Chap. IV.
TRANSLATION.
71
and when the shepherd's heart is delighted within him." How nobly is this picture raised and improved by Mr Pope!
"As when the moon, refulgent lamp of night,
"O'er heav'n's clear azure spreads her sacred light:
"When not a breath disturbs the deep serene,
"And not a cloud o'ercasts the solemn scene;
"Around her throne the vivid planets roll,
"And oar's unnumber'd gild the glowing pole:
"O'er the dark trees a yellower verdure shed,
"And tip with silver every mountain's head:
"Then shine the vales, the rocks in prospect rise,
"A flood of glory bursts from all the skies:
"The conscious swains rejoicing in the sight,
"Eye the blue vault, and bless the useful light."
"O'er heav'n's clear azure spreads her sacred light:
"When not a breath disturbs the deep serene,
"And not a cloud o'ercasts the solemn scene;
"Around her throne the vivid planets roll,
"And oar's unnumber'd gild the glowing pole:
"O'er the dark trees a yellower verdure shed,
"And tip with silver every mountain's head:
"Then shine the vales, the rocks in prospect rise,
"A flood of glory bursts from all the skies:
"The conscious swains rejoicing in the sight,
"Eye the blue vault, and bless the useful light."
These passages from Pope's Homer afford examples of a translator's improvement of his original, by a happy amplification and embellishment of his image-ry,
