it lacketh much of being so correct, as it is well printed, which happens undoubtedly in that the Book∣sellers have not made Proofs enough thereof to be revised, as it also happen∣eth in Holland, but too often.

All the World knoweth what the method of those is, who have comment∣ed upon Poets for the Dauphin. Father de la Rue complains justly, that the Learned, who had laboured until now upon the Ancients, applyed themselves more to acquire Reputation in making long unnecessary digressions on the Au∣thors, which they commented upon, than to make young folks comprehend well the sense thereof. He might besides have said, that it's easier to play the Learned Man, in putting off his collecti∣ons upon the occasion of one word, which is not more clear thereby, than to fol∣low the Author step by step, and to leave no obscurity in his Expressions and Thoughts, as those who have studied for the Dauphin, have endeavoured to do. This last Design is equally advantageous for those who begin to read the Writings of the Ancients, or who hardly under∣stand them; and painful for those who undertake to remove all the difficulties which are found therein. This is what ought to oblige the Publick, or to ex∣cuse the faults which may be remarked in Interpretations, otherwise so exact and agreeable to the Author.

Notwithstanding a part of what we have proposed to our selves, in this Work, consisting in making known the Opinions of the Publick, or even of Par∣ticular People, upon Books which are Publisht, as well as to tell what they contain, it will not be amiss to remark here what the Publick finds fault with, in some of the Authors which are for the use of the Dauphin. The Reader may observe if he pleaseth, that we only re∣late here what we often heard said of di∣vers able Persons in such things, and not our particular Opinions. It cannot be denyed that it is not a thing which Essen∣tially belongeth to the History of Books, to tell what the Learned have thought thereof, as soon as they were made Pub∣lick. And as an Historian ought not to have the boldness to relate any false∣hood, so there is no Truth but what he ought to speak of, he ought to flatter no Body, nor testifie hatred against any whosoever. * 1.1 Quis nescit primam esse Hi∣toriae legem, nequid falsi dicere audeat; deinden••quid veri non audeat; ne∣qua suspicio gratiae sit in scribendo, nequa simultatis. We were obliged to make this small Digression, fearing it should be thought that we have forgotten our Promise, which we made three years ago, of not judging of the Works where∣of we should make mention.

Some Persons who have carefully ap∣plyed themselves to the Study of Huma∣nity, find, two things to be reprehended in several Authors in Question. The First is, that in the Paraphrase they have not only applyed themselves to Para∣phrase the Original by an equal Num∣ber of Words, but also have for the most part retained certain Metaphorical Terms, which helpeth on with the ob∣scurity of the Authors Style. They have even been contended to put the Terms of the Original, according the Order of Construction without expounding them in the Notes, tho' they were not clear. It would therefore be a thing de∣sirable that they had so scrupulously ap∣plyed themselves to the number of Words. 1. Because it is impossible to speak plainer than the Author, without adding some Terms. For Example, Vir∣gil saith in his IV. Eclogue, Ultima Cumaei venit jam Carminis aetas; word for word, The last Age of the Camae'an Verses is come. F. De la Rue Traslates, Nunc attigimus extremum saeculum vaticinij Cumaea Sybil∣lae. Those who begin to read Virgil may believe that this Signifies, that we shall soon cease to respect the Verses of the Sy∣bil of Cumes, and that they are going to be buried in Oblivion; or some such thing. He should have said, Attigimus extremam aetatem Mundi à Sybilla Cumaea decanta∣tam, we are come to the last Age of the World, so call'd by the Sybill of Cumes. 2. What availeth it to Paraphrase Idle Epithets, chiefly when they are clear, as when they Paraphrase Cast a Lucina, by pudica Diana? There hath never been an impudica Diana, and this Epithet doth but render the Prose flat and affected; for it's known that Poets have Priviledges which Orators have not. 3. In keeping a Metaphor in the Paraphrase, they speak as obscurely as the Author. Virgil had said, Si canimus Sylvas, Sylvae sint Consule dignae; if we Sing, we Sing coun∣try

Songs, let them be so fine as that a Consul may not Scorn to hear them. F. de la Rue saith, Si cantamus Sylvas Sylvae deceant Consulem. It's true, he expounds in his Note Sylva by Country Song, but if he had put it in his Paraphrase, that would have spared him a Note; and the Terms of deceant Consulem are at least as obscure as those of the Original. There∣fore it may be that it had been better to render the Metaphors into simple words, that the Young Folks should Learn the Figured Style, and that which is not so.

Besides this manner of Reckoning words hath produced another obscurity, which is not of a less consequence; which is, that when the Author hath put no Particle to remark the Connection of his Discourse, none hath been put likewise by the Commentator, which makes those who want Notes to understand it, not understand the Sequel, and think they read a fiddle faddle. Virgil thus begins to his IV. Eclogue.

Sicelides Musae paulò majora canamus, Non omnes arbusta juvant humilesque myricae. Si canimus Sylvas Sylvae sint Consule dig∣nae.

We do not immediately see what Con∣nection this Third Verse can have with the Preceeding, beause there is a Con∣junction missing, which F. de la Rue hath also omitted in his Paraphrase. There∣fore this Conjunction should have been joyned in this wise. O ye Muses of Sicilia (or Bucolicks) let us sing Subjects a little more elevate, for every one is not taken with Verses, which treat of Shrubs and Brambles (or such as speak of Country Subjects) Or if we Sing Country Airs, let 'em be so fine, &c. the Particle Vel or Aut omitted at the beginning of the Third Verse causes here an obscurity which hath so much troubled the greatest part of Interpre∣ters.

These faults which are found every where in many Authors who have taken pains for the Dauphin, without doubt lessens the great profit that Youth might draw from thence. But he says, that besides these defects which regard the Method, there's a great many places wherein these Gentlemen have not gi∣ven the true sense of the Original. There are some who believe that we shou'd not speak Latin if we said, Magnus Saeculorum ordo, Magni Menses, in the same sense as we say, Alexander Magnus, Pompeius Magnus. However thus it is that Father la Rue explains the Epithet Magnus, in the Verses of Virgil, from whence the words that we have cited are taken. He says also, that the word adeo, in the 11th. Verses of the same Eclogue, does not signify porrò, as F. la Rue believes, but Yes: So that Virgil after having said that the Golden Age is about to come, and after having used Seven Verses upon that, he wou'd continue thus, Yes, Pollio it shall be under your Consulship, that this Child, the Honour of our Age, shall have its Birth, &c. F. de la Rue, by Decus hoc aevi under∣stands the Golden Age, since he under∣stands it Gloria haec aetatum inchoabitur; whereas it is generally believed aevi decus, can signify only the Honour of our Age.

However, whether it be so or no, there has been diversity of Opinions upon these sorts of things; and a Person must be so very well Verst in ancient Authors, to distinguish who is in the Right, that few Men are capable Judges in this affair. But here's another thing which depends upon good sense, and not barely upon the study of the Latin Tongue, which is to be observ'd, viz. to mark frequently where the Ancients have varied from certain Rules▪ which being founded upon Reason ought to be reviewed in all Ages. For, in fine, as it wou'd be foolish to despise these Admirable Models of Anti∣quity, so we ought on the other hand to avoid falling into an over-respect to them, or approving of their oversights: The finest Wits sometimes mistake and commit Errors, which Persons inferior to them can observe: 'Tis not amiss to preserve this same natural Liberty, which the Ancients themselves have used with so great a freedom, which consists in blaming what is blameable, and praising what is paise worthy. On the contrary, the greatest part of our Learned Men at this day, can't forbear boasting of Anti∣quity, nor suffer the least thing to be exa∣mined, as if a Fault, and an Ancient Poet or Historian were incompatible. Ne∣vertheless this is to spoil the Judgment of Youth, and to accustom them to Ad∣mire every thing, without judging any thing; and this General Observation is also more dangerous than some Judgments that are a little freer; for Nature has given us a Right, to determine after a solid examination. There's also another Preamble which we shou'd be very wil∣ling to pass over, but that the Humour of our Criticks has made it necessary to be observ'd.

To give an Example of an Error, for we must call it by its right Name, Virgil ought to be reprehended; we shall relate some Verses of a Discourse which Iupiter is made to speak with Venus the Mother of Aeneas, in the First Book of his Aeneids. Iupiter there informs his Daughter what was to be the Destiny of Virgil and his Posterity. After having spoken of him he comes to his Ascanius, and speaks thus to Venus,

At puer Ascanius, cui nunc Cognomen Iülo. Additur, Ilus erat, dum res stetit Ilia regno.

But this little Ascanius who is now Sir∣nam'd Iulus, and who was called Ilus,

whilst the Kingdom of Troy stood.

This Reflection upon the Name of Asca∣nius, is insupportable in the Mouth of Iupiter, speaking to the Grandmother of this Child, and in a Discourse so serious as his; if the Poet wou'd have made As∣canius known, he ought to have inserted that in his Narration, and not to have made Iupiter spoke of it, nor even to in∣sert it by a Parenthesis in so fine an Ha∣rangue. One might perhaps say, for the Excuse of Virgil, that the NUNC shews that this was not the Poet that spoke. He seems to have imitated Homer, who to instruct his Readers in the Customs of the Gods, introduc'd Iupiter speaking to Thetis, as if she knew not more than Mor∣tals, that what he consents to by nodding with his Head, is irrevocable▪ Iliad. A. V. 525 .

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cicer. l. 1. de Orat.