Southern telegraph., 1836-08-02

grammar ms brings the torty oOWn 70
thirty. Now at such a moment as this to
spend FIVE or six years in learning the dead
languages, especially when all the best
books in those languages are translatedainto
ours, and besides we already have more
books on every subject than such shOrl-lived
creatures can ever acquire, seems very pre-
posterous."
"Well, but what arc you to d1 with their
great poets, Virgil and Homer, for example
suppose you would MT think Of translatng
Homer out Of his rich native Greek into
our poor, hOmespun English, would YOU"
"Why not, sir9'
"Why, | should as soon think of trans
planting pineapple from Jamaica to BOs-
ton"
"Well, sir, a skilful g2rdener, with his
hot-house, can give US nearly as fine pine
apple as any in Jamaica. And so Mr.. Pope,
with his fine Imagination, has given US Ho-
mer in English, with more OF his beauties
than ordinary scholars would find in him
after forty years. study of the Greek. And
besides, sir, if Homer was not translated, |
am far from thinking it would be worth
spending five or six years to learn to read
him in his own language"
"You differ from the critics, NJ. Frank
lin, for the critics all tell US that his beau
ties are inimitable too"
"Yes, sir, and the naturalists tell Us that
the beauties Of the baslliSk are inimitable
too.n
"The basilisk, sir! Homer compared
with the basilisk! really don't understand
you, sir"
"Why, | mean, sir, that as the basiliSk is
tho more to be dreaded from the beautiful
skin that covers his poison, so is Homer;
for the bright colOrings he throws over bad
characters and passions. Now, as | don'l
think the beauties Of poetry are comparable
to those of philanthropy, nor a thousandth
part so important to human happiness,
must confess dread Homer, especially as
the companion of youth. The humane and
gentle virtues are certainly the greatest
} charms and sweeteners of life. And sup.
/ pose, sir, You would hardly think Of sending
, your son to Achilles to learn these"
! 81 agree he has too much revenge in his
5 composition"
Yes, sir, and when painted in the colorc
/, which lIomer's glowing fancy lends, wha
/, youth but must run the risk Of catching a
D spark Of bad lire from such blaze as he
: throws ON h,o pietures2'
E "Why this, though an nncomnon viou
OF tile subjvet, =, oenfsss, an ingenious
= one, Mr.. Franklin; but, surely, It's over
q strained"
. "Not at all, sir; we are told, from goot
n authority, that it was the reading Of Hume
Y that first put it into the head of Alexande
d the Great to become HERO, and after hin
S of Charles XII What millions Of creatures
e have been slaughtered by these two grea
Q butchers is not known: but still, probably
not tythe Of what have perished in duel
: between individuals, from pride and re
venge, nursed by reading Homer
:. swell, sir," replied the governor, g"
: never heard the prince of bards treated il
this way before. You must certainly b'
c singular in your charges against Homer"
"Ask your pardon, sir; have the homo
to think Of Homer exactly as did the creates
u philosopher of antiquity; I mean Plato, VIII,
C strictly .5f5ade the reading Of Homer to hi
y republic. And yet Plato was a heathen.
,r don't boast myself as a Christian, and yet
am shocked at the inconsistency Of Oh
" Latin aud Greek teachers generally Chris
If tinns and DIvINEs too) who can one day pu
a Homer into the hands Of their pupils, and i
the midst Of their recitations can stop ther
t, short to point out diUine beauties and sal
limitics, which tho poet gives TO his hero i
re the bloody work Of slaughtering the poe
Troians, and the next day take them I
3 church to hear discog...so from Christ o
the blcs.coouness Of meekness and forgiv,
I'd ness. No wonder that hot-ivered yOun
men, thus educated, should despise meel
w ness and forgiveness as mere towards vi
ne tues, and think nothing so glorious as fghtin
to duels and blowing out brains"
he Here the governor came to pause, iii
ep gamester at his last trump. But, pc
re Hceiving Ben cast his eye on a splendid COP
ks Of Pope, he suddenly seized that as fiji
Mt oPpoItuultyS 10 tuTu lue ConFctSuton'
or stepping up, he placed his hand on his shOu
IS der, and in a vory familiar manner said;
at Well, Mr.. Franklin, there's an auth
at that am sure you'll not quarrel with; a
author that | think you'll pronounce faa
ds less
lis "Why, sir" replied Bon, 81 entertain
ut most exalted opinion of Pope, but still, 81
to | think that he is not without his faults"
alt would puzzle you, IHuspect, NJ
d Franklin, as keen critic a you are,
nv point out one.n
lia "WelI, sir," answered Ben, hastily tur
IN, ing to the place, "what do you think Of th
mt famous cnuplet of Mr.. Pore's:---
IN sImmodest words admit Of no defence.
ut For want Of decency is want Of sense /" ?
:, al see no fault there"
!, "No, indoed!" replied Ben; I" why nov
~ ~ to my mind, a man can ask no better e
y cuse Tor any thing be does wrnnS ih'--A
OF Tr1Eflf i1Y- xCHSg."