even paragraphs, especially in the prefaces, which is the more remarkable that he had Malone, a very careful editor, before him. To conclude, the perusal of Dryden's Translations is full of interest even to those who care little for translations in general. For, in the first place, they abound with examples of his most characteristic and vigorous work; and, in the second, their originals will be found to have furnished not a few of the most striking thoughts and phrases to be found in his original poems. Nothing is more noteworthy in Dryden's literary character than the way in which one one part of his occupation fed, so to speak, and sustained the other. It may be added that Scott, for convenience' sake, has classed all the translations from one author together, regardless of chronological order and the books in which they first appeared. The argument of convenience still applies, and that of accuracy is sufficiently met by appending the place of original publication to the title of each piece in the Contents. G. S. PREFACE TO THE TRANSLATION OF OVID'S EPISTLES.* THE Life of Ovid being already written in our language, before the translation of his Metamorphoses, I will not presume so far upon myself, to think I can add any thing to Mr Sandys his undertaking. The English reader may there be Published in 8vo, in 1680. This version was made by several hands. See introductory remarks on Dryden's Translations [Life, Section VIII.]. Johnson gives the following account of the purpose of Dryden's Preface:: "In 1680, the Epistles of Ovid being translated by the poets of the time, it was necessary (says Dr Johnson) to introduce them by a preface; and Dryden, who on such occasions was regularly summoned, prefixed a discourse upon translation, which was then struggling for the liberty it now enjoys. Why it should find any difficulty in breaking the shackles of verbal interpretation, which must for ever debar it from elegance, it would be difficult to conjecture, were not the power of prejudice every day observed. The authority of Jonson, Sandys, and Holiday had fixed the judgment of the nation; and it was not easily believed that a better way could be found than they had taken, though Fanshaw, Denham, Waller, and Cowley had tried to give examples of a different practice." George Sandys's Translation of Ovid was published in folio, in 1626. |