New-York tribune., 1871-01-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
p11rrARCH,s MORALS.

IstcratTre in Harvard University. With an intro
duction by RALPn WALDO hAEhsVN NoS' o'V
Little, Brown, a Co.
The present translation Of one of the most remark
ahle productons Of classical antiquity is founded
upou the fifth edition Q7ls of the English version
first published in London in lG6i-lG9i This was the
work Of several scholars, partly of Oxford and Cam
bridge Of very unequal degrees Of merit but ON tho
whole with but very imperfect qualifications for the
execution Of the task Some of the longest and most
difficult tTeatisos were translated by men whose
ignorance of other languages than their own was
only one Of their many defects as translators.
In the edition now given 10 the public, Professor
Goodwin has endeavored TO correct the numerous
errors, both of the original text and the English
version. while he has retained such expressions as
were in good use when the translation was made,
provided the meaning could be easily learned from
dictionary, and rejecting those which would be unln-
telligibe to ordinary readers Judging by the
results presented in these Volumes he appears to
have brought competent knowledge and skill, aud a
most exemplary patience, to the accomplishment OF
his task. certain degree of obscurity still hangs
over many passages, but this is probably due to the
hopeless corruption of the text and TO allusons ana
modes Of thought Of which the sense can
scarcely be recovered by the modern mind. In gen
eral the language is sufficiently pcTsplcuous often
exhibiting a rare strain of masculine energy, ana
racy with the pungent flavor of the robust and ttee
spoken Oden times.
The character of the original work which, accord
ing the current tradition includes all the writings
of Plutarch except the Lives. is well set forth by
Mr. Emerson in his Introduction to tho edition,
although in a too aphorstic and oracular style.
Without aiming at exhaustive criticism, on the
subject, he offers many pregnant suggestions whlch
may serve TO eluCdate the peculiar qualities OF the
ancient writer even if they fail to revive general
interest in his productions. He happily describes
.A.va lnf of
encyclopedia of Greek and Roman literature In this
respect, he compares him to Chaucer among the En-
elsh poets repertory for those who want the story
without searching for il at first hand cOmpend of
all accepted traditions But all this was without
any supreme intellectual gifts. He was not pro-
found mind, nor master in any science yet he had
the universal sympathy with genius which makes all
victories its own. His most remarkable trait was
the illumination of the intellect by the force of
morals. He was woll-boTn, welltaught, well-cOndi-
tioned his education was improved by travel. and
by devotion TO affairs master of ancient culture,
he read books with just criticism and ominently
social, he surrounded himself with select friends,
and knew the value of good conversation.
Mr.. Emerson compares Plutarch with Montaigne,
who was a devoted admirer of his writings,
though Montague excelled his master in the point
and surprise of his sentences. Putarch had relig
ION which Montaigne wanted, and which preserves
him from wantonness. His moral sentiment Is al
ways pure. The peculiar merit of PlutaIch, as re-
garded by Mr. Emerson, is the genial facility with |
which he deals with his manifold topics He shows
no trace of labor or pain. His style is always re-
alistie and picturesque No poet could illustrate his
thought with more novel SMILES or pertinent anec-
dotes. He gossips of heroes, philosophers, and
poets Of virtues and genius of love and fate and en-
pres He recites all that is best in his reading lie
prattles history. He better teacher OF rhetoric
than any modern. Even bis superstitions are poetic
and aspiring. poet might rhyme all day with hlnts
drawn from him. His cheerful and rude health are
magnetic In his immense quotation and allusion,
we cease to discriminate between what. .hc quotes
and what he invents. We do not stop to distinguish
owners but give him the praise of all. This facility
and abundance make the JOY of his narrative, and he
is read to the neglect of more careful historians lie
disowns any attempt to rival Thucydides, but has
hundred readers where Thucydides has Plutarch
is singularly pain-spOken, but as Mr.. Emerson re-
marks this from the habit of writing for one
sex only. and, in tendencies Of civilization,
may tend TO correct a false delicacy.
In philosophy, the position of Puarch is described
as that of an dealst, true to the central of
wisdom and health, and always inspired with awe
and reverence of the spiritual power He is in
terested in the results of philosophy than in its
method. He has just instinct of the presence of
master preferring to sit as scholar with Plato,
than as a disputant. True,to his practical tenden-
cies he wishes the philosopher not to hide in a cor
ner, bat to commend himself to men Of public re-
CARDS and ruling genius. He is an eclectic in such
sense as Montaigne was willing to be an expectant,
not dOgmatist. He has such keen sense of reali-
ties that he is impatient of sophistry, and has
pleasure in verbal disputes Though curious in the
questions of the schools the nature and genesis of
things his extreme interest in every trait OF char
acter and his broad humanity lead him constantly
60 Morals, to the study of the Beautiful and Good.
The unusual warmth of cOmmendation that ap-
pears in these hints from Mr. Emerson's Introduc-
ton illustrates his of obligation to one of the
few men whom he would be willing to recognize, in
any degree, master of his mind Nor does he
bow to the authority of Plutarch, with any thing
like slavish homage. He looks upon him less asa
yuide ILap a companion. His freedom from the re-
strants Methods congenal to his own tastes and
in accordance with his habits PlqtsFchs garrulous
manner. and frequent excursions into remote fields
he tolerates as we cannot doubt rather than admTe
He delights in the easy flow of his narrative which
collects SO many strange and wonderful things in it's
course His facility of anecdOte, and opposite ex-
amples from every part of history and poetry, and
real life like that of Montaigne, affords a constant
provocative to the imagination, and makes his writ
ings even more fruitful of suggestion than they
of information. This is the true point of contact,
we apprehend. between Mr. Emerson and Plutarch,
and IN this sense the works of the disciple reflect
lively impression of the genius of the master
Among the essays in these volumes, Mr. Emerson
dwells with special emphasis the "Apothegms Of
Great Commanders" the reading of which he re-
commends to ambitious young men before they
mount the platform of county conventions" II the
secret could be kept, and communicated only to