EARLY LIFE. 19 



latter not that his style appeared to me any way 

 superior to that of the other; but as I had read, 

 partly at Edinburgh and partly here, almost the 

 whole of the first five books of Livy (a copy of which 

 was the only part of his works I had), it naturally 

 occurred that there would be less field for exertion 

 in translating an author with whose works I was 

 acquainted, than in trying one whose works were 

 quite new to me. Besides, I was confirmed in my 

 choice when I recollected that you seemed to give the 

 preference to Florus. That author, though concise 

 and nervous, is not the less elegant and instructive. 

 Full of vigour, and just, in his descriptions, relating 

 the conquests of Rome in that rapid manner, as it were, 

 in which they were acquired. As he writes in a very 

 peculiar stile, so I thought that by a literal transla- 

 tion his elegance would be lost. I have endeavoured, 

 therefore, by taking a little freedom, to transfuse his 

 beauties into the English language, without impair- 

 ing the sense. How far I have succeeded I must leave 

 you to judge. This I can with truth affirm, that 

 throughout the whole of the translation I am indebted 

 to the assistance of no one, and I hope you will ex- 

 cuse its many defects and inaccuracies, particularly the 

 badness of the writing. I am sorry, dear sir, that I can 

 give you no news, as affairs in the country commonly 

 wear a very uniform aspect. As for my studies, I 

 have read about four books of Virgil's ^Eneid, begin- 

 ning at the VI. ; one of Livy ; have got through 

 above three parts of Adam's Roman Antiquities ; and 



