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THE familiar style of epistolary correspondence is rarely attainable even in original composition. It consists in a delicate medium between the perfect freedom of ordinary conversation and the regularity of written dissertation or narrative. It is extremely difficult to attain this delicate medium in a translation: because the writer has neither a freedom of choice in the sentiments, nor in the mode of expressing them. Mr Melmoth appears to me to be a great model in this respect. His Translations of the Epistles of Cicero and of Pliny have all the ease of the originals, while they present in general a very faithful transcript of his author's sense.

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Surely, my friend, your couriers are a "set of the most unconscionable fellows. "Not that they have given me any parti"cular offence; but as they never bring

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me a letter when they arrive here, is it

fair, they should always press me for one "when they return ?" Melmoth, Cic. Ep. 10. 20.

Præposteros habes tabellarios ; etsi me quidem non offendunt. Sed tamen cum a me discedunt, flagitant literas,cum ad me veniunt, nullas afferunt. Cic. Ep. 1. 15. ep. 17.

"Is it not more worthy of your mightu "ambition, to be blended with your learn"ed brethren at Rome, than to stand the "sole great wonder of wisdom amidst a parcel of paltry provincials ?" Melmoth, Cic. Ep. 2. 23.

Velim-ibi malis esse ubi aliquo numero sis, quam isthic ubi solus sapere videare. Cic. Epist. 1. 1. ep. 10.

ἐσ

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"In short, I plainly perceive your finan

ces are in no flourishing situation, and I' expect to hear the same account of all your neighbours; so that famine, my friend, most formidable famine, must be your fate, if you do not provide against it in "due time. And since you have been re"duced to sell your horse, e'en mount your "mule, (the only animal, it seems, belong "ing to you, which you have not yet sacri

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"ficed to your table), and convey yourself immediately to Rome. To encourage you` 66 to do so, you shall be honoured with a "chair and cushion next to mine, and sit "the second great pedagogue in my cele"brated school." Melmoth, Cic. Ep. 8. 22.

Video te bona perdidisse: spero idem isthuc familiares tuos. Actum igitur de te est, nisi provides. Potes mulo isto quem tibi reliquum dicis esse (quando cantherium comedisti) Romam pervehi. Sella tibi erit in ludo, tanquam hypodidascalo; proxima eam pulvinus sequitur. Cic. Ep. 1. 9. ep. 18.

"ARE you not a pleasant mortal, to que"stion me concerning the fate of those "estates you mention, when Balbus had 'just before been paying you a visit ?" Melmoth, Cic. Ep. 8. 24..

Non tu homo ridiculus es, qui cum Balbus noster apud te fuerit, ex me quæras quid de istis municipiis et agris futurum putem? Cic. Ep. 9. 17.

"And now I have raised your expecta"tions of this piece, I doubt you will "be disappointed when it comes to your "hands. In the meanwhile, however, you may expect it, as something that will

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please you: And who knows but it may ?" Plin. Ep. 8. 3.

Erexi expectationem tuam; quam vereor ne destituat oratio in manus sumpta. Interim tamen, tanquam placituram, et fortasse placebit, expecta. Plin. Ep. 8. 3.

"I consent to undertake the cause which

you so earnestly recommend to me; but "as glorious and honourable as it may "be, I will not be your counsel without a fee. Is it possible, you will say, that my

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friend Pliny should be so mercenary? In “truth it is; and I insist upon a reward, " which will do me more honour than the "most disinterested patronage." Plin. Ep. 6. 23.

Impensè petis ut agam causam pertinentem ad curam tuam, pulchram alioquin et famo

sam. Faciam, sed non gratis.

Qui fieri

potest (inquis) ut non gratis tu? Potest: exigam enim mercedem honestiorem gratuito patrocinio. Plin. Ep. 8. 3.

To these examples of the ease of epistolary correspondence, I add a passage from one of the orations of Cicero, which is yet in a strain of greater familiarity: "A cer"tain mechanic-What's his name?Oh, "I'm obliged to you for helping me to it: "Yes, I mean Polycletus." Melmoth.

· Artificem quemnam ? Polycletum esse ducebant. in Verrem.

Recte admones.

Cicero, Orat. 2.

In the preceding instances from Mr Melmoth, the words of the English translation which are marked in Italics, are those which, in my opinion, give it the ease of original composition.

SOMETIMES, though very rarely, Mr Melmoth fails to rival the ease and spirit of his model. The following passage from one of

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