PREFACE. HOWEVER I might be disposed to say something about the Aves of Aristophanes, I could not but feel that so much has been already said on the subject, and that the ground has been so totally preoccupied, as to leave room only for commentators of great learning and original thought; certainly none for the more humble labourers in the fields of antiquity,—quales ego vel Cluvienus. The public has been anxiously expecting Mr. Hamilton's translation of Süvern's Theory of the Aves. It would be presumptuous in me to do more than refer to that work: I must content myself with observing that Süvern considers the Aves to be a political satire on the Sicilian expedition. He: supposes Nephelococcygia to represent Syracuse; Epops: Lamachus.; Pisthetærus, Alcibiades. Mr. Süvern's remarks, reflect much light both on the plot and characters, their political bearing and latent realities. The theory is ingenious, and elaborated with all the skill and industry of a profound German scholar, That Aristophanes's plays were "satires" in the highest sense of the term, cannot in reason be disputed. Horace himself, who is so proud to claim for the Romans the invention of satire, with a strange inconsistency admits that it was the ancient Greek Comedy, "mutatis tantum pedibus numerisque." In fact, the old Comedy was the liberal press of Athens: and considering it existed in a democracy, and was for a long time restrained by no legislative interference, I am rather disposed to wonder at its purity and temper, than to reproach it for outrageous violence. I may be wrong: if I am so, it is a most unwilling error; but I am persuaded that if in our own times the press were not more restrained than it was in the age of Aristophanes, society would speedily be overthrown by its mean and brutal tyranny. I am not going to institute a comparison between the several plays of Aristophanes; each has enough of peculiar merit. I think, however, I may venture to say that in no play is there greater humour than in the Aves; nor would it be easy to point out any composition of antiquity in which there was gayer or more genuine fancy. But I feel that one is apt to be led away with a subject that has occupied an unusual share of thought. I have, at the suggestion of several gentlemen engaged in the instruction of youth; not placed the notes under the text, but at the end of the book; and have omitted the Greek Scholia. When the eye is drawn off to the notes in the first instance, and before the text has been examined of itself, difficulties are often fancied which do not exist, and the thread of ideas so interrupted as to break the interest. I have availed myself of the remarks of Gray and Mr. Carey in compiling the notes, as well as of the other commentators on the Aves. As frequent reference is made to Matthiæ, it is proper to state that the edition which I have used is the last edition, published by the Rev. John Kenrick. H. P. C. 10 Lower Belgrave Street, Eaton Square. ΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΔΡΑΜΑΤΟΣ ΠΡΟΣΩΠΑ. ΕΥΕΛΠΙΔΗΣ. ΠΕΙΣΘΕΤΑΙΡΟΣ. ΤΡΟΧΙΛΟΣ, ΘΕΡΑΠΩΝ ΕΠΟΠΟΣ. ΕΠΟΨ. ΧΟΡΟΣ ΟΡΝΙΘΩΝ. ΦΟΙΝΙΚΟΠΤΕΡΟΣ. ΚΗΡΥΞ. ΙΕΡΕΥΣ. ΠΟΙΗΤΗΣ. ΧΡΗΣΜΟΛΟΓΟΣ. ΜΕΤΩΝ ΓΕΩΜΕΤΡΗΣ. ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΣ. ΨΗΦΙΣΜΑΤΟΠΩΛΗΣ. ΑΓΓΕΛΟΙ Β. ΙΡΙΣ. ΕΤΕΡΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ. ΠΑΤΡΑΛΟΙΑΣ. ΚΙΝΗΣΙΑΣ ΔΙΘΥΡΑΜΒΟΠΟΙΟΣ. ΠΕΝΗΣ ΣΥΚΟΦΑΝΤΗΣ. ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΥΣ. ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ. ΤΡΙΒΑΛΛΟΣ. ΗΡΑΚΛΗΣ. ΟΙΚΕΤΗΣ ΠΕΙΣΘΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ. |