to tranſlate his fine Verſes. All your junior academical Sophs who ſet up for Cenſors of the eminent Writers, compile whole Volumes; but methinks two Pages which diſplay ſome of the Beauties of great Genius's, are of Infinitely more Value than all the idle Rhapſodies of thoſe Commentators; and I will join in Opinion with all Perſons of good Taſte in declaring, that greater Advantage may be reap'd from a Dozen Verſes of Homer or Virgil than from all the Critiques put together which have been made on thoſe two great Poets.
I have ventur'd to tranſlate ſome Paſſages of the moſt celebrated Engliſh Poets, and ſhall now give you one from Shakeſpear. Pardon the Blemiſhes of the Tranſlation for the Sake of the Original; and remember always that when you ſee a Verſion, you ſee merely a faint Print of a beautiful Picture. I have made Choice of Part of the celebrated Soliloquy in Hamlet, which you may remember is as follows.
