The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-03-04
SOME NEW HOOKS.
sivesx,s u,stsry or Latin I.sterstuvs


from Ennius to BosH.ius by @. A. slMco1 liar.
pofs). The aim OF both books is to give that
large class OF cultivated persons unoluding al.
most oil educated women) who do not read the
classic authors In their original tongues an
accurate and vivid iden Of tho scope. purport.
shirt and style OF their compositions. The
manner In which Prof. MahaYy executed his
particular task reflected great credit on his at
tninments and depository skiil. but 1t
seems 10 us that Mr.. Simcox's perform
ance 10 oven more satisfactory. partly for the
reason that his theme Is of much narrower
compass. II we accept Ennius and Dotthius rs
ia limits. Latin literature covers a period of
only seven centuries. whereas Greek literature
hogan thousand yeats earlier. and was Guilt
waited unlnterruptcdly throughout the epoch
during which Latin was literary language.
Tho Greek threatened. indeed. repeatedly to
displaco the Latin for purposes OF artistic
writing In Romc itself. and finally Superseded
II In the Eastern Roman eppre. within whose
territories 1t survives to this day in degcn-
erato form. It was therefore a less diflcult un-
dertaking TO which Mr.. Simcox addressed
himself yet it will not do to under
rate the immense industry requisite for
reasonably full and trustworthy review OF n
literature which cniboiios the activities II
soven hundred years. Moreover. since tho mon
oi letters who chose Latin for their medium
n expression could In every instance read
Greek and were usually conscious imlta,ors
or virtual translators Of Greek authors. 1t is
not possible for any man who Is not Greek
scholar to discuss Latin literature intei!gently.
But the historical knowledge essential 10 the
appreciation Of writer and OF his work is
obviously much more easily acquired in tho
case Of Latin than in that Of Greek litnrnturr.
owing 10 tho limited range OF the former in
point Of time.
II Is the light thrown upon the significance
Of particular books by a concise but clear a.
count OF the circumstances in which they
were written. OF tho position and Affiliations.
character and probable intentions Of their re-
spective writer's which constitutes the dis
tinctive and meritorious feature OF Mr.. Sim
cox's book. We should. in fact. be disposed to
point to these volumes. were we asked by those
who are constrained to obtain their knowledge
OF tho Roman world at second hand to recon-
mend a single work from which they nigh. get
q distinct conception not only OF Latin litcra-
tnre but OF almost every aspect OF Rome's social
life and political history. Among tho authors IN
connection with whom the advantages OF the
critico- historical method pursued by Mr.. Sim
cox are specially noticeable may be- mentioned
Cesar. Cicoro. Horace. Seneca. and Iacitus.
With each of these. with possibly tho exception
OF Seneca. weil-educatod mon believe them
be surprised to SOC now much that is interest
ing. suggestive. and really new Mr. Simcox has
70 say concerning them. or course the authors
judgment will not always be accented by those
Who arc competent 10 form opinions for them
selves. but 1t will always command respect. BY
the general reader this book will be found en-
tirely free from the arid wearisome. and re-
polling qualities which seem inseparable from
most handbooks Of literature. and some parts
Of IL will prove almost as interesting as q good
historical novel. -
We can best illustrate the attractiveness OF
the plan followed by Mr.. Simcox by directing
attention TO some OF the views expressed con-
corning the character and life of the most
famous parsonage In Roman history. who. ms
tho author OF a literary masterpiece naturally
occupies a good deal OF space in his narrative
OF Gaius julius Cesar Mr.. Simcox seems to
be As ardent an admirer as is Mommsen. al
though from an Independent point OF view
and on somewhat different grounds. He does
not hesitate to pronounce Caesar the one
character in his age that we can at once
like and esteem" 1t Is admitted that
Ciccro WAS "amiable" and respectable
for his steady. conscientious insight and
public spirit" but against these merits
are set his many weaknesses and pettinesses.
Mr.. Simcox goes on to observe that Cato was
iDpracticable; Pompelus was ungenerous; few
OF CAESARS own adherents had scrap of char
acter in private life: thsy were rnpncious cor
rupt or debnuchees." He thinks it probable
that the reputation for ga'lantry which Cnsar
himself had In his youth was much eyag-
gerated by tho shameless license Of language.
which itself implies that the general standard
OF conduct was low. However this may be- we
are reminded that the two most respectable Of
Caesars opponents testify that an inclination 10
sexual indulgence was hi, only vice Cato said he
was the only man who came SOBER to the over
throw OF the State Cicero said. when Caesar
had established his authority in Italy. that
the sobrie.y and diligence OF tho monster
were incredible" II is suggested that prrha ps
tha bitterness. Of which there were some signs
in Ctesar's temper toward the end. may havs
resulted from the e.cesses OF his cary man
hood. although! MIR. SiuIcox would not deny that
1t might be sufficiently accountcd for by !abori
much greater than those under which eAen-
plary statespen have bcen worn out at the age
At which Cesar died by violence. still in the
hopeful contemplation of large schemes.
The author OF this book pronouucc' It . won
derful." when We consider how thoroughly
revolutionary and Inscriptions Caesars en-
yeer was how bame,ess II WAS from oil points
Of view. except tina; OF the believer in tho di-
vine right OF the Roman nobility. or in the d.
vine right Of the natives OF Gnn 10 be made
vention." 1t is pointed ont that Cnsar in his
own writings. mover gives you the impression
which most Of his modnrh cuIoIista do, OF his
having trampled UPON great many things
once properly sacred bat then obsorte and
cumbersome, He does not appear to thnl
that hs has anything to apologize for The
distitch Of Euripides, which. it is said. h.
often quoted
u men must Sin. tn. tairts' p-izs Of sin
Should he a throne else nlety swell
Ia itself a sign that no had tolernbly casy
conscience. No doubt no could hardly heir
feeling that his situation was TO say tho least
irregular whom he was asserting his persona
rights at the cost OF n civil war aga!ns, part
ner who had all the constituted authorize.
upon his side. except few tribunes OF Tho
commons. But at the same time Us Mr. Sim
COX Is careful! to recall, he had always beer
scrupulousy fair and generous III his dealing