nifhed half the Iliad in lefs than fifteen weeks, fhows with what negligence his verfion was performed. But that which is to be allowed him, and which very much contributed to cover his defects, is a daring fiery fpirit that animates his tranflation, which is fomething like what one might imagine Homer himself would have writ before he arrived at years of difcretion.

Hobbes has given us a correct explanation of the fenfe in general; but for particulars and circumftances he continually lops them, and often omits the most beautiful. As for its being efteemed a clofe tranflation, I doubt not many have been led in to that error by the fhortnefs of it, which proceeds not from his following the original line by line, but from the contractions above mentioned. He fometimes omits whole fimiles and fentences, and is now and then guilty of mistakes, into which no writer of his learning could have fallen, but through careleffnefs. His poetry, as well as Ogilby's, is too mean for criticism.

It is a great lofs to the poetical world that Mr. Dryden did not live to tranflate the Iliad. He has left us only the firft book, and a fmall part of the fixth; in which if he has in fome places not truly interpreted the fenfe, or preferved the antiquities, it ought to be excufed on account of the hafte he was obliged to write in. He feems to have had too much regard to Chapman, whofe words he fometimes copies, and has unhappily followed him in paffages where he wanders from the original. However, had he tranflated the whole work, I would no more have attempted Homer after him than Virgil, his verfion of whom (notwithstanding fome human errors) is the most noble and fpirited tranflation I know in any language. But the fate of great geniufes is like that of great minifters: though they are confeffedly the first in the commonwealth of letters, they must be envied and calumniated only for being at the head of it.

That which, in my opinion, ought to be the endeavour of any one who tranflates Homer, is above all things to keep alive that fpirit and fire which makes his chief character: in particular places, where the fenfe can bear any doubt, to follow the ftrongest and most poetical, as most agreeing with that character; to copy him in all the variations of his ftyle, and the different modulations of his numbers; to preferve, in the more active or defcriptive parts, a warmth and elevation; in the more fedate or narrative, a plainnefs and folemnity; in the fpeeches, a fullness and perfpicuity; in the fentences, a fhortnefs and gravity nor to neglect even the little figures and turns on the words, nor fometimes the very caft of the periods; neither to omit nor confound any rites or customs of antiquity; perhaps, too, he ought to include the whole in a thorter compafs, than has hitherto been done by any tranflator who has tolerably preferved either the fenfe or poetry. What I would farther recommend to him, is to ftudy his author rather from his own text, than from any commentaTies, how learned foever, or whatever figure they may make in the eftimation of the world; to confider him attentively in comparifon with Virgil above all the ancients, and with Milton above all the moderns. Next thefe, the archbishop of Cambray's Telemachus may give him the trueft idea

of the spirit and turn of our author, and Boffu's admirable treatife of the Epic poem, the justest notion of his defign and conduct. But, after all, with whatever judgment and ftudy a man may proceed, or with whatever happiness he may perform fuch a work, he muft hope to please but a few; thofe only who have at once a taste of poetry, and competent learning. For to fatisfy fuch as want either, is not in the nature of this undertaking; fince a mere modern wit can like nothing that is not modern, and a pedant nothing that is not Greek.

What I have done is fubmitted to the public, from whofe opinions I am prepared to learn; though I fear no judges fo little as our beft poets, who are moft fenfible of the weight of this task, As for the worst, whatever they fhall pleafe to fay, they may give me fome concern, as they are unhappy men, but none as they are malignant writers. I was guided in this tranflation by judgments very different from theirs, and by perfons for whom they can have no kindness, if an old obfervation be true, that the ftrongeft antipathy in the world is that of fools to men of wit. Mr. Addifon was the firft whofe advice determined me to undertake this tafk, who was pleased to write to me upon that occafion in fuch terms as I cannot repeat without vanity. I was obliged to Sir Richard Steele for a very early recommendation of my undertaking to the public. Dr. Swift promoted my intereft with that warmth with which he always ferves his friend. The humanity and franknefs of Sir Samuel Garth are what I never knew wanting on any occafion. I muft alfo acknowledge, with infinite pleafure, the many friendly offices, as well as fincere criticisms of Mr. Congreve, who had led me the way in tranflating fome parts of Homer; as I wish for the fake of the world he had prevented me the reft. I must add the names of Mr. Rowe and Dr. Parnell, though I fhall take a farther opportunity of doing juftice to the laft, whofe good nature (to give it a great panegyric) is no lefs extenfive than his learning. The favour of thefe gentlemen is not entirely undeferved by one who bears them fo true an affection. But what can I fay of the honour fo many of the great have done me, while the first names of the age appear as my fubfcribers, and the moft diftinguished patrons and ornaments of learning as my chief encouragers? Among thefe it is a particular pleasure to me to find, that my higheft obligations are to fuch who have done moft honour to the name of poet; that his Grace the Duke of Buckingham was not difpleafed I fhould undertake the author to whom he has given (in his excellent effay) fo complete a praise.

C

With water purify their hands, and take
The facred offering of the falted cake;
While thus with arms devoutly rais'd in air,
And folemn voice, the priest directs his prayer:
God of the filver bow, thy ear incline,
Whofe power incircles Cilla the divine;
Whofe facred eye thy Tenedos furveys,
And gilds fair Chryfa with distinguish'd rays!
If, fir'd to vengeance at the priest's request,
Thy direful darts inflict the raging peft;
Once more attend! avert the wasteful woe,
And smile propitious, and unbend thy bow.

So Chryfes pray'd, Apollo heard his prayer:
And now the Greeks their hecatomb prepare;
Between their horns the falted barley threw,
And with their heads to Heaven the victims flew:
The limbs they fever from th' enclofing hide;
The thighs, felected to the Gods, divide:
On thefe, in double cawls involv'd with art,
The choiceft morfels lay from every part.
The priest himself before his altar ftands,
And burns the offering with his holy hands;
Pours the black wine, and fees the flames afpire;
The youths with inftruments furround the fire:
The thighs thus facrific'd, and entrails drest,
Th' aflitants part, transfix, and roast the rest:
Then spread the tables, the repast prepare,
Each takes his feat, and each receives his share.
When now the rage of hunger was repreft,
With pure libations they conclude the feaft;
The youths with wine the copious goblets crown'd,
And, pleas'd, dispense the flowing bowls around.
With hymns divine the joyous banquet ends,
The Peans lengthen'd till the fun defcends:
The Greeks, reftor'd, the grateful notes prolong;
Apollo liftens, and approves the fong.

"Twas night; the chiefs befide their veffel lie, Till rofy morn had purpled o'er the sky: Then launch, and hoift the maft; indulgent gales, Supply'd by Phoebus, fill the fwelling fails; The milk-white canvas bellying as they blow, The parted ocean foams and roars below: Above the bounding billows fwift they flew, Till now the Grecian camp appear'd in view. Far on the beach they haul their bark to land (The crooked keel divides the yellow fand); Then part, where ftreach'd along the winding bay The hips and tents in mingled profpect lay.

But raging ftill, amidst his navy fate
The ftern Achilles, ftedfaft in his hate;
Nor mix'd in combat, nor in council join'd;
But wafting cares lay heavy on his mind:
In his black thoughts revenge and flaughter roll,
And fcenes of blood rife dreadful in his foul.
Twelve days were paft, and now the dawning
light

The Gods had fummon'd to th' Olympian height :
Jove first afcending from the watery bowers,
Leads the long order of æthereal powers.
When like the morning mist in early day,
Rofe from the flood the Daughter of the Sea;
And to the feats divine her flight addreft.
There, far apart, and high above the rest,
The Thunderer fat; where old Olympus fhrouds
His hundred heads in heaven, and props the clouds.
Suppliant the Goddess stood: one hand the plac'd
Beneath his beard, and one his knee embrac'd:

If e'er, O Father of the Gods! fhe faid,
My words could please thee, or my actions aid;
Some marks of honour on my fon bestow,
And pay in glory what in life you owe.
Fame is at leaft by heavenly promise due
To life fo fhort, and now dishonoured too.
Avenge this wrong, oh ever juft and wife!
Let Greece be humbled, and the Trojans rife ;
Till the proud king, and all the Achaian race,
Shall heap with honours him they now difgrâce.

Thus Thetis fpoke, but Jove in filence held
The facred councils of his breaft conceal'd.
Not fo repuls'd, the Goddess closer preft,
Still grafp'd his knees, and urg'd the dear request:
O fire of Gods and men! thy fuppliant hear;
Refuse, or grant; for what has Jove to fear?
Or, oh! declare, of all the powers above,
Is wretched Thetis leaft the care of Jove?

She faid, and fighing thus the God replies, Who rolls the thunder o'er the vaulted skies? What hast thou ask'd? Ah why should Jove enIn foreign contefts, and domeftic rage, [gage The Gods complaints, and Juno's fierce alarms, While I, too partial, aid the Trojan arms? Go, left the haughty partner of my fway With jealous eyes thy clofe accefs furvey; But part in peace, fecure thy prayer is iped: Witness the facred honours of our head, The nod that ratifies the will divine, The faithful, fix'd, irrevocable fign, This feals thy fuit, and this fulfils thy vows--He fpoke, and awful bends his fable brows; Shakes his ambrofial curls, and gives the nod: The ftamp of fate, and fanction of the God: High heaven with trembling the dread fignal took, And all Olympus to the centre fhook.

Swift to the feas profound the Goddess flies,
Jove to his starry manfion in the skies.
The fhining fynod of th' immortals wait
The coming God, and from their thrones of ftate
Arifing filent, wrapt in holy fear,
Before the majefty of heaven appear;
Trembling they ftand, while Jove affumes the
throne,

All, but the God's imperious queen alone :
Late had the view'd the filver-footed dame,
And all her paffions kindled into flame.
Say, artful manager of heaven (the cries)
Who now partakes the fecrets of the skies?
Thy Juno knows not the decrees of fate,
In vain the partner of imperial ftate.
What favourite Goddess then thofe cares divides,
Which Jove in prudence from his confort hides?

To this the Thunderer: Seek not thou to find
The facred counfels of Almighty mind:
Involv'd in darkness lies the great decree,
Nor can the depths of fate be pierc'd by thee.
What fits thy knowledge, thou the first shalt know
The firft of Gods above, and men below;
But thou, nor they, fhall fearch the thoughts that
Deep in the clofe receffes of my foul.

[roll

Full on the fire the Goddefs of the fkies Roll'd the large orbs of her majestic eyes, And thus return'd: Auftere Saturnius, fay From whence this wrath, or who controls thy fway? Thy boundless will, for me, remains in force, And all thy councils take the deftin'd course.