TRANSLATED

FROM THE GREEK,

WITH NOTES AND LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.

BY THE REV. WILLIAM BELOE.

A NEW EDITION, CORRECTED AND REVISED.

PHILADELPHIA :

PUBLISHED BY M'CARTY & DAVIS,

171 MARKET STREET.

INTRODUCTION.

WHOEVER has employed his time on a long and laborious work is anxious to prove to others, as well as to himself, the utility of what he has performed; since the imputation and the consciousness of having misapplied such efforts are almost equally unpleasing. If authority be allowed an adequate justification, the translator from classic writers has little occasion to argue in his own defence, the practice of the ablest men in the most enlightened countries being undeniably on his side. Of Italian and French literature, translations from the classics form no small or unimportant part; and if in our own language, accurate versions of many ancient authors be still wanting, the deficiency is owing, I conceive, to some other cause, rather than to any disapprobation of such works in those by whom they might have been performed. Perhaps the literary rank assigned in this country to translators is not elevated enough to gratify the ambition of the learned; perhaps the curiosity of the public has not yet been turned sufficiently that way, to make the reward in general proportionate to the labour. Whatever be the cause that more has not been done, translations of eminent merit have appeared among us in a sufficient number to prove decisively the opinion held of them by some of our most accurate and judicious scholars. In translating the Ancient Poets, our countrymen have, indeed, very honourably exerted their talents, and their success has proved that our language is fully calculated for the transfusion of the highest classical beauties: while the French, among whom the demand for translations has urged them to be performed at any rate, have been obliged to content themselves with prosaic versions of the noblest poems of antiquity. The honour thus acquired ought to have encouraged us to proceed in laying open the remaining stores of ancient literature. But it is an humbler task to follow the steps of a prose writer, than to emulate the flights and harmony of a

poet.

There appears to be only one important objection that can be made to works of this nature, which is founded on a fear that they may encourage indolence, and introduce the superficial ostentation of a knowledge neither sound nor accurate, to the prejudice of real learning. That vanity may be furnished, by translations, with the means of pretending to acquisitions which she has not made, cannot perhaps be denied, and such effects may certainly be traced in many writings of our continental neighbours; but that literature will thereby be injured, is not equally capable of proof. The foundation of learning is usually laid, if laid at all, and the taste for it imbibed, if it can be communicated, before the student has the liberty of considering whether it is easier to read the ancients in their own languages or in modern versions; and till we hear that some persons have studied Greek, because there were books in that language of which they could not find translations, we may rest satisfied, that few, if any will neglect such studies on