On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (3)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
P O E T R Y.
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
( 45 )
Untitled Article
TRANSLATION OF MIX . TON 8 ITALIAN SONNETS . , fFrom the Times Nevuspafer of Dec . a 8 , 1808 . J * The Italian Sonnets which , were -written by Milton , have , so far as I know , never made their appearance in an English dress till the late posthumous publication of Mr . Cowper * 3 translation
of them , along with the JUatin Poems of the same great author . With the merit of this work I am unacquainted , as I have never yet seen it ; and it is therefore with no view to enter the lists of competition , or to challenge comparison , that I venture to send you a Translation which I have long had by me , of the five Italian Sonnets only .
The original poetry is of that kind which the French call alambiqve ^ and the English , metaphysical ; of which , the best specimens , if a term implying praise may be used , are to be found in Co wley . It is mdre calculated to " play round the head than to reach the heart , and consists of ingenious conceits , drawn from
the operations of nature or the acquisitions of science , of remote illustrations supplied by theoretic contemplation and abstruse studies ; is in its essense , purely artificial and factitious ; and , without the power of affecting us by its
simplicity , frequently surprises us by its ingenuity . This kind of poetry , which Dr . J ohnson s , ays was immediately derived from Marino and his followers , may riot improperly be termed scholastic , as it deduced its primary origin from the doctrinal subtleties and nice distinctions
of the schools . Not one line of it is to be found in Tibui . lus , the most easy and natural of all amatory poets . And even of the conceits of Ovid , it must be said that they consist more in antithetical expressions , and quaint terms of
lanquage , than in philosophic smiles or metaphysical allusions . The task of translating five Sbnpets was not a long one ; but the rules prescribed were rigid . A Sonnet in English contains fourteen lines , as well as a Sonnet in Italian . ' I was therefore confined
to the same number of lines as my original ! In addition to this . I thought it likewise necessary to adopt the same recurrence of rhymes with him ; which imposed if possible , a still greater restraint . And lastly ) I endeavoured * as
Untitled Article
much as 1 was able , to give the manner of the great Author whom I was translating , as it appears in his other minor works ; so that the Sonnets subjoined , might read like what Milton would have written , if he had chosen to write them in English , AXTARJBOJUANO
I . Sure sweetest lady , whose most honour ed name Rhine ' s grassy vale reveres , and proud alcove , No manly passion can that bosom move , To which thy spirit imparts Ho tender flame ; That gentle spirit , whence Cupid takes
his aim , And shoots what Poets call the dans of love , Thy gifts and graces , which his armoury prove ; ^ Vhence Virtue ' s self may lovelier ho * nours claim * -
When aught of cpnverse sweet , or jocund song , Song that might move the knotted mountain trees ,
Falls from thy lips , let each of sound and sight The entrance bar , if hopeless thec to please : . ' x * Tis only heaven can save the youth , who long Hath cherish'd in his breast the soft delight .
II . As some exotic plant , borne far away To Northern mountains , from its native bowV , . The virgin tends at evening ' s blushing hour , Fearful it ' s softer beauties to display ,
Where the sun shines with less indulgent ray ; So on my tongue hath love ' s creative power Waked of Italian speech the tender
flower , And oped its richness to the Northern day * Majestic sweetness ! . * tis of thee I sing " , For so love wills , who never will'd in
vain , ; And Thame ' s proud banks with Arno ' s numbers ring ,
P O E T R Y.
P O E T R Y .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1809, page 45, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1732/page/45/
-