APPENDIX, &c. W 7HEN it is confidered, how frequently the life of MILTON has been written, and how numerous the annotations have been, on different parts of his works, it seems strange, that his Greek verfes, which, indeed, are but few, fhould have paffed almost wholly without notice. They have neither been mentioned, as proofs of learning, by his admirers, nor expofed to the ordeal of criticism, by his enemies. Both parties feem to have fhrunk from the subject. To investigate the motives for this filence is not neceffary, and the fearch might poffibly prove fruitless. The present obfervations attempt to fupply the deficiency of former Commentators, whofe ftores of critical knowledge have been lavished, hw Duraxı, merely on the English poetry of Milton. It will, perhaps, be afferted, that the following remarks are frequently too minute. Yet it feems the duty of a commentator, on the Greek productions of a modern, to point out, in general, the sources from which each expreffion flowed, and to defend by collected authorities, what to fome readers may appear incontrovertibly right, as well as to animadvert on paffages, of which the errors will be discovered by those only, who have devoted a large portion of their time and attention to the study of the Ancients. Critical strictures on fuch works should be written to direct the judgement of the less learned, and not merely to confirm the opinions of profound scholars. In thefe Remarks, the reader will find fome objections started, which are to be confidered as relating rather to points of taste, than of authority.-In paffages of which the propriety or impropriety could be decided by appeals to the Ancients, reference has generally been made to Euripides, in preference to all other Writers. It is well known, that he was much studied by Milton, and he is properly termed his favourite poet by Mr. Warton, in his Notes on COмus, ver. 297. Thofe, who have long and justly entertained an high idea of Milton's Greek erudition, on perufing thefe notes, will probably feel disappointed; and may afcribe to fpleen and temerity, what, it is VOL. I. 4 F hoped, hoped, merits at least a milder title.-To Milton's claim of extenfive, and, indeed, wonderful learning, who fhall refuse their suffrage! It requires not our commendation, and may defy our cenfure. If Dr. Johnfon, however, obferves of fome Latin Verfe of Milton, that it is not fecure against a ftern grammarian, what would he have faid, if he had bestowed his time, in examining part of this Greek poetry, with the fame exactnefs of tafte, and with equal accuracy of criticism. If Milton had lived in the prefent age, the neceffity of thefe remarks would, in all probability, have been fuperfeded. His native powers of mind, and his ftudious researches, would have been affifted by the learned labours of Bentley, Hemfterhufius, Valckenaer, Toup, and Ruhnkenius, under whofe aufpices Greek criticifm has flourished, in this century, with a degree of vigour wholly unknown in any period, fince the revival of letters. This Greek verfion, as Dr. Jofeph Warton has juftly observed, Is fuperior to that of Duport. It has more vigour, but is not wholly free from inaccuracies. In verfe 4. the prepofition Εν might have been omitted, as in Homer, Od. H. 59. Γιγαντεσσιν βασίλευεν, V. 5. panos, and v. 12. pwnoas, should have been in the mid dle voice. V. 5. and v. 13. a fhould have the antepenult long, as it is used by Homer. V. 7. and v. 14. Iordan has the penultimate fort in Nonnus's verfion of St. John's Gofpel, i. 23. and in x. 40. where it appears long, Topdanoo fuperfcriptum eft, fays Sylburgius.-The syllable AA is ufed long by Apolinarius, in his tranflation of this pfalm. V. 9. and 16. süтpapepe. This word is fupported by no authority. V. 12. awa darasoa. Ava Doricè for Am has the A long. V. 17. Baidlapas Ti d'ap-As or A' fhould have followed Batolepas. V. 19. μyax xlumione, does not appear intelligible. Should it be μεγάλα κτυπεία ? In the following verfe Τρειεσ had better have been τρομεσ', as πρεσσα precedes. II. Philofophus ad Regem quendam, qui eum ignotum et infontem, inter reos forte captum, infcius damnaverat, TMny eπi davary wopevoμeros, bæc Jubito mifit. Ω ανα, ει άλεσης με τον εννόμον, εδε τιν ανδρων a Life of Milton. Works. Vol. II. p. 92. Δεινον ὅλως δράσαντα, σοφωτάῖον ίσθι καρηνον In this fhort compofition, the ftyle of the Epic Poets is imitated very inaccurately, and is ftrangely blended with that of the Tragic Writers. Verfe 1. ΕΙ ΟΛΕΣΗΣ] Milton ought to have written ει κ' άλεσης. -The fubjunctive oxons, as in Il. A. 559.-and xe must necefíarily be added to , when it is followed by this mood, EI, in the Dramatic Poets, is ufed with the Indicative, and the Optative, but never with the Subjunctive mcod; though it is joined to all the three moods, in Homer. Yet this is not allowed indifferently, nor without diftinction. EI, in the Iliad and Odyssey, when it is joined to an Indicative, ftands fingly, and independent of any other particle, as in Od. ¥. 220. El non, & μ autis-and in a great variety of paffages. EI, with an Optative, is fometimes accompanied by xe, or xev, as 11. Α. 60. ΕΙ ΚΕΝ θανατον γε ΦΥΓΟΙΜΕΝ. Θ. 196. ΕΙ ΚΕ ΛΑΒΟΙ ΜΕΝ. 205. ΕΙ περ γαρ K'E EAOIMEN-and it is alfo used without this adjun&t in Il. Α. 257. ΕΙ σφωϊν ταδε παια ΠΥΘΟΙΑΤΟ. Β. 98. -El tor' aürns EXOIAT.-and in a multitude of other places, by the infertion of which it is not neceffary, that these remarks should be extended. EI, with a Subjunctive mood, is never ufed by Homer, without the addition of x or xv, or its equivalent av. It may not be useless to enumerate and correct the paffages, which, in the prefent copies of the Iliad and Odyffey, feem to militate against these Canons. EI KE, instead of EI, with an INDICATIVE MOOD. Iliad Ψ. 526. Ει δε Κ' ετι προτερῳ ΓΕΝΕΤΟ δρόμος αμφοτεροισι Read ΕΙ δὲ Γ' ετι προτέρω. Odyl. Ζ. 282.—ΕΙ Κ' αυτη περ εποιχομενη ποσιν ΕΥΡΕΝ. Read EI r'aun, or rather sign. Odyff. M. 140. EIKEN AATZEIĘ. -Read anus, which Clarke gives as a various reading, and which he should have admitted into the text. In Odyff. A. 112. he has rightly published: Exe aus Odyf. P. 79. ΕΙ ΚΕΝ εμε μνηστήρες αγήνορες εκ μεγάροισι Λαθρη κλείναντες, πατρωνα παντα ΔΑΣΟΝΤΑΙ. Aaola is mentioned by Clark, in his note, as a various reading. This alteration would remove the error; but EI MEN eue is the true reading, as EI AE xey follows in ver. 82.-To these must not be added Odysf. A. 109. Τας ΕΙ μεν K' ασινέας ΕΑΑΣ, νοτ8 τε μεδηαι, which verfe is repeated in Odyff. M. 137, for EAAZ may be Sub junctive, as well as Indicative. The A is only doubled.-This Er :4 F 2 nefti |