29 SEPTEMBER 1888, Page 24

Vergii, Enid iv. With Introduction, Notes, and Vocabulary. Edited by

the Rev. H. H. Stephenson. (Macmillan and Co.)—Mr. Stephenson has devoted his introduction to oomments on the diction of Virgil, and to hints on hexameter versification. In his preface he refers his readers to Professor Nettleship'a "Virgil " for information about the poet's life, works, and the Fourth lEneid in particular. It is true that they could not do better than study Professor Nettleship ; still, we think that the value of this little volume would have been enhanced had a few remarks more directly connected with the subject been added. Perhaps they might have taken the place of the renderings in blank verse and the translation from the " Mode d'Arthur" which Mr. Stephen- son is kind enough to give us. As might be expected, the notes are well expressed and scholarly. In line 168, however, we think

that an explanation of prima would not have been amiss ; while in line 121 the question does not so much seem to be whether alas are the huntsmen or the beaters, as whether they are horsemen or the feathers which were attached to the formal°. But in the notes there is little to find fault with. The vocabulary we think a mistake. It discourages the use of dictionaries. The author's school experiences will probably enable him to recognise the possible imprudence of such a step.