the Latin author. We fhall, as a fpecimen, cite his verfion of the epifole of Cacus: Auffitôt dans fon (d'Hercule) cœur Un fiel noir et brûlant allume fa fureur; Se Se reffouvient du dieu qui lui donna le jour : Soudain du feuil fatal le roc tombe arraché : On traîne par les pieds le cadavre difforme; Son front pále, et ces feux dans fa gorge expirans." M. Delille's tranflation of the Eneid contains nearly thirteen thou fand verses, whereas in the original there are not more than about ten thoufand. The tranflator mult unavoidably allow himself fome extenfions of the text, for the purpose of explaining certain historical details; but he has, in general, avoided paraphrafe. In a Letter to M. Turgot he had obferved, that his tranflation would have at leaft two thousand verfes more than the Latin Eneid. "In that cafe", replied the Minifter, " you will be more concife than the original". This anfwer will be confidered to be true by all thofe who are not ignorant that Latin verfes are not only longer than French verfes by fome fyllables, but also that the French have articles, and many other indifpenfable words which the Latins did not employ; and that many things which might be understood in the language of the Romans muit be expreffed in the French. The tranflation of M. Delille is as exact in the fenfe as any translation in profe. Full of respect for his model, he has never taken any thing from Virgil, because Virgil never fays any thing fuperfluous; and he has rarely added, becaufe Virgil always fays all that it is proper to fay. He has faithfully preferved all the fentiments, all the images, and he has often transfufed into the French language the pomp and imitative harmony of the La in poetry. M. D. has added to his tranflation. remarks on the plan and ftyle of the Eneid. He has not judged Virgil like other commentators, either as a geographer, an hiftorian, a grammarian, or as an antiquary; he has judged him as a man of tafte, and his remarks may be confidered as the Poëtic of Virgil. Ibid. ACKNOW. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Dr. Harrifon, author of an Inquiry into the Rot in Sheep, writes to affure us, that in ufing certain expreffions which feemed to us objectionable (p. 450) his intention was to pay a compliment, where we believe it to be juftly due, to the merits and perfeverance of the perfon addreffed, and not to reflect upon any private character. A. M. may be affured, that our intention is to be just and impartial, in every poffible inftance. We have taken the matter mentioned by X. Y. into confide. ration, and fhall probably do as he wishes. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. The fifth volume of Dr. Shaw's work on General Zoology will be published within a fortnight. It will be in two Parts, like the preceding volumes, and equally rich in plates. We understand alfo, that the fifth volume of Dr. Aikin's General Biography will appear in about a month or fix weeks. The Sermons of the late Dean of Bristol are in the prefs, and will appear in due time. ERRATA. P. 369, 1. 15. for author's r. lawyer's.. -377, 1. 9 from the bottom, for molybdenic r. molybdic |