Page:Homer in a Nutshell, or, His War Between the Frogs and the Mice - Parker (1700).djvu/5



Gentle Peruser! the first place the Translator wou'd have thee know he never pretended to the Character of a Poet, and as he desires to 'scape the Scandal of the Name, so he will not value himself the more for any good Success, or the less for any Disappointment; seeing after all, in Things of this Nature, every Man will be his own Critick, and the People of nice Rule and quaint Observation, betray the vanity of their Maxims, while scarce a Couple in the whole Pack agree about the suitableness of any one Ingredient, but that which is most incompatible with the true Scope of the Art, the Recommendation and Encouragement of Immorality and Irreligion: However, finding himself dispos'd now and then to try his Skill, and observing the Canto-cut has of late carry'd the Day, he thought good to bestow a few Hours upon the Translation of a Poem which, and very deservedly, has been celebrated for many Ages; a Poem, which for neatness of Wit, liveliness of Description and regularity of Conduct, equals any part of the Iliads, perhaps excells any part of the Odysses.

And yet as just and regular as I found this Poem, I perceiv'd it wou'd never jump in English with the Humour of the Age, till I had spoild it by some unwarrantable Alterations, which being printed in a smaller Character, the Reader may observe without the trouble of Comparing. The two most material of 'em are these; first, That whereas, according to my Author, the Frog seems not out of a treacherous Principle to have serv'd the Mouse as he did, I have made him design the worst all along, very consonantly too, if I mistake not, to the Character the Poet fixes afterwards upon him, where he makes him vindicate himself by that egregious Falsity, v. 146., &c. And not injuriously neither to the Series of the Story: Then again, that almost upon the same Inducements I have made him improve or rather explain the Stratagem, by which, in the Conclusion of that Speech, the Frog proposes to defeat the Mice. Beside these many slighter Alterations will occur, and here and there an Addition of my own, but which I hope he can as readily forgive as discern.