Page:The Journal of Classical and Sacred Philology, Volume 1, 1854.djvu/374

 3G4 Journal of Philology. the Peninsula is wholly unknown, that only a small number (in proportion) of old names of places are of uncertain locality, and only a few ruins are still without a name." I am not confident that I can add anything to this estimate of Pausanias which would have the effect of placing him in a fuller or truer light. Much as we may be justified in expecting from the discovery of new, or the collation of known manu- scripts, on behalf of the elucidation of the text, for the real key to his meaning we shall be compelled to seek the services of the archaeologist. The art and mythology of Hellas reflect the light they receive from his pages. I hope the day is not dis- tant when Panofka shall give us his almost life-long labours on Pausanias. We may then hope that with the aid of two such scholars as he and Curtius, the one furnishing an archaeological, the other a chorographic commentary, this only extant monu- ment of Periegetic literature may be placed in its proper light. The subordination of the subjective element to the simple statement of objective fact renders the " Travels" of Pausanias a model not unworthy of imitation even in this enlightened nine- teenth century. He does not force his readers to see every- thing through his own spectacles. Richly and faithfully, as Curtius remarks, does he store his note -book with unvarnished descriptions of what he saw, with ungarbled recitals of what lie heard. Not that he was wanting in critical acumen : not that he blindly gave credence to the ready flow of lying guides. Not once only does he afford us intimation that about the informa- tion he retails, he has an opinion ; it is precisely because he does not square his statements to suit that opinion that his work should be valued by those who can use it aright. In the contradictions and inconsistencies, which lynx-eyed critics can fasten upon blemishes these, remember, arising from the pho- tographic accuracy with which the writer described what he saw and heard how often are we enabled to snatch at the skirts of some precious truth just flitting behind the scenes of history ! There is one point in particular to which great prominence, I humbly submit, should be given in forming an estimate of the value of Pausanias. The study of his works lias left on my mind a strong impression, that he was both widely and deeply acquainted with the whole range of Greek Epic literature. I