ADVERTISEMENT.
vii
With respect to the notes, I have merely to remark, that, excepting the scriptural, and some few other familiar parallelisms, they are likely to present very little in the shape of direct illustration of the text. Sometimes a word, sometimes a bare allusion in the original, has served to recal a favourite passage to mind, and has thus become,
periphrasis. This error, too, is the less excusable on my part, from the line being rendered, word for word, and with excellent effect, in a "Specimen of an English Homer in Blank Verse," published anonymously in 1807; and also in the recent specimen of Mr. Sotheby.
If permitted to make a second attempt, I would render the line, with its context, thus—though, after all, far from satisfactorily—
"Then from the fleet sat for aloof—and drew
His silver bow—fast forth the arrows flew—
While ever as they fled—incessant rang
That silver bow—and terrible the twang.
His silver bow—fast forth the arrows flew—
While ever as they fled—incessant rang
That silver bow—and terrible the twang.
Then from the fleet sat far aloof—and threw
An arrow forth—while ever as it flew,
Dire was the twanging of his silver yew.
An arrow forth—while ever as it flew,
Dire was the twanging of his silver yew.
Straight rose the king and uttered, in his pride,
A ruffian threat:—that threat is ratified.
A ruffian threat:—that threat is ratified.