much like this uttered vivâ voce, and, for various good reasons, have found no fault with it; but in print, there is more time to consider the import of such a version. What, then, is meant by "the method and discipline of all arts"? For, to many minds, this language must convey no very definite idea. "Ratio" and "disciplina" are undoubtedly the u&odos and ovoτnua of the Greeks; but in rendering "ratio" when connected with another substantive, as in this case, into English, it is often necessary, in order fully to accommodate the language to our idiom, to vary the phraseology. Cicero says, (De Fin. III. 20,)" Cynicorum autem rationem atque vitam alii cadere in sapientem dicunt," etc. Here, to translate "rationem atque vitam" literally, "the method and life," would be a very imperfect representation of the matter. The corresponding English is, the system of morals" or the " principles of action " peculiar to the Cynics. Ars," in Latin, is of more extensive application, as commonly used, than "art" in English; and the same is true of the Latin "sapientia" compared with the English word "wisdom." "The study of wisdom," is a phrase, as here used, which suggests rather the idea of the "act of studying," than what Cicero intended. We will now attempt a translation of the passage above quoted, which, it is believed, will be found, on comparison, to be a nearer approach to the sense of the original, than that upon which we are commenting. "And since the fundamental principles of all acquirements connected with a virtuous life are contained in that department of knowledge called philosophy, I have thought," &c.

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Cicero himself, in stating his own practice in translating from the Greek, has laid down the law on this subject. "Nec tamen exprimi verbum e verbo necesse erit, ut interpretes indiserti solent, cum sit verbum, quod idem declaret, magis usitatum. Equidem soleo etiam, quod uno Græci, si aliter non possum, idem pluribus verbis exponere." (De Fin. III. 4.) In the few examples of translation from the Greek, which are found in the works of the great Roman scholar, we discover a rigid adherence to his own precepts. One objection, therefore, to the present translation of the Tusculan Questions is, that the English idiom has not been sufficiently consulted; and that, in consequence, passages not unfrequently occur, which are partly or wholly unintelligible without a reference to Latin usage. The sentence commented upon above, is an example of what

we mean.

But parts of this translation are obscure, not only from want of attention to the difference between the Latin and English idioms, but apparently from an imperfect apprehension of the

meaning of the author, or from a very careless use of language. For an illustration, we will not go beyond this same first section. Here, then, we read, "For, as with the Greeks, the most ancient of the learned was the race of poets; at least, if Homer and Hesiod existed prior to the foundation of Rome, and Archilochus during the reign of Romulus. The reception of poetry among us was rather backward; for it was nearly five hundred and ten years," &c. When it is said, "For, as with the Greeks," &c., it would seem, that some comparison is instituted; yet none is apparent in what follows; and the whole extract shows a want of connexion and consecutiveness, which we might venture to say, even without examination, does not belong to Cicero. But we will look at the Latin. "Nam, cum apud Græcos antiquissimum e doctis genus sit poëtarum, siquidem Homerus fuit et Hesiodus ante Romam conditam, Archilochus regnante Romulo; serius poëticam nos accepimus." Which may be thus rendered. "For while among the Greeks, the most ancient class of the learned consisted of the poets, if, indeed, Homer and Hesiod lived before the building of Rome, and Archilochus in the reign of Romulus, poetry among us was received in a later age." The translator, by dividing the sentence, and supposing a period after "Romulo," in the Latin, has perplexed the whole passage, if he has not destroyed its import. These two examples may suffice as specimens, each out of a large number of its kind, of imperfect or erroneous rendering in this version.

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It will be observed, that we have barely entered the work. It may be useful, however, to look at one or two passages further on in the volume; as they furnish errors of a new species, that is, in historical allusions. On the eighty-first page of the translation, in a part answering to the forty-sixth section of the original, we read as follows. Much later still will fame desert Curius, Fabricius, Calatinus, the two Scipios, the two Africans, Maximus, Marcellus, Paullus, Cato, Lælius, innumerable others." The mere English reader might be led, from common use in his language, to understand by the "two Africans," two natives of Africa, and naturally enough ask, who they are. In referring to the Latin text, we find, duo Africanos." But neither of the Scipios, who had the epithet " Africanus" attached to his name, has ever, we believe, been called in English, Scipio "the African," but Scipio "Africanus"; this honorable attributive being left untranslated. In some modern languages, this distinction may not be observed; in English, it is believed to be abundantly established. It may be remarked, that we have here an example of the necessity of some comment, to render the allusions, which abound in these

dialogues, intelligible to all readers. Cicero, in referring to distinguished individuals in the Roman annals, when writing for the use of his own countrymen, would of course adopt the brief designations commonly employed at the time, and universally understood; but which, in another age, and among another people, need some explanation. Thus, though in the Roman story there are many Scipios mentioned, yet the "duo Scipiones were most generally understood to mean the two brothers Publius and Cneus Scipio, whom Cicero calls "duo fulmina nostri imperii," and whose exploits and fall in Spain are recorded by Livy, with surpassing beauty and force of language. The two Scipios, so celebrated for their wars in Africa, were the "duo Africani."

Another historical passage, which we just notice, is on the eighty-fourth page of the translation, and in the forty-seventh section of the first book of the Latin. Here we read in the former place, Cleobis and Biton, the sons of the priestess Argia. In the original for the "priestess Argia," we find "Argia sacerdos," that is, " priestess of Argos; Argia" being a national appellative. The name of this priestess was Cydippa.

We do not care to follow up these strictures, but if more are wanted to maintain the judgment which we have passed upon the book, we promise that they shall be forthcoming in no stinted measure. Should the translator proceed with the work which he has begun, and give to the public other philosophical treatises of Cicero, which it seems he has in hand, he has our best wishes that he may present in future a more favorable sample of American scholarship. In the prosecution of his undertaking, the hints we have given may do him some good; they certainly can do him no harm. We fully coincide in opinion with the illustrious scholar, whose letter appears in the preface to the volume, that "a good American translation of all Cicero's works would be a jewel of great price."

NOTE

TO ARTICLE II. OF THE PRESENT NUMBER.

Since the above article was written, an iron steamboat has been launched at Pittsburg, which, if the accounts of it that have been published are to be relied upon, may mark a new era in the history of steam navigation in the West. The whole of the hull of this boat, including the decks, being of iron, of

course this part of the vessel is incombustible, and great additional security is afforded to the cargo. She is partitioned off into several water-tight divisions, and consequently is much less liable to sink from collision with a snag or other boat. To compensate for her increased cost, she will outlast some half dozen boats of ordinary construction. And finally, she is said to draw much less water than any other boat of her size, that ever floated.

ERRATUM. Page 130, line 12, for company,

read occupancy.

QUARTERLY LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

ANNUALS.

The Juvenile Scrap Book and Youth's Annual. Providence: Geo. P. Daniels. 18mo. pp. 180.

Robert Merry's Annual; for all Seasons. New York: Samuel Colman. 16mo. pp. 200.

The Garland; for 1840. A Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Present. Boston: Julius A. Noble. 16mo. pp. 331.

The Religious Souvenir, for 1840. Edited by Mrs. L. H. Sigourney. New York: Scofield & Voorhies. 16mo. pp. 288.

The Pearl; or Affection's Gift, for 1840. A Christmas and New Year's Present. Philadelphia: Henry F. Anners. 18mo. pp. 222. The Gem; a Christmas and New Year's Present, for 1840. Philadelphia: Henry F. Anners. 18mo. pp. 287.

The Christian Keepsake and Missionary Annual. Edited by the Rev. J. A. Clark. 1840. Philadelphia: Wm. Marshall & Co. 12mo. pp. 320.

The Poets of America; illustrated by one of her Painters. Edited by John Keese. New York. Samuel Colman: 12mo. pp. 284.

This very handsome volume has been much and justly commended. Most of the pieces which fill its pages are beautiful specimens of American poetry; and the illustrations, with a few exceptions, are well designed and executed; with some exceptions, we say, for there are two or three which are deplorably out of drawing. The mother and child, for instance, on page 175, which is meant to illustrate Lucretia Davidson's beautiful poem, called "The Smile of Innocence"; but it illustrates more the artist's total ignorance of the proportions of the infantile form.

The volume contains so many of the best pieces of our best poets, that it will not only answer for an elegant Christmas or New Year's present, but will have a permanent value, and much of it will be read with pleasure, long after most of the contents of other splendid annuals of the year are forgotten.

The Annualette; a Christmas and New Year's Gift. Boston: S. G. Simpkins. 18mo.

The American Almanac, and Repository of Useful Knowledge, for the Year 1840. Boston: David H. Williams. 12mo. pp. 334.

AGRICULTURE.

The Farmer's Companion, or Essays on the Principles of American Husbandry, with the Address prepared to be delivered before the Agricultural and Horticultural Societies of New Haven County, Conn., and an Appendix, containing Tables and other Matter. By the late Hon. Jesse Buel, Conductor of "The Cultivator." Boston: Marsh, Capen, Lyon, & Webb. 12mo. pp. 138.

VOL. L. No. 106.

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