"Jove himfelf, have enjoyed the fight "and converfation of the Gods, whofe awful majefty they obferve, and whofe dictates they communicate to mankind, whom, at the fame time, they

''

infpire with thofe celeftial flames "which fhine fo gloriously in their "works."

"BESIDES all this, you are to exprefs "the motions of the fpirits, and the "affections or paffions, whofe centre is "the heart. This is that in which "the greatest difficulty confifts. Few "there are whom Jupiter regards with a favourable eye in this undertaking."

66

"AND as this part, (the Art of Colouring), which we may call the ut

"moft

"moft perfection of Painting, is a de"ceiving beauty, but withal foothing "and pleafing; fo fhe has been accu"fed of procuring lovers for her fifter (Defign), and artfully engaging us to "admire her."

BUT there are certain fpecies of poetry, of the merits of which it will be found impoffible to convey the smallest idea in a profe tranflation. Such is Lyric poetry, where a greater degree of irregularity of thought, and a more unreftrained exubérance of fancy, is allowable than in any other fpecies of compofition. To attempt, therefore, a tranflation of a lyric poem into profe, is the most abfurd of all undertakings; for thofe very characters of the original which are effential to it, and which conftitute its highest beauties, if transferred

transferred to a profe translation, become unpardonable blemishes. The excurfive range of the sentiments, and the play of fancy, which we admire in the original, degenerate in the translation into mere raving and impertinence. Of this the translation of Horace in prose, by Smart, furnishes proofs in every page.

We may certainly, from the foregoing obfervations, conclude, that it is impoffible to do complete juftice to any species of poetical compofition in a profe tranflation; in other words, that none but a poet can tranflate a poet.

CHAP.

CHAP. IX.

Third General Rule-A Tranflation sbould have all the Eafe of Original Compofition. -Extreme difficulty in the obfervance of this Rule. Contrafted Inftances of Sucsefs and Failure. Of the Neceffity of fometimes facrificing one Rule to another,

remains now that we confider the third general law of tranflation.

In order that the merit of the original work may be fo completely transfufed as to produce its full effect, it is neceffary,

not

not only that the tranflation fhould contain a perfect tranfcript of the fentiments of the original, and present likewife a resemblance of its ftyle and manner; but, That the tranflation fhould have all the ease of original compofition.

WHEN we confider. thofe reftraints within which a tranflator finds himself neceffarily confined, with regard to the fentiments and manner of his original, it will foon appear that this laft requifite includes the most difficult part of his task *. To one who walks in trammels, it is not eafy to exhibit an air of grace

and

* C Quand il s'agit de représenter dans une autre lan"gue les chofes, les penfées, les expreffions, les tours, "les tons d'un ouvrage; les chofes telles qu'elles font, fans rien ajouter, ni retrancher, ni déplacer; les pen❝ fées

J