> 
~ 
532 
: 
‘Mr. Penrose’s Sermons. at the Bamp- 
ton Lecture,” before the University of Ox- 
ford, we reserve for futare consideration. 
'Phey throw some light both upon the his- 
tory and the fall of the Jesuits. 
Among the single 
SERMONS, 
thatof Dr. Laurence, preached before 
the University of Osferd April 19, 1807, 
is one of the most seasonable: ‘and re- 
fiects additional credit on the author, 
whose sermons at the Bampton Lectures - 
we formerly noticed. He sarveys in it 
the singularities of those,-who, in their 
elucidations of religious truth, have heen 
studious of deviaung from the path of 
vulgar observation; and, captivated bya 
foadness for deep research, have preferred 
im some instances fanciful, in others con- 
jectural hypothesis, to plain and solid ar. 
cuments. it is accompanied: by an ap- 
pendix of curious notes. 
Another valuable Sermon has been 
published by the Rev. Epwanp Nargs, 
on the Duty and Expediency of translat- 
ing the Scriptures into the current lan- 
guages of the East for the use and benefit 
of thenatives. This, also, is accompanied 
by an Appendix. . 
GEOGRAPHY. 
Mr. Prygerron’s* Modern Geography” 
has now been increased to three volumes: 
the last of which presents anample account 
of New Spain, and of the Spanish Vice- 
royalties in South America, drawn from 
the most recent materials, and. pre- 
senting considerable novelty of informa- 
tion. 
CLASSICAL LITERATURE. 
“It isbut rarely that we have to enume- 
rate respectable translations from the 
aiassics. The successful few bear but a 
small proportion to the great number of 
translators. gee 
“ The Metamorphosesof Publius Ovidius 
Naso, in English Blank Verse,” by Mr. 
Howarp, deserve commendation ;—al- 
though we do not think blank-verse the 
best medium for Ovid’s hexameters. It 
is singular that another Howard, Earl of 
Surrey, was the inventer of blank verse, 
and first applied it in a translation of Var- 
il. Yhe Metamorphoses are rendered 
with skill, and sometimes with cousi- 
derable smocthness. 
Of Mr. Hopcson’s “ Translation of Juve- 
nal,” we shall use almost his own words. 
The attentive reader will find that he has 
not omitted much of Juvenal. He has 
retained more than Dryden, though cer- 
rajly not much lessthan Mr. Gifford in 
tis first edition. The extent of Mr. 
Retrospect of Domestic Literature—Sermons, &c. 
- 
Hodgson’s ambition has confessedly been, 
not to reach the height of Dryden, where 
Dryden has chosen toleave all below him} 
yet, upon the whole, to give a more faith- 
fal version of Juvenal than he and his 
associates have given; and, at the same 
time, to do it in such & manner as to of- 
fend an English ear ‘with fewer instances 
of interrupted versification than those” 
which(originally at least) occurred in the 
pages of Mr. Gifford. That Mr. Hodg- 
son’s translation, is, in some instances 
uneven, cannot be denied: but it cer- 
tainly abounds im forcible passages. As- 
a specimen we shall give the portrait of 
Crispus in the fourth satire accompanied 
by the original, 
venit & Crispi jucunda senectus, 
Cujus érant mores, qualis facundia, mite 
Ingenium. Maria ac terras, populosque re- 
genti 
Quis comes utilior, si clade & peste sub. 
12 
Sevitiam-damnare, & honestum afferre li- 
ceret ’ 
Consilium? sed quid violentius aure ty- 
ranni? | ‘ 
Cum quo de pluviis, aut zstibus, aut nime 
boso 
Vere locuturi fatum pendebat amici ? 
Mle igitur nunquam direxit brachia contra 
Torrentem, nec civis erat, qui libera posset 
Yerba animi proferre, & vitam ampendere 
vero. 
Sic muitas hyemes, atque octogesima vidit . 
Soistitia, his armis, ill2 queque tutus in. 
aula 
‘© Look where in sight old Crispus next ap- 
pears, 
Old, but good-humoured in the vale of. 
ys yeans:s 
Whose gentle life that never gave offence, 
Was pictur’d in his pleasant eloguence. 
Where for the man, who yspreads his ample 
reign 
Over earth and sea, 
tain, : 
So useful a companion could we find ~ 
As modest Crispus, with his virtuous mind ? - 
If with a voice unbiass’d, bold and free, ° 
He might have check’d the strides of cru- 
and all that they cone 
elty: . 
Beheid the scourge of Rome, unaw'd by 
fear, 
And brav’d the fierceness of a tyrant’s. 
ear 5. EP 
Hurt at the threaten’d hail, the heat or 
(is RCO ; 
And black with anger at a storm foretold. 
But Crispus ne’er indulg’d so vain a dream, 
Nor ever sw2m against th’ impetuous stream 3. 
He ne’er with patriot fires had warm’d his 
youth, ; 
Nor stak’d existence on a fatal truth. 
Se 
