Nothing could be more unlike the intricate carefully sustained cadences of Walter Pater's prose than Mr. J. A. K. Thomson's eager jaunty sentences. Yet these studies in ancient modes of thought belong intrinsically to that group of which 'Marius the Epicurean' might almost be called the progenitor. The scholars addicted to it look away from the grammar of language and from the grammar of abstract ideas to that aspect of Greek literature which reflects man's relation with the visible world, his daily life, his customs and beliefs. They read Herodotus, Pindar, Sophocles, with the intention of the original audience whom these addressed—for whom form was not divorced from meaning, rather existed only to interpret the meaning. Prof. Gilbert Murray writes a few paragraphs of introduction to these essays, and, drawing attention to this change of emphasis, commits himself to the use of the word "semantics." We confess we saw this with a shuddering surprise. What has the poet that Prof. Gilbert Murray has proved himself to be—sensitive, discriminating, alert to perceive how words throw back their shadow upon reality—to do with this ugly, pseudo-scientific jargon?
The nine essays which constitute the book are of very unequal value. On the whole, the more detailed they are the better. Where the writer launches out into generalities he is apt to make rash statements, which mean little, or could be only too effectively challenged. Such, for instance, is the dictum in the essay on Lucretius, to the effect that that poet "has the instinctive preference of the artist—and the religious for moods rather than ideas." But where he stays by the actual data of Greek life and thought preserved for us in Greek literature—not attempting to drag them into relation with other literatures—he is at once sound and truly imaginative. The essays on 'Greek Country Life,' 'On Alcestis and her Hero,' and 'On an Old Map' should be of real use both as interpretations and as accounts of facts and materials. The study of Heracles and of the (
Greek characters) in the second of these is particularly good and convincing; in fact, heavily as both have been commentated, we do not remember to have come across any exposition of them more satisfactorily worked out than this. What Mr. Thomson has to say on Thucydides is also well worth attending to, though, in relation to the subject, it strikes one as less adequate. A very interesting member of the collection is a sketch in dialogue called 'Mother and Daughter'—Demeter's finding of Persephone. Here the author's close attention to all the descriptions of and hints concerning the peasantry and their ways stands him in admirable stead. The scene and the talk are packed with delightful detail, most skilfully interwoven, yet derived from chapter and verse, and not lacking altogether in vitality. The conclusion—albeit it rests upon the Greek perception (Greek characters) in its profounder meaning—is coloured by later ideas, later human experiences than those which belong to the legend itself or even to Greek literature as a whole; but it is none the worse for that.
We are a little doubtful as to Mr. Thomson's view of the city versus the country in the Greek state. It seems hardly true that "the old Greek civilization was more characteristically urban than our own." At any rate, we should be more willing to say that Athens was the centre—the meeting-point or focus—of Attica than that Attica was a diffusion of Athens. But the latter way of putting it would suit better the mode of civilization, characteristically urban, familiar to us in our great cities, which are neither metropolitan centres of a state, nor formed by the centripetal movement from limited districts.
We hope Mr. Thomson has many more books of essays, and perhaps yet greater work than essays, in store for us. He will, we fancy, always provoke criticism and disagreement; yet we also think that the Prevailing notion of its being difficult to realize Greek habits of thought otherwise than as decorative tags upon our own system of ideas proceeded chiefly from the lack at one time of just such scholars as he—or men, that is, who are not afraid to give imagination equal play with memory in their reading of this, the richest portion of our heritage from antiquity.
to Kent Records. Compiled and
Sodet ) 7 Churchm - (Kent Archaeological
A SELECTION of official documents, charters writs, and other diplomatic instruments connected with the county of Kent is here published under the very competent editorship of Miss Churchill, and should be of interest to students of historical and institutional antiquities. Most of them are here printed for the first time. It was no slight task to disinter these documents, which may be found scattered " anywhere from a public library like the British Museum to the stable-loft of an old country house." Their proverbial dryness
sometimes relieved
of quaint humour.
by a welcome touch
A grant of land by
King yEthelstan to his servant Ealdulf in the
year 939 is confirmed by these terrifying
threats : "If any one which Heaven forbid
walking in the garb of pride, shall try to infringe tnis our definition, let him suffer from the chill winds of ice and from the winged army of malignant spirits, unless with tearful groans of penitence and sincere reformation he first make amends. The divine was in those days the best surrogate of the lawyer.
^ N S 1 } comn junications must be written the name
and address of the sender, not necessarily for pub-
ucation, but as a guarantee of good faith.
WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately, n 9 r a n we advise correspondents as to the value of old books and other objects or as to the means ot disposing of them.
EDITORIAL communications should be addressed to "The Editor of Notes and Queries '"Adver- tisements and Business Letters to "The Pub- lishers "at the Office, Bream's Buildings, Chancerv Lane, E.G.
MR. HORACE BLEACKLEY and G. W. E. R. Forwarded.
