infer from it that Wotton believed them to be genuine; for he was a man likely enough to know. This however would be too much to infer from the mere circumstance that the paper had been in Wotton's possession, for it may have been sent to him by a correspondent, he knowing nothing about it: and as the case stands, he is not sufficiently connected with it to be cited as a witness. But on the other hand Farnaby's evidence is direct and strong. He speaks as if there were no doubt about the fact; nor has there ever, I believe, been a rival claim put in for any body else. So that unless the supposition involves some improbability (and I do not myself see any), the natural conclusion is that the lines were really written by Bacon. And when I compare them with his translations of the 90th and 137th psalms, the metre of which, though not the same, has a kind of resemblance which makes the comparison more easy,-especially in the rhymed couplet which closes each stanza,—I should myself say that the internal evidence is in favour of their being by the same hand. The original (the text of which I take from Wellesley's Anthologia Polyglotta) runs thus : ΠΟΣΕΙΔΙΠΠΟΥ, οἱ δὲ ΠΛΑΤΩΝΟΣ ΚΩΜΙΚΟΥ. Ποίην τις βιότοιο τάμοι τρίβον ; εἶν ἀγορῇ μὲν Φροντίδες· ἐν δ' ἀγροῖς καμάτων ἅλις· ἐν δὲ θαλάσσῃ The English lines which follow (described as "Lord Verulam's elegant Tapedía ") are not meant for a translation, and can hardly be called a paraphrase. They are rather another poem on the same subject and with the same sentiment; and though the topics are mostly the same, the treatment of them is very different. The merit of the original consists almost entirely in its compactness; there being no special felicity in the expres sion, or music in the metre.1 In the English, compactness is not aimed at, and a tone of plaintive melody is imparted, which is due chiefly to the metrical arrangement, and has something very pathetic in it to my ear. The world's a bubble, and the life of man less than a span; In his conception wretched, from the womb Curst from the cradle, and brought up to years Who then to frail mortality shall trust, But may be term'd the worst of all the three? Domestic cares afflict the husband's bed, or pains his head. Those that live single take it for a curse, or do things worse. Some would have children; those that have them moan, or wish them gone. What is it then to have or have no wife, But single thraldom, or a double strife? 'So little does the effect depend upon the metre, that a fair enough idea may be. conveyed of it in English blank verse, which can follow the words more closely than rhyme. What life shall a man choose? In court and mart Are quarrels and hard dealing; cares at home; Labours by land; terrors at sea; abroad, Either the fear of losing what thou hast, Or worse, nought left to lose; if wedded, much Discomfort; comfortless unwed: a life With children troubled, incomplete without: Youth foolish, age outworn. Of these two choose then ; Or never to be born, or straight to die. 272 PREFACE TO TRANSLATION OF CERTAIN PSALMS. Our own affections still at home to please is a disease: To cross the seas to any foreign soil perils and toil. Wars with their noise affright us: when they cease, What then remains, but that we still should cry |