Translation from Ovid. The Cave of Sleep, first edition.
"No watchful cock Aurora's beams invite;
No dog nor goose, the guardians of the night."
Dog and goose were objected to, and the young author changed them into dogs and geese.
"No herds nor flocks, nor human voice is heard;
But nigh the cave a rustling spring appear'd."
When this line was read to S——, he changed the epithet rustling into gliding.
"And with soft murmurs faithless sleep invites,
And there the flying past again delights;
And near the door the noxious poppy grows,
And spreads his sleepy milk at daylight's close."
S—— was now requested to translate the beginning of the sentence, and he produced these lines:
"Far from the sun there lies a cave forlorn,
Which Sol's bright beams can't enter eve nor morn."
Can't was objected to. Mr. —— asked S—— what was the literal English. S—— first said not, and then nor; and he corrected his line, and made it
"Which Sol's bright beams nor visit eve nor morn."