WORKS OF ANACREON, AND SAPPHO Done from the Greek, by feveral Hands. The Prize of Wisdom. A Dia- BIO N's Idyllium, Upon the Death of ADONIS. LONDON: Printed for E. Curll at the Dial and Bible in Fleet- 7-15-53 MF THE PREFACE I TT will be neceffary to give the Reader fome Account of the Tranflation of the Poet he is bere prefented with, and to whom, and how far we are indebted for any Affiftance in this Work. The First who endeavour'd to give Anacreon an English Drefs, was the Incomparable Mr. Cowley, whofe Fudgment in chufing might be as apt to excite, as his Happiness in performing to deter others from attempting any more than he was pleafed to tranflate. Any one who will give themfelves the Trouble of comparing what He has done, may at first View difcover that Mr. Cowley has imitated rather the Spirit and Fancy of the Poet, than follow'd his Words or Thoughts clofely, and his Example is a fufficient Authority for those who follow'd Him. Neither has He been very exact in his Verfes, but feems to bave writ with a loofe and free Air, and to have made his Numbers in many Places irregular on purpofc. After Him, who needs no other Character than the bare mention of his Name, we met with a Tranfla tion tion of near the whole of this Poet, printed in 1683. at Oxford, the Author of which profeffes to have taken Mr. Cowley for his Pattern, and has imitated his Manner very well, tho' perhaps with too great a Licence. What he has done is compar'd with the Greek, and corrected in many Places, and in others new tranflated, and fome fem remaining Parts printed in later Editions than were used by them, are added. Befide thefe, the excellent Imitations of my Lord Rochester, and Mr. Oldham of the two Cups, are inferted as we found them in their respective Works. |