pected from one who, ignorant of higher and better hopes, mistook the road to happiness through the flowery paths of pleasure. In short, while we condemn, and with justice, those licentious thoughts and expressions which occur but too frequently in almost every author of antiquity, and which, in a greater or less degree, debase and disfigure their brightest pages, we should still remember that they are but the erroneous maxims of men who had only the dim light of nature to direct them; and still more thankful ought we to be for those purer precepts of morality which it is our exclusive privilege to enjoy. From what has been observed respecting the peculiar style of this Author's writings, it will easily be supposed that a translation of them into any other language must be attended with many difficulties. To preserve the Ionic elegance of the original, without diverging too far from the textto imitate its conciseness, without sacrificing its beauties this indeed is a task much more difficult than might at first be imagined. In fact, I much doubt whether a foreign idiom, confined to the jingling monotony of modern verse, can ever hope to do justice to the sweet warblings of the playful and polished Anacreon. Still more hopeless I conceive would be the attempt to render them by a strictly literal version; and in this persuasion, I have endeavored on every occasion to give what I imagined to be the meaning of my Author, without a servile adherence to the letter on the one hand, or a too great license of interpretation on the other. With what success these endeavors have been accomplished it is the province of others to determine. Perhaps, however, I may here be permitted to observe, that I have never hesitated to sacrifice poetic beauty to purity of language and expression; happy if, by this means, I have rendered accessible to the cabinets of my fair countrywomen a poet whose beauties are many, and whose faults, which were those of his age and country, I have studiously endeavored to conceal. T. B. In the notes will be found no labored comments on the peculiar force or meaning of a Greek particle, nor any long dissertations on disputed passages. To the scholar and the critic they would impart no new information, and to those unacquainted with the original must be altogether useless. I have preferred selecting from various writers such extracts as I thought likely to prove interesting to the general reader, and to facilitate his comprehension of the English version, by illustrating those manners and customs, which are still peculiar to the people of the East. To preceding editors I am indebted for many useful observations, which I have distinguished by the names of their respective authors. In the arrangement of these notes I am happy likewise to acknowlege the judicious advice and assist ance of my friend, Mr. T. Gandy, member of the Philomathic Society, and of several other literary institutions. T. B. ODES OF ANACREON. ODE I.-ON HIS LYRE.1 WHILE I Sweep the sounding string, Or to Cadmus raise the strain, Still the lyre my labor foils; Still with love's sweet silver sounds Every martial theme confounds.* 1 As love is the prevailing subject of the poet's muse, this beautiful little ode is with great propriety placed at the commencement of most editions. 2 Agamemnon and Menelaus, the sons of Atreus, who were the chief commanders at the siege of Troy. By the Atridæ is meant the Trojan, and by Cadmus, the Theban war. 3 It was common among the ancient poets to say that they had new-strung their lyre,' when about to celebrate any important subject, or extraordinary event. 4 In order to understand this passage clearly, we must imagine Anacreon singing and playing on his lyre, which, instead of returning sounds suitable to the lofty subject of his song, perversely warbles Love's sweet silver sounds.' The original is here beautifully expressive, signifying not ANAC. A Farewell! heroes, chiefs and kings, ODE II.-ON WOMEN.' POINTED horns, the dread of foes, Dreadful teeth in grinning rows; Finny fishes swim the tide ; Nobler gifts to man assign'd, Courage firm, and strength of mind." merely to send forth a wrong note, but one directly contrary to that intended to be produced. The lyre is said to have been made of the shell of the tortoise, and its invention is by some ascribed to Anacreon. 1 The sentiment of this little ode is natural and beautiful, and it has been imitated by many succeeding writers. The first of modern poets, Lord Byron, has in the following beautiful passage a similar idea to that contained in the latter part of it: Oh, too convincing, dangerously dear! In woman's eye, the unanswerable tear! Corsair, Canto ii. 15. 2 The single word in the original thus translated, usually signifies wisdom or prudence; but surely so polite a poet as Anacreon would not have denied these important qualities to the ladies. It may likewise be rendered, as in the text, 'Courage, or strength of mind;' but in neither sense may we arrogate to ourselves the title of the exclusives,' so long as the deeds and daring of the softer sex live in the Records of Woman, and are related by such a champion as Mrs. He mans. |