23 OCTOBER 1869, Page 23

Gulielmi Shaksperii Julius Ccesar. Latino reddidit Henricus Deni- son. (Parker.)—We

quite agree with Mr. Denison that translation is very much to be preferred to "what is called by courtesy 'original composition' in the teaching of the classical language." But from such translation as he gives us in his Julius Cce.sar we pray to be delivered. It is indescribable how utterly the spirit of the original vanishes in the vapid prose to which it is here reduced. Take, for instance, the passage from act 1, scene 2,— " Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus ; and we petty men Walk under his huge legs, 81111 peep about To and ourselves dishonourable graves," thus rendered,—" Quid miram, mi bone ! Rio, veluti Colossus alter,