Page:Essay on the Principles of Translation - Tytler (1791, 1st ed).djvu/136

 spear, ''Il. l.2.—The heroes the slaughter began.—Alexander first a warrior slew—Through the neck, by the helm passed the steel.—Iphinous, the son of Dexius, through the shoulder he pierced—to the earth fell the chief in his blood, Ib. l''. 7. Not unjustly we Hector admire; matchless at launching the spear; to break the line of battle, bold, ''Ib. l''. 5. Nor for vows unpaid rages Apollo; nor solemn sacrifice denied," Ib. l. I.

3. English language is not incapable of an elliptical mode of expression; but it does not admit of it to the same degree as the Latin. Tacitus says, Trepida civitas incusare Tiberium, for trepida civitas incepit incusare Tiberium. We cannot say in English, "The terrified city