SCENE FROM THE PARTING INTERVIEW OF HECTOR AND ANDROMACHE.
From the manuscript of Pope’s translation of Homer’s Iliad we select a passage, with its alterations and emendations, characteristic, like those of the foregoing, of the taste and precision of the author. It is interesting to note the variety of epithets, the imperfect idea, the gradual embellishment, and the critical erasures. But in their contemplation, rather than say, with Waller,—
Poets lose half the praise they should have got,
Could it be known what they discreetly blot,
we should feel with Dr. Johnson, who remarked, upon examining the MSS. of Milton, that “such relics show how excellence is acquired: what we hope ever to do with ease we must learn first to do with diligence.” Johnson himself employed the limæ laborem on The Rambler to an extent almost incredible, and, according to Boswell, unknown in the annals of literature.
Dr. Nash remarks that it is more difficult, and requires a greater mastery of art, in painting to foreshorten a figure exactly than to draw three at their just length; so it is more difficult in writing, to express any thing naturally and briefly than to enlarge and dilate.
And therefore a judicious author’s blots
Are more ingenious than his first free thoughts.
Thus having spoke, the illustrious chief of Troy
Extends his eager arms to embrace his boy,
lovely
Stretched his fond arms to seize the beauteous boy;
babe
The boy clung crying to his nurse’s breast,
Scared at the dazzling helm and nodding crest.
each kind
With silent pleasure the fond parent smiled,
And Hector hasted to relieve his child.
The glittering terrors unbound,
His radiant helmet from his brows unbraced,
on the ground he
And on the ground the glittering terror placed,
beamy
And placed the radiant helmet on the ground;
Then seized the boy, and raising him in air,
lifting
Then, fondling in his arms his infant heir,
dancing
Thus to the gods addressed a father’s prayer:
glory fills
O thou, whose thunder shakes th’ ethereal throne,
deathless
And all ye other powers, protect my son!
Like mine, this war, blooming youth with every virtue bless!
grace
The shield and glory of the Trojan race;
Like mine, his valor and his just renown,
Like mine, his labors to defend the crown.
Grant him, like me, to purchase just renown,
the Trojans,
To guard my country, to defend the crown;
In arms like me, his country’s war to wage,
Against his country’s foes the war to wage,
And rise the Hector of the future age!
successful
So when, triumphant from the glorious toils,
Of heroes slain he bears the reeking spoils,
Whole hosts may
All Troy shall hail him, with deserved acclaim,
own the son
And cry, This chief transcends his father’s fame;
While, pleased, amidst the general shouts of Troy,
His mother’s conscious heart o’erflows with joy.
fondly on her
He said, and, gazing o’er his consort’s charms,
Restored his infant to her longing arms:
on
Soft in her fragrant breast the babe she laid,
Pressed to her heart, and with a smile surveyed;
to repose
Hushed him to rest, and with a smile surveyed;
passion
But soon the troubled pleasure mixed with rising fears
dashed with fear,
The tender pleasure soon chastised by fear,
She mingled with the smile a tender tear.
In the established text will be found still further variations. These are marked below in Italics:—
Thus having spoke, the illustrious chief of Troy
Stretched his fond arms to clasp the lovely boy.
The babe clung crying to his nurse’s breast,
Scared at the dazzling helm and nodding crest.
With secret pleasure each fond parent smiled,
And Hector hasted to relieve his child.
The glittering terrors from his brows unbound,
And placed the beaming helmet on the ground;
Then kissed the child, and lifting high in air,
Thus to the gods preferred a father’s prayer:—
O thou, whose glory fills th’ ethereal throne,
And all ye deathless powers, protect my son!
Grant him, like me, to purchase just renown,
To guard the Trojans, to defend the crown;
Against his country’s foes the war to wage,
And rise the Hector of the future age!
So when, triumphant from successful toils,
Of heroes slain, he bears the reeking spoils,
Whole hosts may hail him, with deserved acclaim,
And say, This chief transcends his father’s fame;
While, pleased, amidst the general shouts of Troy,
His mother’s conscious heart o’erflows with joy.
He spoke, and, fondly gazing on her charms,
Restored the pleasing burden to her arms:
Soft on her fragrant breast the babe she laid,
Hushed to repose, and with a smile surveyed.
The troubled pleasure soon chastised by fear,
She mingled with the smile a tender tear.