| 69 |
The Reviews which challenged the satire to which reference is
made in the last chapter were, as there mentioned, the ‘Edinburgh,’ the ‘British,’ and the ‘Eclectic.’ There were others which spoke of the
translation in terms of the most enthusiastic praise, tempered only by fair criticism. The
‘Monthly,’ while echoing the
‘Edinburgh’s’ censure of the diffuseness of
the notes, bore ample testimony to the vigour and the spirit of the translation and to the
beauty of its poetry. The ‘Critical’ was still more eulogistic, and this Review was distinguished for
discriminating taste. In a note in Moore’s
‘Life of Byron’ allusion
is made to its critique on the ‘Hours of Idleness,’ written in September 1807.
This Review, in pronouncing upon the
young author’s future career, showed itself
| 70 | MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON. |
Haply thy sun, emerging, yet may shine, Thee to irradiate with meridian ray. |
Of Hodgson’s Juvenal it writes in a similar strain. It begins by expressing satisfaction at the intellectual vigour of the age which had produced Hodgson’s Juvenal before Gifford’s was properly digested. By way of combating the assertion that another translation was unnecessary, it mentions the circumstance that Pope’s Homer appeared before Creech’s was fairly finished. The ‘Critical’ continues with a comparison of Hodgson and Gifford.
The lists have been cleared of all the combatants of inferior note, and
are exclusively occupied by two distinguished cavaliers; one founded from experience
and reputation in a long established fame; the other rejoicing in great though hitherto
untried powers, vigorous in youth, and inflamed with the noble confidence of future
glory. What must inspire every generous spectator with some degree of prejudice in
favour of the young adven-
| REMARKS BY THE ’CRITICAL.’ | 71 |
After a detailed description of the style and method of the rival translators, the ‘Critical’ sums up its comparison by saying:—
Mr. Gifford has made a very intelligible and entertaining work; Mr. Hodgson has enriched the language of his native country by some of the noblest poetry to be found in it.
It then proceeds to particular criticisms.
In the terrible Sixth Satire Mr. Hodgson’s powers appear both original and
splendid, even when contrasted with one or two most signal triumphs achieved by the
genius of Dryden. Even the description of
Messalina, the most finished and most spirited
morceau that can perhaps be found in
the whole translated works of that mighty master, appears to us to be rivalled by the
same passage as it is represented in the volume before us. If our classical readers
will compare these
| 72 | MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON. |
A quotation from the Sixth Satire follows, and the Review remarks upon it: ‘Can anything exceed the boldness, the spirit, the dramatic effect of this domestic scene?’ Another quotation from Satire xii. 101. elicits a just tribute to Hodgson’s talents for tender and interesting poetry, and picturesque description of natural objects.
This beautiful picture reminds one of all that is soft and fresh and brilliant in the loveliest sea-pieces of Claude, whose delicate and alluring style has been less frequently attempted by the strong hand of Juvenal than the coarser taste which suggested a copy of vulgar but striking objects to the faithful pencil of Teniers. The Third Satire proves Mr. Hodgson to possess much of the skill, humour, and correctness that distinguish the Flemish artists.1
The sea-piece, which suggested a comparison with Claude’s painting may certainly be considered more picturesque than its original; only those who have witnessed such a scene on the Italian coast can fully appreciate its simple grace and fidelity.
|
1 Sat. xii. 69-82. |
| BYRON’S OPINION. | 73 |
The ‘Critical’ concludes by drawing attention to Hodgson’s extraordinary talent for satire, declaring its sense of the duty of giving honour to whom honour is due, not only in justice to the author himself, but to the public, whose judgment was in danger of being misdirected by that class of critics who made it their constant practice to pass indiscriminate censure upon young aspirants to literary fame, thereby too often suppressing further endeavours. Of Mr. Hodgson the Review thought it bare justice to declare that he had displayed all the essential qualities of a poet to be found in a translation, and added a hope that there might soon be an opportunity of appreciating his claims to the higher praise of invention and original composition. Having already stated that it thought him peculiarly gifted with poetical talents, the Review is satisfied that he cannot be at a loss for proper objects on which to employ them
while our Tartuffes are daily assuming a thousand disguises, and while cold-blooded metaphysicians pretend to regulate the public taste in regard to Poetry and the Belles Lettres.
This complimentary critique was soon afterwards endorsed by Lord Byron. In one of the last stanzas of ‘English Bards’ he apostrophises his Alma
Mater—
| 74 | MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON. |
Oh, dark asylum of a Vandal race! At once the boast of learning and disgrace! So lost to Phœbus that not Hodgson’s verse Can make thee better, nor poor Hewson’s worse. |
This gentleman’s name requires no praise: the man who in translation displays unquestionable genius, may be well expected to excel in original composition, of which, it is to be hoped, we shall soon see a splendid specimen.
Two letters from Gifford, one written before, and the other after, the publication of the rival translations, are interesting, not only from their intrinsic excellence and from the value which must naturally belong to any composition from the pen of so eminent a man, but from the insight which they give into the literary sentiments of the great writer and critic, and the evidence which they afford of his generous sympathy with the youthful competitor for fame in the same field of literature in which he himself had so long been engaged. The first of these letters is addressed to Mr. Henry Drury at Harrow in 1806.
| LETTER FROM GIFFORD | 75 |
My dear Sir,—I ought to have written long since, but I may say to you in confidence what the beggar said to Louis XIV.: ‘O sir, if you did but know how idle I am, you would pity me!’
I am delighted with your good opinion of Massinger.1 I take refuge in our old plays, from the execrable trash of the present stage; and should, in my plodding way, have no objection to revise the twin-writers of whom you speak, who abound in beauties of every description: but I am not rich enough to do it at my own expense, and the booksellers engage with reluctance in whatever does not promise an immediate sale. Peter Whalley, who edited Ben Jonson, amassed, before his last illness, a world of lumber preparatory to a second edition. In his hands it must have grown to fourteen volumes at least, for he had unfortunately discovered with what ease a book might be swelled out by parallel passages. This has been put into my hands. His collections, I find, have been plundered by Steevens and Malone, who wisely kept their secret—to me they are useless: yet I am not certain, if my sight does not totally fail me, but that I may be tempted to reprint the original with the additions of scenery, &c., some-
1 Gifford was then engaged in editing the dramas of Massinger. |
| 76 | MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON. |
Juvenal drags heavily. At one time, all Bulwer’s devils, arrant, passant, couchant, and rampant, are at my heels, roaring for copy; at another I cannot get sight of them; and if I make inquiries—why they are gone for twelve days to get drunk with the blameless Ethiopians. So we proceed. I take it for granted that Mr. Hodgson is not more fortunate. In this edition, I have added a little, and but a little, to the notes, and attempted here and there to squeeze the text a little together. I have no idea of improving it, unless, as Sir J. Cutler’s maid—absit invidia—improved his stockings. I want a poetical friend, for the gods have not made the Dr.1 poetical, and most of my other acquaintance are over ears in politicks (sic).
I have scarcely been out of doors since I wrote last. You would therefore have found me in my elbow chair, and I should have been truly proud and happy to have seen you. I am now meditating a south sea voyage to Newmarket for a fortnight or three weeks, as I have some reliance on a change
1 Dean Ireland. |
| GIFFORD ON JUVENAL. | 77 |
The second letter, addressed to Hodgson himself, gives pleasing proof of the generosity and true nobility of mind of one of nature’s gentlemen.
Though the Dr. and I had respectively ordered Juvenal to be sent to us the moment it appeared, yet your active kindness has, with me, anticipated the plodding industry of the bookseller. I accept your present with the sincerest pleasure and shall ever regard it among my choicest possessions.
I fell on it immediately, and, without removing my eye for an instant from the page, read, shall I say devoured? the six first satires—more I could not do—nor do I expect to be able to distinguish an ‘a’ from a ‘b’ for the next twenty-four hours.
In simplicity and truth I am delighted with you; for the
haste and imperfection of which you speak, I see nothing but freedom, spirit,
and vigour: your anxiety I place to the score of modesty; it is surely not
necessary, but I do not
| 78 | MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON. |
I am amazed at the facility (to say nothing of the elegance) with which you compose; though Ireland, who regards you with great affection, had, in some measure, prepared me for it. Your morning’s amusement would occupy me seriously for a week—and Jove only knows what it would be after all. And have you the conscience, with all this ease and spirit and learning and extensive reading, to call upon me to improve your trial? pro pudor!
No, no; you must look upon me as an old post-horse: what with
switching and spurring I might perhaps perform a short stage; but should be
mighty stiff after it, and not in a travelling condition for some time. Do you
recollect that I once said ‘mox in reluct:’
&c. I had then no bad idea, and, as I thought, not unproductive of useful
fun. It was a work on the plan of ‘Le chef-d’œuvre d’un
Inconnu,’ that genuine piece of French humour. I had written
the life of my ‘Hero,’ containing, with great pomposity, not one
accident that does not happen to every clown every day of his life; I A FRIENDLY SUGGESTION. 79
| 80 | MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON. |
My valued friends in Gower Street told me of your removal to Cambridge: on this I felicitate you, and, let me add, the world, most sincerely; for you will certainly have more time at command. I thank you for your congratulations; presuming that you allude to the lottery. Nothing is yet settled, but I believe some good is en train. Down on your knees and be thankful that you see land at last. The watchman is now bellowing just two o’clock. With the sincerest esteem,
The removal to Cambridge, to which allusion is made in this letter, refers to Hodgson’s appointment to a Resident Tutorship at King’s College of which he had already for five years been a fellow. Humphrey Sumner, the then Provost, had asked him to lecture upon Locke and Pearson. Hodgson replied in the following letter, in which he sketches in outline some of the views with which he entered upon his new sphere of work.
Dear Sir,—I am greatly obliged by your keeping the
tutorship open for me so long; and lament the BUTLER. LOCKE. PEARSON. 81
Concerning the subject of my lectures I am very glad to have
the opportunity of some communication with you. The books you mention
(Locke and Pearson) are as yet by no means among my
intimate acquaintance; but I will take the liberty of offering my general ideas
of their character to your consideration. Upon Butler, I believe, we are agreed, that his ‘Analogy’ is too
profound a work for any but the severest student to comprehend. At the lectures
by Mr. Lloyd which I attended at
Cambridge, I gathered that there was much in Locke controverted by subsequent reasoners; but I did not
perceive that anything had been added to the explanation and argument of
Pearson for a succession of years. Of the effect which
Mr. Lloyd’s lectures had upon his hearers, as
all were at the same college with myself, I can form some opinion. It is an
assured truth that not one pupil out of a dozen gained anything from the
Locke lecture when I was at college. But Mr.
Lloyd has made Locke the study of his life.
If then, with his excellent understanding and long application, he could not
render the lecture interesting or useful, how is another person to do it? It is
| 82 | MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON. |
I have written this letter very hastily, in the midst of
uncongenial employment, and of hard additional labour at my publication. You
will therefore, I trust, excuse any misstatement of opinion expressed upon the
moment, though not formed without previous consideration. The fact is, that
ever since your kind promise of appointing me to the tutorship, I have found my
thoughts naturally engaged in my few leisure hours with the business of my
future work. And I will request your permission to enter a little further into
the result of my reflections. Young men are but three years at METAPHYSICS. RELIGION. 83
Since I left college my reading has been very miscellaneous.
It has chiefly been devoted to Greek and Latin authors, but has diverged a good
deal into French and English literature. Lectures upon the Belles Lettres, in
short, have been my principal
| 84 | MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON. |
| PROPOSED LECTURE UPON LITERATURE. | 85 |
I request your indulgence for this imperfect exposition of a plan of lectures; but, as I look forward to Cambridge as my residence for many years, and enter upon that residence under your auspices (quod spiro et placeo, si placeo, tuum est), I think it right to make you as much acquainted as I am with my views and inclinations before entering upon my employment.
Whether so extraordinary a development of the customary curriculum at
King’s was allowed is doubtful. But there can be no doubt that, in Hodgson’s hands, it would have been universally
admitted to be
| 86 | MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON. |
Notwithstanding Hodgson’s diffidence in the
matter of the Locke lecture, the Provost persisted
in his request, and Hodgson, accordingly, at once applied himself to
the study of metaphysics. Some of his written lectures which remain prove him to have
thoroughly mastered his subject, and to have presented it to his pupils in so pleasant and
attractive a form as must have met with ample appreciation from undergraduate
understandings. But, not content with these masterly expositions, his poetical mind, as
usual, had recourse to verses for a fuller expression of those deep imaginings which his
metaphysical research had naturally suggested to it, and in the ‘Ballad on Metaphysics,’ written at this time, he
| DEAN IRELAND ON SOCRATES. | 87 |
As in a measure appropriate to the subject of metaphysics, some letters by the Rev. John Ireland, then prebendary, afterwards the distinguished Dean of Westminster, may here be given. His early acquaintance with Hodgson has already been noticed, and the high opinion which he had formed of his character and abilities is plainly proved by the tone of these letters.
In a note to the Second Satire of Juvenal Hodgson had written with reference to the accusations sometimes brought against his original that he ridiculed the idea of a future state.
Did not Socrates in his dying hours use
the common language of his countrymen with regard to the gods, and yet we cannot suppose
him to have intended more than an example of conformity to established usage when he
enjoined the sacrifice of a cock to Esculapius;
although we know he believed in
| 88 | MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON. |
Hodgson’s naturally reverent mind and early religious training here, no doubt, betrayed him into the use of an expression similar to those commonly current among Churchmen. He probably did not mean to say more than that Socrates believed in the Supreme Governor of the universe, which in its state of order owed Him alone its existence; and did not intend to enter at all into the question of ancient beliefs in pre-existent matter. With this point of view, as far as it goes, the Scriptural doctrine is not materially at variance, when it distinctly asserts that the Creator brought Cosmos out of Chaos.
But the erudite Dr. Ireland, the author of ‘Five Discourses containing certain Arguments for and against the Reception of Christianity by the ancient Jews and Greeks,’ of ‘Paganism and Christianity compared,’ and many other profound theological dissertations, was not likely to rest satisfied with any mode of expression in the annotation of a classical work which could possibly admit of misinterpretation on such a point. He accordingly wrote in the following strain, which if hypercritical must be considered to have been not the less complimentary to a man who was twenty years younger than himself:—
| THE DOCTRINE OF ’A PROPER CREATION.’ | 89 |
Dear Sir,—I have begun to read your Juvenal; and you will judge from what I am about to say, how strong is my remembrance of the esteem which I felt for you several years ago, when my intercourse with you and your family was nearer than it is at present.
In one of the notes to the Second
Satire, it is said, in vindication of the character of Socrates, that he believed in an all-powerful
Creator of the universe. I am persuaded, from the general complexion of the
assertion, that you cannot have made a regular inquiry into this part of the
Pagan theology. I am persuaded, too, that, if you had, your mind would have
arrived at the same conviction which I feel. It has happened that, for a
theological purpose, I have looked with some attention into this point; and of
nothing am I more firmly convinced, than that in no Pagan school was ever
taught the doctrine of a proper creation. It happens, too, that, at this very
time, I am engaged in impressing this religious caution upon the King’s
scholars at Westminster, to whom I read term lectures. It is highly probable
that your translation may fall into the hands of such youths; and I should be
extremely unwilling to hear that their
| 90 | MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON. |
I have troubled you with a long letter; but I believe that I know your heart, and that you will take what I have said as a private mark of friendship.
Dear Sir,—Your letter has found me here, being engaged
in the duties of my residence, and re-CHRISTIANITY V. PAGANISM. 91
| 92 | MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON. |
And now I must bid you farewell, for a thousand things press upon me. I have given your kind remembrance to Gifford, who is but just recovered from a fever which gave me, for a day or two, some uneasiness about him.
Hodgson’s Juvenal was dedicated to his father’s old friend and patron Lord Liverpool, whose gratifying acknowledgment of the dedication may fitly conclude the present chapter.
| NOTE FROM LORD LIVERPOOL. | 93 |
Dear Sir,—I received the evening before last the present you sent me of your translation of Juvenal. I have hitherto had time only to peruse the Preface: it is replete with good erudition, and with many sagacious remarks. I have no doubt that this work will do you great credit, and that I shall also derive some credit from your having done me the honour of dedicating it to me.
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