aggravate them, I am not wholly unaware. But I have arrived at that period, and attained such experience of life, that the consciousness of having, from proper motives, produced a Work interesting and useful to many readers, will outweigh all other considerations, and amply console me for any deduction which may remain to be made from my hitherto successful account with the Public. British Museum, INTRODUCTION ΤΟ THE FIRST EDITION. WHOEVER has employed his time on a long and laborious work, is anxious to prove to others, as well as to himself, the utility of what he has performed; since the imputation and the consciousness of having misapplied such efforts, are almost equally unpleasing. If authority be allowed to be an adequate justification, the translator from classic writers has little occasion to argue in his own defence, the practice of the ablest men in the most enlightened countries being undeniably on his side. Of Italian and French literature, translations from the classics form no small or unimportant part; and if in our own language, accurate versions of many ancient authors be still wanting, the deficiency is owing, I conceive, to some other cause, rather than to any disapprobation of such works, in those by whom they might have been performed. Perhaps the literary rank assigned in this country to translators, is not elevated enough to gratify the ambition of the learned; perhaps the curiosity of the Public has not yet been turned suf ficiently ficiently that way, to make the reward in general proportionate to the labour. Whatever be the cause that more has not been done, translations of eminent merit have appeared among us in a sufficient number, to prove decisively the opinion held of them by some of our most accurate and judicious scholars. In translating the Ancient Poets, our countrymen have, indeed, very honourably exerted their talents, and their success has proved that our language is fully calculated for the transfusion of the highest classical beauties: while the French, among whom the demand for translations has urged them to be performed at any rate, have been obliged to content themselves with prosaic versions of the noblest poems of antiquity. The honour thus acquired, ought to have encouraged us to proceed in laying open the remaining stores of ancient literature. But it is a humbler task to follow the steps of a prose writer, than to emulate the flights and harmony of a poet. There appears to be only one important objection, that can be made to works of this nature, which is founded on a fear that they may encourage indolence, and introduce the superficial ostentation of a knowledge neither sound nor accurate, to the injury of real learning. That vanity may be furnished, by translations with, the means of pretending to acquisitions which she has not made, cannot perhaps be denied, and such effects may certainly be traced in many writings writings of our continental neighbours; but that literature will thereby be injured, is not equally capable of proof. The foundation of learning is usually laid, if laid at all, and the taste for it imbibed, if it can be communicated, before the student has the liberty of considering whether it is easier to read the ancients in their own languages or in modern versions; and till we hear of some persons who shall have studied Greek, because there were books in that language of which they could not find any translation, we may rest satisfied, that few, if any, will neglect such studies on the mere prospect of that assistance. But an abuse, if it did exist, ought not to preclude the use; and whoever recollects how much our favourite Shakspeare enlarged the treasures of his active mind, by information deduced from these secondary sources, will confess, at least, that an excellent, as well as an impertinent or idle use may be made of translated Classics. In this country, where successful industry produces elevation of rank, and gives access to polished society, there will always be many persons, who with enlightened and discerning minds, and a considerable disposition to literature, are debarred from the perusal of ancient authors by the want of a suitable education. Many by birth entitled to every advantage, are early called away from learning to scenes of active occupation. Some such I have seen, and highly value, who, not ashamed of a deficiency occa sioned sioned by unavoidable circumstances, or by honest, useful, and honourable occupations, are desirous to form, if possible, complete collections of approved and elegant translations. But whether the desire of such aid be thus general, or directed only to particular authors, whether it be entertained by men or women, it is liberal in its kind, and ought by all means to be gratified. Nor is it only to unlearned persons that translations may be of service; to those also who are employed in the study of the ancient languages, they are often highly useful. In obscure and perplexed passages, they who publish notes, not unfrequently consult their ease, by passing over in silence what they are not able to explain; and even they by whom the Latin versions annexed to Greek authors were formed, will be found on many occasions, by rendering word for word, to have left the sense as dark as they found it in the original; but a translator into vernacular language, is a commentator, who is bound, if possible, to explain every thing: his version, in order to be approved, must have the air and manner of an original, and he has no more licence to be obscure than if it really were so. Being confined to this attention throughout, he usually examines and compares with greater diligence than any other commentator: he is compelled at least to understand himself, which is one good step towards being intelligible to others, and, where he finds this wholly impracticable, is driven |