Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

PREFA C E.

TH

HE following tranflations were first published in the year 1775, and I had then fome idea of proceeding with the rest of PINDAR'S Odes, that had been omitted by Mr. WEST. But my attention being called for fome time to other objects, and a compleat tranflation of the PYTHIAN, NEMEAN, and ISTHMIAN Odes, being published by Mr. BURNABY GREENE, I gave up the defign.

Tranflations of the ancient Poets, if faithfully executed, and the connexion and arrangement of their thoughts properly preferved, are undoubtedly of ufe even to the learned Reader. The Author of POLYMETIS declares, that he never perfectly understood the Satires and Epiftles of HORACE, till he read Mr. POPE's imitations of them. How neceffary then must fuch an affiftance be to the explanation of a Poet, of all others the most daring in his flights; and whofe meaning has been fo much perplexed by fanciful, and taftelefs Commentators.

VOL. I.

of

Of my own attempt I fhall only fay, that I have ftudiously endeavored to give the fenfe of the Original as exactly as poffible; not taking too great liberty in paraphrafing on one hand, nor on the other, fuffering the Spirit of the Poet to escape me, by adhering too clofely to his Letter. I have added Notes on some obfcure, and on some striking paffages, which I have thrown together at the end of each Ode, and which Arrangement I must here defend, as it was cenfured by the Critical Reviewer, whofe candid obfervations on the tranflation in general, demand my acknowledgment. If the attention of the Reader is to be called off at all, from the perufal of the text by typographical marks, I readily agree that his eye had better be drawn to the bottom of the page, than to be obliged to feek what it wants in another place. But I think it much better that the attention given to the general tenor of the Ode, fhould not be interrupted at all; and this end is fully effected, by the Notes only referring to the number of the verfe, without encumbering the text with either mark, or figure; which, to judge by what happens to myself, will attract notice in fpite of the firmeft refolution to the contrary. I cannot explain my Ideas on this fubject better, than in the words of Mr. SPENCE, which I have before alluded to. I ufed,' he fays, to be perpetually confulting

[ocr errors]

confulting my notes: and before I left School, could have given you three or four different meanings for most of the difficult paffages in VIRGIL, HORACE, or JUVENAL, and perhaps twenty, for fome in PERSIUS. This way of ftudying, by drawing your eye off (at every line almoft) to the fide lights, inftead of keeping it fteady upon the proper object you ought to ⚫ view, makes one often forget the real intention of the Author; and almoft lofes the thread of his thoughts, and the connexion of the whole piece.' POLYMETES, Dial. XVII.

As to the frequent digreffions of the Poet, they are very justly accounted for by Mr. WEST in his Preface, and certainly arofe more from neceffity than choice. For as he was obliged to take notice of the particular actions of his Patrons, whose exploits he was paid for celebrating, fo it was abfolutely neceffary for him to avoid difgufting the rest of his audience by the fameness of the subject; and to do this, he was forced to introduce fuch popular stories and anecdotes, as he could by any means connect with the Country or Family of the Conquerors, who moft of them boasted a descent from fome of the Heroes, and Demi-gods of the fabulous ages.

As the fituation of a Poet Laureat is something fimilar to that of our ancient Lyric Poet, might

not our Birth Day Odes be rendered more interefting to the Public, by interweaving fome of the popular stories which may be found in our annals, with the usual compliments of the Day? I think fomething of this kind was attempted by Mr. WHITEHEAD. An idea of this nature in the hands of our prefent Laureat, might render those periodical productions not only a claffical entertainment for the present time, but a permanent and valuable acquifition to pofterity.

THE

THE FOURTH

OLYMPIC ODE.

To PSAUMIS of CAMARINA, on his Victory in the Chariot Race.

ARGUMENT.

The Poet, after an invocation to JUPITER, extols PSAUMIS for his Victory in the Chariot Race, and for his defire to honor his country. From thence he takes occafion to praise him for his skill in managing horfes, his hofpitality, and his love of peace; and, mentioning the history of ERGINUS, excufes the early whiteness of his hair.

G

STROPHE.

REAT Jove! fupreme immortal King!

Borne on the unwearied thunder's wing;

Again thy hours that roll along

Refponfive to the varied fong,

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinua »