New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-15
NEW ENGLISH BOOKS.
sowrr1's PLATO-BRoUGHAMs AUTobio oSE :,
-lINCuT RDGES-NEW EDIfION Or CAiNh'i
IpRoH OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT


the diving echoes the left the air clear Tor sofer
- 10 hcgiu with the Oldest we have a fresh trans
,a,on Of Plato into English by Prof Jowett In four
nntavo volumes from the Clarendon Press Oxord-one
might almost say the first translation, since among
exstng English renderngs there il none that can at all
afford 20 be Judged by the rigorous standards OF modern
scholarship TO say nothing of their other shortcomings
svdonham translated only portion Of the Dialogues
Thomas Taylor, whose name ought never 10 be men
toned without respect published in 1884, in fve quaro
volumes the IS Dialogues and IL Epstes, translated,
nine by Sydcnha, the remainder 10y hmsef-the whole
printed at the expense of the Duke of Norfolk His work
has merit of being sympathetic and readable, but
nj the same time dfuse. inaccurate, and not always
faithful the idea of reproducing Plato and Plato only
What TAYLOR did in the way Of translation and OF orig
inal dissertations in philosophy and mathematics was
something prodigous, his Plato being but one name
In a list which includes Aristotle, PlOtinus, Proclus
Ismbuohus Apuleius, and many another. Then We have
the Plato which forms part Of Bohns Library Of CLASH
cal TRANSACTIONS, the Of which TO college students
ar only well known. Mr.. Emerson with character
istc charity called this version excellent but other
less ardent admirers of the original find it difficult to get
on with. 1t may be useful TO help the student; those
who 20 to in search Of the charm which lies hid in
PlatOs style to be disappointed. The various
hands TO whom the work was given knew their Greek
pretty wei; what they fail to show is mastery OF
Rnglsh also
To none Of these does Prof Jowett acknowledge any
preface although his preface contains long list OF
books from which he has received aid. Among them
will be found the welknOwn translation OF the hepnp
lie" by MessTs Davies and Vaughan, and OF the
"GOrgas," by Cope. Prof JOwets reference 10
Mr. Grotes Plato and the other Companions Of Sohrdfes
Is far more ample indeed what he has to say about Mr.
roe occupies nearly twothirds Of his whole preface
There many scholars who admiring the conscientious
study ana the speculaons always patient and often
acute which distinguish Mr.. Groe's WORK. Will never
theless be glad 10 know that Prof Jowett has APP
preached his author from opposite point Of view
1.-THE aim OF the IntroductOns in these volumes has
BEEN says author tO represent Plato as the father
Of dealsIn who not TO re measured by the standard
Of utitarianism, any other modern Philosophical
system He the poet maker Of ideas satisfying the
wants Of his age, providing the instruments OF
thought for future generations He Is no dreamer but
great philosophical genius struggling with the unequal
conditions Of light and knowledge under which he lie
living He may be illustrated by the writings OF mod
ems hut ne be interpreted by his own and by his
place in the history Of philosophy We are not con
eerned TO determine what the rosduum of truth which
remains for His truth may not be our truth,
and nevertheless have extraordinary value and
interest for Furthermore Prof JOwet dssents
pressy from Mr. GrOe's views about the sOphsts from
his low estimate of Plato's Laws and from his opinion
rspecng PatOs doctrine of the rotation OF the earth
"But" he gracefully adds al not going TO lay hands
on my father Parmendes" and he closes his preface
with expression Of deep respect for Mr. Grotes noble
he has rendered Greek literature How charming the
contrast tender words and the ferOcious
chickering's which scholars not less distinguished have
sometimes, in former days, not been ashamed to III
duige in.
EVERYBODY who has read an English translation Of a
Greek author, or who has tried his own hand at the
work knows the difficulty Of getting version at the
game time accurate and flowing That this version Is
accurate, Prof Jowetts reputation may enttle usto
presume; that it can be read with ease and pleasure
anybody satisfy himself by opening page at ran
DOM Perhaps nothing harder than TO preserve in En-
Sish the form OF the Greek dialogue and give IT the
hyeness and natural transition which are due to the
Of particles in Greek and not less to the SIN
gular mastery Of Plato this form Of composition
less measure OF success than Prof. Jowett has |
achieved would place his translation far above anything
hitherto accomplished.
The first volume Of Lord Broughams autobiography
out yesterday under the title The Le and Times
OF Henry Lord BrOaghdm, written by himself published
by Messrs Backwood, and to be completed In three
octave volumes costing here about three dollars and
half volume likely TO cost American purchasers at the
rates which American booksellers charge for importing
about eight dollars volume. 1t prefaced by the fol
lowing characteristic address:
TO THE READER
TIE following instructions were given by Lord
Brougham TO me- his executor:
must see that it is arranged chronologicaly.
"If writing from memory have made mistakes IN
Sarratire is to be printed AS HAVE WRITTEN ~
81 alone am aDswerable Tor al lts statements Iaus,
and omissions. will have no Editor employed 20 aver
rewrite what desire shall be puDhshed' as bACLC-
SIFELY NY OWN.
''BRoUGHAH, Norernber 1861"
In publishing Lord Brougham's Autobiography, the
above explicit directions have been 0peed'
BRoUGHAs. January1SJ
This first volume comes down later than 1911, when
Brougham after a hesitation or less genuine had
made up mind go into politics. and had accepted
from the Duke of Bedford the offer Of seat at Camel
ford-one OF those nomination boroughs which he was
aferward to help sweep away 1t has curious effect,
in these days Of popular constituencies and household
suffrage find the Duke Of Bedford writing, IN 1870 TO
Mr. ughaE, apoOgzng because 1t may be necessary
TO give him the trouble Of journey To Cameord in
order To be returned. Comparatively brief is the
period covered by this volume, and young Brougham
was when closes 1t is full Of interest 1t could hardly
more than look through the table of contents
and two tempting chapters. Even
Brou CHAINS prodigious memory could hardly go
back TO his very earliest days; he gives us
therefore, his mothers "nOtes about Henry" lin which
the proud woman records the fact that Henry spoke
distinctly several words when he eight months and
two weeks old" She leaves him at 6, when he wrote
very able paper the RefractOn OF Light which gained
the prize adlud d TO that subject by German Unver
st - which prize is grieved TO learn he by
mistake got "but he did get the5 honor" There
can hardly DO anything moro dron IN the book than
Broughaa's reflection the good fortune that befell
him before he was born in the death OF Mary Whelpdae
whom his father was to have married. Brougham shud
r n think that Mary might have been his mother and
NJ reoices over her death the means Of saving him
from obscurity he is convnced that he had been
horn Of this pure Saxon womb he SHOULD have remained
IN the state Of respectable mediOcrty which seems TO
have characterized my many ancestors none OF whom
go far as can discover remarkable for any
thing" And as he is the first genius of the family he
.4.rod 80, hat hQ oyCpS ulp