Selected Fragments of Roman Poetry from the Earliest Times. By
W. W. Merry, D.D. (Clarendon Press.)—Dr. Merry begins with the "Carmen Sahara" and the "Carmen Fratrum Arvaliura ;" between these, which date back, it is probable, to a very remote antiquity, and the Delphic prophecy about Veil and the Leone Albanus, there is a great gap of time, to which a century and a half must be added if Bahrens is right in referring the legend
to the time of Andronicus. The first distinctly literary fragments are from this poet's translation of the " Odyssey," and from his tragedies. The principal author from whom Dr. Merry has drawn is, of course, Ennius. Lucilius comes next in point of importance and interest. Dr. Merry has the courage to say a good word for Cicero as a poet, especially as regards his services in the develop- ment of the hexameter ; what he did ‘‘ made the perfect Virgilian rhythm distinctly more possible." The following lines from the "Marius" are, indeed, quite admirable, and they were written ia Cicero's youth
Eic Iovie idtieeni eubito pinnate, satollos arborle o trunco eorpontle south] menu
subrigit, Ipso feria transitgensirngnibum, anguem semianinnim et varia graviter eervice micanton ; porn se iutorquontem Ionians, roetroque °montane, Ihrn satiata animas, iam flume lilta dolores, abiclt efdautom et laceratum Etaigit in Linda seque obitn a solis nitidos convertit ad °stns."
Previous page
