scaooL-BOOKS.
In the "Warwick Shakespeare" (Blackie and Son) we have The Tempest, edited by Frederic S. Boas, M.A.; and Cymbeline, edited by Alfred J. Wyatt, MA. In the intro- duct ion Mr. Boas argues, quite rightly, we think, for the late date of the play. The metrical evidence, which may,' however, be overstated, and the general character of the action are really conclusive. Of the origin of the plot an interesting account is given, and there is a criticism, which is less adverse than usual, of Dryden and Davenant's adapta- tion, "The Enchanted Island." The edition, generally, is of the good quality to which we are accustomed in the series. The same praise may be given to Mr. Wyatt's Cymbeline. But, we would ask, is it seriously meant that this play, whether with or without omissions, should be used as a class-book by "young students "P Will some advocate of coeducation frankly say whether he or she would like to read it with a mixed class ?— Spenser's Faerie Queen: Book I. Edited by Kate M. Warren. (Constable and Co.)—The student gets no further help than what may be found in a glossary and notes, together covering twenty-one pages. The forty-two stanzas of Canto xii. are passed with two notes, one of which informs the student that the edition of 1590 omits a certain comma. Less of the text and more annotation would have been better. Some account of !tie studied archaisms of the language would have been useful. The glossary is, indeed, very carefully made. We see, however, " defeasaunce" in it, while the text has " defeasance."—In "Arnold's School Shake- speare," under the editorship of Mr. J. Churton Collins (Edward Arnold), we have The Tragedy of King Richard the Second, edited by C. H. Gibson, M.A. The character of the King, as it is seen in history, and in Shakespeare's picturing, is particularly well given by the editor.—Selections from the Spectator. Edited by the Rev. Henry Evans. (Blackie and Son.)—The passages are twenty in number. The notes are useful, but the derivations might be put in a more scholarly way. "Simplicity (sine plied, • without fold.')" There is no such word as plias. "Speculation, Lat., specula, 'a look-out." The verb speculor would be better. What is meant by "Latin, sacristan, a vestry keeper"? " ? A learner would suppose that sacristan was a Latin word. Why " Klaudios Galenos " and " Dionysius Cassius " ? If Dr. Evans Latinises one why not both ? The date of "Cornelius Tacitua (75.120)" is probably a misprint, as that of" Horace (B.C. 65-6S)" certainly is, for it makes him die three years before he was born. Why is Martial described as an "epic poet"? (It occurs twice.)— In " Arnold's British Classics for English Schools," general editor, J. Churton Collins, M.A. (E. Arnold), Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, edited by the Rev. E. C. Everard Owen. We cannot help thinking that in Childe Harold the half is decidedly better than the whole (we might perhaps say the "quarter," for Canto iv. is incom- parably better than the rest). But if a text-book is wanted an editor has no choice. Mr. Owen gives us in his preface all the necessary facts, and discusses Byron's personal and literary characteristics with fairness and moderation, and supplies notes which will probably be found sufficiently exhaustive.—Poems by Matthew Arnold. Selected and edited by G. C. Macaulay. (Macmillan and Co.)—We have no fault to find with the selec- tion, which contains all Matthew Arnold's best work. The criticism is always good. Scholars are apt to exaggerate Arnold's excellences, so strongly does his classicality, in which he is quite unapproa,ched, appeal to them. Mr. Macaulay holds the balance fairly. We would mention some specially good comments on Arnold's use of the simile.—Pope's Essay on Criticism, edited by John Churton Collins (Macmillan and Co.), is an excellent piece of work. "I have, I hope," says Mr. Collins, "left no passage, or even word, likely to present any difficulty un- explained," and, to the best of our observation, his hope is justified.
In the "University Tutorial Series" (W. B. Clive) we have Chaucer : The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales and The Man of Law's Tales, edited by A. L. Wyatt, M.A. This is a serviceable piece of work. The facts of Chaucer's Life and works are given without an unnecessary word in a series of dated paragraphs. The "Canterbury Tales," as a whole, are described, and a special account is given of the two portions selected. Then we have sections devoted to the poet's " Language " and to his "Metre." Finally, there is a brief criticism. The text is furnished with the necessary indications that enable the learner to follow the metre and pronunciation. The book is completed by notes and a glossary.—We have also received a second edition of The Early Principate : a History of Rome, 31 B.C.-96 A.D., by A. H. Allcroft, MA., and J. H. Hayden, M.A.; and Juvenal XL, XIIL, XIV., edited by A. H. Allcroft, M.A. (same publishers).—Foundation Truths of Scripture. By Professor J.
D.D. (T. and T. Clark).--The Gospel according to St. Mark, edited by the Rev. A. C. Hillard, M. h., in the series of "The Books of the Bible" (Rivington, Percival, and Co.)— Moliere's L'Avare, edited by E. G. W. Braunholtz, MA. (Can% bridge University Press) ; A Second French Course, by J. J. Beuzemaker, B.A. (Blackie and Son) ; and Elements of Algebra, with Answers, by R. Lachlan, Sc.D. (E. Arnold).
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