ADVERTISEMENT. THE "Dialogue about Famous Orators" concludes a task which has occupied much of our time for nearly twenty years past,-the translation of the Works of Tacitus. To give with sufficient faithfulness an author's meaning is now, with all the aids that a translator can command, comparatively easy. Το furnish the English reader with anything like an adequate representation of the style and genius of the original must ever be in the highest degree difficult. It requires, besides a special aptitude for the work, such an expenditure of time and labour as only the amplest leisure could supply. If the work of translation could have a share in the proposed "endownment of research," it might be possible to reach an ideal to which those who have to live by their work can but distantly aspire. Meanwhile we have to acknowledge much kind and generous approbation of our work, and much valuable and instructive criticism. Of this, when it has dealt with details, we have often availed ourselves. When we have been told in more general terms that we ought to be more forcible. more faithful, or more free, we have been obliged to be content with acknowledging the excellence of the advice, and regretting that we were not able to follow it. A. J. C. RETFORD, W. J. B. INTRODUCTION TO THE LIFE OF CNEUS JULIUS AGRICOLA. THE life of Agricola was probably published some time between the October of the year 97 A.D. and the 23rd of January, A.D. 98. This seems fairly inferred from the opening words of ch. 3, in which Tacitus implies, by the omission of the title "Divus," that Nerva Cæsar was still living, and speaks of Trajan as now daily augmenting the prosperity of the time." Nerva adopted Trajan in October, A.D. 97, and died the 23rd of January in the following year. Orelli indeed refers the publication to the beginning of Trajan's reign, on the ground that the brief period of three months, during which he was associated with Nerva in the empire, would hardly justify Tacitus in praising him more highly than Nerva during the lifetime of the latter. Again, he says, Trajan was in Germany, and did not come to Rome till Nerva's death. These arguments fail to convince us. Tacitus says of Nerva that, "at the very beginning of a most happy age, he blended things once irreconcilable, sovereignty and freedom." This surely is very high praise, quite as high, we think, as that bestowed on Trajan. "But Trajan was not at Rome at that time." He was, in fact, giving proofs of his ability as a commander on the Rhine, in the province of Lower Germany, perhaps the most trying and responsible position in which a Roman could be placed. He was elected to share the empire not only by the voice of Nerva, but by that of the Senate and people. His absence from Rome, under such circumstances, seems no reason for supposing that what is said of him is not perfectly applicable to this particular time. The purpose of his work, Tacitus tells us, was to do honour to Agricola. He exhibits him as the great general of the age, as the Roman who first thoroughly explored and conquered Britain. To have achieved this difficult work was, no doubt, in the judgment of Tacitus, Agricola's chief claim to distinction. His glory culminated in his great victory over the Caledonian tribes at the foot of the "Mons Grampius." Comparatively little is told us about his boyhood and youth, and very little about the last eight years of his life. It is plainly hinted that he fell a victim to the jealousy of Domitian. This was the popular impression at the time, and Dion Cassius, the only writer besides Tacitus who speaks of Agricola, accepts it as a certainty. As a specimen of ancient biography, executed by a man of remarkable genius, the Life of Agricola has always been much read and admired. Both fatherin-law and son-in-law appear equally to advantage. Of himself, Tacitus speaks with graceful modesty; of his illustrious father-in-law in affectionate, and at the same time judicious, terms of admiration. There is no fulsome or overstrained panegyric. The author praises indeed highly and warmly, but in calm and dignified language. In the touching and beautiful conclusion to which the work is brought in the last three chapters, he combines the noblest eloquence with the most perfect good taste. His narrative throughout is striking and vivid, and tells much in a brief compass. Nothing could be more impressive than the description of the defeat and overthrow of the confederated Caledonian tribes, and of the terrible scenes presented by the battle-field. The speeches, too, of Galgacus and Agricola seem to be in the very best style of Tacitus. They are not merely eloquent and stirring; they also skilfully reflect, on the one hand, the passionate and impulsive fury of the barbarian, and, on the other, the calm confidence of the Roman general in the firmness and sense of honour of his well-trained and hitherto victorious legionaries. The Life of Agricola, though frequently read from the interest of its subject-matter, and its completeness in itself, is by no means easy, and is ill-suited to young scholars. It has, we think, an almost disproportionate share of the peculiar difficulties of Tacitus. Our notes show that it contains several crabbed and obscure passages. Unfortunately, too, the text is |