44
PRINCIPLES OF
Chap. III.
while he is blowing the fire to roast an ox; or bestow on Agamemnon the designation of King of many nations, while he is helping Ajax to a large piece of the chine.
It were to be wished that Mr Melmoth, who is certainly one of the bell of the English translators, had always been equally scrupulous in retrenching the ideas of his author. Cicero thus superscribes one of his letters: M.T.C. Terentiæ, et Pater suavissimæ filiæ Tulliolæ, Cicero matri et sorori S.D. (Ep. Fam. l. 14. ep. 18.) And another in this manner: Tullius Terentiæ, et Pater Tulliolæ, duabus animis suis, et Cicero Matri optimæ, suavissimæ sorori. (Lib. 14. ep. 14.) Why are these addresses entirely sunk in the translation, and a naked title poorly substitutedfor
