Nox non ebria, sed soluta curis ; "TRANSLATION. "These blessings, without more, most pleasant friend, The real happiness of life compose: Competence, which unearnt by Labour flows; Inherited; a kindly farm to tend; No suits to vex; some business to attend; Ingenuous Strength; Health which contentment knows; Prudent Simplicity; Friendship which glows A modest board; hearth always warm and bright; C. L. "The exquisite Epigram," continues Mr. LoFFT, " which I have transcribed on the other side, has tempted me to venture on a translation. You are aware that every thing with me converts itself into a SONNET not unnaturally, I think; since the resemblance of many of the best Sonnets to the best Epigrams, (those on the Greek model) is very obvious. And in this class the Epigram of Martial stands very high indeed. By attempting to translate I am become more sensible of its completeness; and of its exquisite and perfect beauty, in diction, numbers, and sentiment The translation of so sweet a writer, (where he writes in his own unaffected manner, and not in the vicious taste of his times) as CoWLEY is, perhaps is liable to little objection but its diffusiveness; except the if not all,' which supposes a defectiveness by no means I think imputable to this pure and delightful summary of genuine felicity in this life. To look beyond with assured hope could hardly be the lot of the best philosophers and men, before Christianity; and we know that it was not. This idea I have ventured to supply by a closing line, which at the same time brings the whole into the form of a Quatuorzain. "That the SONNET is favourable to condensation of thought is clear from theory and experience; The first line of Cowley's translation is, "These are the chief ingredients, if not all.” when the subject is well chosen and suitably treated. And condensed as the original is, I think I have expressed its ideas without omission in an equal number of lines. I flatter myself I shall prove that no subject worthy of poetry is so great and comprehensive, as not to have been with becoming dignity expressed in this form. And indeed I hardly know, or can imagine any subject which is worthy of the Muse, which has not been thus included. And it is the glory of the Sonnet to add that it has most rarely been disgraced by any unworthy subject." • I cannot refrain from adding the following passages of Mr. Lorrt's letter, (which seem more properly placed in a note) though I have to apologize for the unmerited expressions of kindness regarding myself which occur in them. The benevolent writer refers to some peevish expressions regarding the bar, which I had presumed to use in No. IV. of the Ruminator. "I have treated," continues he, "the forensic gown, with tenderness; indeed with affection; for although in more than thirty years my gown has brought me but little profit, and perhaps not much of fame, it would be disingenuous not to own, that both it and the profession, have been, and I trust always will remain exceeding dear to me. And I cannot do otherwise. than acknowledge, that I wish the ingenuous delicacy of your mind would have permitted you to have continued in it. Where, to be silent as to any living characters, we can think of such men (all of them more or less cotemporaries) as Mr. Charles Yorke, the Earl of Hardwicke, Earl Camden, the Earl of Mansfield, Mr. John Lee, Sir Michael Foster, Sir William Blackstone, Sir William Jones, it conveys the pleasing and I feel no common pleasure in being able to prove the justness of these observations of Mr. LOFFT, by one of his own Sonnets, than which a nobler does not exist in the English language, even including those of Milton. " SONNET. Occasioned by one of Miss Caroline Symmons "on a blighted Rose-bud," written in her 12th year; she having herself fallen a victim to a consumption at the age of fourteen years and one month, on June 1, 1803. "O, what a length of days indulg'd to me, Who little have employ'd the boon of Time! While thee Death cropt in the first dawn of prime; Sweet, and hope-breathing Flower!-How ill agree Such hopes, such early Fate!-But no:-to thee Expands the beauty of a purer clime; The eternal radiance of that blest Sublime Which tenderest Innocence may happiest see! satisfactory sentiment that the ENGLISH BAR has been, and may it ever be, not incompatible with the most elegant, the most enlightened, the most cultivated, vigorous, upright, and comprehensive minds; with the steadiest attachment to freedom, to their country, and to the best interests of human society: that it may ever supply the most splendid, noblest, and most permanently effectual opportunities of promoting all these pure and sublime objects!" And such the will of Heaven. Nor could it speak More clearly to mankind.-That loveliest bloom, That Morn of Promise which began to break, Clos'd in the dreary darkness of the Tomb Proclaim: Look, Mortals, to that world on high, Where Sweetness, Genius, Goodness cannot die.' C. L. 4 Jan. 1804." P However unequal the following may be to the subject, it is a tribute which the feelings of my heart demand that I should not withhold. TO CAPEL LOFFT, Esa. On reading the last Sonnet. Son of the Muse, urge thy untir'd career P This is taken from "LAURA, or Select Sonnets and Quatuorzains," a work not yet published-containing the most copious collection of compositions of this kind ever made, not only English, but both original and translations from the Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German-which will raise admiration in every enlightened mind, not only at the industry but at the learning and genius of the accomplished and amiable collector, who has himself executed the major part of the translations; and many of them with a happiness which will be sure in time to find its due praise. |