e for manuscript, in shape like a band-box. (See
Visconti, "Icon. Rom." i. 179, plate 13.) Martial tells us that
portraits of Virgil were illuminated on copies of his "AEneid." The
Vatican MS. is of the twelfth century. But every one who has followed
the fortunes of books knows that a kind of tradition often preserves the
illustrations, which are copied and recopied without material change.
(See Mr. Jacobs's "Fables of Bidpai," Nutt, 1888.) Thus the Vatican MS.
may preserve at least a shadow of Virgil.

If there be any portrait of Lucretius, it is a profile on a sard,
published by Mr. Munro in his famous edition of the poet. The letters
LVCR are inscribed on the stone, and appear to be contemporary with the
gem. This, at least, is the opinion of Mr. A. S. Murray, of the late Mr.
C. W. King, Braun, and Muller. On the other hand, Bernouilli ("Rom.
Icon." i. 247) regards this, and apparently most other Roman gems with
inscriptions, as "apocryphal." The ring, which was in the Nott
collection, is now in my possession. If Lucretius were the rather
pedantic and sharp-nosed Roman of the gem, his wife had little reason for
the jealousy which took so deplorable a form. Cold this Lucretius may
have been, volatile--never! {11}

FOOTNOTES

{1} This was written during the lifetime of Mr. Arnold and Mr. Browning.

{2} Since this was written, Mr. Bridges has made his lyrics accessible
in "Shorter Poems." (G. Bell and Sons: 1890)

{3} Macmillans.

{4} Reynolds was, perhaps, a little irreverent. He anticipated
Wordsworth's "Peter Bell" by a premature parody, "Peter Bell the First."

{5} Appendix on Reynolds's "Peter Bell."

{6} "Aucassin and Nicolette" has now been edited, annotated, and
equipped with a translation by Mr. F. W. Bourdillon (Kegan Paul & Trench,
1887).

{7} Edinburgh, 1862.

{8} The Elzevir piracy was rather earlier.

{9} Pindar, perhaps, in one of his fragments, suggested that pretty _Cum
regnat Rosa_.

{10} See next letter.

{11} Mr. Munro calls the stone "a black agate," and does not mention its
_provenance_. The engraving in his book does no justice to the portrait.
There is another gem representing Lucretius in the Vatican: of old it
belonged to Leo X. The two gems are in all respects similar. A seal
with this head, or one very like it, belonged to Evelyn, the friend of
Mr. Pepys.

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