11 NOVEMBER 1911, Page 18

[To THE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR1 SIR, — There is, it appears

evident, a strong suggestion of " luck " in " felicitas," and as clear an idea of burrowing for mots images in " curiosa" ; and in an English translation the burden of conveying both meanings must fall upon the word rendering " curiosa," as "felicitas" is more or less standardized into " felicity " or "happiness" of expression. For " curioaa," then, " ingenious " seems a fair translation— it has at once an air of intricacy and of light-come inspira- tion. The idea would be that Horace, as your correspondent- points out, had in the paradoxical way of a genius flashes of learning.—I am, Sir, &e., J. M. NAGLE JEFFRIES. Westover, Boscombe, Hants.