BRUNCK, broonk, Richard Francois Philippe, French critic: b. Strassburg, 30 Dec. 1729; d. same place, 12 June 1803. He made rapid progress in learning when he studied with the Jesuits in Paris, but neglected study and was engaged for a while as military commis sary in the Seven Years' War. While in win ter quarters at Giessen, as commissary of war during the French campaigns, he resided with a professor who, by his advice and example, revived his love of letters and led him to the study of the classics. When Brunck returned to Strassburg he devoted all his leisure time to Greek, and at the age of 30, and while hold ing public office, attended the lectures of the Greek professor of the university. The zeal which had encouraged him to undertake this laborious study was increased by the pleasure of overcoming difficulties, and he became fixed in the conviction that all the instances of appar ently careless writing in the Greek poets were only errors of the transcribers. Entertaining this opinion, he altered whatever displeased him, overthrew the order of the verses and permitted himself liberties which criticism must needs reject. This arbitrary process is so vis ible, even in the editions he has published, that much caution is required in using them. Brunck
has, nevertheless, been of essential service to Greek literature, And since the revival of letters few scholars have so effectually promoted it. He published a valuable edition of Virgil. Of his Greek editions mention may be made of those of the Rhodius' (Aristophanes,) 'The, Gnomic Poets' and his masterpiece, (Sophocles,' for which the King allowed him a pension of 2,000 francs. At this time the French Revolution interrupted his studies. He adopted the new ideas with en thusiasm but without deviating from the prin ciples of moderation. He was arrested at Besancon during the Reign of Terror and did not obtain his liberty until after the death of Robespierre. In 1791 and again in 1801 eco nomical reasons obliged him to sell, part of his library. As he was passionately fond of his books, and his former fortune had enabled him to collect an excellent library this was a severe privation. From this time Greek became his aversion; but he prepared an edition of Ter ence and had Plautus ready for publication when he died. Many of his papers are in the library at Paris.