ON

THE

PRINCIPLES

OF

TRANSLATION.

Nec converti ut Interpres, fed ut Orator, fententiis iifdem et earum formis
tanquam figuris, verbis ad nofiram confuetudinem aptis.

CIC. DE OPT. GEN. ORAT. 14.

THE SECOND EDITION,

CORRECTED, AND CONSIDERABLY ENLARGED.

ADVERTISEMENT.

HE Author of this ESSAY acknow

THE

ledges with pleature, that the very favourable reception which the former Edition met with from the Public, was his motive for carefully revifing and correcting his Work, and for enlarging it with fuch additional obfervations, and illuftrations of his principles, as have occurred fince its first publication. For its moft material improvements, he is chiefly indebted to the very ample, candid, and judicious criticisms of the periodical Reviewers, as well as to the remarks of his Literary Friends.

CONTENTS.

Introduction,

Pag.

I

CHAPTER I.

Defcription of a good Translation.-General Rules

flowing from that description,

СНАР. II.

Firft general Rule: A Tranflation should give a

complete tranfcript of the ideas of the original

work.-Knowledge of the language of the ori-

ginal, and acquaintance with the fubject.-

Examples of imperfect transfusion of the sense

of the original.-What ought to be the conduct

of a Tranflator where the fenfe is ambiguous,

CHAP.