OF PASSAGES IN THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF THE POET-PHILOSOPHER OF VENUSIA: WITH WHICH IS COMBINED AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE SUITABILITY OF THE ANCIENT EPIC AND LYRIC BY JOHN MURRAY, M. A., ROYAL GOLD MEDALLIST IN "SCIENCE AND ARTS," BY AWARD OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF LAY RESIDENT MASTER OF TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. "Legitimæ inquisitionis vera norma est, ut nihil veniat in practicam, cujus non fit etiam doctrina aliqua et theoria."-BACON, De Aug. Scien. DUBLIN: BOOKSELLERS TO THE UNIVERSITY. MDCCCLI. PREFACE. It is related, I think, by Baron Holberg, in his Outlines of Universal History, that the Spanish author Sepulveda once published an antiquarian Work, apparently for the sake of introducing a single original notion worthy of record, namely, that of deriving the term Æra from the initial letters of the words composing the sentence Annus Erat Regnantis Augusti.' And although the derivation is about as well founded as would be that of the English term News from the initials of the names of the four cardinal points, yet Sepulveda, on the whole, 'stood confest' an expert literary nomenclator, and very respectable 'editor' of results ascertained by others; his faults being confined to his originalities, and these latter being few. Now, although I feel a strong, but, I trust, moderate hope that Sepulveda's favourite 'idea' may not be deemed a fair exponent. of those which I am about to submit to the ordeal of the reader's criticism, yet I would, were it practicable, most gladly avail myself of the protective advantages which every modern editor' of the Works of any notable ancient author may derive from blending his own remarks, however elementary, with those more recondite dicta that are already stamped by the impress of influential names. The conclusions, however, at which I have arrived, are so frequently |