Note 129 — DANTE.[1] (continued 2)
F. J. (Frederick John) Church translation
As doves, by strong affection urged, repair With firm expanded wings to their sweet nest, Borne by the impulse of their will through air.—Ibid.
It is impossible not to be reminded at every step, in spite of the knowledge and taste which Mr. Cary and Mr. Wright have brought to their most difficult task, of the truth which Dante has expressed with his ordinary positiveness.
He is saying that he does not wish his Canzoni to be explained in Latin to those who could not read them in Italian: "Che sarebbe sposta la loro sentenzia colà dove elle non la potessono colla loro bellezza portare. E però sappia ciascuno che nulla cosa per legame musaico (i.e. poetico) armonizzata, si può della sua loquela in altra trasmutare senza rompere tutta la sua dolcezza e armonia. E questa è la ragione per che Omero non si mutò mai di Greco in Latino, come l'altre scritture che avemo da loro."—Convito, i. c. 8, p. 49.
Dr. Carlyle has given up the idea of attempting to represent Dante's verse by English verse, and has confined himself to assisting Englishmen to read him in his own language. His prose translation is accurate and forcible. And he has added sensible and useful notes.