Erravit pietas. nec culpa nepotibus obstat. NOTES. 820 825 830 840 850 Ver. 850. torva Megara] This expression, and premit and instimulat, are weakened in the translation; but mista fastidia is a harsh expression; as also is a line above, 842, Tu Phryga submittis citharœ.—Warton. If on the sons the parents' crimes descend, O father Phoebus! whether Lycia's coast 820 825 And snowy mountain, thy bright presence boast; 830 And bathe in silver dews thy yellow hair; 835 840 845 850 NOTES. Ver. 829.] Some of the most finished lines he has ever written, down to verse 854.-Warton. Ver. 841. 'Tis thine] Far superior to the original are these four lines; and how mean is the Tityus of Statius, compared with the tremendous picture in Virgil !-Warton. VOL. II. L Jejunum Phlegyam, subter cava saxa jacentem, 855 In Phlegyas' doom thy just revenge appears, He views his food, but dreads, with lifted eye, 855 860 In order to give young readers a just notion of chasteness and simplicity of style, I have seen it of use to let them compare the mild majesty of Virgil and the violent exuberance of Statius, by reading ten lines of each immediately after one another. The motto for the style of the age of Augustus may be the "Simplex munditiis," of Horace; for the age of Domitian and the succeeding ages, the "Cultûque laborat multiplici," of Lucan. After this censure of Statius's manner, it is but justice to add, that in The Thebais there are many strokes of a strong imagination; and indeed the picture of Amphiaraus, swallowed up suddenly by a chasm that opened in the ground, is truly sublime: 66 Illum ingens haurit specus, et transire parantes B. vi. v. 817.-Warton. In this translation there are some excellent passages, particularly those pointed out by Dr. Warton-" O father Phoebus," and the exquisite lines descriptive of Evening, ""Twas now the time," &c.; but some of the most striking images are omitted, some added, and some misunderstood. Let us however confess, that the versification is truly wonderful, considering the age of the author. It would be endless to point out, more particularly, occasional errors and inaccuracies, in a composition which can be considered no otherwise than as an extraordinary specimen of versification, before the writer's judgment and taste were matured.-Bowles. Dr. Warton is of opinion, that no youth of genius should ever be suffered to look into Statius, Lucan, Claudian, or Seneca the Tragedian, lest 148 it should prove injurious to his taste; but there is perhaps a still stronger reason, why young persons should not be permitted the perusal of these and other ancient authors, without great caution, from the unfavourable effect which it is likely to produce on their moral feelings, by the false ideas they tend to inculcate of the first principles of justice, truth, and liberty, and of every thing most important to the interests of society. What must be the result, to an inexperienced mind, to find the ideas of right and wrong utterly confounded; persons pursued by divine vengeance for unintentional offences, and rewarded or excused for the most atrocious crimes? The Gods themselves acting under the influence of the basest and most degrading passions? and the most detestable tyrants exalted above the divinities, as if because they exceeded them in cruelty and injustice? and this too presented to the imagination with all the plausibility, force, and elegance, of which language is capable? It may be possible, that from the study of these authors, a pupil may rise up a more accomplished scholar; but it is not easy to perceive how he can become a better man. That they exhibit the sentiments of a false and impious religion, is admitted; but for that very reason they ought not to precede the inculcation of pure and correct ideas of Christian morality, on the minds of youth. This difficulty would be avoided, if the present mode of education were reversed; if the earlier years of life were devoted to the proper direction and improvement of the moral sense, by those simple, clear, and positive precepts of which youth is so soon sensible; and the acquisition of the ancient languages, and the improvement of the taste were postponed, till the intellectual powers were so far strengthened, as to prevent the possibility of any dangerous result. |