s inevitably consequent upon a change of idiom by
any added beauties of their own. Though unfitted to reproduce the
precise form, the English language, from its superior terseness, is
better adapted to preserve the spirit of the original than the German;
and the comparative ill success of many English translators must be
chiefly attributed to the extremely low standard of fidelity and
brevity observed by them. Bland, Merivale, and their associates
(1806-1813), are often intolerably diffuse and feeble, from want, not
of ability, but of taking pains. Archdeacon Wrangham's too rare
versions are much more spirited; and John Sterling's translations of
the inscriptions of Simonides deserve high praise. Professor Wilson
(_Blackwood's Magazine_, 1833-1835) collected and commented upon the
labours of these and other translators, with his accustomed critical
insight and exuberant geniality, but damaged his essay by burdening it
with the indifferent attempts of William Hay. In 1849 Dr Wellesley,
principal of New Inn Hall, Oxford, published his _Anthologia
Polyglotta_, a most valuable collection of the best translations and
imitations in all languages, with the original text. In this appeared
some admirable versions by Goldwin Smith and Dean Merivale, which,
with the other English renderings extant at the time, will be found
accompanying the literal prose translation of the _Public School
Selections_, executed by the Rev. George Burges for Bohn's Classical
Library (1854). This is a useful volume, but the editor's notes are
worthless. In 1864 Major R.G. Macgregor published an almost complete
translation of the Anthology, a work whose stupendous industry and
fidelity almost redeem the general mediocrity of the execution.
_Idylls and Epigrams_, by R. Garnett (1869, reprinted 1892 in the
Cameo series), includes about 140 translations or imitations, with
some original compositions in the same style. Recent translations
(selections) are: J.W. Mackail, _Select Epigrams from the Greek
Anthology_ (with text, introduction, notes, and prose translation),
1890, revised 1906, a most charming volume; Graham R. Tomson (Mrs
Marriott Watson), _Selections from the Greek Anthology_ (1889); W.H.D.
Rouse, _Echo of Greek Song_ (1899); L.C. Perry, _From the Garden of
Hellas_ (New York, 1891); W.R. Paton, _Love Epigrams_ (1898). An
agreeable little volume on the Anthology, by Lord Neaves,