Page:On translating Homer (1905).djvu/221

 stage, it is not for me to say, but, as far as I am able, to give to the readers of my translation materials for their own judgment. From the vague word εἶδος, species, appearance, it cannot be positively inferred whether the poet had an eye for Shape. The epithets curl-eyed and fine-ankled decidedly suggest that he had; except that his application of the former to the entire nation of the Greeks makes it seem to be of foreign tradition, and as unreal as brazen-mailed.

Another word which has been ill-understood and ill-used, is dapper. Of the epithet dappergreav'd for ἐϋκνημὶς I certainly am not enamoured, but I have not yet found a better rendering. It is easier to carp at my phrase, than to suggest a better. The word dapper in Dutch = German tapfer; and like the Scotch braw or brave means with us fine, gallant, elegant. I have read the line of an old poet,

The dapper words which lovers use,

for elegant, I suppose; and so 'the dapper does' and 'dapper elves' of Milton must refer to elegance or refined beauty. What is there ignoble in such a word? 'Elegant' and 'pretty' are inadmissible in epic poetry: 'dapper' is logically equivalent, and has the epic colour. Neither 'fair' nor 'comely' here suit. As to the school trans-*