( 429 ) 
CHAPTER VI. 
ANCIENT CLASSICS. 
_ THE late year has not been distinguished in England by the publication of 
asingle edition of any ancient author, of critical note. ‘To works of this nature 
indeed the times are unfavourable ; silent inter arma Muse. Yet notwithstanding 
this aspect of affairs, we have reason to hope that the present year will afford us 
i some valuable acquisitions of this nature. The arrival of foreign editions has pro- 
__ bably been suspended by the tumults of war, which have greatly impeded the direct 
intercourse with the continent. Mr. Forster’s Anacreon is chiefly valuable as a 
specimen of beautiful typography. 
’ In the department of translation, the Dublin press has furnished the Apollonius 
_ Rhodius of Mr. Preston, who is also known as an occasional contributor to the 
Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy. The merits and demerits of this work 
st we have endeavoured to distinguish in our review of it. An anonymous author 
has been making experiments in a version of Horace, the reception of which from, 
the public, will not, we believe, be very flattering. Dr. Girdlestone has added 
im another name to the translators of Anacreon. We dare not, however, say, that he 
_ has eclipsed the labours of his predecessors. 
The literary treasures of this country, have been lately increased by the ac- 
cession of some important manuscripts, collected during a journey in Greece and 
the adjoining islands by two adventurous travellers, members of the university of 
: 
t 
} 
\ 
i 
Cambridge. Their success may perhaps encourage others to explore more care- 
fully, the mouldering repositories of learning, which are still scattered through 
4 some parts of those once happy regions. A fragment of a statue of Ceres, which 
formerly attracted veneration from the initiated at Eleusis, and was even, in mo- 
dern superstition, supposed to communicate a fructifying influence to the neigh- 
bouring fields, has been gratefully dedicated by them in the vestibule of the temple 
of their Alma Mater, the public library at Cambridge. A short account of the 
_ evidence of former travellers respecting the existence of this statue, of the hypo- 
theses which have been formed respecting it, and the means used in procuring its 
temoyal, has been published anonymously. 
%. _ Mr. Faber has been engaged in a voyage, almost as adventurous as that of the 
ark, without sails, rudder, or compass, in quest of the helio-arkite mysteries, 
b amidst the darkness of ancient mythology. The result of his discoveries he has 
A 
ye communicated to the public, which incredulous readers will, however, we fear, be 
Bis inclined to class with the “ true history” of Lucian. 
