Imatges de pàgina
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The letters and o, as we learn from Achæus, Euftathius, and the lines prefixed to the books of the Iliad and Odyffey marked with thofe letters (which are not of very modern date) were pronounced & and ou. Πάντες οἱ ἀρχαῖοι, ἀντὶ τῇ ὅ τοιχεία, τῷ οὐ ἐχρῶντο, ἀντὶ δὲ τῇ ε τῷ εἴ. Καὶ δήλον κακ τῇ εἰ τῇ ἐν Δελφοῖς ἀντὶ τῇ Ε λαμβανομένη. The long vowel was fimply pronounced , before the 14th century. Thus the MSS. of the N. T. give in Rev. xxii. 13. ἐγὼ τὸ ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ω*. So allo Prudentius t;

Corde fufus ex parentis, ante mundi exordium,
Alpha et cognominatus, ipfe fons et claufula
Omnium, quæ funt, fuerunt, quæque poft fatura funt.

These things, doubtlefs as well known to Dr. V. as to us, feem to have deferved remark: and we fhould have been glad, in his notes at leaft, to have feen fome veftige of the ancient form of the figma, fince C and e, as we could fhow, frequently have changed places in MSS. and thereby created an obfcurity, which a knowledge of this point might ferve to elucidate. In the fame place, fome notice might properly be taken of the Doric name, mentioned by Herodotus; ταϋτὸ γράμμα, τὸ Δωριέες μὲν Σὰν καλέσσι, Ιωνες δὲ siyua. Lib. I. 139.

To the first note in p. 2. of this Grammar, we are enabled to offer an addition from fome MS. Scholia on Dionyfius Thrax, fhowing that the ancient practice was to write ɛ or

with a mark of a long quantity over it, where more modern Greeks wrote n or w. Όταν ἤθελον γράψαι (οἱ παλαιοὶ Αττικοί) ἔχεσαν έκφώνησιν τῇ Η λέξιν, ἔγραφον τὸ Ε, καὶ ἐπάνω τᾶ ε, τὸ σημεῖον τῆς μακρᾶς. Ὅταν δὲ τὴν ἐκφώνησιν το Ω, ἔγραφον το Ο, καὶ ἐπάνω τῇ ο, τὸ σημεῖον τῆς μακρᾶς.

Refpecting the fubfcription of the, which is mentioned in the next note, it may be obferved, that in the more an cient MSS. the iota was either adfcribed or omitted. The celebrated MS. of Photius's Lexicon uniformly exhibits Hpaidia. Profeffor Porfon conjectures that it began to be fubfcribed in the 13th century.

In the first note on page 4, we have the first mention of that lofty digamina, of which Pope makes Bentley fay,

"While tow'ring o'er your Alphabet, like Saul,
Stands our DIGAMMA, and o'ertops them all."

See Dr. Bentley's Propofals, p. 6.

+ Cathem. hymn. ix, 10.

Or

Or of which we may fay, in the words of the old bard,

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Τίς τ ̓ ἄρ ̓ ὅδ ̓ ἄλλα Αχαιὸς ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε

Εξοχ& 'Αργείων κεφαλήν τε καὶ εὐρέας ὤμος ;

As Dr. V. returns more particularly to the difcussion of this Letter, in the latter part of his book, (p. 191.) we shall only mention here that Bentley, (whom in fpite of Pope's attacks, we now call "Britanniæ noftræ decus immortale *,") pronounced it, according to Blackwell, like our W. In the manufcripts of the old grammarians it is variously reprefented. Thus in one of Tryphon, προςίθεται δὲ το δίγ αμμα (fic) παρά τε αἰωλεῦσι, καὶ ἴωσι, καὶ λάκωσιν, οἷον ἄναξ Γουάναξ, καὶ παρ' ἀλκαίῳ το ρήξις Γουρνιεις ειρηται. In another MS. of the fame grammarian it is expreffed, abfurdly enough, by Qov: thus, va φουάναξ, Έλενα, φουέλενα.

Dr. V. has made only three declenfions of nouns, for which he has affigned his reafons in his preface. All beyond the third he confiders as contracted forms of that declenfion. In matters of this kind, the great object is the convenient inftruction of learners, and, if that be obtained, there cannot be much reafon to complain.

Among the declenfions of adjectives we rejoiced to find τέρην, εινα, -εν. (Ρ. 21.)

τέρειν' οπώρα δ ̓ εὐφύλακτα

οὐδαμῶς.

Aefch. Suppl. 995.

We should have been equally pleased to fee apony introduced, which is the old attic form of appny. In page 26, the old miftake of the common grammars, refpecting the comparative and fuperlative of sevòs, might have been reprobated, and Fisher, Zeunius, and Eichitadt referred to.

The observation of Dr. V. in p. 38. that the fecond future is little more than an attic form of the first, is fo true, that in fubfequent editions we fhould be glad to fee the two futures denominated the common future, and the attic future. The four conjugations are given as in the common grammars, but the rules of the characteristic letters are thrown into a note. The author thinks the termination of the future a fufficient guide; and obferves, truly enough, that it is as eafy for the learner to find that, as the Latin infinitive, which is the direction in that language. Of the contracted verbs, in the third conjugation, he gives no paradigma; but only lays down rules for the contrac

Toup in Epift. Crit.

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tions. (P. 71.) for the learner.

This he feems to have found more clear

To the note on augments (p. 48.) it might have been proper to add, that in the following words the fyllabic augment is dropped in the dialogue of tragedy; καθεζόμην, καθεύδον, καθήμην, σπεύδον, χρῆν. Ανάλωσα, and άνωγα lore the temporal augment. The following alfo are peculiarities of the attic writers, and their imitators ; ἐξείλεγμαι for ἐκλελέγμαι ; ἐξείλοχα for ἐκλελόχα. Thus 'allo ἐξελοχώs and καθείλοχα, Ariftides, Τ. 3, p. 649. συνειλήχασι, Suidas. So alfo Des mofthenes, Ρήτωρ ἐξαίφνης ἐκ τῆς ἡσυχίας, ὥσπερ πνεῦμα ἐφάνη, καὶ πεφωνασκηκώς, καὶ συνειλοχως ῥήματα καὶ λόγος, συνείρει τέτες σαφῶς καὶ ἀπνευςί. Pro Cor. Ed. Tayl. p. 586.

66

In p. 50, to the note might be added, ἀνοίγω, ήνεωγμένος· οἰνοχοέω, ἐφνοχοι. So allo έωνησάμην. ἀνορθέω, ἠνωρθοον ὁράω, ἑώραον. Αlfo infances of the fyllabic augment reduplicated. Eufiath. p. 1325, 27. ποτὲ μὲν ἔξω αὔξοντες τὰ δὲ ἔσω ἀφιέντες ἀναύξητον. οἷον· τέλῶ ἔχει μοι τὰ πάντα διατρέ, * ΔΕΔΙΟΙΚΗΤΑΙ πάλαι ποτὲ δὲ διχή, αὔξοντες, ήγουν ἔσω καὶ ἔξω. τοιοῦτον γὰρ τὸ ΔΕΔΙΩΚΗΤΑΙ ἐκ τοῦ ΔΙΟΙΚΩ. καὶ τὸ ἘΚΔΕΔΙΗΤΗΜΕΝΟΣ, ἀπὸ τοῦ ἘΚΔΙΑΙΤΩ. καὶ τὸ ΜΕΜΕΘΩΔΕΥΜΕΝΟΣ, καὶ τὸ ΠΕΠΑΡΩΝΗΚΩΣ· κ τὸ ΜΕΜΕΛΟΠΕΠΟΙΗΜΕΝΟΣ. κ τὸ ἨΝΕΩΓΕΝ. In Suidas. ν. καινοπεποιημένοι, ΚΕΚΑΙΝΟΠΕΠΟΙΗΜΕΝΟΙ, prout ordo literarum poftulat." Porf. App. ad Toup. Em. in S. v. 1. p. 455. In p. 53, on καίω and κλαίω, add, in the tragic poets, κάω and κλάω. In p. 61, the attic centration εἶτον, εἴτην· ειμεν, είτε, is not noticed. On the fecond note in p. 72, it may be obferved, that the attic writers had no fuch form as εἴδω. Pors. ad Ph. 1366. In p. 83, for εἶμι to go, we should have preferred, "to be about to go." In this part of the grammar we conceive it would have been useful to have added lifts of the defiderative verbs ending in aw and ειω ; of the verbs ending in αθω ; of the paulo poft futura, and of the first and fecond aorifts paffive ufed by the attic poets, and alfo of thofe middle futures, which are used in a paffive fenfe.

In a work of fuch variety and difficulty as a grammar of the Greek language, it is impoffible either that every thing fhould be noticed by the author, or that a critic should undertake to point out every omiffion. In the parts of this grammar which relate to the accentual marks, the dialects, the fyntax, and the profody, though much is very ably taught, there is ftill room for many obfervations of importance; many of which will, probably, have occurred to

the

the learned author himself, before the publication of a fe cond edition. We fhall not allow ourselves to lay more, excepting a few words on the note in page 145, on-the fubject of vowels made long by pofition. With refpect to the examples taken from the elegant and courtly Ovid," we cannot forbear to fay, that if the learned grammarian would explore the old editions of that author, he would find, that the majority of feeming deviations from the general principle is owing rather to an implicit acquiefcence in the authority of the great N. Heinfius, than to a minute investigation of the genuine text, which would very often remove the difficulty. Thus, in Met. XII. 434.

utve liquor rari fub pondere cribri

Manat, et exprimitur per denfa foramina fpiffus: read, on the authority of a Bodleian MS.

per multa foramina denfus.

We are waiting at prefent for the refult of an examina tion of fome more MSS. relating to this difpute, after which we fhall take an opportunity to refume the fubject.

A few more words on the digamma, which is refumed by Dr. V. at the clofe of his grammar muft conclude our prefent remarks. Some ancient critics contend that the figure of the F was unknown in writing, though its power obtained in fpeaking. One of them fays,, r-nagà Taïs Αἰολεῦσι δίγαμμα εκ ἔει γράμμα· ὅ προστιθέασιν εκάςη λέξει παρ' ἡμῖν δασυνομένῃ, σύμβολον ἦν ἐςι παρ αὐτοῖς ἐκφώνησιν ἔχον TAS OF SIQAYO. Dawes looked upon this element as inadmiffible in the text, but allowed the expediency of inferting fome mark for the direction of modern readers. If fo, it is obvious to fay, how can it be better designated than by the figure which is generally understood to reprefent it? In Homer's age, we grant, the character, as a letter, was not known; but the power of it in reciting was felt and understood; in the fame manner as the force of the accentual marks, which were not then expreffed in writing, pervaded converfation and reading among the natives of Greece. For, as Markland well obferved, "though they were formed by Greeks, yet they were not formed for Greece." The digamina occurs, indeed, on ancient marbles and coins; but, at that period, the dialect which had efpoufed it was declining, and the ufe of it could only be handed down by thofe nemorials. A lift of those words to which the digamma is prefixed on coins or inZ z fcriptions,

BRIT, CAIT. VOL. XXVII. JUNE, 1

1806.

fcriptions, would, indeed, be highly acceptable to the Greek student.

Dr. Valpy has given an alphabetical table of one hundred and eleven words in the Iliad and Odyffey, which conftantly admit the digamma. To this lift might be added, ἄλλομαι· εἴδωλον· ἕλικες· ἑλίκωπις ἕλος· ἐσθής ήβην ήλα πρίον· ἰωκή· ὅαρες• οὔλω· ὡς—and perhaps others. MSS. and old editions ftill retain veftiges of the influence which the digamma formerly poffeffed. Thus Aežios dias inÈP Δεξιός αΐξας ὑπὲρ ase, in a Harleian MS. is di äçe☺. II. N. 320. Dr. V. has not specified any of those words which have assumed and laid afide this charaâter at pleafure: as, αἴνυμαι, ἕλενη ; or of those which had apparently dropped it before the age of Homer, as Favip, Fauμopos. Its powers in comΡάμμοροι. pound words might also have been mentioned, as dva FoiYEONOV, FexaFepy, aFiaxo, Féreas. It is curious alfo that 'Arpe Fions has been mentioned by a grammarian long prior to Dawes, ἀτρείδης τε τετρασύλλαβον, (doubtlefs ἀτρεFidns) as aigneis xpävle. MS. Harl. It might be useful, in a future edition, to caution the ftudent, on the other hand, against the feductive examples of Dawes, Brunck, Afkew, Heyne, and others; who have attempted to extend the metrical virtues or influence of the F to the tragic and comic poets, where they certainly have no place. See Æfch. P. V. 441. Ed. Pors.-Etym. Mag. v. пpooέknvo. Dawes Mifc. Cr. 163. Br. ad fch. P. V. 438. 1093. Ariftoph. Run. 730. Eur. Or. 1284. Ignorant fcribes have often introduced T for F. Thus Tauμopor for Fauμοροι Hefych. Γανδάνειν for Homer's Fανδάνειν ; Γεαρ doubtlels for Feap. Ver. Γέμματα, ἱμάτια for Fέμματα quafi Feimala. Tesia for Fesia, &c. As to the pronunciation of digamma, it was that of V; but Varró in Gellius xv. 17. fays, that the deity who prefided over the infancy of the human voice was named Vaticanus, because infants emit that found which forms the firft fyllable in that name, which must therefore be Wa. This fhows, that the V had the force of our W; which is alfo confirmed by vallum, of which we make wall, vidua, widow, &c.

We fhall here take leave of a work highly creditable to the diligence and learning of the author, and promifing to give currency to many points of Greek learning, hitherto confined to a few fcholars. We might have given a fpecimen from the notes, but it may fuffice to fay of them, that they are, in general, both ingenious and juft.

BRITISH

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