The account of the Greek prepositions is very ingenious: but in common use they could not have been employed with that precision which Mr. Jones would intimate. In the following passages, Jix governs both a genitive and an accusative noun, though in both it signifies the end to which the attention is directed: Δια της επιγνώσεως του καλέσαντος ήμας δια δόξης και αρετης, through the knowledge of him who hath called us to glory and virtue-the knowledge of bim being the means, glory and virtue the end, of our calling. As a signifies the end to which the attention is directed, it governs an accusative noun. Δια την ελπίδα την αποκειμένην εν τοις ουρανοις, with a view to the hope- -on account of the hope-which is laid up for you in heaven, Col. i. 5.' Is not the author's remark on John x. 8. an instance of hypercriticism? Our Lord having said, that he was the door, adds John x. 8. in reference to some false guides and impostors then living among his opponents, Παντες, όσοι προ εμου ήλθον, κλέπται εισι και λησαι, all who are come before me (i. e before the door) are thieves and robbers. Observe, he says are, and not na were; which shews he meant some persons then living, and perhaps present, when this parable was delivered. Their appearance as deceivers being already made, the verb Alor is properly put in the past tense.' ivers / Mo-y. Mr. Jones's account of the formation of the perfect tense, and his subsequent inferences, well merit consideration; and we may extend the same remark to his chapter on the Influence of Association on the Greek Language: which section we hope to see enlarged in a subsequent edition. When the author apologizes for typographical errors, and other inadvertencies, which will strike the learned reader, are we to class the translation of Rom. xv. 5. among the latter, and that of a passage from Epictetus at p. 334, 5.? Mr. Jones's method of analyzing the Greek Language is new, and his application of it to the more easy attainment of that tongue is a material improvement. As a book for the use of a tutor in instructing a limited number of pupils, his grammar deserves our recommendation; and were the deficiencies which we have pointed out carefully supplied, it would then, both for the public and the private student, be intitled to a decided preference over others. In the preface, the author states that, should this work meet with a favourable reception, he intends to publish a Grammar of the Latin Language on the same plan; and also a Treatise on Greek Prosody. He moreover intimates that he is employed in collecting materials for a Greek English Lexicon. From the abilities discovered in the production before us, to the consideration of which we have allotted much more space REV. JAN. 1807. than E 1 Do than such elementary works can usually demand, we have formed a high opinion of his qualifications for the plans which he here announces; and we shall look forwards with pleasure to his future publications. W.Re-s. ART. VII. The Penance of Hugo, a Vision on the French Revolution. In the Manner of Dante. In Four Cantos. Written on Occasion of the Death of Nicola Hugo de Basseville, Envoy from the French Republic at Rome, January 14, 1793. Translated from the original Italian of Vicenzo Monti into English Verse. With two additional Cantos, by the Rev. Henry Boyd, A. M. 12mo. pp. 190. 5s. Boards. Longman and Co. IN our notice of Mr. Mathias's Italian Tracts, we adverted I in general terms to the nature and spirit of Monti's Poem, which here appears before us in a separate and augmented form, and in an English dress, and of which it may therefore be proper now to speak more circumstantially. It opens at the moment when the spirit of its hero, (if so he may be called,) on its removal to another world, is seized by a minister of the infernal regions, and very seasonably rescued by a guardian angel. From him, Hugo learns that he is destined to enjoy eternal happiness, but not until his native land has expiated the crimes of the revolution in which he had participated; and in the mean while, he is sentenced to contemplate and deplore the scenes of public guilt and misery which must still be exhibited in his devoted country. With this view, his spirit, conducted by the angel, hovers over Marseilles, while the mob were enjoying the spectacle of a victim offered up on the guillotine. The ghost of the murdered man joins Hugo, and informs him that, in the capacity of public executioner, he had been commanded by the mob to insult the image of Christ, by putting a halter round its neck; that he was condemned to death for refusing to perpetrate this act of sacrilege; and that his soul had found grace. The two spirits embrace, and then separate, Hugo continuing his penitential progress, still escorted by his guide. Blood, gibbets, sacrilege, and desolation every where meet their sight; and at length, they reach Paris on the very morning of the execution of Louis: • In that dread moment to the funeral stage See Rev. N. S. Vol. xlviii. p. 13. With inborn majesty, that spreads an awe Foul regicides and foes of human race. But, with the shadow of his hand, the last And bound him for his fate with cruel haste. And cry'd "O Father, why forsake thy son While Heav'n in thunder gave the fatal sign.' The soul of the injured monarch flies to heaven, and is greeted by a host of Gallic Martyrs. Hugo then pierces through the crowd, and implores forgiveness of his earthly offences. Louis grants his suit, and enjoins him to protect the queen and the dauphin, and to stimulate the powers of Europe, particularly the Pope, to avenge his death.-A band of demons and spectres, in the meantime, crowd around the royal body, to **These beings are supposed to be seen only by the two spirits.' drink the blood, but are driven off by an angel with a fiery sword. This band is led by four regicides, and graced by Voltaire, Diderot, Helvetius, Rousseau, &c. The Jansenists are stationed in the centre; and the Atheists, headed by the author of Le Système de la Nature, bring up the rear. As Basseville was startled on beholding the ghost of Raynal, he is informed that, although that philosopher be still living, his spirit is among the damned, and his body animated by a fiend.Four angels next descend to the nether world to rouse the nations to arms, and are encountered by two airy forms, on the vest of one of whom are figured the principal scenes of the revolution. All Europe prepares for war. Hugo asks how such extensive commotions are to terminate; and the angel very wisely tells him that, if he comes with him, he shall know. Here ends the original poem. In the succeeding cantos, Napoleon holds converse with a demon, in visions of the night, and learns his future destiny from witches. The Vices boil a cauldron, and produce a direful being, y-clept Anancus, or Necessity. The Corsican them proceeds victoriously, abolishes the Directory, and defeats the powers leagued against him.-The supplement, therefore, furnished by the translator, still leaves the story incomplete; and the wandering spirit is dismissed with a vague assurance that truth shall finally prevail over error. Mr. Boyd's conti nuation of the poem likewise manifests less fertility of invention than the original cantos, and has a more pointed reference to the blood-stained career of Napoleon I. than to the destinies of Hugo de Basseville.-The whole performance, indeed, is somewhat sombre and tiresome, and will probably enjoy only an ephemerous existence. Mr. Boyd betrays a decided propensity to dark allegory and solemn numbers: but we could wish that he had exercised his genius and talents on themes of greater magnitude than the murder of a French agent in the streets of Rome. His manner, we may add, appears both more obscure and more paraphrastic than accords with the simple severity of his prototype; while the structure of his measure is by no means calculated to relieve the languor with which we peruse a grave poem on the death of a person, who was neither sufficiently conspicuous nor sufficiently vir tuous to arrest general sympathy. The music and majesty of his lines are frequently marred by inadmissible rhymes: but a few detached stanzas have considerable poetical merit. To this poem is subjoined an imitation of Gray's Descenc of Odin, intitled The Witch of Lapland, supposed to be written after the storm that drove the English fleet from Brest, in January, January, 1803. This minor piece, which possesses claims to praise, begins thus ; UPROSE the fiend of Gaul with speed,. That block our ports and guard the main ; And claim a noble gift from me; Grant me a storm, and name your price, My pupil gives me large supplies." The Witch then asks what will be her reward; and, though the demon proffers a store of human miseries, the inseparable attendants of war and oppression, she will be satisfied with nothing less than the hand of Nelson: "I know the hand, I hate the name," "Alass!" |