172 CLASSICAL CRITICISM. 



But that agrmt is the correct reading I have no doubt whatever. — 

 Dr. Anthon, who has alunt in his text, which is based upon Ernesti's, 

 but here departs from it, states the case tlius : " The MSS. all agree in 

 reading agunt for alunt, but we have given alunt with Lambinus, Manu- 

 tius, Orellius, and others, as more in accordance with the spirit of the 

 passage." This gives up the historical proof altogether, and rests the 

 defence of the proposed reading entirely upon the laws of taste. But it 

 is from the inconsistency of alwit with the context, and the greater ap- 

 propriateness of agu7if. to the sense of the passage that I would derive 

 additional arguments in its favor. 



I can not see that alunt can be so rendered as to make good sense. 

 It is true Duncan, p. 292, translates the phrase, " But these give strength 

 in youth," and Dr. Anthon, p. 201, n. 2, says, "These studies, however, 

 foster our earlier years." The idea which these editors would convey 

 appears to be, that literary pursuits are the proper food of the young 

 mind which they strengthen and develop. But I know of no authority 

 for giving such a meaning to alere. If Cicero had wished to convey 

 this idea he would have said "-hasc studia ingenium adolescentium alunt," 

 or the like. It is true, Ernesti also declares that alunt would give 

 the same meaning as agunt, but he points out no instance in which 

 alere can be thus rendered ; the only peculiarity which he notices in 

 Cicero's use of this word is in the phrase '•'■Pompejus aluerat Cczsarem^'' 

 where he explains it, '■'■potcntem rc<irfere"= to render powerful; see Er- 

 nesti Clavis Ciceroniana, sub voce Alere. I understand Mobius to agree 

 with Matthia, whose works I have not seen, that alere cannot be used 

 in the sense of '■^ alere animos adolescentium?'' 



Nitzsch in his Index Scholarum, has defended the reading alunt, by 

 saying that '■'•alere properly signifies to supply with those things which 

 render us strong and active, nulrire to supply with food, which satisfies 

 the appetite and increases the body, being, as it were, the material of 

 the body," but Horace says of a river, "Quern super notas alucre ripas," 

 and various other passages inconsistent with this restriction might be 

 cited. So far as I am aware, Alere means; 1) to feed, to supply with 

 food, as alere canes, all lacte, Cic. 2) To cause to grow, vvhich is a 

 consequence of the supply of food, as in Plin. folia, — capillum alunt, 

 and in Cicero, Honos alit artes. 3) To increase, in any way, as in the 

 passage cited above from Horace, and in Cicero's expression, '•'■Pompe- 

 jus aluerat Coisarem,'''' and so Justin has " alere incendiumP 4) To 

 d(fend, or treat with favor, as in Caes. '■'■civilas quam ipse semper aluis- 

 set?'' None of these meanings will suit our context, and we therefore 

 decide aj>ainst aluM. 



