In 1683, appeared the first volume of a translation of Plutarch’s Lives,
executed by several hands. Among the persons engaged in this undertaking,
Mr Malone enumerates “Richard Duke, and Knightly Chetwood, Fellows of
Trinity College, in Cambridge; Paul Rycaut, Esq.; Thomas Creech, of
Wadham College, Oxford, the translator of Horace, &c.; Edward Brown,
M.D. author of Travels in Germany, &c.; Dr Adam Littleton, author of
the Latin Dictionary; John Caryl, Esq. I believe the friend of Pope; Mr
Joseph Arrowsmith; Thomas Rymer, Esq.; Dr William Oldys; John Evelyn,
Esq.; and Mr Somers, afterwards Lord Somers, who translated the Life of
Alcibiades, though his name is not prefixed to it. Beside the persons
here enumerated, twenty-nine others were engaged in this work: so that
the total number of the translators was forty-one. Dryden translated none
of the Lives.”
Dryden was induced to honour this work, so creditable to those who had
undertaken it, with a Dedication, and Life of Plutarch. The Dedication
is addressed to the great Duke of Ormond, whom Dryden had celebrated,
in “Absalom and Achitophel,” under the name of Barzillai. The reader
will find some account of that nobleman, in the note upon that passage,
Vol. IX. p. 294. It is doing no injustice to the other great qualities
of Ormond, to say, that his generous and unwearied protection of Dryden
will not be the soonest forgotten. The poet’s feelings towards this noble
family were expressed in the preface to the “Fables,” his last great work.
The publication and translation of “Plutarch’s Lives” was not completed
until 1686, when the last volume appeared. The following remarkable
advertisement was prefixed to the work; which, from internal evidence, Mr
Malone ascribes to our author, although bearing the name, and written in
the character, of Jacob Tonson, the publisher of the work.
“You have here the first volume of “Plutarch’s Lives” turned from the
Greek into English; and give me leave to say, the first attempt of doing
it from the originals. You may expect the remainder in four more, one
after another, as fast as they may conveniently be dispatched from the
press. It is not my business, or pretence, to judge of a work of this
quality; neither do I take upon me to recommend it to the world, any
farther than under the office of a fair and careful publisher, and in
discharge of a trust deposited in my hands for the service of my country,
and for a common good. I am not yet so insensible of the authority and
reputation of so great a name, as not to consult the honour of the
author, together with the benefit and satisfaction of the bookseller, as
well as of the reader, in this undertaking. In order to which ends, I
have, with all possible respect and industry, besought, solicited, and
obtained, the assistance of persons equal to the enterprize, and not only
critics in the tongue, but men of known fame and abilities for style
and ornament; but I shall rather refer you to the learned and ingenious
translators of this first part, (whose names you will find in the next
page,) as a specimen of what you may promise yourself from the rest.
“After this right done to the Greek author, I shall not need to say what
profit and delight will accrue to the English reader from this version,
when he shall see this illustrious piece in his own mother tongue, and
the very spirit of the original transfused into the traduction; and in
one word, “Plutarch’s Worthies” made yet more famous, by a translation
that gives a farther lustre even to Plutarch himself.
“Now as to the bookseller’s part, I must justify myself, that I have
done all that to me belonged; that is to say, I have been punctually
faithful to all my commissions toward the correctness and decency of the
work; and I have said to myself, that which I now say to the public,—It
is impossible but a book that comes into the world with so many
circumstances of dignity, usefulness, and esteem, must turn to account.”
TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF ORMOND, &c.