The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 14Dryden, John
General
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 14
Dryden, John
English literature
_Imparibus fatis, nec dîs nec viribus æquis_;
so that there was no need of an apparition to fright Turnus: he had the
presage within himself of his impending destiny. The Dira only served
to confirm him in his first opinion, that it was his destiny to die in
the ensuing combat; and in this sense are those words of Virgil to be
taken,
----_Non me tua turbida virtus
Terret, ait: dî me terrent, et Jupiter hostis_.[71]
I doubt not but the adverb _solum_ is to be understood; "It is not
your [valour] _only_ that gives me this concernment; but I find also,
by this portent, that Jupiter is my enemy:" for Turnus fled before,
when his first sword was broken, till his sister supplied him with a
better; which indeed he could not use, because Æneas kept him at a
distance with his spear. I wonder Ruæus saw not this, where he charges
his author so unjustly, for giving Turnus a second sword to no purpose.
How could he fasten a blow, or make a thrust, when he was not suffered
to approach? Besides, the chief errand of the Dira was to warn Juturna
from the field; for she could have brought the chariot again, when she
saw her brother worsted in the duel. I might farther add, that Æneas
was so eager of the fight, that he left the city, now almost in his
possession, to decide his quarrel with Turnus by the sword: whereas
Turnus had manifestly declined the combat, and suffered his sister to
convey him as far from the reach of his enemy as she could--I say, not
only suffered her, but consented to it; for it is plain, he knew her,
by these words:
_O soror, et dudum agnovi, cum prima per artem
Fœdera turbâsti, teque hæc in bella dedisti;
Et nunc necquidquam fallis dea_.----
I have dwelt so long on this subject, that I must contract what I have
to say in reference to my translation, unless I would swell my preface
into a volume, and make it formidable to your lordship, when you see so
many pages yet behind. And indeed what I have already written, either
in justification or praise of Virgil, is against myself, for presuming
to copy, in my coarse English, the thoughts and beautiful expressions
of this inimitable poet, who flourished in an age when his language was
brought to its last perfection, for which it was particularly owing
to him and Horace. I will give your lordship my opinion, that those
two friends had consulted each other's judgment, wherein they should
endeavour to excel; and they seem to have pitched on propriety of
thought, elegance of words, and harmony of numbers. According to this
model, Horace writ his Odes and Epodes: for his Satires and Epistles,
being intended wholly for instruction, required another style--
_Ornari res ipsa negat, contenta doceri_--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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