History of Sicily suppressed, but he was imprisoned, as an impostor, for attempting to publish it!

That Shakspeare borrowed as largely as Milton, there can be no reasonable doubt; and notwithstanding the pretence that he was ignorant of Greek, yet I shrewdly suspect that if the lost plays of Euripides and Aristophanes should ever come to light, the originals of his best productions would be found among them.

When I consider these monstrous frauds, I am scarcely less skeptical with regard to modern erudition, than was Father Hardouin with regard to the ancients. He showed, with immense erudition, that except the Bible and Homer, Herodotus, Plautus, Pliny the Elder, with fragments of Cicero, Virgil, and Horace, all the pretended remains of antiquity are forgeries.

In matters of science, the moderns are but reviving the learning of the ancients; as I propose on some future occasion more fully to demonstrate. I shall, at present, adduce but one example. Phren ology is among the most recent of the pretended discoveries of modern times. It is the general belief that the foundations of this science were first laid by Dr. Gall. Now, one of the cardinal doctrines of Phrenology is the conexion between the passion of love and the occipital portion of the head. The discovery of this connexion is claimed for Dr. Gall; and no position in the philosophy of Phrenology is more strikingly true, or confirmed by more extensive observation. It will occasion a surprise, by no means agreeable, among the admirers of the learned German, when I announce that this interesting and cardinal truth in the science he founded was well known to the ancients, at least as far back as the era of Apollonius of Rhodes. The passage which proves this, is to be found in the Argonautics, and describes the effects of Medea's falling violently in love with Jason.

“ Δακρυ δ' απ' οφθαλμων ελεω ρεεν ενδοθι δ' αιει
Τειρ' οδυνη σμυχουσα δια χροος, αμφι τ' αραιας
“ Ίνας, και κεφαλης υπο νειατον ινιον αχρις,
«Ενθ' αλεγεινοτατον δύνει αχος, οπποτ' avias
Ακαμάτοι πραπίδεσσιν ενισκιμψωσιν Έρωτες.”

Or, literally, in English: "The tears flowed piteously from her eyes; and within, incessant distress, flushing her face, tormented her tender nerves, and her neck, deep within, where it joins the back part of the head-in which place the keenest pain is always felt, when invincible Love inflicts his pangs."

But to keep you no longer in suspense, I shall announce, without further preface, the immediate object of this communication, which is, to inform the world that I have discovered the GREEK ORIGINAL of our celebrated national ballad "YANKEE DOODLE!" In com

*Apoll. Rhod. Argonaut. Lib. III. vv. 761 et seq.; Ed. Brunck, Argentor. 1780, 8vo.

mon with the rest of the learned world, you will doubtless be curious to learn the history of this truly fortunate discovery. I had always been of the opinion that this sublime poem,-sublime when properly understood, but puerile in the extreme as usually recited,was not the production of a modern age. Its Doric simplicity and Laconic brevity, its Attic wit and Ionian sweetness, all seemed to indicate that it emanated from a mind not debased by the effeminate associations of modern times. The conjecture has proved to be correct. Yankee Doodle is of classic origin. It was chaunted by the tuneful sons and daughters of Miletus, certainly in the days of Herodotus, and perhaps in those of Homer.

We are indebted for this precious relic to Athenæus, that learned Encyclopædist, who has transmitted to us so many other treasures of useful knowledge.

It has been said of the Institutes of Justiniam, that if all other Latin authors should become extinct, the classic language of Rome might be revived from that model of elegant composition. It may be said, with almost equal truth, that a complete knowledge of Grecian literature, philosophy, and art, might be derived from the Avoropiora of Athenæus, were it not for the frequent and melancholy lacune which have been made in this wonderful work by the envious tooth of time.

The original of "Yankee Doodle," (or "Iankhe Doule," as I shall show it ought to be written, ) is contained in the fifteenth volume of Schweighaeuser's splendid edition of Athenæus, published in Greek and Latin, at Strasburgh, in 1807, pp. 1003, et seq. You will be gratified to learn how closely our popular American version adheres to the original, following even the evident false readings of some editions. I say American version, for I shall conclusively show, in the course of these remarks, that this relic has come down to us through some other channel than the literature of England.

But to postpone your curiosity no longer, I transcribe the original at once, according to the text as adopted by Schweighaeuser; from whose judgment, however, in one or two particulars regarding this poem, I shall in the course of my remarks be obliged to dissent.

'H TOY AOYAOY 'QAH.

Πατηρ κα'γω, συν λοχαγω, 1

Εις σταθμούς ηλασαμεν,

Έχει παιδας τε και κόρας

Ως κρίμνον, ωρασαμεν.

Στροφη.

Σιτου κορμος ψιλοειν,
Τροχοι αμαξης στρέφειν
Σε καταφέρετο Σατανας!
Ύπερος ολμου κοπτειν.

Αντιστροφη.

Ιαγχε δουλε, ανδροειν
Ιαγχε δουλε,

[Cætera desunt.]

How accurately the very spirit and language of the original have been preserved in the vernacular melody, will appear to the learned. by a critical comparison of the above with the following most correct and authentic text of the ode, as sung at the present day :

YANKEE DOODLE.

"Father an' I went down to camp,
Along with Captain Gooding,
And there we see the gals and boys,
As thick as hasty pudding;
Corn-stalks twist your hair,
Cart wheels surround ye,
Old Dragon car'e you off,
Mortar-pestle pound ye!

Yankee Doodle, be a man!

Yankee Doodle Dandy,

Yankee Doodle, kiss the gals,

Sweet as 'lasses candy,"

The only word not properly found in the original is "Gooding," in the second line; an evident gloss which has crept into the text, or is introduced, ex necessitate, to rhyme with "pudding," a word of which may be said, almost as of the name of the town in Horace, "quod non est dicere versu." I think the words "Old Dragon," are substituted for some expression more pointed and direct in a more ancient copy; a change probably introduced by our forefathers, who were great admirers of this ode, but had a peculiar aversion to the direct use of the word which is most naturally suggested by Zaravãs. The last two lines of the antistrophe are surreptitious; they bear intrinsic marks of a later origin than the former parts of the poem, and as they are not contained in the original, little doubt can be entertained that they are the production of some scholiast who attempted to supply the hiatus valde deflendus in

the text.

Time will not permit me to indulge in those reflections which are suggested by the discovery of this venerable fragment of antiquity. I trust, however, that public curiosity will be awakened, and will lead to further developements equally authentic and surprising. No department of literary labor promises a richer reward, or will more certainly secure the applause and benedictions of

posterity. Not to speak of my own humble labors in this behalf, the fortunate detectors of these obsolete relics of genius will take place with the distinguished sons of erudition who brought to light the celebrated tablet,

"BILST

U. M.
PSHI

S. M.
ARK."*

and with the happy discoverers of the drinking horn and letters, "HARDENVT."

an acknowledgment which has consigned to immortality the names GOUGH and GEORGE STEVENS.†

For the satisfaction of the learned, however, I take this occasion to announce that I have in progress, and nearly ready for publication, by subscription, a variorum edition of "YANKEE DOODLE," in one volume, folio, with appropriate maps and plates; the title page and a specimen of which I subjoin:

“ Βασιλιδου Χιου τα Λειπομενα. Basilidis Chii quæ extant omnia. Textum ad præstantissimas editiones recognitum, et præcipua varietate, nec non VV. DD. conjecturis instructum, prolegomenis et excursibus, varii argumenti, donavit, notisque perpetuis et ad æstheticen, historiam, geographiam, mythologiam, archæologiam, remque musicam spectantibus, illustravit Porson Junior, L. L. D. etc.

Proœmium-Hoc pulcherrimi Carminis fragmentum servavit Bedrotus, in suâ Alken. Omn. Op. editione, in notulis ad finem tom. ter. adjectis. Finis desideratur Grammatici Basilio cuidam adscripserunt, et hui opinioni Bedrotus eruditissimus assentit. Sed quis fuerit Basilius iste, et quando vixerit, omnino latet. Basilius Maximus cognominatus, de rebus ecclesiasticis auctor celeberrimus, circiter A. D. CCCXXVI, in Cappadociâ, floruit; et post hunc, Basilius Seleuciæ Episcopus, A. D. CCCCXL; sed inter præclara eorum scripta nulla hujus carminis vestigia extant. Malim Basilidi Chio, Herodoti patri, adscribere; de quo Herod. Lib. VIII. c. 132, lector eruditus adeat.

Poema totum, innumerabilibus penè mendis scaturientem, ad pristinum sensum revocavi. "Tov Avvdov 'Yμvos" Bedrotus, et post hunc, Schweighaeuser clarissimus edidit; sed non animadvertêre homines docti, (id quod rectè notavit auctor quidem eruditissimus, Robertus Lowth, de Sacrâ Poës. Heb. Pral. XXV.) "Carmen omni cautioni destinatum, sive assâ voce, sive fidibus conjunctis, canendum, Græci wodny appellant." Nil moror quod Tyrwhittius Ricardi Dawesii Miscellaneis Criticis adjecit, To Exodon fuisse carminis genus, a veteribus Atheniensibus in conviviis cantari solitum;" quia won nomen generalissimum ra exodia includit. Itaque "H TOU Aovlev Lon" edidi, et procul dubio sic Basilides.

ΙΛΗΧΕ ΔΟΥΛΕ.

Ή ΤΟΥ ΔΟΥΛΟΥ ΩΔΗ

Πατηρ κα'γω, συν λοχαγω,

Εις σταθμούς ηλασαμεν"

Έχει παιδαςτε και κόρας

Ως κριμνον, ωρασαμεν.

Pickwick Papers.

+ Sce Gentleman's Magazine.

Vid. Daw. Miscell. cril. p. 663, ad. fin. Ed. Sec. Lond. MDCCCXXVII.

Haec ode est dicolos, distrophos. Metrum est Iambicum. Prior quisque versus est dimeter; alter quisque dimeter catalectus.

V V. 1, 2. Sic editores omnes quos viderim; quod quidem mihi ferri non posse videtur. Enimvero qui Prosodiæ student observare possint, Aoxayos penultimam producere: e. g.

Αυδω λοχαγοις, οι τεταχθε πιμπραναι. (Troad. 1260, Ed. Dind.)

Contra nλacauer penultimam corripit; quoniam et in aorista et in futuro, penultima semper corripitur, nisi quæ in aw purum, vel in paw, desinunt. Tamen persaepe illa poetica geminatio occurrit, ut sepaσσav pro εñeрatav. Sic Hom. II. XI. 676.

Ληίδα δ' εκ πεδι8 συνελάσσαμεν ηλίθα πολλα.

Quae guidem licentia hic locum habere non possit; nam ηλασαμμεν pro πλασαμεν scribere non licentia est poetica, sed aliâ nimirum linguâ est loqui. Scribere ergo non dubitem,

Πατηρ κα' γω ηλασαμεν

Εις σταθμούς συν λοχαγω

quod quidem Prosodiæ rationem mirabiliter servat, et ad vernaculi interpretationis ordinem et verba, magis consentameum est.

V.4. Ως κρίμνον, κ. τ. λ.

Kovov, farina crassior, mica, Anglicè-" HASTY PUDDING," Vid. notas, ad fin. patria lingua exaratas. Ωρασαμεν. Quemadmodum ωρασαμεν penultimam producit, vid. sup. in vv. 1. 2. Quæ in aw purum, vel paw, purum impurumve desinent, ca omnia (ni fallor,) penultimam istam, et in aorista et in futuro producunt,—ex. gratia. Kvnμnv te dietepaoev 'Apyɛiov dopv. Eurip. Phœniss, 1403. et vid. quac vir clar. Sam: Clark in Hom. II. Lib. 1. v. 67, annotavit.

V. 5. Σιτου, κ. τ. λ. Alii, Πελαργος θριχας ψιλοειν ; sed inepte, quod quidem interpretatio antiqua Anglica planè demonstret. "Corn-stalks twist your hair," etc. Nam si To Пeλapyos (Lat. " Ciconia," Ang. "stork") retineretur, reddendum esset linguâ Americanâ, "Corn Storks; "-quod perinde est; nam ciconiarum nullum cst genus quod triticeum" vel "farreum," vocatur. Opixas quoque supervacaneum esset, quod vet. cod. omn. reperitur, EITOU-Sc. milium Indicum: linquâ vernaclâ-" CORN." V. 6. Tooxo auažns oтpeŸeiv, K. T. λ. Anglicè—“Cart-wheels surround you!" Hâc quidem sententiâ nihil unquam fuit ad commovendos affectus, neque excogitatum exquisitius neque elegantius dictum!

V V. 8, 9. 'layxɛ dovde avôposiv! etc. Οι δε παλαιοι Φασι και οτι το ρημα, βομβώδες αν paoiv EXEL, K. T. X. Eustathius in loc. Qui plura velint, Eustath: in Hom. Lib XVI. v. 379, adeant."

Having given, for the benefit of the learned, this specimen of my method of annotation in the forthcoming edition, I shall proceed briefly to suggest some of the curious and valuable illustrations,