the incipient F of digammatised words was not expressed in metrical articulation, and consequently, where it is to be accounted "pro nihilo" in written verse; it becomes a necessary inquiry-when is that "quando," in which the digamma is metrically quiescent, or evanescent? And we should reply: 1. It is quiescent, when it is preceded by a word, of whose last vowel the metre requires the elision: as in ἄμμες δ' εἰράναν—πάντεσσι δ' ανάσσειν—εὖ δ ̓ οἴκαδ ̓ ἱκέσθαι-οἴσετε δ' ἄρν'.—ἔτι δ' ἐλπετο —τὴν νύκτ' Οινείδαο. 2. It is quiescent, when a preceding diphthong is to be made short; as in, πλειόνων δέ τοι ἔργων—ἀλλά σύ πέρ μοι ἀναξἀφίξεται Ιλιον ἱρὴν—διασκοπιᾶσθαι ἕκαστον. This has place after the diphthongs, αι, ει, οι. 3. It is quiescent, when the shortness of the preceding syllable, closed by a consonant, is to be preserved; as in, Xevкwλevos ñpη— ποίησαν ἄνακτι—Διὸς υἱὸς ἔπος—ἀεικὲς ἀνασσέμεν—μοι κακὸς εἶδες ται—κροτέοντες αναξ. 4. But, its frequent and close recurrence would often render it importunate, and offensive to the ear; as in ἔκρινε εοίκασι-προσέειπε αναξ—μεγάροισι εείκοσι, How was that offence to be avoided? The only way to avoid the cacophony, was to render the incipient F quiescent in those cases, and to close the preceding vowel with the sonorous and grateful ephelcustic v, instead; thus, shifting the fulcrum, distributing the tones according to the gratification of the ear, and enouncing, (as we find it in the text,) ekpivē ἐδίκασι—προσέειπε ἄναξ—μεγάροισι ἐείκοσι. There can be little question with respect to the advantage of thus shifting the fulcrum, and nullifying the native power of the F, if we trace its importunity through all the margins of Heyne's Iliad; and suppose it to be as often pronounced, as it is there exhibited. Here then are four cases, in which, by the principle of Priscian's last rule, wholly disregarded by Heyne, there will be no plea whatever for arguing interpolation, or vitiation, of the text of Homer, upon the ground of a neglect of the digamma: for, it will be evident, that the digamma, instead of being ignorantly neglected, is artfully suppressed. 2 We thus find, "rationem et analogiam, cur retrahatur alterum digamma.” See Heyne, T. vii. 735. 2 We have a strong evidence of this advantage, in г. 103; where Heyne tells us, "debuit esse Foldere Fápy'," but, where the text reads, Foldere d'ap'; the F being pro nihilo in the latter word, in order to allow the elision of the e; and the 8 becoming the fulcrum. Can there be a question, which of these readings would have the euphony, and which the cacophony; whether we pronounce the F as w, v, or ƒ? Yet, the welcome dè, welcome equally to sense and sound, is to be branded as spurious-insititious, and to be turned out of doors; merely that the evanescent F might be restored to substance by Heyne's Teutonic taste, to embarrass the line with a presence, from which the Ionic taste of its author had been careful to remove it. 5. But, it is not clear that the Ionians may not, in many cases, have rendered the F quiescent, after an open vowel; with a view to produce that sweetness of effect, which Gellius remarked in the final hiatus. It is probable, that they did so; wherever they found the transition from one vowel to another easy to their utterance, and pleasing to their ear. Quintilian has remarked the greater ease, and grace, with which some vowels follow each other, than others; and the expression, or suppression of the F, would probably have depended upon the particular vowels which fell into concourse. 192 With respect to hiatus; much perplexity seems to have resulted, from not having ascertained, exactly, what constitutes that hiatus which may truly be called, "auri molliori intolerabilis," and which therefore demands a remedy; but, on the contrary, from having assumed, that it is the universal effect of "binæ vocales excipientes se, nulla interjecta consona.' Heyne himself is aware, that the principle of inserting the F may be carried to an absurdity: res tandem versa est tantum non in lusum, cum, ubicunque duæ vocales se excipient, interponere juvaret digamma. Vicious hiatus might perhaps occur, where a short final vowel before another could not yield the time required in cæsura, and must therefore fail, if not sustained. But, wherever there can be immediate transitus from one short vowel to another, as in, χεῖρα ἑὴν—ἔπειτα ἑῷ-αὐτοὺς δὲ ἑλώρια,* it would seem that there can be no "hiatus intolerabilis;" but rather, "jucundus hiatus," as Gellius speaks, and therefore, no sufficient reason for urging, or even supposing, the insertion of a digamma; at all events, it is more pleasing to account it "pro nihilo." But, this subject leads to a more extensive inquiry than this place will permit. 3 Now, if the text of Homer will, in general, bear a trial by the test of the entire canon of Priscian; if no internal vice can be detected in the particular passages arraigned; and if the charge, of a want 1 Heyne vii. 716. 2 Ib. 768. 3 We venture to suggest to the Reviewer, that his equivocal but fascinating ïóevτi, in E. 36. (see Q. R. for July, p. 66.) is probably no other than a corruption of lóevTI, with its diganima. We read in V. 850. αὐτὰρ ὁ τοξευτῇσι τίθει Γιόεντα σίδηρον. We should perhaps read, in E. 36: τὸν μὲν ἔπειτα καθεῖσεν ἐπὶ ξιόεντι Σκαμάνδρῳ. In both places, the word will intend darkness or deepness of hue:—“ut rò μéhav declaret." Comp. Heyne viii. 528. iv. 603, 4. vii. 760. Homer calls Scamander, TоTaμds Balvdivms, in T. 73. and . 603; and the epithet would thus be acquired, from the visible effect of its depth. Here, hiatus is remedied by the digamma.-We find the ictus of cesura in the last syllable of eπl, and in the same place in the verse, in T. 226. and . 31; but no where else in the Iliad. In those two passages, the feeble casura is sustained by the double consonants which follow; In ènì FióEVTI, the F will stand " pro duplici consonante, ut Νέστορα δὲ οὗ παιδός.” 4 Conf. Heyne vii. 748. and 747., and iv. 7. of general and harmonising unity in the poem, is proved to be absolutely unfounded, and most unskilfully made; is it agreable, or offensive to reason, that Homer should be tried and condemned by "placita" founded on only one half of the canon; and that we should consent, implicitly, to sign the warrant for his execution under such a judgment? Are we intirely to forget, that the greatest learning, when it has deeply implicated itself in system, is no other than dignified error? Thus then we see the pernicious consequences of attempting to criminate the text of the Iliad by defective and fallacious assumptions, respecting the power of the digamma; and of supporting those attempts by false assumptions, respecting the structure and composition of the poem. We may now see the importance of inquiring both into the Primary Argument of the Iliad, and into the History of the Digamma; and we shall be satisfied, that by the proof of the consistent unity of the poem, and by the proof, that the digamma was, occasionally, as neutral in the Greek metre as thehin the Latin, the Iliad will be justified from more than nine-tenths of the charges of neglect and corruption, which have been so assiduously and passionately preferred against it by Heyne, that he might enjoy the exercise of an Imperial Criticism. But we must remember the "narcotic influence" of 30 pages. We shall therefore conclude our remarks, with assuring our very learned, but very impatient censor, that we freely fling away all the resentment which he has intitled us to cherish towards the obliquity of his judgment of our Examination; and that we cheerfully justify his natural partiality for his own oiketov F: of which we may say, certainly with about as much wit as Cicero, Digamma noveram.' July, 1822. "tuum GRANVILLE PENN. ADVERSARIA LITERARIA. NO. XXX. Verses by Lord Carlisle; to Lady Holland, on the Snuff-bor bequeathed to her by Bonaparte. LADY, reject the gift!-'tis tinged with gore! Those crimson spots a dreadful tale relate: It has been grasp'd by an infernal Power, And by that hand which seal'd young Enghien's fate. Lady, reject the gift!-beneath its lid Discord, and Slaughter, and relentless War, With every plague to wretched man, lie hid;Let not these loose, to range the world afar. Say, what congenial to his heart of stone, In thy soft bosom, could the Tyrant trace? When does the dove the eagle's friendship own, Or the wolf hold the lamb in pure embrace? Think of that 'pile, to Addison so dear, Where Sully feasted, and where Rogers' song Still adds sweet music to the perfumed air, And gently leads each Grace and Muse along:Pollute not, then, these scenes;—the gift destroy ; "Twill scare the Dryads from that lovely shade; With them will fly all rural peace and joy, And screaming Fiends their verdant haunts invade. That mystic Box hath magic power, to raise Spectres of myriads slain-a ghastly band; They'll vex thy slumbers, cloud thy sunny days, Starting from Moscow's snows or Egypt's sand. And ye who, bound in Verdun's treacherous chains, Slow pined to death beneath a base control, Say, shall not all abhor, where Freedom reigns, That petty vengeance of a little soul? The warning Muse no idle trifler deem: Plunge the cursed mischief in wide Ocean's flood; Or give it to our own majestic stream The only stream he could not dye with blood. IDEM GRÆCE REDDITUM. Φόνων ἄδωρα δῶρ ̓ ἀπόῤῥιψον, Χλόη— • Holland House. I φίλοικτον αἰετὸς τίς ὤπασεν χάριν ; ἀπὸ χειμάτων Μόσχου τέ κ' Αἰγύπτου χθονός. R. TREVELYAN. In a note on Persius, Sat. iii. 9. Arcadiæ pecuaria,” (the droves of Arcadia) Mr. Gifford quotes Marcilius : “ Arcadiæ pecuaria, Asini. Arcadia Asiuorum patria in Græcia. In Italia, Reate." He then adds: "Here is something gained; and as asses are now getting into vogue, some of our travelled gentry, perhaps, may be tempted en passant, to pick up one of them to improve the breed at home.” If Mr. Gifford will confess the truth, he will acknowledge it is whispered, as well in Albemarle street as elsewhere, that of late more than one traveller has brought back an ass from Greece. A very fine one is expected from the banks of the Velino, the neighbourhood of Reate not having lost its ancient reputation. It is remarkable that Pliny ascribes to the Reatine waters the power of hardening certain animal sub stances. CUMULUS. I shall feel obliged to any of your Correspondents who will prove that the word CUMULUS is a pure Latin word; and that it was known to the writers of the Augustan Age. • Ut antea, “ Holland House.” D. B. H. |