User talk:Hodgdon's secret garden/Sandbox9999

"'... The present Translator rendered the entire Odyssey into English hexameters, and from that re-translated it into Blank Berse. He has preferred a line for line translation to a lengthening out of the nuber of lines of the entire poem, which would have diluted the spirit of the poetry, and have been for many reasons disadvantageous. Thus, by the adoption of a metre of ten syllable lines in the place of eighteen syllables, he was compelled to abridge as it were the poem, and to make a nice selection of the words which more peculiarly belong to the sense and spirit of the verse. This would have been a much easier task in a translation from English into Greek, from the structure of the Greek nouns and verbs. Ampflication of the number of lines of the poem would have had inconveniences not counterbalancing its advantages. 'The bias of the writer's mind has led him to attempt a translation truthful to the original, rather than a poetical parody. This is more calculated to meet the approbation of the classical than of the general reader. He has, however, studied a clearness of expression which may render it intelligible to all; ;and from the enconiums passed on it by readers whose judgment he respects, he flatters himself that he has succeeded. ... '"

"fĭrst dĩs"The term orotund was given by Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia, to speech voice in its highest condition. It is very agreeable to the ear, and being more musical than the common voice, is particularly calculated to call forth the beauties of epic and tragic composition. One of the best and most exhilarating exercises for the expulsion of the voice sounds (in which the formation of this speech voice is formed) is the regular practice of the laughing choruses in some operas. The laughter must ring on all the vowel sounds in succession, e.g., hah, he, ho, hu, hie. Full inspirations should be taken at occasional intervals. Dr. Rush recommended the coughing out or explosive system on the vowels; Mr. Hunt considers this injurious, and advises the expelling system. There is a passage in Horace to the effect that " nothing is given to man without great labour on his part." It is a plain fact which cannot be disputed, that neither at our universities, nor at our public schools, is much attempt made to teach the "art of speaking" theoretically and practically. That which is the common gift of the Creator to all, and which is the first and foremost distinction between the man and the brute, is left to what may be called chance. Learned men, who have had a university education, resort to histrionic and other professors of elocution, to learn what should have been their daily practice in all advanced school and university recitations. Those who listen to the declamation of eloquent speakers or actors, and mark the strong impression produced on the mind of the hearers by the orator or the tragedian, will appreciate the value of these observations. &mdash; PAGE X 

Also he goes on to

http://books.google.com/books?id=7p4aAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA419&dq=George+William+Edginton+1869&hl=en&ei=KsdeTva9N-LH0AH1l736Ag&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFMQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q&f=false