ction.

F. W. T.

[We cannot insert F. W. T.'s Query without referring to the admirable
translation of Vinny Bourne's Ode, which is to be found in our First
Volume, p. 152.]

* * * * *

WAS SALLUSTIUS A LECTURER?--CONNEXION BETWEEN SALLUSTIUS AND TACITUS.

Sallustius, in his celebrated abstract of the Punic records of Thempsal,
makes the following remark:

"Nam de Carthagine silere melius puto, quam parum dicere, _quoniam alio
properare tempus monet_."--_De Bello Jugurthino_, c. xix. ed. Allen.

Does not this sound as if the history has been read out to an assembly?
There is strong presumptive evidence in favour of such a supposition, in
the tradition of Herodotus having read aloud his history at the Grecian
Games. Besides, it was a common practice of Cicero and Plinius the Younger
to read out their orations and treatises. I cannot help thinking that the
histories of Sallustius were first delivered as lectures, _taken down by
reporters_[2] employed by himself for the purposes of preserving his words,
as he had only notes before him, fairly transcribed from the stenographic
character, and then, _but not till then_, made a subject of closet-study.
This, I think, is easy of proof, and instances may be adduced (the
expression I have quoted is one) where the lecturer peeps out.

The interpolated state in which this classic has come down to us is indeed
sad: there is scarcely a chapter throughout the Catiline and Jugurtha where
some transcriber has not been at work, sticking in words and sometimes
whole sentences, which, I am astonished to see, have escaped the notice of
Cortius, Allen, and the older editors.

I said above that Sallustius made his lectures or orations on the history
of his country a subject of closet study. He did so, and in an eminent
degree. His conciseness, clearness (when relieved from the burden of
interpolation), and usual impartiality, point to a careful and spiritual
study of Thucydides; but he could not attain to an equal degree of
sweetness as the Greek historian, on account of the general character of
their several languages differing. As far, however, as Roman could approach
to Greek, I conceive Sallustius has approached to Thucydides. Tacitus
(whose mind was impregnated with, and steeped in Sallustius) rarely
enounces a sentiment in his numerous works the origin of which is not
referable to the latter author. It requires some careful tho