(Vol. iii., pp. 161. 261. 340.)
"[Greek: Pher', ô, talainê cheiri tou trisathliou
orthôs prosarmosômen eutonon te pan
sôm' exakribôsômen, eis hoson para.]"
_Eurip. Bacch. Supplement._
"With a wretched hand,
"Come let me this thrice wretched corse compose,
And careful as I can the limbs collect."
The foregoing lines, from Burgess's able restoration of this splendid
scene in the _Bacchæ_ of Euripides, published in the _Gentleman's
Magazine_ for Sept. 1832, and afterwards without the Greek text in the
_Literary Gazette_ for Oct. 11, 1845, form a fit motto for the
undertaking in which I am engaged, and of which I now present a sort of
report to literary men interested in such matters.
No one, in my opinion, should endeavour to satisfy querists about a
design more than the original proposer of such design, and I am the
rather induced to make a few remarks, the subject having been passed
over with a silence rendered remarkable by the importance of my
proposal. Two correspondents, however, having come forward with
additional suggestions and remarks, I feel myself possessed of a pretext
to touch upon the subject once more. The following will show what common
steadiness and attention have been able to bring about.
I have so far accomplished my purpose, as lately, while residing on the
continent, and also since my return, to establish in Russia, Siberia and
Tartary, Persia, and Eastern Europe, stations for the search after all
MSS. worth attention. I hope, therefore, to be enabled ere long, through
the co-operation of my friends abroad, to present the world with
something more solid than mere promises, and more satisfactory to
classical critics and lovers of antiquity like myself. Especially I
expect from my Tartary correspondent some interesting and valuable
Hebrew MSS., of which there are many to be obtained toward the frontier
of China and in that country. I unfortunately missed such a MS. some
years ago, which a sailor had offered to me, whom I am now unable to
find. I earnestly solicit every Oriental traveller to co-operate with
me.
The proposal of Dr. Arnold, quoted by M. N. (Vol. iii., p. 261.), I did
not mention, although I was aware of it, as it is at present next to an
impossibility to carry it out in the disturbed state of Continental
Europe, useful as I allow it to be.
Your correspondent J. M. (Vol. iii., p. 340.) asks what has been
accomplished at Herculaneum in the late investigations. Alas! a few thin
folios at my side contain all that the most unwearied exertion, and
ever-renewed patience, have been able to bring to light. A few tracts of
Epicuros, Philodemos, Colotos, Polystratos, Demetrios, and Carneiscos,
are the results of the labours at the "City of the Dead." It is much to
be desired that the investigations should be recommenced when the
troubled condition of the kingdom of Naples will admit of it. I refer J.
M. to M. Morgenstern's excellent article on the subject in the
_Classical Journal_, vol. vii. p. 272. _sqq._, and the _Herculanensium
Voluminum_, Oxonii, 1824-1825 (Press-mark, 604 f 15, British Museum),
and the splendid folios of Naples, 1793-1844 (Press-mark, 813 i 2.).