NEW VOLUMES IN THE " LOEB LIBRARY."• ;
Timm new volumes in the " Loeb Library " for the most part cover familiar ground in a workmanlike manner, though without any very special distinction. To the general reader the Plutarch' and Marcus Aurelius2 will probably be the most interesting new works. In both these cases new translations are given of books which are already the ' subject of famous translations. In this respect Plutarch has of course been particularly fortunate, and it would be hard for any new translation to rival either North, Dryden's Plutarch, or Langhorne. North, how- ever, as is well known, made his version from the French, and no reason- able amount of adjustment could bring it within the rules of the " Loeb Library," the translations in which must be literal. The version of the brothers Langhorne is better in this respect, and it is an excellent piece of clean English besides. But even this is a little free, and there was perhaps sufficient ground for a new rendering. At any rate, Mr. Perrin has produced a very readable and accurate translation of one of the most entertaining books in literature. Marcus Aurelius has been less fortunate in his translators. Jeremy Collier's version, though full of the vigour of true literature, has been as much abused as praised, while Long's translation, which may perhaps be called the standard one, is rather lacking in that fine literary sense which makes Collier's so read- able. No doubt the abruptness and compression of Marcus's style make translation exceedingly difficult. Mr. Haines follows his author's peculiarities faithfully, and would, one suspects, have done better had he not been hampered by the necessity of being literal. His volume should bring fresh students to a famous book the spell of which no lapse of time can weaken.
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