Page:The Amyntas of Tasso (1770) - Percival Stockdale.djvu/23

Rh servile regard to his words: nay, in some places, I have added sentiments, and lines of my own; a liberty, which, I think, may be allowed in translating works of imagination, and amusement, though it is unpardonable in transfusing history and severer truth from one language into another. I have not, however, suppressed any part of the original, and where I have made additions to it, I thought the translation would have been flat without them. The Italian language is so liquid, and flowing, so poetical an organ of sentiment, that an Italian line, which is good poetry, will lose a great part of it's beauty, when translated into an English verse, however easy and harmonious. In such a case, an English translator must have recourse, if he can, to that vigour of thought which is so peculiar to his nation. England hath produced the greatest poets in Europe, not because our language, though a very noble one, is better adapted to poetry than any other; but because we have had sublimer geniuses than any people in the world. I am far from arrogating any excellence to myself: indeed it was not necessary in translating Amyntas. I have only endeavoured, where it was requisite, to tread in the steps of my countrymen.

Poetry, and it's diction should always be considered as coherent, and inseparable. Many