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ON TRANSLATING HOMER
CONTENTS
On Translating Homer—
Homeric Translation in Theory and Practice. A Reply to Matthew Arnold. By Francis W. Newman 112
Last Words on Translating Homer.
A Reply to Francis W. Newman. By Matthew Arnold 217
1... Nunquamne reponam?
I
It has more than once been suggested tome that I should translate Homer. Thatis a task for which I have neither the timenor the courage; but the suggestion ledme to regard yet more closely a poet whomI had already long studied, and for oneor two years the works of Homer wereseldom out of my hands. The study ofclassical literature is probably on the decline;but, whatever may be the fate ofthis study in general, it is certain that, asinstruction spreads and the number ofreaders increases, attention will be moreand more directed to the poetry of Homer,not indeed as part of a classical course,but as the most important poetical monumentexisting. Even within the last tenyears two fresh translations of the Iliadhave appeared in England: one by a manof great ability and genuine learning, ProfessorNewman; the other by Mr Wright,the conscientious and painstaking translatorof Dante. It may safely be asserted2that neither of these works will take rankas the standard translation of Homer; thatthe task of rendering him will still be attemptedby other translators. It may perhapsbe possible to render to these someservice, to save them some loss of labour,by pointing out rocks on which their predecessorshave split, and the right objectson which a translator of Homer should fixhis attention.
It is disputed w