—The Skies and Weather Forecasts of Aratus. Translated, with Notes,
by E. Poste, M.A. (Macmillan.)—The two things, perhaps, that most readers know about Aratus, are that Cicero translated and that Virgil imitated him. Mr. Poste, who employs a rhythmical verse, has done all the justice that good scholarship and a power of felicitous rendering could do for an author whose verse is rather a skilful academical exercise than genuine poetry. Here is a descrip- tion of the " Dragon" :—
" The spires Blaze many-starred, and many-starred the head ; With two stars flame the temples, and the eyes, With one the baleful monster's ravening jaw. Sideways tends the head, and points The tip of Heliee's tail."
It is interesting to compare Cicero :- " Huie non una modo caput ornans stella relucet, Vernm tempera aunt duplici fnlgore notate;
trucibusque oculis duo fervida lumina flagrant, Atque uno mentum radinnti skiers: lucet : Obstipnm caput, et tereti cervice reflexnm, Obtutnm in cauda maioris figere dices."
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