Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 13.djvu/72

 would afterwards write down in his chamber and correct at leisure. The title-page of the first edition runs ‘T. Lucretius Carus, the Epicurean Philosopher, his six books de Natura rerum, done into English verse, with notes, Oxford … 1682,’ and Creech's name is appended to the dedication to ‘George Pit, Jun. of Stratfield-Sea.’ A second edition appeared in the following year with an augmented number of commendatory verses in Latin and English, some of which bore the names of Tate, Otway, Aphra Behn, Duke, and Waller; and when Dryden published his translations from Theocritus, Lucretius, and Horace, he disclaimed in the preface any intention of robbing Creech ‘of any part of that commendation which he has so justly acquired,’ and referred to his predecessor's ‘excellent annotations, which I have often read and always with some new pleasure.’ Creech's translation of Lucretius was often reprinted in the last century, and was included in the edition of the British poets which was issued by Anderson. The best edition appeared in 1714, and contained translations of many verses previously omitted and numerous notes from another hand designed to set forth a complete system of Epicurean philosophy. The fame of this translation of Lucretius induced Creech to undertake an edition of the original work. It appeared in 1695 with the title ‘Titi Lucretii Cari de rerum natura libri sex, quibus interpretationem et notas addidit Thomas Creech,’ and was dedicated to his friend Codrington. Numerous reprints of this edition have been published, the highest praise being accorded to that printed at Glasgow in 1753, which has been styled beautiful in typography and correct in text. Creech's agreement with Abel Swalle for the preparation of this volume is among the Ballard MSS. at the Bodleian Library. The several books were to be sent on the first of each month from August 1692 to January 1693, and the pay was to be ‘ffour-and-twenty guinnea pieces of gold.’ Mr. H. A. J. Munro in his edition of Lucretius (vol. i. 1886 ed. p. 17 of introduction) speaks of his predecessor as ‘a man of sound sense and good taste, but to judge from his book of somewhat arrogant and supercilious temper,’ and describes his text, notes, and illustrations as borrowed mainly from Lambinus, attributing the popularity of Creech's work ‘to the clearness and brevity of the notes.’ By his success in Lucretius Creech was tempted to undertake the translation of other classical writers, both Greek and Latin. There accordingly appeared in 1684 ‘The Odes, Satyrs, and Epistles of Horace. Done into English,’ and dedicated by him to Dryden, who was popularly but unjustly accused of having lured poor Creech into attempting a translation which he shrewdly suspected would turn out a failure. Although it was reprinted in the same year, and again in 1688, 1715, 1720, and 1737, this version could not permanently hold its ground, and the reason for this want of lasting success may be found in the translator's confession in his preface that his soul did not possess ‘musick enough to understand one note.’ His name is now chiefly remembered from the circumstance that Pope prefaced his imitation of Horace, book i. epistle vi. with two lines, professedly an exact reproduction of Creech's rendering of the opening words of that epistle, though in reality they were reduced from three lines in his translation, and added thereto the couplet: Plain truth, dear Murray, needs no flowers of speech, So take it in the very words of Creech. The other translations by Creech consisted of: 1. Several elegies from Ovid with the second and third eclogues of Virgil in a collection of ‘Miscellany Poems,’ 1684. 2. Laconick Apothegms, or remarkable sayings of the Spartans in ‘Plutarch's Morals,’ 1684, vol. i. pt. iii. 135–204; a Discourse concerning Socrates his Demon, ib. ii. pt. vi. 1–59; the first two books of the Symposiacks, ib. ii. pt. vi. 61–144, iii. pt. viii. 139–418. 3. Lives of Solon, Pelopidas, and Cleomenes in ‘Plutarch's Lives,’ 1683–6, 5 vols., an edition often reprinted in the first half of the eighteenth century. 4. Idylliums of Theocritus, with Rapin's discourse of Pastorals, done into English, 1684, and reprinted in 1721, which was dedicated to Arthur Charlett. 5. The thirteenth Satire of Juvenal, with notes, in the translation ‘by Mr. Dryden and other eminent hands,’ 1693. 6. Verses of Santolius Victorinus, prefixed to ‘The compleat Gard'ner of de la Quintinye, made English by John Evelyn,’ 1693. 7. The five books of M. Manilius containing a system of the ancient astronomy and astrology, done into English verse, with notes, 1697. 8. Life of Pelopidas in the ‘Lives of Illustrious Men’ by Corn. Nepos, translated by the Hon. Mr. Finch, Mr. Creech, and others, 1713. Creech was engaged to the public at the time of his death for an edition of Justin Martyr, who ‘was his hero,’ and more than fifty sheets of notes which were found among his papers were lent to Dr. Grabe. These were pronounced ‘very well done, only that there were some things in them very singular and would be accounted amongst men of skill heterodox.’ Pope attributed the defects of Creech's translation of Lucretius to his