1994

1884

"In pondering over the fragmentary remains of Cicero's Republic, and deploring the loss of so much that has disappeared, I have, as I before observed, imagined him to be laying down the very principles on which the free constitution of the British Empire rests. This, and the patriotic sentiments he breathes throughout all his writings, have been to me the great charm and solace of some years of labour. If I have indulged in a delusion, it has at least been a pleasant one; and I would urge young politicians and students of English Constitutional History to read the original and judge for themselves."-Preface (see page xix).

"This is a new paginal translation, from the text of the third edition of Cardinal Mai, Rome, 1846, and comes before us both pleasant to look at and good to read. It is known to scholars and students how the famous Cardinal found in a palimpsest of St. Augustine on the Psalms a portion of the long missing treatise of Cicero, De Republica.' It had long been held that, like a so far lost work of his, the 'De Glora,' the 'De Republica,' was also irretrievably lost, Even now Mr. Hardingham tells us only about one-third of the real work remains, and that patched and put together in fragments from different sources. Mr. Greville is quoted in vol. i, 367, May, 1830, as recording, amongst the most curious of the literary treasure we saw (at the Vatican library) was a manuscript of some of St. Augustine's works written upon a palimpsest of Cicero's "De Republica." This treatise was brought to light by Mai; the old Latin was as nearly erased as possible, but by the application of gall it has been brought out faintly, but enough to be made out and completely read.' This interesting work of Mai's has been translated into French by Villemain and Gendre de Mancey, into Italian by Marchesi, into English by Featherstonehaugh, Barham, and Yonge, and Latin editions have been issued by Orsannus, Gottigen; Noble, Leipsic; and Orille and Halm, Zurich. Mr. Hardingham's translation appears to us to be a very good one, and to err neither in too great diffusiveness nor too slavish representation of the original. The name, as the works of Cicero always do, call up pleasurable thoughts to the English classical student. There is something so large and free in his coup-d'œil' of men and things, something so patriotic and English in all his ideas and opinions, that he is ever a ' grata persona' to those who in a very ignorant age do not affect to despise the memories of Greece and Rome, or to dive into the recesses of that wondrous store of culture and wisdom, sound learning and true philosophy, which may undoubtedly still be found by earnest and loyal seekers amid the thoughts which burn,' the

'words which linger,' the 'memories which supervene,' and the esoteric teaching which still happily survives the fleeting episodes of centuries and the destroying hand of Time. As we pore over Cicero's old world words today, the evidence he displays of wide reading, gracious studies, and soundest lore, we feel how much we still have akin with the ancient Roman. We still form part, as we read, of these Latin personalities which crowd the streets of Roma antiqua, saunter, in the Forum, or climb the summit of the Capitoline Hill.' His words still can move us as they moved his spellbound listeners of yore; his patriotic emotions still are ours; his recurrent imaginings and then his calm survey of things still harmonize with our sentiments and motives of action; and, above all, the kindly and reasoning nature of the man, his attachment to law, order, and a settled state of things are entirely in accord with the lucubrations of our soundest thoughts as regards social, family, and public life. We owe to Cicero many noble ideas, many happy sentences, much that can move the cold and callous nature of statesmen, theorists, and publicists, as well as can appeal to all that constitute the realization of true progress and civilizing influences. times, as we surrender ourselves to the charms of his style and eloquence, we almost think that his teaching suits our own disjointed times,' and many are the lessons of warning, truth, or acute experience which the statesmen of to-day can gain from thoughts laden with wisdom, and words abounding in reality. Mr. Hardingham truly says, "Of all the prose writers of the Roman world Cicero was the most varied in matter and the purest in style. Of transcendant eloquence he excelled as jurist, orator, statesman, and philosopher. He urges youth to duty and devotion to his country, and charms old age with the consolations of philosophy. To the jurist he gave laws based on the indisputable rights of mankind; to the orator, lessons both by precept and example ; to the statesman, principles and government applicable to any nation.' Middleton says, in

At

his preface to the Life of Cicero,'' How much soever people may differ in their opinion of his conduct, yet all have constantly agreed in their judgment of his works, and there are none now remaining to us from the heathen world that so truthfully display and so forcibly recommend all those generous principles that tend to exalt and perfect human nature, the love of virtue, liberty, our country and all mankind.' We therefore hail Mr. Hardingham's effective translation, and congratulate the publisher on a work so worthy of his wellknown name."-The Freemason, March 1, 1884.