Pericuia Urbis, and other Exercises in Latin, Greek, and English
Verse. By W. Moore, B.A. (Longman.)—Mr. Moore calls his Periculcr Urbis a satire, but it is not easy to refer it to any recognized class of this kind of poem. It is not like Juvenal, for indignation does not make Mr. Moore's verses for him ; it is not like Horace, for it wants the- quiet wit and sagacious observation of life. In fact, it is more of the mock-heroic, or mock-serious kind, ridiculing the manners and customs of Oxford, especially as they are displayed at "Commemoration." Here is Mr. Moore's description of a horror which is comparatively new is Oxford life, a tea-party :- " Quid juvenes, qucis contingit sub vesperis horam, (Cogit calm matrons). meram sorbere Boheam. Crustulaque urbanis circumvehere uncta puellis ? Quam linguam oppresett juveoilem tempos iniquum, Et quota eaptivie virgo se jaetat alumnts! Stant passim, viten emus, eon victimie ad eras,
Gurgito bombycum absorpti : tanto agmine Testis Femina se cinatit proprite, cohibetque regressum. Jammie omnes ragas de tempestate locuti, Aut vacuo capiti si grid praesentius adsit, Exspectant blandi (jam cantatrice vocath), Hand rare anditum carmen, (Rivumque) perennem Cu! finis cureus nullus datur ; ills canendi Prodiga percussit chordas, versante papyros Ad nutum puero: tum immensis plausibus omnes Finitam melos excipiunt, et singula landant."
This seems to us moderately good, but nothing more. The same may be said of the translations and other poems. Mr. Moore, however, modestly calls them exercises, and as such they may well pass muster, and be allowed to have, at least, an average claim to the honours of print. There are one or two expressions which we have noted for criticism. "Fascia " is not a good word for the burden of a lifeless man which the shepherds are carrying home. " Conscendebat equuna " will not do for "he sat on horseback," and in rendering "the purple-skirted robe Of twilight slowly downward drawn," where the morning is spoken of, crepuscula, a word limited to the twilight of evening, cannot be used.
Previous page
