Page:The Amyntas of Tasso (1770) - Percival Stockdale.djvu/26

xviii from the usual simplicity of a pastoral, than I have done in the additions which I have made, and which I have already mentioned. I am warranted, however, by the model of the poem, and I had the entertainment of my reader in view. I am thus frank and explicit, because I would rather be accused of errour than disingenuity. In short, they who are curious to be acquainted with Tasso himself, will read the original; and they who are not, may, perhaps, be satisfied with my translation. If they are, my intention is fulfilled, and my hopes are gratified.

I beg leave to lay my humble attempt before the tribunal of candour, and sentiment. My translation is an English one; and I am only ambitious to please English men. I shall despise the impertinent censure of any pedantick Italian, any word-catcher, who lives on syllables, who, full of cavil and envy, but destitute of judgment, and taste, having first caught his mother-tongue like a parrot, hath, afterwards, learned all it's inflexions by poring over a grammar; and has, at length compleated his mechanism of language by the dictionary of Crusca.