Page:The Earliest English Translations of Bürger's Lenore - A Study in English and German Romanticism - Emerson (1915).djvu/40

 point of merit, far superior both in spirit and harmony to the German, which is written in a stanza producing an effect very unsatisfactory to the ear.

In connection with Lewis's use of Taylor's first version should be mentioned another reprint of the poem, as showing the regard in which it was held. The Annual Register, which was accustomed to print a few poems in each number, in its volume for 1796 gave Taylor's translation "from the Monthly Magazine," with this note:

This is largely a reprint of the note preceding the poem in the original place of publication, but the last clause is altered to show the opinion of the new editor.

Before the close of the year 1796 Taylor again printed his translation of Lenore, this time with considerable alterations, but still without his name. This second version bore the title: "Ellenore, a Ballad, originally written in German by G. A. Bürger. Norwich, March; London, Johnson." It was perhaps the appearance of Scott's version in October that led Taylor to revise and print again. At least Scott had sent a copy of his William and Helen to Taylor, with a letter dated Nov. 25, and the latter seems not to have printed before December. This second version of Taylor differs from the first in three significant changes, in minor verbal alterations, and in giving up a large part of the archaic spelling. The more significant changes are the omission of stanza six of the first version, and considerable alterations of stanzas thirty-four and forty-six.