The Works of Xenophon. Translated by H: G. Dakyns, M.A.
(Macmillan.)—This is the second volume of Mr. Dakyns' valuable translation of Xenophon. It contains "Hellenica, IlI.-VI.," "Agesilatis," the " Polity of the Athenians," the " Polity of the Lasedcemonians," and "Ways and Means," a tractate on the revenues of Athens. The translator discusses at some length the question of the value of Xenophon as an historian, taking, on the whole, the favourable view which the ancients unanimously adopted. He has his theories about the undoubted defects of the "Hellenica," and is inclined to conjecture that the work, as we have it, is not complete. He adds a most useful list of lamina, occurrences which it is natural to suppose the historian would have included in his account. To these we may add some details of the death of Epaminondas. Xenophon quite recognises the vast importance of the event, but all that he says is this :- " After he himself had fallen, the rest of the Thebans were not able any longer to turn their victory rightly to account." We may give as a specimen of Mr. Dakyns' translation the con- cluding passage of the " Hellenica," a passage which the trans- lator rightly speaks of as masterly "The effective result of those achievements was the very oppo-
site of that which the world at largo anticipated. Here, where well nigh the whole of Hellas was met together in one field, and the combatants stood rank against rank confronted, there was no one who doubted that, in the event of battle, the conquerors this day would rule ; and that those who lost would be their subjects. But God so ordered it that both belligerents alike sot up trophies as claiming victory, and neither interfered with the other in the act. Both parties alike gave back their enemy's dead under truce, and in right of victory ; both alike, in symbol of defeat, under a truce, took back their dead. And though both claimed to have won the day, neither could show that he had gained thereby any accession of territory, or State, or Empire, or was better situated than before by battle. Uncertainty and con- fusion, indeed, had gained ground, being the far greater through the length and breadth of Hellas than before."
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