ral review of all the principal schemes of interpretation which have been adopted for expounding the Fourth Eclogue; shewing, at the same time, the entire failure of them all, and thereby demonstrating, that the question still remains open for determination. The SECOND chapter, detects the cause of that universal failure, and exposes the error of the common principle upon which those interpretations had been made to rest. The THIRD chapter, propounds the true principle upon which alone the poem can be successfully interpreted; by shewing, that the prophecy which it contains is to be ascribed (not, as has been hitherto assumed, to the person of Virgil, but) to the person of THE CUMEAN SIBYL, whose prediction Virgil therein expressly alleges. The FOURTH chapter, proves by an historical review of the public events of the time, compared with the matter of the Eclogue, that the proper object of that CUMEAN PROPHECY was no other than OCTAVIUS CESAR; and that it related especially to the great event, of the first establishment of his SOVEREIGNTY IN THE WEST by the peace of Brundusium. during the consulate of ASINIUS POLLIO. The FIFTH and SIXTH chapters, are employed in endeavouring to confirm that argument; by attempting to show, that the Eclogue is truly a GENETHLIACON, OF BIRTH-DAY POEM, composed in honour of Octavius; and that its nature is, in the technical sense of the term, genethliacal, being marked with unequivocal allusions to the astrological characters appertaining to Octavius's nativity; according to the prevailing superstitions of the age in which it was written. The SEVENTH, and LAST, chapter, investigates the sources from whence Virgil derived the notions, which he has combined in this poem in honour of Octavius. It traces those notions to the Sibylline pro phecies, and those prophecies to THE SACRED ORACLES OF JUDEA. It takes a summary view, of the declarations of those sacred oracles, concerning the first rise of THE EMPIRE OF ROME. And it concludes, with a contemplation of the notices afforded by those same oracles, relative to the progress, the duration, and the final termination, of THAT SAME EMPIRE. Lastly, an Index is subjoined, to all the separate passages of the Eclogue which are illustrated in the Work. In submitting these Observations to the judgment of the learned reader, I feel equal confidence in my argument and dif fidence in myself; and I claim, from his equity and candour, a constant attention to this fair distinction, lest at any time it should. appear to him to be questionable, from what source the language of confidence may proceed. I am deeply sensible, that if the argument had fallen into other hands, it would have been conducted in a manner to afford much less advantage to the severity of criticism. But since chance has cast it into mine, I will still cherish an humble hope, that some new truths, interesting to learning and religion, will appear to have been brought to light. If this should prove to be the case; if the true principle for expounding THE FOURTH ECLOGUE, should appear to be well-established in the following Observations; I owe it to gratitude to acknowledge, that its attainment is entirely due to the chances occurring in the range and common of an ample library, supplied by the friendship of a brother; of which I can truly say, "ad meum quoque usum "* spectat. If, therefore, the learned should eventually pronounce, that Virgil's celebrated enigma is herein at length un 66 *Cic. ad Quint. fratrem, iii. 4. ravelled, the solution must, in justice and truth, be ascribed principally to that cause, which is here assigned. Ruris bibliotheca delicati, Vicinam videt unde lector urbem- Hoc rus, seu potius domus vocanda est, I am happy to avail myself of this opportunity, for testifying also my obligations to, and respect for, the founders of the library of the Royal Institution; which most valuable depository, if we consider the richness of its materials for universal reference, and the accommodations and facilities which it affords to all those who * V. Martialis, ad bibliothecam, ac de hortis, J. Martialis, vii. 16. et iv. 64. |