27 OCTOBER 1888, Page 23

The Satires and Epistles of Horace. Edited, with Notes, by

J. B. Greenough. (Ginn and Co.)—Mr. Greenough tells us that his work is meant for the class-room, and yet he attempts nothing in the way of commenting on the difficulties of the text. That, we think, is a mistake. Our experience of college students does not lead us to think that they can dispense with this kind of assistance. It is as well, doubtless, to have notes explaining the matter ; but an edition published simply to supply them surely seems some- what unnecessary,—especially in the case of Horace, who has been already so admirably commented on in respect of all points. As far as they go, Mr. Greenough's notes are good enough. Some- times, however, he seems rather chary of information. For

instance, in commenting on /onginquis, Ep. he might have said more than that the wealthier Romans were in the habit of pasturing large herds on the public lands. It would not have been amiss to have added to what custom Horace was evidently alluding. Still, it is not often that Mr. Greenough errs in this way. We cannot, however, say that he adds anything of import- ance to what has already been written on this author.