Sect. I.] Epic Poetnj. i$ 



sidered by some respectable critics, as- rivalling the 

 first productions of the kind in our language *. 



The Iliad was translated, for the first time, and 

 with considerable ability, into the Spanish lan- 

 guage, about thirteen years ago, by don Garcia 

 Malo. The same monument of Grecian genius 

 was also translated not long since, with high re- 

 putation, into the German language, by Voss, a 

 distinguished poet of tliat country ; and into Ita- 

 lian by the abate Caesarotti, These several works 

 are said to be considered, by their respective coun- 

 trymen, as productions of the first class. To these 

 may be added the translation of the Iliady into 

 English blank verse, by Mr. Cowper, which, 

 though a more faithful version than the work of 

 Mr. Pope, falls short of it with respect to merit 

 as a poem")*. The JEneid has also been trans- 

 lated into German, by Voss, before mentioned ; 

 into Italian by AT C. Bendi ; and into English by 

 Mr. C. Pitt. The work of the last-named poet, 

 tiiough inferior to Dryden's translation in vigour 

 and sprightliness, yet excels it in uuiformity, 

 correctness, and splendour of versification. Lu- 

 can's Pharsalia, as translated into English by 

 Rowe, is pronounced by an eminent critic to b^ 

 one of the greatest productions of English poetry ; 

 to exhibit more successfully than almost any 



* It Is the opinion of some good judges that the Luxiad of 

 Mickle is much superior to the Lusiad of Camoens. The trans- 

 lator has certainly, in some respects, improved on the original, 

 and made many additions. 



-}- This translation, however, has great merit as a poem. In- 

 i^ced Gilbert Wakefield observes, that whoever wishes to see 

 Homer in an English dress, must read Cuwper's version. 



