The French translation is still more faithful to the original, and exhibits equally with the former its spirit and manner.
The following verses by Prior are certainly a great improvement upon the original; by a most judicious and happy amplification of the sentiments, (which lose much of their effect in the Latin, from their extreme compression); nor do they, in my opinion, exceed the liberty of poetical translation.
Poor little pretty flutt’ring thing,
Must we no longer live together?
And do’st thou prune thy trembling wing,
To take thy flight, thou know’st not whither?
The hum’rous vein, the pleasing folly,
Lies all neglected, all forgot;
And pensive, wav’ring, melancholy,
Thou dread’st and hop’st thou know’st not what.