I feel greatly obliged by the favour of your attention to the
request which I had solicited our friend Mr.
Robinson to make to you for the translation of Goethe’s extraordinary drama of
‘Faust,’
which I suspect that no one could do justice to besides yourself. It will be
the first attempt to render into classical English a German work of peculiar
but certainly of unquestionable Genius; and you must allow that its effects
upon the public must be doubtful. I am desirous however of making the
experiment, and this I would not do under a less skilful agent than the one to
whom I have applied. I am no less anxious that you should receive, as far as I
think the thing can admit, a fair remuneration; and trusting that you will not
undertake it unless you feel disposed to execute the labour perfectly con amore, and in a style of versification equal to
‘Remorse,’
I venture to propose to you the sum of One Hundred Pounds for the Translation
and the preliminary Analysis, with such passages translated as you may judge
proper of the works of Goethe, with a copy of which I will
have the pleasure of supplying you as soon as I have your final determination.
The sum which I mention shall be paid to you in two months from the day on
which you place the complete Translation and Analysis in my hands; this will
allow a reasonable time for your previous correction of the sheets through the
press. I shall be glad to hear from you by return of Post, if convenient, as I
propose to set
| 300 | MEMOIRS OF JOHN MURRAY |
I should hope that it might not prove inconvenient to you to complete the whole for Press in the course of November next.
