Poets, Spanish; Spanish poetry -- History and criticism; Spanish poetry -- Translations into English
The same popularity attended another work which Iriarte prepared
for the instruction of youth, named ‘Historical Lessons,’ published
posthumously, about twenty editions of which have since appeared,
principally from its having been adopted as a text-book for schools.
Of this also an edition has been published in London by Boosey, and a
translation into English. Iriarte’s industry appears to have been of
the most practical character, and his endeavours were as wisely as they
were unremittingly directed to make his countrymen wiser and better
in their future generations. If a man’s worth may be estimated by
such labours, few persons have ever lived who were so entitled to the
gratitude of posterity, as few have ever effected so much as he did in
the short career that was afforded him.
In private life, in the leisure allowed from his studies and duties,
he indulged much, as has been already stated, in the recreation of
music; and in praise and explanation of that favourite art he wrote
his largest work, ‘Music,’ a didactic poem, in five cantos. Of this
work, which was first published in 1780, the fifth separate edition
appeared in 1805, since which I have not heard of any other. It has,
however, had the good fortune to be translated into several foreign
languages; into German by Bertuch, in 1789; into Italian by the Abbé
Garzia, Venice, 1789; into French by Grainville, Paris, 1800; and into
English by Mr. Belfour, London, 1807. The last-mentioned translation is
made with much exactness and elegance into heroic verse; though, as the
original had the fault usual to all didactic poems of not rising to any
high poetical power, the translation must share the fault to at least
an equal extent.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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