Letters Concerning Poetical Translations - And Virgil's and Milton's Arts of Verse, &c. by William Benson
page 12 of 91 (13%)
page 12 of 91 (13%)
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From whence it appears that the auxiliary Verb is not to be rejected at all times; besides, it is a particular Idiom of the _English_ Language: and has a Majesty in it superior to the _Latin_ or _Greek_ Tongue, and I believe to any other Language whatsoever. Many Instances might be brought to support this Assertion from Great Authorities. I shall produce one from _Shakespear_. --_This to me In dreadful Secrecy impart they_ did. The Auxiliary Verb is here very properly made use of; and it would be a great loss to _English_ Poetry, if it were to be wholly laid aside. In Translations from the _Greek_ and _Latin_, I believe it wou'd sometimes be impossible to do justice to an Author without this Help: I think the Passage in _Homer_ before us, I mean the two first Lines of the _Iliad_, are an Instance of this kind. They have been translated by many Persons of late, _Dryden_, _Manwaring_, Mr. _Tickel_, and by Mr. _Pope_ twice, and not by any one of 'em, as I apprehend, in the Spirit of _Homer_. As to Mr. _Pope_'s two Translations, I don't understand why the latter ought to be preferr'd to the former. Mr. _Pope_'s first Translation stood thus. The Wrath of _Peleus'_ Son, the direful Spring Of all the _Grecian_ Woes, _O_ Goddess sing. Mr. _Pope_ had reason to be dissatisfy'd with the _O_ in the second Line, and to reject it; for _Homer_ has nothing of it. But now let us see how the Vacancy is supplied in Mr. _Pope_'s new Translation. |
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