Of the three interpretations given by Twining, the second, which he has well refuted, may be demonstrated to be false by adducing the Greek words themselves, διὰ ἐλέου καὶ φόβου περαί νουσα τὴν τῶν τοιούτων παθημάτων κάθαρσιν : for the article, which is prefixed to TOIOÚTOV, makes it absolutely necessary to include pity and terror as the objects, as well as the means of purgation. And I am delighted to find that the identical translation, which I have proposed, those and such-like passions, is sanctioned by the high authority of Milton, whose accuracy as a scholar was equal to his excellence as a poet. Buhle, in his edition of Aristotle, T. 5. p. 207., has thus correctly edited the passage: Εστιν οὖν τραγῳδία μίμησις πράξεως σπουδαίας καὶ τελείας, μέγεθος ἐχούσης· ἡδυσμένῳ λόγῳ χωρίς ἑκάστῳ τῶν εἰδῶν ἐν τοῖς μορίοις· δρώντων, καὶ οὐ δι' ἀπαγγελίας· δι ̓ ἐλέου καὶ φόβου περαίνουσα τὴν τῶν τοιούτων παθημάτων κάθαρσιν. He translates it thus:" Est igitur Tragoedia imitatio actionis seriæ et perfectæ, magnitudinem (idoneam) habentis; sermone condito separatim unicuique formæ in partibus (diversis ;) agentium, nec per narrationem; per misericordiam et metum hujusmodi affectuum purgationem efficiens." To his critical notes I refer the reader, and shall merely quote the philological matter: "Scipio Maffeus in Præf. ad Meropen suam, Drama Tusco idiomate scriptum, TOOÚTOV glossema redolere arbitratus est. Tuetur autem illud Lessing. Hamb. Dramaturgie 2, 196. Referendum est ToloÚTшv яalημáτwv ad affectus ab Aristot. commemoratos, misericordiam et metum. Notabilis est Philosophi nostri locus de affectuum purgatione Musices ope, Polit. 8, 7. Provocat ibi Aristot. ad ea, quæ in lib. de Poët. fusius de affectuum purgatione dicturus sit: Τί δὲ λέγομεν τὴν κάθαρσιν, νῦν μὲν ἁπλῶς, πάλιν δὲ ἐν τοῖς Περὶ Ποιητικῆς ἐροῦμεν σαφέστερον. Sed hæc omnia interciderunt. Defenderat in his haud dubie poësin tragicam contra Platonis de Rep. 3. init. criminationes, quod affectus misericordiæ et metus Tragoediis nimis excitentur, adeoque nutriantur, validioresque efficiantur, cum Noster contenderet, eos poësi tragica levari et exhauriri, et proinde affectuum horum purgationem opus esse proprium et quasi finem Tragodiæ. De descriptione Tragoedia Aristotelica vide omnino, præter laudatos ab Harlesio ad h. 1., egregiam Twiningii notam p. 231. et seqq. et James Pye's Comm. on the Poetic of Aristotle, p. 138." 322 CAMBRIDGE PRIZE POEMS FOR 1821. MARIA SCOTORUM REGINA. OLIM, ut vetustis condita turribus Cæruleas speculata lymphas, Ad silüas, propriumque regnum: Qualis, latebris vimineæ domus Suspiciens tacite, palumbes, Gens insolentis plena licentiæ, Donec juventæ fleret inutiles. Annos remoti carceris incola, Et tristis optaret beatæ Sacra domi solitosque ritus ; Optaret horas lætitiæ breves Vineta, dilectas ad oras Longum animo repetente cursum ; ! Loch Leven. Felix! sub umbra pampinea modo Vitam innocentem duceret immemor Splendoris, et curæ soluta Præteritos revocaret annos; Qua forte sertis comta rubentibus, Vernantis ævi in limine floreo Ergo his Voluptas rara silentibus. Ille' et, latronum victima, defuit,. Italicæ fidibus camœnæ. Ecquis putaret nubila luridi Funeribus sociam cupressum. Effræna noctis numina turbidæ, Primum æstuosæ cum mulier retro Clivos recedentes, et arcta Nave procul repetenda regna: Ostendit undantem Oceanum jubar Redux diei; littora Galliæ 'Rizzio. Linquenda moverunt amoris Soliciti resides querelas. Demens amorem gentis inhospita Speravit, iræ prodita civium; Sed dura quærenti negarunt Saxa Caledoniæ salutem: At non secundos reddidit exitus Fortuna belli; militis impetu Non profuit tanti coronam Et solium reparare avitum : Ergo vetusti te laris exulem, MARIA, cui sors debita mitior, Nutus Tyrannorum fugavit Terrificus patriis ab oris ; nempe, fraudes nectere fraudibus Edocta, fallens insidiis Soror, Te Utcunque regali decora Nomine, virgineoque fastu, Perjura fœdus rupit et hospiti Sacrique amoris, scilicet invidens, Ritu puellarum, juventæ Fœmineos teneræ triumphos. O nata suavi voce adamantina Mollire regum pectora, non levis Querela suspirans amorem, Non lacrymæ tetigere mentem Crudelem ELISA ? non niveæ manus Nudumque collum, et labra trementia, Non verba moverunt suprema Sanguinei sceleris ministrum? Cur non potestas regia profuit? Quin ante tempus canitiem dolor Rosasque marcentes genarum Vos, quæ tenetis compede amabili, O quam doloso lumine victimam, Necnon amicos inter et æmulas C. FURSDON, COL. DOWNING, ALUMN. EPIGRAMMATA. ΕΠΑΙΖΕΝ ΑΜΑ ΣΠΟΥΔΑΖΩΝ. E. BAINES, COL. CHRIST. ALUMN. VOL. XXIV. CI. JI. NO. XLVIII. Y |