400 
duals poffefs of the refpective languages. 
Yer, if we wefe to judge from the number 
‘and excellence of German. tranflations 
made of all Englifh claffics, the advan- 
tage appears to be in favour of the Ger- 
mans. Their language allo is more co- 
ious, and, I may-add, more pliable in 
its modern conitruction (or rather inver- 
fron), than other modern tongues, fo as 
to facilitate every tranflation into it from 
foreign languages: and, on that very ac-_ 
count, it is more difficult in its acquifi- 
tion, efpecially as it is uncommonly load- 
ed with particles, or expletives. Hence 
it may be accounted for, that the French 
and Englifh trantlations from the Ger- 
man, generally are deficient, both in point 
of fenfe and digtion. 
In order to prove this affertion, I in- 
tended firft, to furnifh you with compa- 
rative paffages from either the “* Mejia 
af Klopftock,” or from fome of ‘* Geffuer’s 
idjlls ; both of which have been moft 
faintly and‘ incorreétly tranfiated into 
Englith. But, as I had nor the originals 
of thefe authors in my poffeflion at pre- 
ent, Ihavetaken the liberty of fubjoin- 
ing a iiteral tranilation of the two firft 
ftanzas of -‘* Oberon, by Wieland,” the 
rince of German poets, who has very 
bately met with a tranilator ef great po- 
etical talents, in Mr. SOTHEBY. Yet, 
as I cannot approve of twifting the ori- 
ginal of a great writer intoa variety of 
turns and forms, merely for the fake of 
the rhyme, 1 have, as literally as was 
confiftent with the idiom of both Jan- 
‘guages, turned my {pecimen. into dlank 
verje; while Ihave followed. the author 
from line to line, without mcreafing the 
number of verfes, or changing a fingle 
idea. uy SALEM. WIELICH. 
London, une x798. 
OBERON. 
‘ Erfter Gefang. 
Noch einmal fattelt mir den Hippogryfen, 
abt Minfeny : 
Zum Ritt ins alte romantifhe land! 
Wie lieblich um meinen entfeffelten bufen 
Der holde wahnfinn fpielt! Wer f{chlang das 
~magifche band 
Um meine Stirne?. Wer -treibt-von meine 
‘augen den nebel ~~ 
Der auf der vorwelt wundern liegt ? d 
Ich feh? in’ buntem gewiihl, bald fiegend, 
- bald befiegt,.. ee 
Des ritters gutes fchwert, der Heiden blink- 
ende fabel: Fars 
Vergebéns kniricht.des alten fyitan’s zorn, 
VYergebens draut ein Wald von ftarren Lanzen : 
. Es tont Ris Heblichem ton das. elienbeinerne 
“horn 
tnd, wie ein Wirbel ergreift fie alle die wuth 
gu tanzen, 
aii Og. Willich on Tranflations from the German. 
va 
\ 
Sie drehen im kreife fich um, bis finn und 
athem entgeht. 
Triumf, herr ritter triumf! Gewonnen: if 
die fchore. 4 
Was faumt ihr? fort! der Wimpel weht; 
Nach Rom, dafs euern bund der heil’ge vater 
krone ! 1 j 
SS 
‘Mr. Sorursy’s Tranflation. 
Yet, once again, ye Mufes! once again . 
Saddle the Hyppogryf !' and wing my way 
Where regions of romance their charms dif- 
play. ; 
What ject dreams entrance th” anfetter’d 
brain? 
Who round my brow the wreath enchante 
braids? 4 
Who from my ravith’d. eye difpels the fhades, 
That veil the wonders of the. world of old? = - 
Now conqu’ring, conquer’d now, in battle 
bold, 
I fee the knight’s good fword, the pagan’s 
fparkling blades. 
In vain the hoary fultan foams: in vain 
A wood of threat’ning lances briftles round: ; 
It breathes, the iv’ry horn with fprightl+. 
fouad, 
And, whirl’d in eddying dance, the giddy 
Say Aaa ‘ 
Spin, till their breath and fenfes die away.’ 
Triumph! the fair is won: -why, knight, 
delay ? 
Forward to Rome: for thee, th’ extended fail, 
And beck’ning ftreamer fly before the gale. 
Hafte! that the holy fire may blefs your 
bridal day! 

Dr. Wixriicn’s literal Tranflation. 
Once more, 4ind Mufes! faddle the Hyp- 
pogryt, 
And fpecd my ride to regions of romance! 
What charms are thefe ’round my unfetter’d 
breaft? - 
Delightful dreams /—Who twifts the magic 
wreath 
Round Ob'ron’s brow ?’ Who frees mine eyes 
from fhades, 
That hide the wonders of the ancient world ? 
I fee, in various groupes, now victor, captive 
now, or 
The knight’s good fword, the pagan’s daz- 
aling fteel. 
In vain the hoary fultan foams with rage, 
In vain a wood of frightful lances darts : 
Theiv’ry horn with pleafing notes invites, 
And, raging like a whirl, they all mu& 
d dance 4 
In giddy turns, *till-breath and fenfes fail. 
“Triumph! brave knight, rejoice!’ the fair is 
j gain’d 8d [oye 
“Why itill’ delay?” Begone! your ftreamer 
points : 
- To Rome: 
your plight} 
« 
~ LETTER 
where th’ holy fire fhall crows 3 
} 
