most ambitious, and shall presently insert yours have done in one instance, even a little against the among them. bias of my own opinion.

εγω δε κεν αυτός έλωμαι Ελθων συν πλεονεσσι,

know not why we should quarrel with compound epithets; it is certain at least they are as agreeable to the genius of our language as to that of the Greek, which is sufficiently proved by their The sense I had given of these words is the sense being admitted into our common and colloquial in which an old scholiast has understood them, as dialect. Black-eyed, nut-brown, crook-shanked, appears in Clarke's note in loco. Clarke indeed hump-backed, are all compound epithets, and, to- prefers the other, but it does not appear plain to gether with a thousand other such, are used con- me that he does it with good reason against the tinually, even by those who profess a dislike to judgment of a very ancient commentator, and a such combinations in poetry. Why then do they Grecian. And I am the rather inclined to this treat with so much familiarity a thing that they persuasion, because Achilles himself seems to have say disgusts them? I doubt if they could give this apprehended that Agamemnon would not content question a reasonable answer; unless they should himself with Briseïs only, when he says, answer it by confessing themselves unreasonable. I have made a considerable progress in the translation of Milton's Latin poems. I give them, as opportunity offers, all the variety of measure that It is certain that the words are ambiguous, and I can. Some I render in heroic rhyme, some in that the sense of them depends altogether on the stanzas, some in seven, and some in eight syllable punctuation. But I am always under the correcmeasure, and some in blank verse. They will, tion of so able a critic as your neighbour, and altogether, I hope, make an agreeable miscellany have altered, as I say, my version accordingly. for the English reader. They are certainly good in themselves, and can not fail to please, but by the fault of their translator. W. C.

TO THE REV. WALTER BAGOT.

Weston-Underwood, Dec. 5, 1791.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

But I have other precious things on board,
Of these take none away without my leave, &c.

As to Milton, the die is cast. I am engaged, have bargained with Johnson, and can not recede. I should otherwise have been glad to do as you advise, to make the translation of his Latin and Italian, part of another volume; for, with such an addition, I have nearly as much verse in my budget as would be required for the purpose. This squabble, in the mean time, between Fuseli and Boydell, does not interest me at all; let it terYour last brought me two cordials; for what minate as it may, I have only to perform my job, can better deserve that name than the cordial ap-and leave the event to be decided by the combaprobation of two such readers as your brother, the bishop, and your good friend and neighbour, the clergyman? The former I have ever esteemed and honoured with the justest cause, and am as ready to honour and esteem the latter as you can wish me to be, and as his virtues and talents de-yours, serve. Do I hate a parson? Heaven forbid! I love you all when you are good for any thing; and as to the rest, I would mend them if I could, and that is the worst of my intentions towards

them.

tants.

Suave mari magno_turbantibus æquora ventis
E terra ingentem alterius spectare laborem...
Adieu, my dear friend, I am most sincerely

W. C.

Why should you suppose that I did not admire the poem you showed me? I did admire it, and told you so, but you carried it off in your pocket, and so doing, left me to forget it, and without the means of inquiry.

I heard above a month since, that this first edition of my work was at that time nearly sold. It I am thus nimble in answering, merely with a will not therefore, I presume, be long before I must view to ensure myself the receipt of other rego to press again. This I mention merely from an marks in time for a new impression. earnest desire to avail myself of all other strictures, that either your good neighbour, Lord Bagot, the bishop, or yourself,

πάντων εκπαγλοτατ' ανδρων,

TO THE REV. MR. HURDIS.

DEAR SIR,

Weston, Dec. 10, 1791. may happen to have made, and will be so good as I AM much obliged to you for wishing that I to favour me with. Those of the good Evander were employed in some original work rather than contained in your last have served me well, and I in translation. To tell you the truth, I am of have already, in the three different places referred your mind; and unless I could find another Hoto, accommodated the text to them. And this I mer, I shall promise (I believe) and vow, when I

have done with Milton, never to translate again. that the news of such ills as may happen to either But my veneration for our great countryman is seldom reaches the other, till the cause of comHad I been next neighbour I equal to what I feel for the Grecian; and conse-plaint is over.

quently I am happy, and feel myself honourably should have suffered with you during the whole employed whatever I do for Milton. I am now indisposition of your two children and your own. translating his Epitaphium Damonis, a pastoral As it is, I have nothing to do but to rejoice in in my judgment equal to any of Virgil's Bucolics, your own recovery and theirs, which I do sincerebut of which Dr. Johnson (so it pleased him) ly, and wish only to learn from yourself that it is speaks, as I remember, contemptuously. But he complete. who never saw any beauty in a rural scene was not likely to have much taste for a pastoral. In pace quiescat!

I thank you for suggesting the omission of the line due to the helmet of Achilles. How the omission happened I know not, whether by my fault I was charmed with your friendly offer to be or the printer's; it is certain however that I had my advocate with the public; should I want one, translated it, and I have now given it its proper I know not where I could find a better. The re-place.

viewer in the Gentleman's Magazine grows more I purpose to keep back a second edition, till I and more civil. Should he continue to sweeten at have had an opportunity to avail myself of the rethis rate, as he proceeds, I know not what will be-marks both of friends and strangers. The ordeal come of all the little modesty I have left. I have of criticism still awaits me in the reviews, and availed myself of some of his strictures, for I wish probably they will all in their turn mark many to learn from every body. W. C.

TO SAMUEL ROSE, ESQ.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

The Lodge, Dec. 21, 1791. Ir gives me, after having indulged a little hope that I might see you in the holidays, to be obliged to disappoint myself. The occasion too, is such as will ensure me your sympathy.

things that may be mended. By the Gentleman's Magazine I have already profited in several instances. My reviewer there, though favourable in the main, is a pretty close observer, and though not always right, is often so.

In the affair of Milton I will have no horrida bella, if I can help it. It is at least my present purpose to avoid them if possible. For which reason, unless I should soon see occasion to alter my plan, I shall confine myself merely to the busi

and shall sift out of Warton's notes every tittle that relates to the private character, political or religious principles of my author. These are properly subjects for a biographer's handling, but by no means, as it seems to me, for a commentator's.

On Saturday last, while I was at my desk nearness of an annotator, which is my proper province, the window, and Mrs. Unwin at the fire-side opposite to it, I heard her suddenly exclaim, "Oh! Mr. Cowper, don't let me fall!" I turned and saw her actually falling together with her chair, and started to her side just in time to prevent her. She was seized with a violent giddiness, which lasted, In answer to your question if I have had a corthough with some abatement, the whole day, and was attended too with some other very, very alarm- respondence with the Chancellor-I reply—yes. ing symptoms. At present however she is relieved We exchanged three or four letters on the subject from the vertigo, and seems in all respects better. of Homer, or rather on the subject of my Preface. She has been my faithful and affectionate nurse He was doubtful whether or not my preference for many years, and consequently has a claim on of blank yerse, as affording opportunity for a closer all my attentions. She has them, and will have version, was well founded. On this subject he them as long as she wants them; which will pro-wished to be convinced; defended rhyme with bably be, at the best a considerable time to come. I much learning, and much shrewd reasoning, but feel the shock, as you may suppose, in every nerve. at last allowed me the honour of the victory, exGod grant that there may be no repetition of it. pressing himself in these words:-I am clearly Another such a stroke upon her would, I think, convinced that Homer may be best rendered in overset me completely; but at present I hold up blank verse, and you have succeeded in the passaW. C. ges that I have looked into. bravely.

Thus it is when a wise man differs in opinion. Such a man will be candid; and conviction, not triumph, will be his object.

Adieu! The hard name I gave you I take to myself, and am your

ἐκπαγλότατος,

W. C.

TO THE LORD THURLOW.

MY LORD,

TO THE LORD THURLOW.

MY LORD,

A LETTER reached me yesterday from Henry! WE are of one mind as to the agreeable effect Cowper, enclosing another from your Lordship to of rhyme or euphony in the lighter kinds of poetry. himself, of which a passage in my work formed the subject. It gave me the greatest pleasure; your stric-of an octave. But surely that word is only figuratures are perfectly just, and here follows the speech of Achilles accommodated to them ***

I did not expect to find your Lordship on the side of rhyme, remembering well with how much energy and interest I have heard you repeat passages from the Paradise Lost, which you could not have recited as you did, unless you had been perfectly sensible of their music. It comforts me therefore to know that if you have an ear for rhyme you have an ear for blank verse also.

It seems to me that I may justly complain of rhyme as an inconvenience in translation, even though I assert in the sequel that to me it has been easier to rhyme than to write without, because I always suppose a rhyming translator to ramble, and always obliged to do so. Yet I allow your Lordship's version of this speech of Achilles to be very close, and closer much than mine. But I believe that should either your Lordship or I give them burnish or elevation, your lines would be found, in measure as they acquired stateliness, to have lost the merit of fidelity. In which case nothing more would be done than Pope has done already.

them.

your

I remain, my Lord, &c. W. C.*.

tively applied to modern poetry: euphony seems to be the highest term it will bear. I have fancied also, that euphony is an impression derived a good therefore in some degree accidental, and consedeal from habit, rather than suggested by nature: quently conventional. Else why can't we bear a drama with rhyme; or the French one without it? Suppose the Rape of the Lock, Windsor Forest, L'Allegro, Il Penseroso, and many other which might easily be done, would they please as little poems which please, stripped of the rhyme, well? it would be unfair to treat rondeaus, ballads, and odes in the same manner, because rhyme makes in some sort a part of the conceit. It was this way of thinking, which made me suppose, that habitual prejudice would miss the rhyme dared to give their great authors in blank verse. and that neither Dryden nor Pope would have

I wondered to hear you say you thought rhyme easier in original compositions; but you explained it, that you could go further a-field, if you were pushed for want of a rhyme. An expression preferred for the sake of the rhyme looks as if it were worth more than you allow. But to be sure in translation the necessity of rhyme imposes very heavy fetters upon those who mean translation, not paraphrase. Our common heroic metre is enough; the pure iambic, bearing only a sparing introduction of spondees, trochees, &c. to vary the mea

sure.

I can not ask your Lordship to proceed in strictures, though I should be happy to receive Mere translation I take to be impossible, if no more of them. Perhaps it is possible that when metre were required. But the difference of iambic you retire into the country, you may now and then and heroic measure destroys that at once. It is amuse yourself with my Translation. Should your dead language, and an ancient author, which also impossible to obtain the same sense from a remarks reach me, I promise faithfully that they those of his own time and country conceived; shall be all most welcome, not only as yours, but words and phrases contract, from time and use, because I am sure my work will be the better for such strong shades of difference from their original import. In a living language, with the familiariWith sincere and fervent wishes for your Lord-ty of a whole life, it is not easy to conceive truly ship's health and happiness, the actual sense of current expressions; much less of older authors. No two languages furnish equipollent words; their phrases differ, their syntax and their idioms still more widely. But a translation strictly so called requires an exact conformity in all those particulars, and also in numbers: therefore it is impossible. I really think at present, notwithstanding the opinion expressed in your Preface, that a translator asks himself a good quesON coming to town this morning, I was sur- tion. How would my author have expressed the prised, particularly at receiving from you an an- sentence, I am turning, in English? for every idea swer to a scrawl I sent Harry, which I have forgot conveyed in the original should be expressed in too much to resume now. But I think I could English, as literally, and fully, as the genius, and not mean to patronise rhyme. I have fancied, use, and character of the language will admit of. that it was introduced to mark the measure in In the passage before us arra was the fondling modern languages, because they are less numer-expression of childhood to its parent; and to those ous and metrical than the ancient; and the name who first translated the lines conveyed feelingly seems to import as much. Perhaps there was that amiable sentiment. Tiga expressed the remelody in ancient song, without straining it to verence which naturally accrues to age. musical notes; as the common Greek pronuncia

* TO WILLIAM COWPER, ESQ. From Lord Thurlow.

DEAR COWPER,

tion is said to have had the compass of five parts an article of religion, strangers were supposed to Arpons implies an history. Hospitality was

The pieces which your lordship mentions would would have been to expose myself to the same certainly be spoiled by the loss of it, and so would miscarriage, at the same time that I had not his all such. The Alma would lose all its neatness talents to atone for it.

and smartness, and Hudibras all its humour. But I agree with your Lordship that a translation in grave poems of extreme length I apprehend that perfectly close is impossible, because time has sunk the case is different. Long before I thought of the original strict import of a thousand phrases, commencing poet myself, I have complained and and we have no means of recovering it. But if we heard others complain of the wearisomeness of such can not be unimpeachably faithful, that is no reapoems. Not that I suppose that tædium the ef- son why we should not be as faithful as we can; fect of rhyme itself, but rather of the perpetual re- and if blank verse affords the fairest chance, then currence of the same pause and cadence, unavoida- it claims the preference.

how happy I am that any part of my work has detain me long. I shall then proceed immediately pleased you. I have a comfortable consciousness to deliberate upon, and to settle the plan of my that the whole has been executed with equal in commentary, which I have hitherto had but little dustry and attention; and am, my Lord, with time to consider. I look forward to it, for this many thanks to you for snatching such a hasty reason, with some anxiety. I trust at least that moment to write to me,*

Your Lordship's obliged and affectionate humble servant,

WM. COWPER,

TO THE REV. MR. HURDIS,'

MY DEAR SIR,

this anxiety will cease when I have once satisfied myself about the best manner of conducting it. But after all I seem to fear more the labour to which it calls me, than any great difficulty with which it is likely to be attended. To the labours of versifying I have no objection, but to the labours of criticism I am new, and apprehend that I shall find them wearisome. Should that be the case, I shall be dull, and must be contented to share the censure of being so, with almost all the commentators that have ever existed.

Weston, Feb. 21, 1792. My obligations to you on the score of your kind and friendly remarks demanded from me a much more expeditious acknowledgment of the numerous I have expected, but not wondered that I have pacquets that contained them; but I have been not received Sir Thomas More and the other MSS. hindered by many causes, each of which you you promised me, because my silence has been would admit as a sufficient apology, but none of such, considering how loudly I was called upon to which I will mention, lest I should give too much write, that you must have concluded me either of my paper to the subject. My acknowledgments dead or dying, and did not choose perhaps to trust are likewise due to your fair sister, who has tran- them to executors. scribed so many sheets in so neat a hand, and with so much accuracy.

W.C.

TO THE REV. MR. HURDIS.

MY DEAR SIR,

At present I have no leisure for Homer, but shall certainly find leisure to examine him with a reference to your strictures, before I send him a Weston, March 2, 1792. second time to the printer. This I am at present I HAVE this moment finished a comparison of unwilling to do, choosing rather to wait, if that your remarks with my text, and feel so sensibly may be, till I shall have undergone the discipline my obligations to your great accuracy and kindof all the reviewers; none of whom yet have taken ness, that I can not deny myself the pleasure of me in hand, the Gentleman's Magazine excepted. expressing them immediately. I only wish that By several of his remarks I have benefited, and instead of revising the two first books of the Iliad, shall no doubt be benefited by the remarks of all. you could have found leisure to revise the whole Milton at present engrosses me altogether. His two poems, sensible how much my work would Latin pieces I have translated, and have begun have benefited. with the Italian. These are few, and will not

be short.

I have not always adopted your lines, though often perhaps at least as good as my own; because there will and must be dissimilarity of manner between two so accustomed to the pen as we are. But I have let few passages go unamended, which you seemed to think exceptionable; and this not at all from complaisance; for in such a cause I would not sacrifice an iota on that principle, but on clear conviction.

I have as yet heard nothing from Johnson about the two MSS. you announce, but feel ashamed that I should want your letter to remind me of your obliging offer to inscribe Sir Thomas More to me, should you resolve to publish him of my consent

I did not mean it as a sign of any presumption that you have attempted what neither Dryden nor Pope would have dared; but merely as a proof of their addiction to rhyme; for I am clearly convinced that Homer may be better translated than into rhyme, and that you have succeeded in the places I have looked into. But I have fancied that it might have been still more literal, preserving the ease of genuine English and melody, and some to such a measure you need not doubt. I am codegree of that elevation which Homer derives from vetous of respect and honour from all such as you. simplicity. But I could not do it, or even near Tame hare, at present, I have none. But to enough to form a judgment, or more than a fancy make amends, I have a beautiful little spaniel, about it. Nor do I fancy it could be done " stans called Beau, to whom I will give the kiss your pede in uno." But when the mind has been fully sister Sally intended for the former. Unless she impregnated with the original passage, often re

volving it and waiting for a happy moment may should command me to bestow it elsewhere; it still be necessary to the best trained mind. Adieu. shall attend on her directions.