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THE FOURTH BOOK
of
VIRGIL'S ÆNEID,
and
THE NINTH BOOK
of
VOLTAIRE'S HENRIAD.
Translated into English verse with a view of comparison
between the Latin, French, and English poetry.
By the Translator of the HENRIAD.
PARIS:
PRINTED BY CH. CRAPELET.
1804.
TO
MONSIEUR DELILLE.
SIR,
After reading with infinite pleasure your masterly translations of
Virgil, I have been led into a train of reflection on the mechanism of
words, and on the manners, the ideas, and pursuits of Nations in as much
as they frequently give rise to the difference of character which we
remark in their language. Few literary discussions would I think be more
curious than an impartial comparative enquiry of this kind.
Not only have the easy elegance and courtly air of your verses displayed
the French tongue in these respects worthy of your original; but have
inclined me to think that they have raised it near the highest pitch of
perfection of which it is at present capable, in the translation of a
Latin poet. After two brillant ages of literature the French language
did not, till you appeared, possess one translation of the great
masterpieces of antiquity, which might fairly be said to have attained
the rank of a classical work: while the English had been long enriched
with such translations of most of them, as will like yours, in all
probability share the immortality of their originals. In the cloud of
critics which superior lustre necessarily attracts, many perhaps were
not sufficiently aware of the peculiar difficulties of your undertaking,
from the nature of the materials which you had to employ, and some not
candid enough to compare the work which you have raised out of them,
with what they had hitherto been made to produce.
That the English language might be so managed as to surpass the French
in expression of strong sentiments, in boldness of imagery, in harmony
and variety of versification I will not be sufficiently hardy to assert.
The universality of the latter must be admitted as a strong presumption
of its general excellency. Yet I cannot help wishing, that some pen
worthy to be compared with Monsieur Delille's would give the world an
opportunity of judging whether the former may not have some pretensions
to superiority in the instances which I have mentioned.
Besides the length of time which has elapsed since the production of
Dryden's translation, you will recollect with a sigh, as I do, his own
expression: «What Virgil wrote in the vigor of age, in plenty and at
ease, I have undertaken to translate,» says Dryden, «in my declining
years, struggling with want, oppressed with sickness, curbed in my
genius, liable to be misunderstood in all I write.--What I now offer is
the wretched remainder of a sickly age, worn out by study and oppressed
by Fortune»!
It might not therefore be deemed sufficient to compare a work, produced
under such disadvantages, in the seventeenth century, (notwithstanding
the extraordinary powers of its author) with what is now becoming the
admiration of the nineteenth. Much less, sir, will it be just or candid
to suppose me capable of publishing my feeble attempt with any view of
comparison as to the merit of the performance.--Should it be asked,
what then could have been my inducement?--First, if I am fortunate
enough to excite others more capable than myself to try again the
comparative force of English language in a new translation, as you have
just shown how much can be done in French, I shall have obtained the
utmost bounds of my ambition.
Secondly, I am happy to acknowledge the pleasure which I felt an
employing some long moments of leisure, on a subject wherein your genius
had taken such delight: I hove chosen the fourth book as that which I
have had the good fortune of hearing in your own verses, with all the
charms of your own recitation; and have pursued this occupation.
Non ita certandi cupidus, quam propter amorem
Quod te imitari aveo----
I have the honor to be with great respect,
Your most obedient humble servant,