The Iliad. Edited by Walter Leaf, Litt.D. Vol. 1, L-XII.
Second Edition. (Macmillan and Co. 185.)—This second edition is justly claimed by Dr. Leaf as "almost a new work." In the first place, it has increased very considerably in bulk, the four hundred and twenty-two pages of the first edition (published in 1886) are in the second six hundred ; and then it has grown throughout, the editor bringing to bear upon his work the results of an ampler study and more mature consideration. As far as modification of opinion is concerned, Dr. Leaf must speak for himself. "The only serious change in point of view between this volume and its predecessor is that involved in a full acceptance of the Peisistratean recen- sion as an all-important factor in the constitution of the Iliad." On the question of the "indivisible supremacy" of a single Homer, Dr. Leaf bolds that there was an original poem on the Millar. the tale of which is told in Books I., XL, XV., XVI., XVIL-XIX.
Here, at least, we need not hesitate to see the work of a single poet, perhaps the greatest in the world's history." But these sir books must be still further reduced, for "there is not one of them which has not received large additions." Some of the very finest portions of the Iliad are outside this narrow circle. The latter part of VI., for instance, has to be regarded as a later addition. Dr. Leaf does not fail to see signs of a later hand, Of SakpuZer yeAcicraca, for instance, he says: "A decidedly famous phrase, but hardly like the oldest epic style." We must frankly own that this sort of criticism seems to us a little audacious. On the general question we will only say that Dr. Leaf makes such large deductions from his concession of a " Homer " that he is little or nothing better than a heretic. This, however, does not interfere with the value of his contribution to Homeric scholar- ship. Appendix A is devoted to an important point in Homeric grammar, "the use of the possessive pronouns gr, Us," and Appendix B to "Homeric Armour," and is excellently illustrated with reproductions of Mycenaean relics.
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