NOTES ON BION. IDYLLIUM THE FIRST. In the Epitaph on Adonis, we contemplate, with admiration, all the beauties and graces that can adorn a poem of this nature. So impassioned is its sentiment-so curious its felicity of elocution— so delicate the position of its melodious words-so numerous and sweet the variation of its verses, and so delightful the harmony of its pauses, that our fancy is soothed by pathos the most melting, while our ears are charmed with music the most exquisite !-to this purpose Longepierre. For the translator's sentiments, see Dissertation on Bion and Moschus Page 141, line 15. As the black crimson stains his snowy limbs. Heskin (the Christ-Church editor) might possibly have been justified in changing λευκω to λυγρῳ in this place, to avoid an affected antithesis, did not expressions equally absurd occur in this author, toe plainly evincing his fondness for puerilities. P. 142, I. 1. His dogs stand howling round. Seneca, Hyppolit. l. 1108, represents the faithful dog affected in a similar manner : Mastaque domini membra vestigant canes. Erigone discovered the death of her father Icarus by the incessant barking of the bitch Mera at his tomb. In Ossian's Temora we read, 'His dogs are howling in their place. It is a common opinion among the Highlanders to this day, that dogs are sensible of the death of their master, at whatever distance it may happen; his ghost appearing to them, at the moment of his decease, although invisible to human beings. The ancient Greeks entertained the same notion. In Homer's Odyssey, the dogs of Eumæus perceive the appearance of Minerva, at the same time that the goddess is invisible to Telemachus. P. 142, l. 19. the rivers, as they flow. When the poet makes the rivers moan for Venus, he very properly calls her Aogodila: but this propriety, perhaps, was merely accidental, as he hath given her the same appellation when she wanders the desert. LANGHORNE. Our poet, probably, meant to play upon the word Appodila. The conceit is quite characteristic. P. 142, l. 21. The flowerets blush, in sorrow, at her feet. Paleness being the known effect of grief, we do not, at first sight, accept the expression Epupaivelai; but when we consider, that the first emotions of it are attended with blushes, we are pleased with the observation. LANGHORNE. The translator must here also dissent from his favourite Langhorne. P. 142, 1. 23. Cythera chaunts Doctor Langhorne observes, that the scholiasts have entirely misunderstood this passage. They make Kungn Venus; for which they have neither any authority (the Doric name she borrows from that island being always Kupea), nor the least probability from the connexion. P. 143, 1. 20. Why, sweet Adonis, urge the savage chase. Te quoque ut hoc timeas, si quid prodesse monendo OVID. See Nonnus Dionys. b. 41, where it is fabled that Adonis was slain by Mars in the form of a boar. St. Cyril, on Isaiah, mentions the same circum stance. P. 143, 1. 26. Partly HESKIN, And from her tears anemonies arise. See Ovid's Metam. lib. x. fab. 12. Thus Camöens, lib. x. And here bedew'd with love's celestial tears On which Castera remarks: This is applicable to the celestial Venus; for, according to mythology, her amour with Adonis had nothing in it impure, but was only the love which nature bears to the sun.' P. 144, 1. 2. That visage with the flowery chaplet crown. It was customary among the ancients to crown the dead with flowers. Thus in the Phoenician Virgins of Euripides, Creon speaks of Polynices: Whoever shall be found Crowning his corse, or covering it with earth. The crown (says Clemens Alexan.) was esteemed the symbol of undisturbed tranquillity: Hence they crown the dead. In the Levant they still crown with flowers the corpses of virgins. P. 144, 1. 9. LONGEPIERRE. Shear their bright locks, in agony of woe. The ceremony of cutting off the hair in honour of the dead, was universally practised among the ancients. In Homer we have several examples of it. See Odyssey, b. iv. l. 197; see also the Iliad, b. xxiii. l. 135. In the same book, Achilles offers up his hair to Patroclus. In Sappho, 2d epig. the companions of Timas shear their ringlets, and place them on her tomb, Herodotus tells us, |