Author: [RAPIN (Rene)]:
Title: Observations on the Poems of Homer and Virgil. A Discourse representin the Excellencies of those Works and the perfections, in general, of all Heroick Act
Description: London Printed by S. G. and B. G. [i. e., Sarah and Bennet Griffin] for Jonathan Edwin, at the Sign of the three Roses in Ludgate-Street [no date]. [?1672]. Small 8vo, 146 x 83 mms., pp. [viii], 128 (but with numerous errors in pagination), early 18th century calf, gilt borders on covers, rebacked, with old spine gilt in compartments with red leather label laid down; top 30 mms. of adverts leaf preceding title torn away, spine a bit rubbed and faded, but a very good copy. Rapin (1621 - 1687) proved to be a popular literary theorist, particularly in discussing epics, with British readers, both in English translation and in French. His choice, at the end of the volume of Homer in preference to Virgil was very much in tune with the prevailing models of literary theory at the time. Observations sur les poèmes d'Homère et de Virgile was published in Paris in 1669. It's unlikely that many scholars read George Saintsbury's History of Criticism (1900 - 1904), but his prose is entertaining: "I do not remember that Rapin ever lays it down that a hero must not be a black man; probably the French had not been afflicted--for I suppose they did not make Syphax black--with any poet daring enough to start the question. Be he does other things which, though les conspicuously, are quite as really silly. In the moral section of his comparison between Homer and Virgill he has too much of the Jesuit schoolmaster, with his reverence towards boys, to mention that terrible scene between Zeus and Hera which had already distressed the compatriots of Aristophanes and Martial, and which remains one of the earliest examples of absolutely perfect poetry in a particular kind. But he makes up for it. We have, of course, the 'wine-heavy, dog-eyed, hare-hearted' line to mourn over. How undignified of Homer to make Achilles anxious about the preservation of the body of Patroclus from corruption! How could Ulysses, with such an excellent wife and amiable son, waste time with Callypso and dangle after Circe, to whom the pudibund Rapin applies epithets which our Decorum prevents us from repeating , and for which he deserved to be both shipwrecked and turned into a Gryull...." ESTC locates two different states: This is R30126.

Keywords: literary criticism aesthetics prose


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