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between Callimachus and the Homeric hymns； or between Plato and
Proclus。 Yet Callimachus and his fellows had an effect on the world。
His writings； as well as those of Philetas； were the model on which Ovid；
Propertius； Tibullus； formed themselves。
And so I leave him； with two hints。 If any one wishes to see the
justice of my censure； let him read one of the Alexandrian hymns； and
immediately after it； one of those glorious old Homeric hymns to the very
same deities； let him contrast the insincere and fulsome idolatry of
Callimachus with the reverent； simple and manful anthropomorphism of
the Homeristand let him form his own judgment。
The other hint is this。 If Callimachus； the founder of Alexandrian
literature； be such as he is； what are his pupils likely to become； at least
without some infusion of healthier blood； such as in the case of his Roman
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imitators produced a new and not altogether ignoble school？
Of Lycophron； the fellow…grammarian and poet of Callimachus； we
have nothing left but the Cassandra； a long iambic poem； stuffed with
traditionary learning； and so obscure； that it obtained for him the surname
of ＇Greek text： skoteinos＇ the dark one。 I have tried in vain to read it：
you； if you will； may do the same。
Philetas； the remaining member of the Alexandrian Triad； seems to
have been a more simple； genial； and graceful spirit than the other two； to
whom he was accordingly esteemed inferior。 Only a few fragments are
left； but he was not altogether without his influence； for he was； as I have
just said； one of the models on which Propertius and Ovid formed
themselves； and some； indeed； call him the Father of the Latin elegy； with
its terseness； grace； and clear epigrammatic form of thought； and； therefore；
in a great degree； of our modern eighteenth century poets； not a useless
excellence； seeing that it is； on the whole； good for him who writes to see
clearly what he wants to say； and to be able to make his readers see it
clearly also。 And yet one natural strain is heard amid all this artificial
jinglethat of Theocritus。 It is not altogether Alexandrian。 Its sweetest
notes were learnt amid the chestnut groves and orchards； the volcanic
glens and sunny pastures of Sicily； but the intercourse； between the courts
of Hiero and the Ptolemies seems to have been continual。 Poets and
philosophers moved freely from one to the other； and found a like
atmosphere in both； and in one of Theocritus' idyls； two Sicilian
gentlemen； crossed in love； agree to sail for Alexandria； and volunteer into
the army of the great and good king Ptolemy； of whom a sketch is given
worth reading； as a man noble； generous； and stately； 〃knowing well who
loves him； and still better who loves him not。〃 He has another encomium
on Ptolemy； more laboured； though not less interesting： but the real
value of Theocritus lies in his power of landscape…painting。
One can well conceive the delight which his idyls must have given to
those dusty Alexandrians； pent up forever between sea and sand…hills；
drinking the tank…water； and never hearing the sound of a running stream
whirling； too； forever； in all the bustle and intrigue of a great commercial
and literary city。 Refreshing indeed it must have been to them to hear of
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those simple joys and simple sorrows of the Sicilian shepherd； in a land
where toil was but exercise； and mere existence was enjoyment。 To them；
and to us also。 I believe Theocritus is one of the poets who will never die。
He sees men and things； in his own light way； truly； and he describes them
simply； honestly； with little careless touches of pathos and humour； while
he floods his whole scene with that gorgeous Sicilian air； like one of
Titian's pictures； with still sunshine； whispering pines； the lizard sleeping
on the wall； and the sunburnt cicala shrieking on the spray； the pears and
apples dropping from the orchard bough； the goats clambering from crag
to crag after the cistus and the thyme； the brown youths and wanton lasses
singing under the dark chestnut boughs； or by the leafy arch of some
Grot nymph…haunted； Garlanded over with vine； and acanthus； and
clambering roses； Cool in the fierce still noon； where the streams glance
clear in the moss…beds；
and here and there； beyond the braes and meads； blue glimpses of the
far…off summer sea； and all this told in a language and a metre which
shapes itself almost unconsciously； wave after wave； into the most
luscious song。 Doubt not that many a soul then； was the simpler； and
purer； and better； for reading the sweet singer of Syracuse。 He has his
immoralities； but they are the immoralities of his age： his naturalness；
his sunny calm and cheerfulness； are all his own。
And now； to leave the poets； and speak of those grammarians to whose
corrections we owe； I suppose； the texts of the Greek poets as they now
stand。 They seem to have set to work at their task methodically enough；
under the direction of their most literary monarch； Ptolemy Philadelphus。
Alexander the AEtolian collected and revised the tragedies； Lycophron the
comedies； Zenodotus the poems of Homer； and the other poets of the Epic
cycle； now lost to us。 Whether Homer prospered under all his
expungings； alterations； and transpositionswhether； in fact； he did not
treat Homer very much as Bentley wanted to treat Milton； is a suspicion
which one has a right to entertain； though it is long past the possibility of
proof。 Let that be as it may； the critical business grew and prospered。
Aristophanes of Byzantium wrote glossaries and grammars； collected
editions of Plato and Aristotle； aesthetic disquisitions on Homerone
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wishes they were prese