CHARACTER OF THE WORK. THE public is here presented with a translation of one of the best histories of antiquity; a history full of important instruction. The pernicious consequences of faction in states, the tendency that power rigorously or wantonly exercised has to make men desperate, and that liberty, when abused, has to make them insolent; is no where more strongly represented, than in the grave and judicious THUCYDIDES. In him too we see false patriots and venal orators dressed out in genuine colours, and those who employ their eloquence and abilities to promote the public interest, and exert themselves to the utmost of their power in the support of liberty, drawn at full length and in just proportions. With regard to the translation now before us, we shall only say, that its merit is superior to any praises we can bestow, and that it will, we are persuaded, approve itself to the judgment of such (and such only are proper judges) as have an Attic taste, and are well acquainted with the turn and manner of the original. That our readers may see, in some measure, how our ingenious translator has succeeded, both in the oratorial and narrative part, we shall present them with the celebrated oration of Pericles, made at the public funeral of the Athenians, and the account of the plague at Athens, both in the second book of the history of THUCYDIDES. Vide Monthly Review, vol. 8.-Old Series. 975 43-81 21 OF THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR, TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK OF THUCYDIDES. TO WHICH ARE ANNEXED, THREE PRELIMINARY DISCOURSES. I. On the Life of Thucydides. BY WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. DEAN OF CHESTER, TRANSLATOR OF LONGINUS ON THE SUBLIME, XENOPHON'S AFFAIRS OF GREECE, &C. TO WHICH IS PREFIXED THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF THE TRANSLATOR. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY EDWARD EARLE T. H. Palmer, printer. 1818. |