Through the whole of thefe examples of the ufe of the word ab, there appears to us to run one idea or notion denoted by that word, which we are therefore ftrongly inclined to confider as its radical meaning; and that notion is the be ginning of fomething, whether time, or motion, or any thing elfe which can be conceived as having a beginning, marked by fome point diftin&t from itself. Like the English prepofition FROM, which Mr. Horne Tooke has clearly proved to be an Anglo-Saxon and Gothic noun, ab feems to be a noun in Lome parent language of the very fame import, i. e. expreffive of beginning, origin, fource, fountain, &c. Thus, in the firft of the examples quoted by Dumefnil from Cicero, the wifh is that the thing had been feen from the beginning, at the very inftant that it was beginning; in the fecond, the drinking is faid to have begun at the conclufion of the third hour; and that ab has the fame import in the other fentences quoted by our author, is too obvious to ftand in need of proof. But has it the fame import in thofe fentences which we have quoted from Ovid? We think it has. The piercing of the breaft of Caftor began from the point of the fword of Lynceus; the capture, of which the poet was afraid, must have begun from the enemy; his defence, from the arms of ftrangers, and the deception practifed by married women on their hufbands, proceeded or began from the arts which fuch women were taught. Even in thofe paffages quoted by Dr. Hill to prove that ab has ten different fignifications, it will be found, on a clofer infpection, that the radical meaning of. the prepofition is uniformly the fame. Thus, "Secundus a rege," is not, as he tranflates it, next to the king, but the fecond from the king; the second beginning from the king as the firft; and exemplum vitæ a cornice fecundæ, an example of life the Jecond in duration, beginning from that of the ara confidered as, the first.

We fhould therefore be led by that kind of collation and induction, which are practifed by Dumefnil, to infer that this. is the radical idea denoted by the prepofition ab, without regard to any preconceived metaphyfical theory whatever. But when by fuch means we have difcovered what appears to us to be the meaning of any word in a dead language, it may be worth while, when it can be accomplished, to trace the word back to its root or theme, in order to afcertain whether this inductive fenfe (if we may fo call it) be counte

-hanced

nanced by etymology. Now that ab is derived from azo, read an', before a vowel, is univerfally admitted; and in the opinion of fome of the moft fkilful etymologifts *, à' comes from the Hebrew 18, a first author or origin; so that in this inftance, etymology, which is not always a fafe guide when purfued too eagerly through dead languages, is in perfect unifon with what appears to be the practice of the best Latin writers.

But the value of this work of Dumefnil's will be more ap parent, if we compare together the explanations by the Scotch and French profeffors, not of feparate words, but of the fame fynonyms; for they are the fynonyms only of the Latin tongue that M. Dumefnil and his tranflator profefs to explain. In making our felection we fhall be guided by the fhortness of the articles; because Dr. Hill is in general fo diffuse, that our limits would not admit of even one of his longest articles.

"FACINUS, SCELUS, FLAGITIUM.

"Agree," fays Dr. Hill, in denoting a wicked action, but differ in refpect to the degree of immorality peculiar to that de noted by each. Though facinus, from facere, when by itfelf, always denotes an immoral deed, yet it is often connected with ad. jectives that alter the nature of that deed, and fhew it to be lauda ble. "Cui nihil unquam nefas fuit, nec in facinore, nec in libi. dine." Cic. pro Mil. 27.

249.

"Nondum juftitiam facinus mortale fugarat." Ovid Faft. 1. "In the above examples, the actions are reproachful; but in thofe that follow, the adjectives with which facinus is con nected, shew them to be the contrary. "Qui judicaverunt hoftem Dolabellam ob rectiffimum facinus," Cic. Phil. 13, 17.—“ In. genii egregia facinora, ficut anima, immortalia funt." SALL. Bal. Jug. 2.-When facinus is connected with adjectives that fhew the deed to be evil, there are gradations in the evil itself. "At Agrippina ne tantum malis facinoribus notefceret." TAC. Ann. 12, 8.—" Facinus fœdum ac ferum." Liv. 28. 22.

"SCELUS differs from "facinus," in denoting an action in which there is a higher degree of immorality, the general nature. of which cannot be changed by the application of any adjective whatever. The fame epithets applied to the two fubftantives, produce a meaning, in the aggregate, correfponding with the original force of each. Thus, "foedum fcelus," fuppofes a greater degree of turpitude in the act, than "foedum facinus ;" though in both it. is less than if the epithets "infandum," or (ad) "deteftabile," were applied to each. The following expreffion, in which virtue

* See Parkhurft's Greek and English, and Hebrew and English, Lexicans.

&

is

is afcribed to fcelus, is irregular, and implies a confufion in speech, as well as in the ideas of right and wrong.

"Profperum ac felix fcelus, virtus vocatur." SEN. Herc. Fur. 251. Nullum fcelus impunitum eft, quoniam fceleris in feelere fupplicium eft." SEN. Ep. 97. Here the evil nature of what is ftyled fcelus, is manifeft from the certainty and feverity of the pu nishment, without any epithet being affixed to it. "Facinus" eft vinciri civem Romanum; fcelus verberari; prope "partici dium" necari: quid dicam in crucem tolli? verbo fatis digno tam nefaria res appellari nullo modo poteft." CICER. in Verr. "Facinus" ad fcelus evidently bear a part in this climax; and the act of lafhing a Roman citizen is said to be a greater crime than that of binding him.

"FLAGITIUM differs from "fcelus" in denoting an action, in which there is a ftill higher degree of immorality, and fuch as cannot be furpaffed. When it appears in the fame fentence, accordingly, with any of the other terms now compared with it, it naturally finishes the climax. "Stupra vero, et adulteria, et omne tale flagitium voluptatis illecebris excitari." Cic. de Senec -" Quæ libido ab oculis, quod facinus" e manibus tuis un quam, quod flagitium a toto corpore unquam abfuit ?" Cic. in Catil." Cum omnes in omni genere "fcelerum" et flagitiorum volutentur." Cic. Ep. Fam. 9, 3.-" Diftinctio pœnarum ex delicto. Proditores et transfugas arboribus fufpendunt. Igna. vos, et imbelles, et corpore infames, cœno ac palude, injectâ in fuper crate, mergunt. Diverfitas fupplicii illic refpicit, tanquam "fcelera" oftendi oporteat, dum puniuntur, flagitia abscondi.” Tac. Ger. 12.-The oppofition between "fcelus" and flagitium, is here very strongly marked. Crimes of a flighter, though not of a venial nature, were punished openly by the Germans, in order to deter thofe, who witneffed the punishments, from committing the crimes which led to them. Thofe, again, which they held to be of a deeper dye, they treated in a manner that would have done credit to proficients in the theory of penal law. Suppofing that even the knowledge of grofs crimes might corrupt the mind that was a ftranger to them, they punished them in fecret; and by that means prevented impure conceptions from becoming fami liar to thofe, in the rigour of whofe virtue the ftate was con cerned."

That adjectives, or any thing else, can alter the nature of an immoral deed, is a pofition which no philofopher will grant; nor will any grammarian grant that adjectives can change the radical or original meaning of any fubftantive with which they can be connected. Dr. Hill muft therefore be under a mif. take when he fuppofes that " facinus" by itfelf always de notes an immoral deed. The original fenfe of "facinus,"

L

BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXXVI. AUG. 1810,

from

from facere, feems to be any bold and daring action, whether good or bad; but it appears, that by the custom of the language, it had come to fignify, when ufed by itfelf, an immoral action, either because the boldness of vice was more frequent, or because it attracted greater notice among the Romans than the boldness of virtue." Were it not for this mistake, the article would be a good one, and fome parts of it eminently fo. It is indeed too long, though among the fhorteft of his articles; and nefas is unaccountably omitted: but the different fhades of meaning which diftinguith facinus, fcelus, and flagitium, are clearly pointed out, and judicioufly illuftrated. Let us now fee how the fame words are explained and distinguished by the author, whofe work is under our review.

"Facinus; Flagitium; Scelus; Nefas.

"FACINUS (from facere) is a bold action: when there is no epithet to determine its sense, it is taken in a bad one. Homines ad vim, ad facinus, cædemque delecti. Cic.-It is taken in a good fenfe when joined to an honourable epithet. Aliquo negotio intentus præclari facinoris. SALL.-FLAGITIUM (from flagitare) is used by Plautus in the fenfe of a preffing and fatiguing request. Flagitio cum majore poft reddes tamen. PLAUT.-It is faid of all bafe and fcandalous crimes. Quod facinus à manibus unquam tuis, quod flagitium à toto corpore abfuit? CIC.-Flagitiis atque facinoribus coopertus. SALL.-Cicero has ufed flagitium for error, in fpeaking of the atoms of Democritus. Tantam-ne fuiffe oblivionem in fcripto præfertim, ut ne legens quidem fenferit quantum flagitii admififfet. Horace ufes it for cowardice. Damno flagitium ad. ditis. HOR.SCELUS, villainy, an act of cruelty and impiety. Et fi quà culpâ tenemur erroris humani, à fcelere certè liberati fu mus. Cic.-Cùm omnes in omni genere et fcelerum et flagitiorum volutentur. Id.-Pygmalion fcelere ante alios immanior omnes. VIRG. Pofteà quod fcelus, quod facinus parricida non edidit? Cic.-NEFAS, an action forbidden by divine laws. Dirum nefas. VIRG.-Grande nefas et morte piandum. HoR.-Is cui nihil unquàm nefas fuit nee in facinore nec in libidine. CIC.-Audentis eft quodcunque FACINUS, FLAGITIUM, corruptoris, aut ignavi et timidi; SCELUS, atrocis et jamdudùm perverfi; NEFAS, impii et facrilegi." P. 283.

With fome hesitation indeed, we prefer M. Dumefnil's explanation of the above fynonyms, to that which is given by Dr. Hill; but of the Frenchman's fuperiority in the follow-ing article, there can be no doubt.

Curvare, Fledere, Plicare,

"Agree," fays Dr. Hill, "in denoting the act of altering the

form

form of fome fubftance*, but differ, in refpect either to the force requifite for that purpose, or to the natural elafticity of the fubftance, by which it recovers its original shape. The first is generic, in having a reference to every alteration of Jhapet, whether effected with cafe or with difficulty, and to every fubftance, whether elaf tic or not... Ovid. Met. 3. 93.

"Arbor curvata eft pondere ferpentis."

"Here the alteration of fhape is eafily effected, and the tree retains a difpofition to recover its original thape.

"The fhape of what is formed by the hand of nature, is alfo expreffed by this verb. "Ora Bofphori utrinque ex Afia atque Europa curvatur in Mæotim." PLIN. 6. 6.

"FLECTERE differs from "curvare," in fuppofing that a confiderable exertion is always requifite to change the form of the fubftance bent, and that the fubftance has a tendency to return to its original fhape. Omne animal, membra quo vuit fletit et contorquet. Cic. pro Cal.-Both verbs imply exertion, though the oppofite force may be for a while overcome.

FLECTITUR obfequio" curvatus" ab arbore ramus. Art. Am. 2. 179.

" OVID.'

"Here the means, though gentle, are fteady, and the bough is understood to retain its elafticity. Upon the refifting force, im plied in the literal meaning of flettere ‡, is founded that figurative one, to "prevail upon," in fpite of the action of oppofite mo.

tives.

"Flettere fi fuperos nequeo §, Acheronta movebo." Virg. Æn. 7. 312.-" Flectere alfo denotes the winding path obferved by a body in motion, though no veftige or tract (track) remains. Claufo tranfitu fluminis, ad oceanum flexit." Liv. 28. 16.— "Leucatem flettere moleftum videbatur."

"PLICARE differs from the other verbs, in fuppofing that the fubftance affumes any form with eafe, and retains that given it

*

In this refpect addere, frangere, demere, urere, cremare, &C.. agree with them; for a fubftance cannot be increofed, broken in pieces, teffened, or burnt, without having its form, as that word was understood among the Romans, altered; but would any man confider frangere, urere, and cremave, &c. as fynonymous with curvare, fecere, plicare, &c.? Rev.

This is a palpable mistake. A piftol bullet beaten into the form of a fhilling, would furely be altered in fhape; but would any man, who had feerit under both fhapes, call it, under the fe. cond, plumbum curvatum ?

Ret.

Is there any great refifting force to a man flettenti genaa Rev.

For nequeo fuperos; a ftrange mistake, as it deftroys the verfe, Rev.