, for Instance, he hath not rendered the true Force
of the Author. Homer invokes his Muse in the five first Lines of the Iliad; and,
at the End of the fifth, he gives his Reason:
 
                            Dios dA eteleieto boyln.
 
For all these Things,« says he, »were brought about by the Decree of Jupiter;
and, therefore, he supposes their true Sources are known only to the Deities.
Now, the Translation takes no more Notice of the DE, than if no such Word had
been there.«
    »Very possibly,« answered the Author; »it is a long Time since I read the
Original. Perhaps, then, he followed the French Translations. I observe, indeed,
he talks much in the Notes of Madam Dacier and Monsieur Eustathius.«
    Booth had now received Conviction enough of his Friend's Knowledge of the
Greek Language; without attempting, therefore, to set him right, he made a
sudden Transition to the Latin. »Pray, Sir,« said he, »as you have mentioned
Rowe's Translation of the Pharsalia; do you remember, how he hath rendered that
Passage in the Character of Cato?
 
- Venerisque huic maximus Usus
Progenies; urbi Pater est, urbique Maritus.
 
For I apprehend that Passage is generally misunderstood.«
    »I really do not remember,« answered the Author. - »Pray, Sir, what do you
take to be the Meaning?«
    »I apprehend, Sir,« replied Booth, »that, by these Words, Urbi Pater est,
Urbique Maritus, Cato is represented as the Father and Husband to the City of
Rome.«
    »Very true, Sir,« cries the Author, »very fine, indeed. - Not only the
Father of his Country, but the Husband too; very noble, truly.«
    »Pardon me, Sir,« cries Booth, »I do not conceive that to have been Lucan's
Meaning. If you please to observe the Context: Lucan having commended the
Temperance of Cato, in the Instances of Diet and Clothes, proceeds to venereal
Pleasures; of which, says the Poet, his principal Use was Procreation: Then he
adds, Urbi Pater est, Urbique Maritus, That he became a Father and a Husband,
for the Sake only of the City.«
    »Upon my Word, that's true,« cries the Author, »I did not think of it. It is
much finer than the other. - Urbis Pater est - what is the other? - ay - Urbis
Maritus. - It