PREFACE. IN laying before the public this translation of 'Nathan the Wise,' I would say a few words as to the object I have set before me, and the principles I have attempted to follow in its fulfilment. That object has been to give to the English reader at once an opportunity of reading 'Nathan,' and such helps towards its appreciation as I could afford. In the translation, my first aim has been faithfulness; and I have on the whole preferred the chance of erring on the side of verbal accuracy, to that of sacrificing exactness to vigour. To hit the golden mean in this respect is the chief difficulty of such a translation; but I look upon conscientiousness as the paramount duty of a translator, and shall be satisfied if my version is considered to fulfil this principle without seriously erring against the genius of the English language. As to the versification, the utmost I have attempted has been to reproduce to the best of my power the somewhat pedestrian vigour of the original; nor, even had I had the power, would I have tried to polish and refine lines |