The Lord Rocheſter expreſſes himſelf, in his Satyr againſt Man, in pretty near the following Manner: But I muſt firſt deſire you always to remember, that the Verſions I give you from the Engliſh Poets are written with Freedom and Latitude; and that the Reſtraint of our Verſification, and the Delicacies of the French Tongue, will not allow a Tranſlator to convey into it the licentious Impetuoſity and Fire of the Engliſh Numbers.
Cet Eſprit que je haïs, cet Eſprit plein d'erreur,
Ce n'eſt pas ms raiſon, c'eſt la tienne Docteur.
C'eſt la raiſon frivôle, inquiete, orgeuilleuſe
Des ſages Animaux, rivale dédaigneuſe,
Qui croit entr'eux & l'Ange, occuper le milieu,
Et penſe être ici bas l'image de ſon Dieu.
Vil atôme imparfait, qui croit, doute, diſpute
Rampe, s'eleve, tombe, & nie encore ſa chûte.
