Scottish Text Society publications > Old series > Works of Sir William Mure of Rowallan > Volume 2, 1898

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NOTES TO DIDO AND yENEAS.
THE SECOND BOOK.
The Second Book of ‘ Dido and Hineas’ opens with the story as it
is continued at the beginning of the Fourth Book of the ‘ ^Eneid.’ In
it Mure again shakes himself free from the restrictions of exact trans¬
lation, and does not hesitate to follow the leading of his own fancy
in painting the woes of Dido. The book, which extends to 960 lines,
carries us over the ground covered by the first 449 lines in Virgil.
It is impossible to avoid comparison between Mure’s version and
that of Lord Surrey, with whose writings he seems to have been
familiar, and to whose translation he was possibly somewhat in¬
debted, even as Surrey himself undoubtedly was to that of Gawin
Douglas. In any such comparison it must be evident that the superi¬
ority in power and happiness of poetic expression is not always with
the more famous English poet, although the latter, it must be ad¬
mitted, adheres much more rigidly to his text — a point of some
importance in a translation.
1, 2. These two opening lines illustrate a common weakness in
Mure’s translation—viz., the failure to express exactly the idea con¬
veyed by Virgil. Compare Surrey—
“ But now the wounded queen, with heavy care,
Throughout the veins she nourisheth the plaie,
Surprised with blind flame.”
13-18. This stanza is Mure’s.
26. How brave of gesture ! and in armes as great /
“ What one of cheer ? How stout of heart in armes ? ”
27-30. A continuation by Mure of Virgil’s description of yEneas.
42. / feel the footsteps of my former fires. Compare this awkward
line with Mackail’s translation: “ I know the prints of the ancient
flame.” Surrey has—
“ Now feelingly I taste the steps of mine old flame.”
43-60. These three stanzas are added by Mure.
66. Shamefastnes, modesty. Surrey uses the same word in this
line—
“ Ere I thee stain, shamefastness, or thy laws.”
72. And on her cheiks, &c. Here Mure takes a poetical licence.
“ She spoke, and welling tears filled the bosom of her gown.”—
Mackail.
“ Thus sayand, the brycht teris onon owtbrist,
And fillyt all hir bosum or scho wist.”
—Douglas.
“ Thus did she say, and with surprised tears
Bained her breast.”
—Surrey.