237 which, by the by, the very judicious chay of D'Alembert, in his Melange de literature, is fpoken of more flightingly than it feems to deserve, the author defcribes a good tranflation as follows: "That in which the merit " pietely transfufed into another lau"guage, as, to be as diftinctly appre"hended and as flrongly felt by a native of the country to which that language belongs, as it is by these "who fpeak the language of the ori Fay on the Principles of Tranflation, 800, pp. 260.48. Caddel and Creech. F the art of fpeech may be allowed to hold the firft rank among the arts of human invention, as by enabling mankind to communicate their difcoveries, it puts every individual of the original work is fo comana fruation to profit by the difcoveTies of his fellows, inftead of being Jeft to his folivary experience; and if the art of writing holds the fecond rank, as it perpetuates difcoveries, and enables every age to profit by the difcoveries of all that preceded it ;ginal work." From this defcripwe may, in one view, gn the third place to the Art of Translation, the fubject of this treatife,an art which ecmmunicates to one nation the difcoveries and improvements of another, and extends the bounds of lite varure and fcience, by exhibiting their actual progrefs in every corner of the world. So far, however, as regards objects of Science alone, the Art of Tra...flation, however importact and ufetul, yet is one of fo fimple a nature, as to require very in investigation. Ac curacy and fidelity in rendering the words and phrates of one language into another are all the requifites for carrying it into practice; other quaIfications, if at all taken into view, are of very inferior confideration. But in what regards the objects of taile and poite literature, the Art of Trauf lation, while it retains its importance, becomes more complicated in its nature, and demands many fuperior requifites for its fuceds.) exercile. It is to ths aft fpecies of tranflation that the author of the treatife before us has almost exclufively directed his attention, with a view to unfold its principles and cftablish its rules and precepts. After an introduction mentioning the want of any treatile on this fubj.ct, et, fufficiently full and explicit, in tion or definition, which appears to be extremely just and accurate, the three following Laws of Tranflation are deduced: "1. That the tranflation fhould " give a complete tranfcript of the ideas of the original work. 2. That the itile and manner of writing fhould be of the fame cha"racter with that of the original. 3. That the tranflation fhould "have all the cafe of original compofition." To these three judicious rules we apprehend nothing can be objećied, execpt that the firit does not extend far enough to fecure the completion of what is faid in the definition to conftiture a gred tracflation;-the tranfcript of the ideas of the orginal work ought not only to be complete, but faithful; equally removed from excels on the one hand, and deficienc on the other; a bad tranflater may margle an author as effectually by making additions of his own, after all the ideas of the original work are completely tranfcribed, as he can do by topping thort before the fente of his author is fully exhibited. ncy. In illuftrating the frit or thefe rules, the author of the eifay begins with fome very judicious remarks on the necefity of a perfect knowledge of the original language, and a competent acquaintance acquaintance with the fubject treated of. "tical tranflator never to fuffer his oThefe he illuftrates, by a number of "riginal to fall. He mult maintain well chofen examples from Folard," with him a perpetual conteft of geMelmoth, and particularly D'Alem- "nius; he must attend him in his bert, in one or two of which 1. f, how "highest flights, and foar, if he can, ever, we apprehend he blames the " beyond him; and when he pertranflator unjustly, D'Alembert hav.ceives at any time a diminution of ing, in fome of the paffages condemned, come nearer the fenfe of the original than the author of the effy:w. allude in particular to the tranilation of the fentence dicaturæ ad tempus fumebantur,-where, from the context, we think it plain that the phrafe ad tempus means" occafionally," and not "for a limited time; the former being the only circumftance, in which Tacitus meant to specify the diftinction betwixt Dictatorships and the other offices mentioned in the fentence; in which view, D'Alembert's verfion, "On creoit au befoin des dictateurs puffagers" is faulty only in the addition of the fuperfluous word "paffagers," which does not convey a different fenfe from the "au befoin," but, ferves as an unneceflary amplification of that idea. The author next enters upon the difcuffion of the queftion, Whether it is allowable for a warilator to add to or retrench the ideas of the original. He gives his opinion that it is, more peculiarly in poetical tranflations. To a certain degree we should not greatly otject to this liberty, tho', in every cafe, it ought to be ufed with a very faring hand; but the effay hat, in our opinion, given it an extenfion altogether unwarrantable in good tafte and found criticalm. Rofcommon, in his effay on tranflated verfe, had prefcribed as a general rule, Your author always will the heft advife, rife. Far from adopting," fays the author, *the former part of this maxim, I conceive it to be the duty of a poe "his powers, when he fees a droop- * enfeebled the impreffion by feveral fuperfluous additions *. We mean not to infinuate that no liberty is to be allowed; no doubt, elegance requires that freedoms fhould be taken with the original; but we must add, the fewer the better, and far from directing a tranflator to maintain a conteft of genius with his original, would advife him to keep as clofe to it as the nature of his language and the wifhed-for eafe in compofition will admit. Upon the fecond General Rule for Translation the author obferves, that "next in importance to a faithful tranf "fafion of the fenfe and meaning of "an author, is an affimilation of the stile and manner of writing in the “translation to that of the original. * A tranflator, therefore, muit apply "his attention to difcover the true "character of his author's ftyle. He *muft afcertain with precifion to what "clafs it belongs; whether to that of "the grave, the elevated, the eafy, "the lively, the florid and ornamented, "or the fimple and unaffected; and thefe characteristic qualities must be "equally confpicuous in the tranfa tion as in the original. If a traf "lator wants this difcernment, let him * be ever so thoroughly master of the "fenfe of his author, he will prefent "him through a diftorting medium, "or exhibit him often in a garb that " is unfuitable to his character." chofen examples, both of its obferv ance and failure, are given. This rule, however, it is juftiy remarked, demands the following limitations; 1. "The imitation must be regulated " "by the nature or genius of the lan"guages of the original and of the "tranflation." 2. "The Latin and Greek languages admit of inverfions "which are inconfiftent with the ge"nius of the English." 3. "The Eng h language is not incapable of an "elliptical mode of expreffion, but it "does not admit of it to the fame de"gree as the Latin." Of thefe three rules, the two laft of which are, in fact, only branches of the fift, we have likewife fome happy illuftrationst. And in the conclufion of his remarks on this 2d law of translation, the author examines the question, Whether a poem can be well tranflated into profe? The question is, in* our opinion, juilly anfwered in the negative. The Third General Rule "that" "the tranflation fhould have all the "ease of original compofition," comes next to be confidered. This, it is e-" vident, is the most difficult of all the three. "When we confider," fays the author, "thofe restraints within "which a tranflator finds himself ne ceffarily confined, with regard to "the fentiments and manner of his c "riginal, it will foon appear that this "lalt requifite includes the malt diffi"cult part of his task. To one who "walks in trammels, it is not eafy to . This obfervation is very happily illuftrated in the 5th and 6th chapters of the work, where many well" exhibit an air of grace and freedom." The profe tranflation of this paffage in the effay is feebly and inadequately executed; the expreffive epithets of p and urge are altogether omitted ay is weakly rendered by opening to the fight." and szexiOS "avitel-boquer" is unaccountably tramlated by “every valley,” by which a very picturesque circumstance in the original is quite loft A fimilar remark may be made on the tranflation of Jupiter's fpeech to the Affembly of the Gods, in which the author feems in several pla es purpose ly to have made ufe of mean and vulgar terms, with a view to debafe the original below Mr Pope's translation In the course of these illustrations we could not help fmiling at the author's calling McPherson's tranflation of Homer a " valuable work, as containing a moft perfe& tranf"fufion of the fenfe of his author," an eulogium that we doubt few will confirm who have compared it with the original. 66 "It is difficult, even for a capital painter, to preferve in a copy of a "picture all the eafe and fpirit of the original; yet the painter employs, "precifely the fame colours, and has "no other care than faithfully to imi"tate the touch and manner of the "picture that is before him: if the o"riginal is eafy and graceful, the copy will have the fame qualities, in pro"portion as the imitation is just and "perfect. The tranflator's talk is different: he uses not the fame very "colours with the original, but is re"quired to give his picture the fame "force and effect. He is not allowed "to copy the touches of the original, "yet is required, by touches of his "owa, to produce a perfect refemb"lance. The more he studies a feru"pulous imitation, the lefs his copy "will reflect the eafe and fpirit of the "original. How then fall a tranfla"tor accompli.h this difficult union of "eafe with fidelity? To ufe a bold, "expreffion, he must adopt the very “foul of his author, which muft fpeak "through his own organs.” Illuftrations in a fimilar manner with the foregoing are given of this rule, and a number of very juft remarks are made on the tranflation of idiomatic phrafes. Subfequent to these we have an agreeable differtation on the beft tranflations of Don Quixote, and a comparison of Soller's with that by Montaux, in which proper juftice is done to the latter. In the laft chapter of the effav, we meet with fome excellent remarks on Voltaire; particularly his tranfictions frm Shakespeare and Hudibras, and the peculiar character of his wit. A French tranflation of Hudibras is mentioned, and fpecimens of it are given, from which it appears indeed to be exccuted in a very masterly manner, preferving the fpirit and manner, as well as the fenfe, of a very difficult original. Such is the plan pursued by the ingenious author of the offay, in invetti gating the Laws of Translation; thiệ he has in moft inftances fucceded very happily, we believe most of his readers will allow; and every lover of polite literature must own their obligations to him for his fuccefsful delineation of the principles of an agreeable and ufeful, though too much deipifed, art. 2. Poems, by J. Aikin, M. D. crow a 07430. pp. 136. 35. 6. boards. Johnfon. 1791. IN thefe el gant poems we have ari example of the happy effect of the nnion of found judgment, correct tafle, and extensive knowledge, with poesi. cal talents. While the author difco. vers, through the whole, that vigour of imagination, and delicacy of feeling, which are the foul of poetry, his good fenfe and nice perception of pros priety exclude from his prodeations every th ng puerile, extravagant, or incongruous; his diligent obfervation of nature adorns his poems with new and beautiful images; and his enlarged views and liberal firit enrich them with juft and noble fentiments. The volume contains pieces in many different claffes of poetical compofition, în each of which the author has acquitted him. If fuccesfully; every where uniting clical purity of lengage with harmony of verification. the fupporters of the overture are folicitous for exempting the members of the Church of Scotland from the ope Artful Villainy brought to THERE was in the dynaty of Ming, in HERE was in the dynafty of Ming, in of Ouentcheou, in the province of Tcheki ang, a fcholar whofe name was Quang, and Arname Kie, and whofe title of honour was Ouenhoa. He had married a lady called Licou, who alone poffelfed his whole affection; he had no other child but one daughter: thus the whole family confited of three perfons, befides flaves and domeftics. Though he was not rich, yet he lived in a handsome manner, and study was his whole employment; he had not yet taken a degree, but he was in quet of that honour; and in order to attain it he lived in retirement, conftantly taking up his time with books, and not fufpending his labour on any account, unlefs now and then to vifit two or three friends, who mutually communiçated their productions to each other. As for the lady Licou, fhe was a model of virtue; he was witty, diligent, frugal, and induftrious; and thefe two perfons of fo apriable a character lived together in a perfect union. One afternoon, about the latter end of the fpring, in charming weather, a friend or two came to draw him from his books, with a defign to take a walk in the fields. Quang, invited by the sweetness of the feafon, was willing to take a little diverfion, and he and his company went and regaled themfelves, drank feveral bumpers, and fo parted... Quang coming near his own houfe, found two fervants at the door, who were in a great paffion with a man in the ftreet: this latter lived at Hou-tcheou, and was called Liu; he had a bafket in his hand full of ginger, which he fold: the fervants pretended he had made them pay too dear for the quantity he had given them: the deal er, on the other hand, faid they would wrong him, if they with-held a fingle mite. Quang hating learned the caufe of the dife ference, turned towards the dealer, and faid, "You are very well paid; go about your bafinefs, and don't make fuch a noife at my door." The dealer, who was a plain honeft man, replied with his usual freedom, "It is not poffible for us finall traders to bear the haft lofs; and it is very ill done in you, who ought to have a great and generous foul, to be fo hard with us poor people." Quang, who was a little heated with wine, Hh VOL. XIV. No. 8r. ration of the Teft A&t, they are particularly cautious not to blend their caufe with the Diffenters in England. Light: a Chinefe Tale. fell into a great paffion at these words, "You rafcal you," faid he to him, "how dare you talk to me in this manner?" Upon this, without confidering he was a man in years, he gave him a hearty pufh, and threw him down: the fall was violent, infomuch that the poor wretch lay without fenfe or motion. To fay the truth, one ought never to be in a paflion, especially with people who get their livelihood by dealing in trifles: a mite or two can never be worth hagling about; and yet it is very common to fee fervants sheltering themfelves under their matters, who are often brought into trouble by that means; but prudent perfons give fuch ftrict orders, that all inconveniencies of this kind are prevented. It is very certain, Ouang fhould have been more moderate; for want of this, he committed a great fault, and he was feverely punished for it, as will appear hereafter. As foon as ever he saw the stranger fall at his feet without motion, and almoft without life, he was feized with extreme dread, which foon diffipated the fumes of wine: Ke went to his affiftance, and cried out for help; they carried the man half dead into the hall: as he yet difcovered no fign of life, they poured into him a little hot tea, which recovered him from the fwoon. Then Ouang asked his pardon, and treated him with excellent wine, giving him fomething to eat, to renew his ftrength; after which he made him a prefent of a piece of stuff to make money of. This good treatment foon turned his refentment into joy, which he teftified by a thoufand thanks; after which he took his leave, and he made the best of his way to the fide of a river, which it was neceflary to pass before it was dark. If Ouang could poflibly have forefeen what would happen, he would have urged the ftranger to a longer ftay, and maintained him for the two following months this hofpitality would have prevented the crofles which he afterwards met with his conduct may afford a good leffon, which is expreffed in this proverb, We throw a golden net with both bands, and catch a bundred misfortunes. Quang no fooner faw that he was gone, but he entered into the inner part of his houfe, and rejoiced with his wife that he was fo foon got rid of fo trouble fome an affair: as it was night, the Lady Licou called her flaves, and ordered them |