Apuleins : Apology and Florida. Translated by H. E. Butler.
(The Clarendon Press. 2s. Cel. net.)—This volume, for the tardy notice of which we apologise, contains the less-known works of Apuleius : his defence before the Proconsul when he was accused of magic and other crimes by some interested kinsfolk of a wealthy widow whom he had married, and an anthology, as " Florida " may be rendered, in which he put together some extracts from speeches delivered on various occasions. These are a curious mixture. One is the story of Marsyas and Apollo; another a description of the Indian gymnosopldsts ; another subject is found in the marvels of Providence ; there are praises of philosophers, of sundry official personages, and of himself. Mr. Butler does all that could be done for his author, but it is impossible to make him interesting. The one thing of his which the world will not forget is the Psyche story. From another point of view, indeed, the translation has a value. The Latin of Apuleius is linguistically very interesting, but not a little difficult, and any one who may wish to read it will welcome the help of an expert.
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