are translated. Now if a Muse cannot run when
she is unfettered, it is a sign she has but little
speed. I will not make a digression here, though
I am strangely tempted to it; but will only say,
that he who can write well in rhyme, may write
better in blank verse. Rhyme is certainly a con-
straint even to the best poets, and those who
make it with most ease; though perhaps I have as
little reason to complain of that hardship as any
man, excepting Quarles and Withers. What it.
adds to sweetness it takes away from sense; and
he who loses the least by it, may be called a
gainer: it often makes us swerve from an author's
meaning. As if a mark be set up for an archer
at a great distance, let him aim as exactly as he
can, the least wind will take his arrow, and divert
it from the white.

I return to our Italian translator of the ÆNEIS:
he is a foot-poet, he lacquies by the side of Virgil
at the best, but never mounts behind him. Doc-
tor Morelli, who is no mean critick in our poe-

4 The Whit
Mr. Spence, in his Essay on Pope's ODYSSEY, 12mo.
mesk at
Which archers 2747, p. 113, quotes the foregoing passage as

formerly

"an un

conquerable quotation" to prove that our author thought,
an epick poem should be translated into blank verse;
but he forgot (as Dr. Johnson has observed)" that when
Dryden attempted the ILIAD some years afterwards, he
departed from his own decision, and translated into
rhyme."

5 one of the College of Physiciansu our anthers time; whose name, Scheme for a Dispensary, in 1697. appears among the Subscribers to the

He makes GOD Almighty set the scales for St. Gabriel and Satan, when he knew no combat was to follow; then he makes the good 'angel's scale descend, and the devil's mount; quite contrary to Virgil, if I have translated the three verses according to my author's sense.

Jupiter ipse duas æquatò examine lances Sustinet et fata imponit diversa duorum Quem damnet labor, et quo vergat pondere letum. For I have taken these words, Quem damnet labor, in the sense which Virgil gives them in another place,-(Damnabis tu quoque votis,) to signify a prosperous event. Yet I dare not condemn so great a genius as Milton: for I am much mistaken, if he alludes not to the text in Daniel, where Belshazzar was put into the balance, and found too light. This is digression, and I return to my subject.—I said above, that these two machines, of the balance and the dira were only ornamental, and that the success of the duel had been the same without them. For when Æneas and Turnus stood fronting each other before the altar, Turnus looked dejected, and his colour faded in his face, as if he desponded of the victory before the fight; and not only he, but all his party, when the strength of the two champions was judged by the proportion of their limbs, concluded it was Impar pugna, and that their chief was over matched. Whereupon Juturna who was of the same opinion took this opportunity to break the treaty, and rel

new the war Juno herself had plainly told the
nymph before hand, that her brother was to fight

Imparibus fatis: nec diis, nec viribus æquis;

so that there was no need of an apparition to
fright Turnus he had the presage within himself
of his impending destiny. The dira only served
to confirm him in his first opinion, that it was his
destiny to die in the ensuing combat. And in
this sense are those words of Virgil to be taken
on me tua turbida virtus
Terret, ait di me terrent, Jupiter hostis.

Hon

I doubt not but the adverb (solum) is to be understood; it is not your valour only that gives me this concernment, but I find also, by this portent, that Jupiter is my enemy for Turnus. fled before, when his first sword was broken, till his sister supplied him with a better; which indeed he could not use, because Aneas kept him at a distance with his spear. I wonder Ruæus saw not this, where he charges his author so unjustly for giving Turnus a second sword to no purpose. How could he fasten a blow, or make a thrust, when he was not suffered to approach? Besides, the chief errand of the dira was to warn Juturna from the field; for she could have brought the chariot again when she saw her brother worsted in the duel. I might farther add, that Æneas was so cager of the fight, that he left the city, now almost in his possession, to decide his quarrel with

じ

V

try, and therefore may be presumed to be a better in his own language, has confirmed me in this opinion by his judgment, and thinks withal, that he has often mistaken his master's sense. I would say so, if I durst, but am afraid I have committed the same fault more often, and more grossly; for I have forsaken Ruaeus, (whom generally I fol low) in many places, and made expositions of my own in some, quite contrary to him. Of which I will give but two examples, because they are so near each other, in the tenth Eneid:

sorti pater æquus utrique

Pallas says it to Turnus just before they fight. Ruæus thinks that the word pater is to be referred to Evander, the father of Pallas; but how could he imagine that it was the same thing to Evander, if his son were slain, or if he overcame. The poet certainly intended Jupiter the common father of mankind; who, as Pallas hoped, would stand an impartial spectator of the combat, and not be more favourable to Turnus than to him. The second is not long after it, and both before the duel is begun. They are the words of Jupiter, who comforts Hercules for the death of Pallas, which was immediately to ensue, and which Her

6

Heynes interpretation is this: Sorti pater` equus afriquef schl. fererniday est; is est pater, qui utremque fortunam, et victorie et mortis gloriosæ æquo animo. ferat: ut fere Sery. Respicit enim ad verba Turni-vs. 448-cuperem ipse parets Evander adesset.

Галее

cales could not hinder, though the young hera
had addressed his prayers to him for his assistance
because the gods cannot controul destiny. The
verse follows:

Sic ait; atque oculos Reftulorum rejicit arvis.

Which the same Ruæus thus construes Jupiter
after after he had said this, immediately turns his
eyes to the Rutulian fields, and beholds the duel,
I have given this glig another exposition,that
he turned his eyes from the field of combat, that
he might not behold a sight so unpleasing to him,
The word rejicit I
but Jupiter having

admit of both senses;
nfessed that he could not
alter fate, and being grieved he could not, in con-
sideration of Hercules, it seems to me that he
should avert his eyes, rather than take pleasure in
the spectacle. But of this I am not so confident
as the other, though I ink I have followed Vir-
gil's sense.

What I have said, though it has the face of arrogance, yet is intended for the honour of my country; and therefore I will boldly own, that this English translation has more of Virgil's spirit in over it than either the French, or the Italian. Some of our countrymen have translated episodes, and other parts of Virgil, with great success as particularly your Lordship, whose version of Orpheus. and Eurydice is eminently good. Amongst the

9 In this interprétation Heyne agrees with our author.

County

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