THE BIBLICAL REPERTORY AND PRINCETON REVIEW is published quarterly, in January, April, July and October, at THREE DOLLARE 1. Subscribers for one copy, who remit THREE DOLLARS in ad vance, to the office of publication, will be entitled to payment of postage on all numbers issued after the receipt of the money. 2. Subscribers who remit FIVE DOLLARS in advance, to the office of publication, will be entitled to one copy for two years, postage paid. 3. Six or more persons uniting in a club, and remitting in one sum to the office of publication at the rate of Two DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS each, will be entitled to payment of postage on the numbers issued after the receipt of the money. Payment at club-rate will not be received from a less number than six subscribers in one association. If payment is delayed by members of a club until after the expiration of the year, the full price of THREE DOLLARS will invariably be charged. 4. Theological Students and Missionaries are furnished with the Review, at Two DOLLARS per year; or $2.25 by mail, postage paid. 5. All arrearages are charged at THREE DOLLARS per year. The above are the only terms upon which the Review is furnished to subscribers in the United States or British possessions. Bills of the national currency, or of banks at par in Philadelphia, received in payment, and may be sent by mail at the risk of the publisher; but those who send are requested to keep a memorandum of the contents and date of their letter till they receive a receipt. Those who act as agents, or remit in amounts above $10, are requested to procure a check or draft. Subscribers in Canada may send their orders and money to the Rev. A. KENNEDY, London, Canada West; and those in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, to the Rev. WM. ELDER, A. M., St. John, New Brunswick. WANTED, January 1833, April and July 1836, January THE PRINCETON REVIEW. APRIL, 1864. No. II. ART. I.-Platonis, et quæ vel Platonis esse feruntur, vel Platonica solent comitari, Scripta Græce omnia, ad Codices Manuscriptos recensuit, variasque inde Lectiones diligenter enotavit IMMANUEL BEKKER. Eleven volumes, 8vo. London, 1826. The Works of Plato, viz., his fifty-five Dialogues and twelve Epistles, translated from the Greek, by FLOYER SYDENHAM, and THOMAS TAYLOR, with occasional Annotations and copious Notes. Five volumes, quarto. London, 1804. The Works of Plato; a new and literal version, chiefly from the text of Stallbaum. By HENRY CARY, M. A., HENRY DAVIS, M. A., and GEORGE BURGESS, M. A. Five volumes, 12mo. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1848. To most of the editions of the works of Plato are prefixed brief sketches of the philosopher's life. The edition of Bekker contains four of these biographies in Greek, viz., those by Diogenes Laertius, Suidas, Hesychius the Milesian, and Olympiodorus. The edition of Taylor has the sketch by Olympiodorus, translated into English. The translators of Bohn's edition propose to give, in an additional volume, what they call, "the three existing lives of the philosopher, and the introduction of Alcinous, all for the first time translated into English." Some of these have certainly been translated into English; whether all, we are not able to say. Plato, though by descent an Athenian, was not born at Athens, but on the island of Ægina; at that time subject to the Athenians. Fable has made him the son of Apollo, and represented his mother as a virgin; but his real father was Aristo, and his mother's name was Parectonia. Among his remote ancestors may be reckoned Codrus, the last king of Athens, and the celebrated Athenian lawgiver, Solon. He was born some four hundred and thirty years before Christ, being contemporary with Nehemiah, and the latest of the Hebrew prophets. The poets tell us that, when he was yet an infant, his parents left him asleep on Mount Hymettus, while they went to the sacrifice; and that when they returned, the bees had filled his mouth with honey; but this story was not intended to be believed. His original name was not Plato, but Aristocles. He was surnamed Plato from the Greek latus, on account of the extreme breadth of his forehead, shoulders, and breast. In early youth, he gave indications of an extensive and original genius. He was instructed, like the rest of the Athenians, in grammar, music, and gymnastic exercises. Owing to the respectability of his connections and ancestors, he had many inducements to engage in politics; but the revolutions of the times, and the dreadful injustice which he saw continually perpetrated, discouraged him. His attention was early directed to painting and poetry. Before the age of twenty, he had produced an epic poem, which, after reading Homer, he had the good sense to destroy. He also wrote tragedies and lyrics, and might have excelled in this species of composition; but happening to meet with Socrates, he was so captivated by his reasoning and eloquence, that he resolved to abandon all other pursuits, and apply himself wholly to the study of wisdom. For eight years together, he was a constant hearer and follower of Socrates. He always claimed to be a disciple of Socrates and held his master in the highest honour; yet he was not satisfied simply to adopt his conclusions, and walk in his steps. From his own invention, and the teaching of others, he introduced considerable additions, not to say corruptions, into the Socratic philosophy. When Socrates was brought to trial for his life, Plato expected to plead his cause, and actually |