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Title: Explanation Of The Fac-Simile
Author: Isaac Disraeli [
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The manuscripts of Pope's version of the Iliad and Odyssey are preserved in the British Museum in three volumes, the gift of David Mallet. They are written chiefly on the backs of letters, amongst which are several from Addison, Steele, Jervaise, Rowe, Young, Caryl, Walsh, Sir Godfrey Kneller, Fenton, Craggs, Congreve, Hughes, his mother Editha, and Lintot and Tonson the booksellers.[1]
From these letters no information can be gathered, which merits public communication; they relate generally to the common civilities and common affairs of life. What little could be done has already been given in the additions to Pope's works.
It has been observed, that Pope taught himself to write, by copying printed books: of this singularity we have in this collection a remarkable instance; several parts are written in Roman and Italic characters, which for some time I mistook for print; no imitation can be more correct.
What appears on this Fac-Simile I have printed, to assist its deciphering; and I have also subjoined the passage as it was given to the public, for immediate reference. The manuscript from whence this page is taken consists of the first rude sketches; an intermediate copy having been employed for the press; so that the corrected verses of this Fac-Simile occasionally vary from those published.
This passage has been selected, because the parting of Hector and Andromache is perhaps the most pleasing episode in the Iliad, while it is confessedly one of the most finished passages.
The lover of poetry will not be a little gratified, when he contemplates the variety of epithets, the imperfect idea, the gradual embellishment, and the critical rasures which are here discovered.[2] The action of Hector, in lifting his infant in his arms, occasioned Pope much trouble; and at length the printed copy has a different reading.
I must not omit noticing, that the whole is on the back of a letter franked by Addison; which cover I have given at one corner of the plate.
The parts distinguished by Italics were rejected.
Thus having spoke, the illustrious chief of Troy
_Extends his eager arms to embrace his boy_,
lovely
Stretched his fond arms to seize the _beauteous_ boy;
babe
The _boy_ clung crying to his nurse's breast,
Scar'd at the dazzling helm and nodding crest.
each _kind_
With silent pleasure _the_ fond parent smil'd,
And Hector hasten'd to relieve his child.
The glittering terrors unbound,
_His radiant helmet_ from his brows _unbrac'd_,
_on the ground, he
And on the ground the glittering terror plac'd_,
beamy
And placed the _radiant_ helmet on the ground,
_Then seized the boy and raising him in air_,
lifting
Then _fondling_ in his arms his infant heir,
_dancing_
Thus to the gods addrest a father's prayer.
glory fills
O thou, whose _thunder shakes_ th' ethereal throne,
deathless
And all ye other _powers_ protect my son!
Like mine, this war, blooming youth with every virtue blest,
_grace_
_The shield and glory of the Trojan race;
Like mine his valour, and his just renown.
Like mine his labours, to defend the crown_.
Grant him, like me, to purchase just renown,
the Trojans
To guard _my country_, to defend the crown:
_In arms like me, his country's war to wage_,
And rise the Hector of the future age!
Against his country's foes the war to wage,
And rise the Hector of the future age!
successful
So when triumphant from the _glorious_ toils
Of heroes slain, he bears the reeking spoils,
Whole hosts may
_All Troy shall_ hail him, with deserv'd acclaim,
own the son
And _cry, this chief_ transcends his father's fame.
While pleas'd, amidst the general shouts of Troy,
His mother's conscious heart o'erflows with joy.
fondly on her
He said, and gazing _o'er his consort's charms_,
Restor'd his infant to her longing arms.
on
Soft _in_ her fragrant breast the babe she laid,
_Prest to her heart_, and with a smile survey'd;
to repose
Hush'd _him to rest_, and with a smile survey'd.
_passion_
But soon the troubled pleasure _mixt with rising fears_,
dash'd with fear,
The tender pleasure soon, chastised by fear,
She mingled with the smile a tender tear.
The passage appears thus in the printed work. I have marked in Italics the _variations_.
Thus having spoke, the illustrious chief of Troy
Stretch'd his fond arms to _clasp_ the lovely boy.
The babe clung crying to his nurse's breast,
Scar'd at the dazzling helm and nodding crest.
With _secret_[3] pleasure each fond parent smil'd,
And Hector hasted to relieve his child,
The glittering terrors from his brows unbound,
And placed the _beaming_ helmet on the ground:
_Then kiss'd the child_, and lifting high in air,
Thus to the gods _preferr'd_ a father's prayer:
O thou, whose glory fills th' ethereal throne,
And all ye deathless powers, protect my son!
Grant him like me to purchase just renown,
To guard the Trojans, to defend the crown;
Against his country's foes the war to wage,
And rise the Hector of the future age!
So when, triumphant from successful toils,
Of heroes slain he bears the reeking spoils,
Whole hosts may hail him, with deserv'd acclaim,
And say, _this chief_ transcends his father's fame:
While pleas'd amidst the general shouts of Troy,
His mother's conscious heart o'erflows with joy.
He _spoke_, and fondly gazing on her charms,
Restor'd _the pleasing burden to her arms_:
Soft on her fragrant breast the babe she laid,
Hush'd to repose, and with a smile survey'd.
The _troubled pleasure_ soon chastis'd by fear,
She mingled with the smile a tender tear.
[Footnote 1:
This use of what most persons would consider waste paper, obtained for the poet the designation of "paper-sparing Pope."]
[Footnote 2:
Dr. Johnson, in noticing the MSS. of Milton, preserved at Cambridge, has made, with his usual force of language, the following observation: "Such reliques show how excellence is acquired: what we hope ever to do with ease, we may learn first to do with diligence."]
[Footnote 3:
_Silent_ in the MS. (observes a critical friend) is greatly superior to _secret_, as it appears in the printed work.]
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Isaac D'Israeli's essay: Explanation Of The Fac-Simile
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