[The Criticisms on Massey's translation of the Fasti, and Barrett's translation of the Epistles of Ovid, first appeared in the Critical Review. The merit displayed in the former production attracted the attention of Dr Smollet, who was then principal editor of the Review, and his friendship was of considerable use to Goldsmith, who had as yet obtained no name in literature. We have added two short pieces, extracted from Goldsmith's contributions to the Monthly Review, while his engagement with Mr Griffiths lasted, (see Life;) rather, however, as a specimen of his earlier writings, than as possessing any great merit.-B.] CRITICISM ON MASSEY'S TRANSLATION OF THE FASTI OF OVID. Ir was no bad remark of a celebrated French lady,* that a bad translator was like an ignorant footman, whose blundering messages disgraced his master by the awkwardness of the delivery, and frequently turned compliment into abuse, and politeness into rusticity. We cannot, indeed, see an ancient elegant writer mangled and misrepresented by the doers into English, without some degree of indignation; and are heartily sorry that our poor friend Ovid should send his sacred kalendar to us by the hands of Mr William Massey, who, like the valet, seems to have entirely forgot his master's message, and substituted another in its room very unlike it. Mr Massey observes in his preface, with great truth, that it is strange that this most elaborate and learned of all Ovid's works should be so much neglected by our English translators; and that it should be so little read or regarded, whilst his Tristia, Epistles, and Metamorphoses, are in almost every schoolboy's hands. "All the critics, in general," says he, "speak of this part of Ovid's writings with a * Madame la Fayette. particular applause; yet I know not by what unhappy fate, there has not been that use made thereof, which would be more beneficial, in many respects, to young students of the Latin tongue, than any other of this poet's works. For though Pantheons, and other books that treat of the Roman mythology, may be usefully put into the hands of young proficients in the Latin tongue, yet the richest fund of that sort of learning is here to be found in the Fasti. I am not without hopes, therefore, that by thus making this book more familiar and easy, in this dress, to English readers, it will the more readily gain admittance into our public schools ; and that those who become better acquainted therewith, will find it an agreeable and instructive companion, well stored with recondite learning. I persuade myself, also, that the notes which I have added to my version will be of advantage. not only to the mere English reader, but likewise to sucn as endeavour to improve themselves in the knowledge of the Roman language. "As the Latin proverb says, Jacta est alea: and my performance must take its chance, as those of other poetic adventurers have done before me. I am very sensible, that I have fallen in many places far below my original; and no wonder, as I had to copy after so fertile and polite a genius as Ovid's; who, as my Lord Orrery, somewhere in Dean Swift's Life, humorously observes, could make an instructive song out of an old almanack.' "That my translation is more diffuse, and not brought within the same number of verses contained in my original, is owing to two reasons; firstly, because of the concise and expressive nature of the Latin tongue, which it is very difficult (at least I find it so) to keep to strictly, in our language; and secondly, I took the liberty sometimes to expatiate a little upon my subject, rather than leave it in obscurity, or unintelligible to my English readers, being indifferent whether they may call it translation or paraphrase; for, in short, I had this one design most particularly in view, that these Roman Fasti might have a way opened for their entrance into our grammar schools." What use this translation may be of to grammar schools, we cannot pretend to guess, unless, by way of foil, to give the boys a higher opinion of the beauty of the original, by the deformity of so bad a copy. But let our readers judge of Mr Massey's performance, by the following specimen. |