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253

PSALMS and Hymns for Carding Land Revenue of the Crown,

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171

81

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Scottish Peerage,
402
REMARKS on the Marquis de
Chaftellux,
43
REMONSTRANCE of the French
Parliament to the King, 320

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tonicam Antiquiorem ex Codicibus

SHORT-HAND. See BLANCHARD. SYMBOLE ad Literaturam Teu-
SILLERY, Marchionefs of, her
Theatre of Education, tranf-
lated,
SINCLAIR on the Scottish Par-

408

T

587

ACTICS. See LANDMANN.
TAMERLANE. See LAN-

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255

TEYLER's Society Prize-Differ-
tations, Vol. VI.

162

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513

Vol. VII. 571

THEATRES, Royal, and Royalty,
Review of the Contest between,
161
very plain State of the

Cafe,

162

THELWALL'S Orlando and Al-
meyda,
161

Poems,

THETFORD, Proceedings at the
Affizes there,

494

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THE

MONTHLY REVIEW,

For JULY, 1787.

ART. I. Ariftotelis de Poeticâ Liber, Textu Gulftoniano; cum Pralectione, Verfione, et Notis Editoris, Gulielmi Cooke, A. M. Coll. Regal. Socii; et in Academia Cantabrigienfi Grace Linguæ Prælectoris. Accedit Elegia Grayiana Græcè. 8vo. 3s. 6d. Cadell. 1785.

O the numberless editions of Ariftotle's Poetics already published, from Robortellus down to Winstanley, Mr. Cooke has thought proper to add that which now comes under our confideration. In an Oration, which he delivered as Greek Profeffor, and which is given by way of Preface to this work, he tells us, that after having read and confulted the feveral commentators on Ariftotle, he was difgufted at finding, that their fentiments on paffages, which were obfcured instead of being explained, were not only different but even repugnant to each other; and that therefore he thought it better to ftudy the original, than interpreters, and to compare Ariftotle fometimes with himfelf, and fometimes with Horace. We approve of this as the best and most effectual way to understand the writings of any author, and Mr. Cooke's edition feems to be the refult of much attention fuccessfully and happily applied to the confideration of the Poetics in their original. His interpretation and notes are not fo prolix as Winftanley's and Goulston's; they are, nevertheless, very clear, diftinct, and expreffive; they are fuch as become an editor of Ariftotle, who above all writers is remarkable for pregnant brevity and PREST conciseness.

We will now proceed to make our remarks on particular paflages, αρξαμενοι κατα φυσιν, πρώτον απο των πρωτων ; and firft for the Preface.

P. i. We with Mr. Cooke had mentioned, among other editors and commentators on the Poetics, the name of IVinftanley. The learned world is much indebted to him for the induftry and accuracy with which his edition was published.

P. v. The Profeffor reprobates the idea that verfification is neceffary to poetry. We agree with him and with Aristotle in thinking that not metre, but fiction, imagination, and imitation, are the very life and foul of poetry; yet, nevertheless, we are of opinion, that metrical poetry is more excellent, because more harmonious and more perfect than poetry without metre. VOL. LXXVII. B

P. vii.

P. vii. The following extract on Homer proves Mr. C. to have fully comprehended the genius of his writings: In rebus autem divinis, et ad deorum cultum pertinentibus, exuit poetam, et Je hiftoricum profitetur; et cùm vitam, mores, ufus, confuetudinefque Jui temporis in lucem profert, tùm res omnes religionefque divinas verè ac fideliter tradit: ut dubium fit, utrum plùs oblectet poeta, quàm doceat hiftoricus.' It has been faid of Pope, that he never underflood Homer: by which, if it be meant that he understood not the genius and fpirit of that poet, it was rightly faid. Pope and all other tranflators or commentators, who have laboured to allegorize the mythological ftories of the Iliad and Odyssey, perceived not that Homer meant to write according to the popular creed of his times, as much as Shakespeare in Macbeth availed himself of the vulgar fuperftition with refpect to witches. Perhaps 100, both Homer and Shakespeare were perfuaded that the popular creed was true.

P. viii. The paflage from Homer concerning Aira and Arn is printed without accents. No objection can reasonably be made to the difufe of accentual marks: but why is not the .whole book printed without accents, for the fake of uniformity ?

P. ix. From that fine paffage juft mentioned, respecting Airar and Arn, Mr. C. takes occafion to digrefs, and endeavours to prove, from various paffages of heathen writers, that the principal doctrines of chriftianity may be traced in the Gentile world. However right or wrong the Profeffor may be in his remarks on this fubject, " Nunc non erat his locus;" for furely a Preface to Ariftotle's Poetics is not the place for investigating the mysteries of revealed religion, and for introducing the following fentences: En! hominis animam ac naturam ex concepto peccato lapfam, inquinatamque, fub Ates perfonâ graphicè admodùm et perbelle a poeta exhibitam! P. ix. Omnes falsa ac depravatâ natura nati fumus, eoque et in morbo et morte collapfi jacemus, cui nihil omnis noftra natura ad medendum fuppeditet. P. xi.’

P. xii. Fanciful and injudicious is the conceit about the word Beepwsis, Quid vult hæc fuepwsis, quæ ab Hefychio exponitur Λίμος, Πενία, ή αγαν Λυπη? Prafat fane ipfa vox facile limam fui explicationem. Unde enim compingitur nifi ex ßu valdè, vehementer, gravitèr, et ẞpwonw comedo, unde homines Sporos, e peccato, atque ipfo peccati genere id nomen nakti. Itaque vox bac Beepuris mala omnia et peccata ex funefto illo vetiti fructus efu guftatuque in humanum genus profeminata complectitur.'

P. xiii. No lefs fantastical is the opinion, that Homer, from mifunderftanding the meaning of Ge, was led to feign the ftory concerning the companions of Ulyffes being deftroyed for having eaten the oxen of the fun.

P. xiv. xvi. xvii. treat of him, Qui rebus humanis ægris atque afflictis remedium afferret, et hominum humanique generis

vicarius

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