20 JUNE 1868, Page 23

Plato's Sophistes. Translated by R. W. Mackay. (Williams and Norgate.)—Mr.

Mackay makes his translation of the Sophistes, which is neither a very attractive nor a very easy dialogue, sufficiently readable, and also sufficiently faithful in representing the drift of Plato's argument. But tho scholar who may expect to find in it a clear and complete rendering of the original will not find it at all satisfactory. Very pro- bably it was not Mr. Mackay's object to furnish this, but it would have been well to say so. In a long introduction, which shows considerable acquaintance with philosophical literature, be attacks Mr. Grote' s view of the Sophists, not with complete success, though we agree with much that he says. Ho is happier in dealing with Mr. Lowe's utterances on education, but then it is seldom that so clever a men as Mr. Lowe lays himself open to such easy refutation.