310 



derdale, from whom Mr. Dryden acknowledges to have re- 

 ceived from abroad his lordship's new translation of Virgil, 

 two years before he himself engaged in the same design, 

 and which he consulted as often as he doubted of his au- 

 thor's sense. This manuscript so nearly resembles the trans- 

 lation published in 1709, under the name of Lauderdale's 

 Virgil, that I am persuaded it is the original of which a 

 copy was sent to Mr. Dryden, and from which he was ac- 

 cused, by that nobleman's friends, of having borrowed not 

 only single verses, but entire passages. By collating this 

 manuscript with Mr. Dryden's version, it is satisfactorily 

 proved that several verses were so borrowed, with but little 

 alteration; as thus : Mneid III. 114. " Ergo agite," &;c. 



" Let us the land, which fate directs, explore ; 

 Appease the winds, and seek the Cretan shore. 

 Our way is short ; if Jove assists our fleet, 

 The third day's dawning lands us safe in Crete.'' 



Manuscript. 



" Let us the land, which heav'n appoints, explore ; 

 Appease the winds, and seek the Gnossian shore. 

 If Jove assists the passage of our fleet. 

 The third propitious dawn discovers Crete." 



Dryden. 



" Nor are these alterations always in accordance with the 

 true meaning of the Roman poet. Thus, the lines which 

 are correctly rendered in the manuscript, 



-In humble vales they dwelt. 



Thence Cybele, the mother of the gods, 

 Her tingling cymbals and Idsean woods," 



are thus altered by Mr. Dryden : — 



" In humble vales they built their soft abodes, 

 Till Cybele, the mother of the gods, 

 With tingling cymbals charm'd th' Idsean woods." 



Ms. in. no. 



** Mr. Stafford's version of the death of Camilla is the 

 same as that published under his name in the poetical mis- 



