Note 62 — THE WORKS AND DAYS.
George Chapman translation
So rue the nations when their kings offend.] Theobald, in a note on Cooke’s translation, proposes to change δημος, the people, into τημος, then: and renders αποτιση in the sense of punish, instead of rue: thus the meaning would be, “that he might then, at that instant, punish the sins of the judges.” Never was an interference with the text so little called for. The meaning which Theobald is so scrupulous to admit is exactly conformable with that of a preceding passage:
And oft the crimes of one destructive fall; The crimes of one are visited on all.
It is idle to inquire where is the justice of this kind of retribution? since it is evident from all the history of mankind that such is the course of nature.
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. Proverbs, xi. 11.
The king by judgment establisheth the land; but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it. Ch. xxix. 4.
In Simpson’s notes on Beaumont and Fletcher, this passage is compared with the following in Philaster:
In whose name We’ll waken all the Gods, and conjure up The rods of vengeance, the abused people:
and it is proposed to understand it in the sense of Fletcher, “that the people might be raised up to punish the crimes of their prince.” There is taste and spirit in this interpretation, which cannot be said for the amendment of Theobald: but the common acceptation seems to me the right one, for the reasons already stated.