7 APRIL 1900, Page 25

Sesoos-Books.—The Andromache of Euripides. Edited by A. R. F. Hyslop,

M.A. (Macmillan and Co. 2s. 6d.)—" No apology is needed," Mr. Hyslop thinks, "for the attempt to bring the Andronuiche into the list of Greek plays which are usually read in the upper forms of our English schools." We do not agree. If Harrow boys devour the Tragici Qrzci at such a pace that, having got through all the masterpieces, they have to come to the third-rate plays, we must be content, otherwise the Andro- mache were better left alone. It is very gross in parts. What Andromache says about Hector in 222.5 is especially odious. It treats Homer as Dryden treated the Tempest. What stuff to read with boys ! The edition is sufficiently scholarly. The emendation of 4iscpsfeas for iZesedace in 1. 398 would be convincing, if the word were found elsewhere. We do not see that the construction of " triste ministerium" (En. VL 222-3) parallels that of 1. 103. And we cannot accept the reconstruction of 395-405. Of all emendations transposition is the most unlikely. Andromache's language is sufficiently coherent, as it stands, for a half-frantic woman. It is strange to be told that Nicias was the leader of the war party.. Nicias was philo-Lacon, and Euripides in arguing that it is the soldiers that win battles may have sought to damage him by minimising his distinction as a generaL—Livy, Book V. Edited by A. F. Hort, M.A. (Rivingtons. 2s.)—This is a sequel to similar editions of Books I. and II. by Mr. Hort, and an excellent class-book. Mr. Hort is well acquainted with the peculiarities of Livy's style, and makes some useful obser- vations on it from time to time. Generally his notes seem to give what is wanted, hitting happily the mean between the commonplace and the recondite.—Eutropius I. and IL Edited by W. Cecil Laming, M.A. (Blackie and Son.)—There is something to be said for reverting to Eutropius, who was much in favour as a school-book fifty or sixty years ago. He is dull, it is true, but then he is easy, and the easiness is natural. We are suspicious of Latin simplified by a modern hand. Mr. Laming gives what is wanted in the way of notes, and there are some excellent illustrations.—La Tour des Maures. Par Ernest Daudet. Adapted and edited by A. H. Wall, M.A. (Macmillan and Co. 2s.)