dumque quæ sit in figuris animantium et quam sollers subtilisque descriptio partium, quamque admirabilis fabrica membrorum. Omnia enim, quæ quidem intus inclusa sunt, ita nata atque ita locata sunt, ut nihil eorum supervacaneum sit, nihil ad vitam retinendam non necessarium. Dedit autem eadem natura belluis et sensum et appetitum, ut altero conatum haberent ad naturales pastus capessendos, altero secernerent pestifera a salutaribus. Jam vero alia animalia gradiendo, alia serpendo ad pastum accedunt, alia volando, alia nando ; cibumque partim oris hiatu et dentibus ipsis capessunt, partim unguium tenacitate arripiunt, partim aduncitate rostrorum; alia sugunt, alia carpunt, alia vorant, alia mandunt. Atque etiam aliorum ea est humilitas, ut cibum terrestrem rostris facile contingant. Quæ autem altiora sunt, ut anseres, ut cygni, ut grues, ut cameli, adjuvantur proceritate collorum, Manus etiam data. elephantis, quia propter magnitudinem corporis difficiles aditus habebant ad pastum. At quibus bestiis erat is cibus, ut alius generis bestiis vescerentur, aut vires natura dedit aut celeritatem. Data est quibusdam etiam machinatio quædam atque sollertia, ut in araneolis aliæ quasi rete texunt, ut, si quid inhærescit, conficiant, aliæ autem ex inopinato observant et, si quid incidit, arripiunt idque consumunt. Pina vero, (sic enim Græce dicitur) duabus grandibus patula conchis, cum parva squilla quasi societatem coit comparandi cibi. Itaque quum pisciculi parvi in concham hiantem innataverunt, tum, admonita squillæ pina, morsu comprimit conchas. Sic dissimillimis bestiolis communiter cibus quæritur. In quo admirandum est, congressione aliqua inter se, an jam inde ab ortu natura ipsa congregatæ sint. Est etiam admiratio nonnulla in bestiis aquatilibus iis, quæ gignuntur in terra. Veluti crocodili fluviatilesque testudines quædamque serpentes ortæ extra aquam simul ac primum niti possunt, aquam persequuntur. Quin etiam anatum ova gallinis sæpe supponimus, e quibus pulli orti primum aluntur ab iis, ut a matribus, a quibus exclusi fotique sunt, deinde eas relinquunt et effugiunt sequentes, quum primum aquam, quasi naturalem domum, videre potuerunt. Tantam ingenuit amantibus conservandi sui natura custodiam.Cicero, De Nat. Deor. MONDAY, August 31. Into Latin Prose. Nor let any one vainly imagine, that the time and valuable opportunities which are now lost, can hereafter be recalled at will; or that he who has run out his youthful days in dissipation and pleasure, will have it in his power to stop when he pleases, and make a wiser use of his riper years. Yet this is too generally the fallacious hope that flatters the youth in his sensual indulgencies, and leads him insensibly on in the treacherous ways of vice, till it is now too late to return. There are few, who at one plunge so totally immerge in pleasures, as to drown at once all power of reason and conscience: they promise themselves, that they can indulge their appetites to such a point only, and can check and turn them back when they have run their allotted race. I do not indeed say that there never have been persons in whom the strong ferment of youthful lusts may have happily subsided, and who may have brought forth fruits of amendment, and displayed many eminent virtues. God forbid! that even the most licentious vices of youth should be absolutely incorrigible. But I may venture to affirm, that the instances in this case have been so rare, that it is very dangerous for any one to trust to the experiment, upon a presumption that he shall add to the number. The only sure way to make any proficiency in a virtuous life, is to set out in it betimes. Tottie. WEDNESDAY, September 2. Into Latin Hexameters. Lo, rising from yon dreary tomb, While the dull night's startled ear Yet these, ere time had rolled their years away, Ere Death's fell arm had marked its aim, And wrought the glorious deeds that swell'd the trump of fame. FRIDAY, September 4. Into English Prose. Ogilvie. Lucus erat longo nunquam violatus ab ævo, Numina sic metuunt: tantum terroribus addit, Lucan. Phars. MONDAY, September 7. Into English Prose. Εἰ δ ̓ ἐπίστασθε (καί μοι σφόδρα τὸ μέλλον ῥηθή σεσθαι διαμνημονεύετε) εἰ μὲν δώσει τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων Τίμαρχος δίκην, ἀρχὴν ευκοσμίας ἐν τῇ πόλει κατασκευάσετε· εἰ δ ̓ ἀποφεύξεται, κρείττων ἦν ὁ ἀγὼν μὴ γεγενημένος. πρὶν μὲν γὰρ εἰς κρίσιν Τίμαρχον κατα στῆναι φόβον τισὶ παρεῖχεν ὁ νόμος καὶ τὸ τῶν δικαστη ρίων ὄνομα· εἰ δ ̓ ὁ πρωτεύων βδελυρίᾳ καὶ γνωριμώτα τος εἰσελθὼν περιγενήσεται, πολλοὺς ἁμαρτάνειν ἐπαρεῖ, καὶ τελευτῶν οὐχ ὁ λόγος ἀλλ ̓ ὁ καιρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐξοργιεί, μὴ οὖν εἰς ἀθρόους ἀλλ ̓ εἰς ἕνα ἀποσκήψατε, καὶ τὴν παρασκευὴν καὶ τοὺς συνηγόρους αὐτῶν παρατηρεῖτε ὧν οὐδενὸς ἐγὼ ὀνομαστὶ μνησθήσομαι, ἵνα μὴ ταύτην ἀρχὴν τοῦ λόγου ποιήσωνται, ὡς οὐκ ἂν παρῆλθον εἰ μή τις αὐτῶν ὀνομαστὶ ἐμνήσθη. ἀλλ ̓ ἐκεῖνο ποιήσω. ἀφελὼν τὰ ὀνόματα, διεξιὼν δὲ τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ σώματα γνώριμα καταστήσω. ἔσται δ ̓ αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ ἕκαστος αἴτιος, ἐὰν δεῦρο ἀναβῇ καὶ ἀναισχυντῇ. τούτῳ γὰρ πάρεισιν ἐκ τριῶν εἰδῶν συνήγοροι, οἱ μὲν ταῖς καθ ̓ ἡμέραν δαπάναις ἀνηλωκότες τὰς πατρώας οὐσίας, οἱ δὲ ταῖς ἡλικίαις καὶ τοῖς ἑαυτῶν σώμασιν οὐ καλῶς κεχρημένοι καὶ δεδιότες οὐ περὶ Τιμάρχου ἀλλὰ περὶ ἑαυτῶν καὶ τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων, μὴ ποτε εἰς κρίσιν καταστῶσιν· ἕτεροι δ ̓ ἐκ τῶν ἀκολάστων καὶ τῶν τοῖς τοιούτοις κεχρημένων ἀφθόνως, ἵνα ταῖς βοηθείαις αὐτῶν πιστεύοντες ῥᾷόν τινες ἐξαμαρτάνωσιν. ὧν πρὶν τῆς συνηγορίας ἀκοῦσαι τοὺς βίους ἀναμιμνήσκεσθε, καὶ τοὺς μὲν εἰς τὰ σώματα ἡμαρτηκότας μὴ ὑμῖν ἐνοχλεῖν ἀλλὰ παύσασθαι δημηγοροῦντας κελεύετε (οὐδὲ γὰρ ὁ νόμος τοὺς ἰδιωτεύοντας ἀλλὰ τοὺς πολιτευομένους ἐξετάζει)· τοὺς δὲ τὰ πατρῷα κατεδηδοκότας ἐργάζεσθαι καὶ ἑτέρωθεν κτᾶσθαι τὸν βίον κελεύετε τοὺς δὲ τῶν νέων, ὅσοι ῥᾳδίως ἁλίσκονται, θηρευτὰς ὄντας εἰς τοὺς ξένους καὶ τοὺς μετοίκους τρέπεσθαι κελεύετε, ἵνα μήτ' ἐκεῖνοι τῆς προαιρέσεως ἀποστέρωνται μήθ' ὑμεῖς βλάπτησθε. Eschines against Timarchus. WEDNESDAY, September 9. Into Greek Prose. If men considered the happiness of others, or their own; in fewer words, if they were wise, no State would be depopulated, no city pillaged, not a village would be laid in ashes, not a farm deserted. But there always have been, and always will be, men about the despot, who persuade him that terror is better than esteem; that no one knows whether he is reverenced or not, but that he who is dreaded has indubitable proofs of it, and is regarded by mortals as a god. By pampering this foible in the prince, they are admitted to come closer and closer to him; and from the indulgence of his corrupted humours, they derive their wealth and influence. Every man in the world would be a republican, if he did not hope from fortune and favour more than from industry and desire; in short, if he did not expect to carry off sooner or later, from under another system, what never could belong to him rightfully, and what cannot (he thinks) accrue to him from this. To suppose the contrary, would be the same as to suppose that he would rather have a master in his house, than friend, brother, or son; and that he has both more confidence and more pleasure in an alien's management of it, than in his own, or in any person's, selected by his experience and deputed by his choice.-W. S. Landor. FRIDAY, September 11. Into Latin Elegiacs. No more, while thro' the midnight shade, From this capricious clime she soars, Vain wish! me fate compels to bear, |