translations given by Mr Cumberland of the fragments of the Greek drama tists. Συνηκας ἡμῶν εἰς τὰλάχανα την πόλιν, Εσιν δὶ ὑμᾶς δὲ πετομενην ἰδεῖν, Τὸν ξενικὸν οἶνον ἐπιλελίμηκας πολύ. Thus in the verfion of Dalechampius : A. Talis iftic lex eft, 6 vir optime, Corinthiis: fi quem obfonantem femper Splendidiùs afpexerint, illum ut interrogent Unde vivat, quidnam agat : quòd fi facultates illi funt Quarum ad eum fumptum reditus fufficiat, Eo vita luxu permittunt frui : Sin amplius impendat quàm pro re fua, Si fumptussè vivit qui nihil prorfus habet, aur puniendus carnifici. B. Proh Hercules. A Dod enim fcias, fieri minimè poteft Left ingenio, non vivat improbè: itaque neceffum Pet ngðu graffantem obvios fpoliare, vel effractarium, parictem fuffodere, Pje furibus adjungere focium, A delatorem et quadruplatorem effe in foro: aut falfum Teftari: " tifts. The literary world owes to that ingenious writer a very high obligation for his excellent view of the progrefs of the dramatic art among the Greeks, and for the collection he has made of the remains of more than fifty of their comic poets *. Teftari: à talium hominum genere purgatur civitas. B. Rectè, per Jovem : fed ad me quid hoc attinet? Haud mediocriter, vir optime, fed faftuosè, et magnificè, Si lepus acceffit, eum extemplo rapis. Propter vos, ita me Juppiter amet, nobis jam videre licet, *It is to be regretted that Mr Cumberland had not either published the original fragments along with his tranflations, or given fpecial references to the authors. from whom he took them, and the particular part of their works where they were to be found. The reader who wishes to compare the translations with the originals, will have fome trouble in fearching for them at random in the works of Athenæus, Clemens Alexan CHAP. drinus, Stobæus, and others. + The greater part are to be found in two separate warly of Gratis. "Excerpta LA Tragandiset Commadis Grdis. Paris. 1626. 4. and Dicks Poetarum qua apud Stobaan extant. Paris 1823. 4. CHAP. VII. Limitation of the Rule regarding the Imi tation of Style. This Imitation must be regulated by the Genius of Languages. -The Latin admits of a greater Brevity of Expreffion than the English ;—As does the French.—The Latin and Greek allow greater Inverfions than the Englifb,-And admit more freely of Ellipfis. 'HE rule which enjoins to a transla THE tor the imitation of the style of the original author, demands feveral limitations. I. THIS imitation must always be re gulated gulated by the nature or genius of the languages of the original and of the tranflation. THE Latin language admits of a brevity, which cannot be fuccessfully imitated in the English. CICERO thus writes to Trebatius, (lib. 7. ep. 17.): In Britanniam te profectum non esse gaudeo, quod et tu labore caruifti, et ego te de rebus illis non audiam. It is impoffible to tranflate this into English with equal brevity, and at the fame time do complete juftice to the fentiment. Melmoth, therefore, has fhown great judgement, in facrificing the imitation of style to the perfect transfufion of the fenfe. “I am glad, "for my fake as well as yours, that you did not attend Cæfar into Bri “tain; as it has not only saved you the "fatigue of a very difagreeable journey, "but me likewife that of being the per petual auditor of your wonderful exploits." Melm. Cic. Lett. b. 2. l. 12. PLINY to Minutianus, Lib. 3. Ep. 9. fays, towards the end of his letter: Temerè dixi—Succurrit quod præterieram, et quidem ferò: fed quanquam prepofterè reddetur. Facit hoc Homerus, multique illius exemplo. Eft alioqui perdecorum: a metamen non ideo fiet. It is no doubt poffible to tranflate this paffage into English with a conciseness almost equal to the original; but in this experiment we must facrifice all |