1 UPON THE CIN NA OF CORNEILLE. TH HOUGH itis an agreeable tafk, upon the whole, to attempt the vindication of an author's injured fame, the pleasure is much allayed, by its being attended with a neceffity to lay open the unfairness and errors, in the proceedings of his antagonist. To defend is pleasant, to accufe is painful; but we must prove the injuftice of the aggreffor's fentence, before we can demand to have it repealed. The editor of the late edition of Corneille's works, has given the following preface to the tragedy of Cinna: Having often heard Corneille and Shakefpear compared, I thought it proper to "shew "fhew their different manner, in fubjects "that have a refemblance. I have therefore "chofen the first acts of the Death of Cæ"far, where there is a confpiracy, as in "Cinna; and in which every thing is "relative to the confpiracy to the end of "the third Act. The reader may compare "the thoughts, the ftyle, and the judg"ment of Shakespear, with the thoughts, "the style, and the judgment of Corneille. "It belongs to the readers of all nations "to pronounce between the one and the "other, A Frenchman or an Englishman "might perhaps be fufpected of fome par tiality. To inftitute this procefs, it was "neceffary to make an exact tranflation; "what was profe in the tragedy of Shakefpear is rendered into profe; what was in blank verfe, into blank verfe, and "almoft verfe by verfe; what is low and "familiar is tranflated familiarly and in a "low ftyle. The tranflator has endea voured to rife with the author when he "rises; and when he is turgid and bom"baft, not to be more or lefs fo than he. "The ་ "The translation given here is the most "faithful that can be, and the only faithful "one in bur language, of any author ancient "or modern. I have but a word to add, " which is, that blank verfe costs nothing but the trouble of dictating: it is not "more difficult to write, than a letter. If people should take it into their heads to "write tragedies in blank verfe, and to act "them on our theatre, Tragedy is ruined "take away the difficulty, and you take the merit." away : An English reader will hardly forbear fmiling at this bold affertion concerning the facility of writing blank verfe. It is indeed no hard matter to write bad verse of any kind; but, as fo few of our Poets have attained to that perfection in it, which Shakespear and Milton have, we have rea fon to fuppofe the art to be difficult. Whatever is well done, in Poetry or Eloquence, appears eafy to be done. In the theatrical dialogue, which is an imitation of discourfe, our Critics require the language of nature, |