New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-16

The Wistfu countenance of John Florio, Sc
renely composed above a well starcbed riff and
fur trimmed garment Of appropriate elegance
LOOKS out upon US from the frontispiece to the
second volume Of that superb new edition of his
Montalgne which we first had occasion to de-
SCRIBE some six months ago. Il reproduces a
contemporary portrait made when the busy
man OF letters was in the autumn of his prime
and prehxed to his Italian-English dictionary,
queen Annals New World of Words" 1t shows
Inc manner Of man that he was when he pub
Ashed the translation destined more than any
OF ms other works TO make him famous. Is it
Presumptuous to divine, behind that quiet gaze
something Of the egotism to which, quite as
much as to the nature of his scholarship we
may ascribe the liberties which he took with
the original text of his author? Yet we do not
love FIorio less because in his portrait we are
denied holder. clearer and more candid glance
any more than We love his translation less be
cause 1t is imperfect and at times redundant.
Though he may miss the letter, he has a way
with him in preserving the spirit
Among several notes in which the editor, Mr..
George B. Ives, alludes to the waywardness of
the translator, he has one with an almost pa
thetic accent. Dealing with the chapter that
treats of the resemblance between children and
fathers" he says: "Florio seems to have been
more at sea in this chapter than in any other
of these first two books; and the editor fears
that he has left uninterrupted many passag es
quite blind as some OF those which he has
attempted to make clear He has called atten-
ton TO but very small proportion of the pas
sages which FIorio expanded in his unique fash
ion" IN a sense the blndnesses and the expan-
sions do not matter. That is TO say, Florio,
read not for this that minute point, but for
the general drift of his author is one Of the
most beguiling Of translators, and though in
some quarters there has been mild reaction
against his authority, MS version can never be
seriously impeached Mr.. Ives realizes this for
al that he is well aware Of FIorios limitations
and indiscretions. He handles both with
charming tenderness. But it is Mr.. Ivess gift
10 make an ideal commentator In this volume
rs in its predecessor, he gives US abundance
Of notes, filing in this case nearly a hundred
pages and all of them worth reading,
whether they are on purely verbal matters, or
have a wider scope. He is discretion itself re-
slsting constantly the temptation TO exceed his
space. When he does succumb it is to good pur-
pose. as when he brings in Sainte-Beuves in
i1nltable passage on Montague and Pascal. one
OF his longer notes has TO do with a peculiarly
interesting phase Of his author, namely, his
habit of annexation. In his chapter "Of Bookes"
Montague says:
Somewhat to aid the weakenesse OF my mem
orie, and assist her great defects; Tor IL hath
often been my chance to light upon pookes,
which | suppose TO be new and never to have
read. which l had not understanding dlLgehLy
read and turnover many yeares before, and all
bescribbled with my notes; have While since
accustomed my selfe to note at the end OF my
booles q meane such 1 purpose to read but
once) the tine I made an end to read H. ana 10
set downe what censure or judgment gave OF
il. that so il may at least at another time rep
resent unto my mind the aire and general Idea
I had conceived Of the Author II reading NM
In volume Of Caesars Commentaries Mon
taigne filed page with one Of these little frag-
rnents Of his. MI Ives gives it in facsimile and
adds this translation, which we make no excuse
for reproducing, as an illustration Of Montague
the reader and commentator:
To sum I'D, Caesar is Of the greatest mir
scIae of Nature; if she had chosen TO divide her
Tav0rs she could well have made two adrnlraDIe
mon Of him The most learned the most concise
and the most sincere historian that ever uEed
For there is no Roman TO be compared 70 mn
In that respect. and I am very glao that cicero
has the same opinion Of him. AND as q leaueI
IN var in all respects one CT the greatest that
ever was When I consider the lnconlpaIaD4e
e-a udelIr Of that soul excuse victory LOT lASAt
N could not disengage itself from him. even II
that most unjust and iniQuitous cause. II re-
rnerDber he criticises Pompey but tW1ce MS
other exploits and his counseIs ne GesCf IDes a.
Iesslv detracts nothing from his merit nay
c,,nariraas he attributes to him recoInTleHd@b-
rfoDs which he could well have done without
p when he saws that his tardy ana Wen coLS4--
e-e5 advice was taken in i'll part by ms army
ro- he seems thereby TO intent 10 ac4u4I mn u
having fought that WTetched ballle' hetplIIs
C.qesar beaten and besieged by munger. i 500 ~