Socrates for English Readers. A new Translation from Xenophon's might
have been made out of the Memorabilia. But we cannot say that it has been made by Mr. Levien. His translation seems accurate enough, as far as we have compared it with the Greek, but it is very
bald and deficient in life and idiomatic force. Nor could even the best
translation of the Memorabilia do justice to Socrates with "English readers." Any one not thoroughly familiar with certain aspects of
Greek life and modes of talking is likely to carry away from a mere translation false and derogatory notions of the great man. The truth, is, that the original ought to be dressed up, so to speak ; we do not mean of course falsified, but accompanied with certain explanations, if it is to• give, we do not say a pleasant, but a true idea of Socrates. There are, passages in the Mentor•abilia, well known to all who have read that book,.
which coming upon the ordinary English reader by surprise and with- out preparation, as they do come upon him here, will seem anything but edifying. The chapter about Socrates' visit to the courtesan Theodota, for instance, is given without a word of explanation or preface. The English reader " will very likely think the sage's ironical advice quite serious, and feel somewhat astonished accordingly.
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