New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-10
80 ,aa she they long since in Earths soft arms We


Mr. Bryant's version of these lines is much moro
simple:
Il could point ont and name the other che'S
or the dark.eyed Achalans Two alone
Princes among their people, are not seen
Castor the fearless horseman, and the sh'ou
In boxing, Pollux,-twins; one mother ooro
Both at one birth with me. Did they not coih"
From pleasant Lacedemon TO the war
Or having crossed the deep IN their good Snips'
sbun they TO fight among the valiant ones .
of Creece because OF my reproach and shaine'
She spake; but they already lay IN ea''h
Tn Iacedmmon, their dear native lana.
Here each translator has his special merits Sir.
BRYANT is plain, compact, and gives the ~oiuo "
Helen n practical dreetness which scarccS n'n,'
at emotion DIR. Hawtrey's lines, on the o'nei n'n.
somewhat amplify the text. yet exhale q seh'i"on'
of regret and tenderness Perhaps no better speoi-
mems of the two measures could he selected ioou,
thinking, they Justify both Mr.. Bryants cho'ce VI
blank verse for his version and the prospect 'p' "
some future day-ffty years century TWO oe"'u -,
ries bence.-the ears of Englsh-readng people VIII
be trained to proper delight in one OF the richeS'
and stateliest of meters-the dactylic hexaneter'
As we turn over the clear. deliciOusly-printed
papes we find ourselves constantly arrested by pas
sages which tempt quotation for their rhetoric
RHYTHM or movement; but the finish of all parts IS
40 equal and admirable that we are forced to select
those portions which are best known through recent
discussion. We find no sign OF languor OF indlier-
enco in any part of the volume. The labor OF trans
laton is most eectuay concealed and the reader Is
carried forwards as on q broad. swift stream brim-
ming full to its banks and unrufled because Oh its
depth and volume
We quote because we suspect the reader will look
for III the famous description of the watchres, at
the end of the Eighth Book First, Lord Derby:
"Ful of proud hopes upon the pass OF war.
All night they camped and frequent bazed their fires
As when in Heav'n, around the glittering moon'
The stars shine bright amid the GREATNESS AR
And evry crag and ey'ry Juttng peak
Stands boldly forth, and eyry forest gade
Evn TO the gates OF Heaven is open'd wide
The boundless sky; shines each particular star
Distinct; Joy fills the gazing shepherds heart
30 bright, so thickly scatter'd DER the plain
Before the walls of Troy, between the ships
And Xanthus' stream, the Trojan watch.hres blazd'
A thousand fires burnt brightly; and round each
Sat fifty warriors in the ruddy glare;
Champlng the provender before them laid,
Barley and rye, the tether'd horses stood
Beside the cars, and waited for the morn"
We add for the sake of further comparison, Mr.
Tennysons translation of this same passage:
"And these all night upon the ridge OF war
Sat gloryng many fire before them blazedj
AS when heaven the stars abont the moon
Look beautiful, when all tho winds are laid,
And erery hight comes out and jHtiing peak
A nd ralley and he ipmeaSUable hearens
Break open TO their highest, and all the stars
Shine and the shepherd gladdens IN his heart;
So many fire between the ships and stream
or Xanthus blazed before the towers OF Troy,
A thousand on the plain and close by each,
Sat fifty In the blaze of burning fire;
And champng golden grain the horses stood
Close by their charots, waiting for the dawn"
This is Mr.. Bryants version:
$50 high in hope they the whole night through
In warlike lines, and many watch fires hazed
As when In heaven the stars look brightly forth
Round the clear-shining moon, while not a breeze
stirs in the depths Of air. and all the stars
Are SEEM and gladness nils the shepherds heart,
So many fires in sight Of Ilum baZed
Lit by the sons Of Troy, betweenithe ships
Aud eddying Xanthus: on the plain there shone
A thousand; fifty Warriors by each fire
Sat IN its light. Thelristeeds beside the ears
Champing their oats and their white barey-stood,
And waited for the golden morn to rise"
Mr.. Bryant omits the lines we have italicised in
Mr. Tennyson's translation, for the reason Stated in
his preface that they regarded by the best critics
rs not properly belonging to the text but as trans
ferred to il by interpolation from another smile
in the Sixteenth Book. With this exception. we find
the two latter versions equally picturesque and ele-
waited in tone: their merits are so fairly balanced
that we should find it difficult to choose between
them. Both, however, are indisputably closer
stronger and more symmetrcally constructed than
Lord DeTby's.
Another passage. from the Fifth Book, which we
give as an illustration of the enforced strength with
which Mr.. Bryant attans the simplest and noblest
manner of blank verse, while retaining all the org
nal Honorc plauness of speech, must close quo
tations from his volume
$50 spake she, and her bidding obeycd
by blue-eyed Pallas Juno the august,
Daughter Of mighty Saturn, Laid in haste
The harness. with rs ornaments OF gold,
Upon the horses. Eebe rolled The wheels
Each with eight spokes and joined them TO the ends
OF tho steel axle-felies wrought Of gold,
Bound with braZen rim 20 last for aye
A wonder TO behold The hollow naves
We're silver, and on gold and silver cords,
Was slung the claIiors seat; in silver hooks
Rfsted Tie rcins, and silver was the pole
Where the fair yoke and poItrels. oil OF gold
Were fastened juno eager for the strife,
Led the swiftfOOtcd seeds beneath the yoke.
Then ral!a. Ssgsht.1 q u g s. who bears
The agis, on hcg fathers palace floor
Let fall III dainty folds her flowing robe
0imany colors wrought by her own hand.
And, pulling on the mail OF Jupiter
The Cloud. compeer, stood arrayed in arms
For the stern tasks OF Her shoulder bore
The dreadful ggs with its shaggy brim
Pordered with TcrrOr-there was Strife, and there
Was FortItude, and there was fierce Pursuit
And there the GOrgol's head, ghastly sight,
Deformed and dreadful, and sign OF woe
When borne by Jupiter. Upon her head
She placed golden helmet with four crcsts
And fair embossed Of strength that might withstand
Tile armed battallOns Of hundred towns;
Then stepped into her shining car. and took
Her massive spear In hand, heavy and huge,
with which whole ranks 0: heroes are O'erthrovn
Before the daughter OF the Mighty One
Iucenscd against them. Juno ewing the lash
And swiftly urged the steeds. Before their way,
On sounding hinges, OF their own accord,
Flew wide the gates of heaven, which oyerlnOro