Letters Concerning Poetical Translations | Page 5

Foot. Whereas in an English Line, there is hardly ever more than two
Syllables in a foot. So that an English Verse cannot be compared with
the Latin by the Line, or by the Foot, but only by the Syllables of which
the Words are composed, which make the Feet in both the Languages.
The Business then is to enquire whether we write or pronounce more
Syllables in the Latin or English Verses here quoted: Upon Enquiry it
appears that there are twenty nine Syllables in the Latin, and but twenty
one in the English; so that the English is almost one third part less than
the Latin; which certainly shews the former to be much more concise
than the latter, there being nothing left out in the English, but the whole
Thought is rather more fully expressed: And this we see is owing to
Monosyllables both Verbs and Nouns, Streams, Slain, Shields, Roll'd,
Helms, Main. In short the whole Passage is equal to the Original in
Majesty and Harmony, and superior in Conciseness.
To give another Example or two of the same nature.
"_Urbs antiqua fuit, Tyrii tenuere Coloni, Carthago, Italiam contra,
Tyberinaque longe Ostia, dives opum, studiisque Asperrima Belli._
"Against the Italian Coast, of ancient Fame A City rose, and Carthage
was the Name; A Tyrian Colony, from Tyber far, Rich, rough, and
brave, and exercis'd in war. Mr. Pit's Æneid.
"--_Facti de Nomine Byrsam, Sed vos, qui tandem, quibus aut venistis
ab oris, Quove tenetis iter?_--
"Hence Byrsa nam'd.--But now ye Strangers, say, Who, whence you
are, and whither lies your Way?
I have chosen here three Passages of three very different kinds, and in
all of them the English appears to be much more concise than the Latin;
neither is there any thing wanting in the Fulness of the Sense, or in
Majesty, or in Harmony of Numbers, any more in the two last Passages

than in the former. Another Instance of this kind might be produced out
of Virgil's most perfect Work, the Georgick, although it wants the
Advantage of being translated by such a Hand as Mr. Pit's.
"_Si vero Viciamq; seres vitemq; Faselum, Nec Pelusiacoe curam
aspernabere lentis._
"But if the Vetch you sow, or meaner Tare, Nor shall disdain th'
Ægyptian Lentil's Care.
In the Latin there are thirty Syllables in the two Lines, in the English
but twenty one. So that the English is almost one third more concise
than the Latin; and at the same time Virgil's Sense fully expressed.
I will conclude this Letter with the Opinion of a Foreigner concerning
our Monosyllables: A Person not at all prepossessed in favour of our
Language.
"The English Language, besides the most significant Words borrowed
from the Latin, Greek, &c. and often shortned, hath a vast Stock of its
own, and being for the most part Monosyllables, no Speech is capable
of expressing Thought in Sounds so few as the English does: This is
easily observed by the Translations of the English into Foreign
Languages.
"The Strength and Conciseness that Monosyllables (especially in Verbs)
produce, are of wonderful Use in Lyrick Poetry, because they Enter
into any Foot or Measure of Verses, by different Transpositions; so that
I dare venture to assert, there is no Italian or Foreign Song, which
English Words will not suit; the Variety of Feet and Metres producing
equal Variety of Mode and Movements in Composition. The want of
this is what makes the French vocal Musick so confined and uniform;
for I cannot recollect above two of their Verbs in use in the infinitive
Mood, that are Monosyllables, and not one exact Dactile in all their
Polysyllables." Röner's Preface to his Melopeïa Sacra.
Sept. 13. 1736.

I am, SIR, &c.

LETTER III.
SIR,
In comparing Virgil's and Milton's Versification, I shall begin with
Virgil; and shew some of the principal Beauties of his Poetry in this
respect: And here I must own myself not a little indebted to La-Cerda,
Pontanus and Pierius, but above all to the most excellent Erythræus,
who has not only considered every Paragraph, every Line, every Foot,
every Word, and every Syllable, but even every Letter in Virgil; and it
is not easy to conceive how much may depend on a single Letter, very
often the whole Harmony of a Line; and on this Account we have vast
Obligations to Pierius; to him we owe this fine Verse, and many others.
"Atq; rotis summas levibus pellabitur undas.--
All the common Editions read perlabitur; which is horrid to the ear.
But to go on with the Matter in hand. The principal Excellencies of
Virgil's Versification consist of the several following Particulars.
1st, The continual varying of the Pause.
2d, The Inversion of the Phrase.
3d, The adapting of the Sound to the Sense.
4th,