The Second Day of the First Weeke of the most excellent, learned, and diuine Poet, William, Lord Bartas. Done out of French into English Heroicall verse by Thomas Winter |
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His opinion Touching translators, and translation.
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 | The Second Day of the First Weeke |  |
His opinion Touching translators, and translation.
To turne one tongue t'another is a trickeThat many tongues-men can in prose performe;
But when the tongues on numbred feete do sticke,
It's hard two tongues discordant to conforme.
Who word for word, and phrase for phrase translates
In verse, may vaunt he earnes his Authors fame:
But, but few tongues are tyde t'our English pates,
That can with ease directly do the same.
Many translators haue we, but not many
That turne not th'Authors meaning with his words.
Famous were England if she had not any,
That to them selues such libertie affords.
To translate so, is to adulterate:
And all Adulterers God and men do hate.
Omne bonum, Dei donum.
| The Second Day of the First Weeke | |