Apologia transfugae
Sir: As long as we have great and understanding scholars such as Professor Trevor-Roper and Professor LloydJones, teaching will not die, nor learning, nor interest in the Classics, history, and modern life related to ancient.
Having thrown all my arguments into the sea long ago, I recall a friend, brought up on the Classics, who said to me: " The arguments in favour of learning Greek and Latin are very good and very many — but they are very hard to remember." Another friend, similarly brought up, composed this piece of verse, which he called "On First Looking Into Kleber's Beowulf Much have 1 travelled in the world of Kant, But ne'er a textual critic met Who gave such a send-off To W ilam owitz-Mdllendorff At the Potsdamer Bahnhof As did Bugge — or was It old Kock, the lone wolf?
Perhaps the lesson is that young people get muddled easily and should not be given too much knowledge to assimilate too early. One of the best scholars I have known told me to keep a sense of humour about the Classics, and said: " My friend Professor Godley, now, alas, A.D., keeps interrupting me synechdochically but synemerally, while Homer orpheustically sine die et orbe noddingly knows best (a clear reference to Homer Knott Houseman, of the University of Reading Pan. Those interested should write to the Professor at Agape House, above address)."
Anyway, reterring to second string, let General Godley (A.D.) have the last word: Sweet were the days when we roamed at discretion, Swallowing still with insatiate maw Subject on subject in rapid succession, Chats about Homer and Lectures on Law, — Modem historian or ancient logician, Bard and philosopher early and late, All that conduces to mental nutrition Mingled together and served on a plate!
Classics Made Easy, divested of Greek, may be the better for those who don't know how to work hard at a subject.
Richard Brett-Smith 14 Crick Road, Oxford
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