The Delaware herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1850-1854, 1851-05-28

thiS, teh years uTo iOSt III cilHunOOu, Delore
any boy thinks Of a Latin grammar. This
brings the forty down tothirty. Now of such
a moment as this to spend five or six years
to learn the dead languages, especially when
all the best books in those languages are
translated into ours, and besides, we already
have more books on every subject than such
short lived creatures can ever acquire, seems
very prcposterous."
SWELL, what are you do with their great
poets Virgil and Homer, for example; sup.
pose you would not think of translating 4Io.
mer out of his native Greek into your poor
homespun English, would you z
'Why not, sirP
tWhy should as soon think of transplant
ing pineapple from Jamaica to Boston,
well, sir, skilful gardener, with his hot
house, would give as nearly as fine pine-ap-
pie as any in Jamaica. And so Mr.. Pope,
with MS fine imagination, has given us Homer
in English, with more of his beauties than
ordinary scholars would find in him by forty
years. study of the Greek. And besides, sir,
if Homer were not translated, | am from
thinking it would be worth spending five or six
years to learn to read him in his own Ian
guage.'
'You differ from the critics, MFR. Franklin,
for the critics all tell us his beauties are in
imitabie."
| Yes, sir, and the naturalsts tell us that
the beauties of the basllisk are inimitable.'
THE basilisk, sir Homer compared with
the basiliskl rcally don't understand you,
SIR
sWhy, mean, sir, that as the basilsk is
the more to be- dreaded from the beautiful skin
which covers its poison, so is Homer for the
bright coloripg he throws over bad characters
and passions. Now, as | don't think the
beauties ofpoeiry are comparable to those of
philanthropy, nor thousandth part SO impor-
tant to human happiness, must confess
dread Homer, especially as the companion
ofyouth. The humane and gentle virtues
are certainly the greatest charms and sweet
ness of life. And I,suppose, sir, you would
hardly think of sending your son to Achilles
to learn these
Il agree he has too much revenge in his
composition
yes, sir, and when painted in the colors
which Homer's glowing fancy lend, what
youth but must run the most eminent risk of
catching spark ofbad fire from such blaze
as he throws upon his pictures.'
sWhy, this, though an uncommon view of
the subject, is, | confess, an ingenious one,
Mr.. Franklin; but surely lis overstrained."
mot at all, sir;we are told from good au-
thority, that it was the reading ofHomer that
first put it into the head Of Alexander the
Great to become HERO; and after him OF
Charles XII. What millions have been
slaughtered by these two great butchers is not
known, but still probably not tithe of what
have perished in duels between individuals,
from pride and revenge, nurscd by reading
Homer.
'Well, sir, replied the Governor, Il never
heard the prince of bards treated in this way
way before. You must certainly be singular
in your charges against Homer
Il ask your pardon, sir; have the honor
to think Homer exactly as did the greatest
philosopher of antiquity. 1 mean Plato, who
strictly forbade the reading Homer in his re-
public. And yet Plato was hcathen.'
don't boast myself as aChristian; and yet
am shocked at the inconsistency of our Latin
and Greek teachers generally Christians and
dicines too), who can one day put Homer in
10 the hands oftheir pupils, and in the midst
of their rectalions can stop them short, to
point out divine beauties and sublimtics which
the poet gives to his hero in the bloody work
, of slaughtering the poor Trojans; and the
next day take them to the church to dis
course from Christ on the blessedncss OF
mcekness and forgiveness. No wonder that
hot-ivered young men, thus educated, despise
meekness and forgiveness as towards vir-
tues, and nothing so glorious as fighting du-
els and blowing out brans.'
Here the Governor came to pause, like
n gamester at his last trump. But perceiving
Ben cast his eyes on splendid copy of Pope,
he suddenly seized that as fine opportunity
: to turn the conversation. So, stepping up, he
placed his hand OIL his shoulder, and in very
; familiar manner said:
well, Mr.. Franklin, there's an author
am sure you will not tquarrel with--an author
: that think vnn will nrononncn fanltIass Il