The sun., 1881-12-04

ern Greek. one in Polish. two In Danish. two Ia
Swedish. two In Dutch. two In Russian. and
seven in Latin. There have been no less than
i've Spanish translations Of the Lusiads; there
are fourteen versions in Italian; the whole or
part OF the poems OF Osmoens have been repro
duced In German thirteen times. and In French
twenty-five times. No one will say. In view OF
these facts. that there was not room for new
English translation. and We are under weiRhty
obligations to Capt. Burton. not only for the
fidelity and spirit with which his English verse
interprets the original. but for the flood Of light
cast by his researches on the history and liter
ature OF Portugal. M. ". Il.
Es,sss Rsasa's Msreus Aurelius.
The seventh and last volume OF M. ERNEST
RENAN's great work on the Origin OF Christianity
has just appeared In Paris under the title OF
Marc Aurele ct Ia En- ds Monde Antique Tho
writing ofthis work 10 the result OF twenty years
Of labor; the preparation for 1t has occupied
NJ. Renan from his youth. and the author pro-
poses to devote the remainder Of his life to COM
pletins from another side the subject that he
has made the centre Of his reflections. In the
preface TO the present volume he gives the
promise OF another work a. great - that which
he has just completed. N. Benan says:
In order to be strictly LOGICAL ought to have begun
history Of the origins Of Christianity BY history Of the
Jewish psopls. Christianity begins in the eighth Gen.
tury c.. At the time whom the prophets took
session Of the psope Of Israel and made them the people
Of God charged with inauauratng pure cult In the
world Hithsrto the cult OF Israel had not essentially
differed nom that sgosucal, interested cult which was
that of all the neGhboring tribes revolution was ac
complished the day when inspired not belong
ing 10 the prize sthood dared to "Can believe
God takes pleasure In the smoke Of victims In the
fat Of your rsmsr Isaiah Is in this sense the nrst
founder Of Chrsuanitv Jesus really and truly only
said In popular and charming language. what had al
| ready been said In classical Hebrew hundred
and Any before his time. TO show how the religion
Of israel which at the Outset had perhaps superior
iy over the cults c Ammon or Of Moab. became moral
religion. and how the religious history OF the Jewish
people was constant pro6rsn toward the worship In
spirit and in TRUTH this h certainly what ought have
been traced before introducing Jesus the But
life Il short and Of uncertain duration began then
with what was most urgent I threw myself into the
midst Of the subject and commenced by the life Of Je.
suppodng the anterior revolutions Of the Jsvish
lG,on TO b known now that have been permitted
treat with ell The desired. the part which
ached NEST mportanee. 10 duty TO take up the
ror history. and devote Il what force aud activity
stin have.
The subject OF this seventh volume Of NJ.
Renan's great work 10 twoiold: Tho develop
mont Of the Christisn Church during tho reign
OF Marcus Aurellus. and. secondly. the parallel
efforts OF philosophy 10 ameliorate civil society.
Tho second century OF our ora had the double
glory OF dennitively founding sChrstianity-that
10 to say. in n. Rensn's words. the great princi-
pie which has brought about the reformation Of
morals By faith In the upsrnatural-and OF wit
Messing. thanks 10 Stole preaching and without
anv marvellous element. tho finest attempt that
the world has ever vet known Of a lag school OF
virtue. These two movements were strangers
and hostile rather than helpful to each other |:
but the triumph Of Christianity 10 only explica-
BILE BY knowledRe Of the strength and OF the
insuf oienoy that the philosophical attem pt con.
tAined. From this point OF view Marcus Aurelius
10 . subjsct Of study to which We must constantly
return. He resumes oil the good thnt there WAS
In the antique world. and. thanks to his twelve
books OF" Thoughts OF incontestable sincerity
and uthenticity. we are able to SEQ him a. he
saw himself without blind and without veil.
N. Rensn considers that tho period OF origin.
the embryogeny. 90 to speak. OF Christianity.
came to An end about the time Of tho death OF
Marcus Aurelius In $50 A. u. From that time
forward the child 10 wssned; 1t will live OF its
own vitality. The death OF Marcus Aurelius
may furthermore. he thinks. be considered as
marking the end OF ancient civilization. All the
good that 10 done aiterward Is done in virtue
not OF tho Greek. Roman principle. but OF the
Judeo-syrian principle.
NJ. Remains study OF the character Of Marcus
Aurelius 10 one OF the nnest chapters in tho
book. His virtue. his swestnsss OF manner. his
practical philosophy. his goodness. are de-
vslopsd in . style that gives the freshness OF
novelty to subjects that have for centuries been
the stock themes OF rhetorioians. He pro-
nounces the good Emperor to have had not
only great soul. but Q great intelleot. since he
saw to infinite dep,hs In the abyss OF duty and
OF conscience. NJ. Roman concludes a. follows:
dared absolutely 10 deny the supernatural Ger
tsnly, we share his dread OF atheism; unde stand
admirsbly what he means when he speaks TO his
horror OF world without God and without provdenee
but what understand less Is that he talks seriously OF
Gods intervening In human things by particular
volitona The weakness OF his alone
explains such falling on To preserve him rom vulgar
errors he had neither the levy Of Adrian the
Lueian But Il must be said his these errors
without consequence. The supernatural was not
tho basis OF hts piety His virtue like upon
reason. upon nature Saint Louis was v.rtuous
md according to the ideas OF his me very good
sovereign. because he was Christian; Marcus Aureuus
the pious Of men. because he was pagan
but because he was complete man He was the honor
OF human nature. and not OF determinats religion
Whatever the religious and phil iaophical revolutions OF
the future may be- his greatness will not suffer- for IL
rests entirely on thing that will perish. exes
leney OF heart
The AGE OF the Antontnes. and especially Of
Marcus Aurelius. was one OF great moral and
social reforms. Thatg great monument OF human
wisdom. Roman Law. was brought 10 perfection
in the second century. to be commented upon in
the third century by succession OF juriscon-
suits whose nance are immortal. Never had
the problom OF the happiness OF humanity been
examined with moro earnest and constant per-
severance. Under Marcus Aurelius the ideal
OF Plato was realized the world was governed
by philosophers. After having been scofYed at
by the brutal Romans for two hundred years.
Greek philosophy triumph by dint OF patience.
The Emperor 10 literally surrounded by phi
losophers: his former masters and teachers be.
come his ministers and his statesmen. The office
Of consul. hitherto reserved to the Roman aris-
tocraoy. is invaded BY philosp pliers and rheto-
ricians Philosophers OF renown came TO Rome
from all parts OF the world the streets were full
OF Greeks and SYrians. Of StoIcs. of begging
Cynics. among whom were OF course. not a few
charlatans. Still the dream Of Seneca was full
ned; the philosophers had become power in
the State. sort Of constitutional institution. .
PRIV council whose influence on public affairs