Select poems, &c / by the late John Dawes Worgan, of Bristol, who died on the 25th of July 1809, aged nineteen years. To which are added some particulars of his life and character, by an early friend and associate. With a preface, by William Hayley, esq.

  • Worgan, John Dawes, 1791-1809.
Date:
1810
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Select poems, &c / by the late John Dawes Worgan, of Bristol, who died on the 25th of July 1809, aged nineteen years. To which are added some particulars of his life and character, by an early friend and associate. With a preface, by William Hayley, esq. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    S8 that the Hebrew appeared a dull and chccriew pursuit. As I had few opportunities of procur- ing books, when I began learning Italian, I was obliged to confine myself to the use of Baretti’s Dictionary, and the Grammar prefixed to it. Baretti, taken all in all, is perhaps superior to any other writer on the Italian language. In many grammalical points, however, I found him so de- ficient, that I w’as induced to have recourse to Graglia’s Grammar and Exercises, which an- swered my utmost wishes, and which (if you have not seen them) you w ould find particularly useful. My Italian libraiy consisted of Pastor Eido, Petrarch, and Metastasio. As there was little congenial to my fancy in the works of Metastasio, or in the Pastor Fido, I confined my attention to Petrarch’s Sonnets, which I read and re-read w ith increasing admiration, and of some of w hich it is my intention to attempt an English version. Have you ever met with a translation of them f I have seen but one, and tliat is intolerably dull, and shamefully perverts the meaning of almost every sentence. Should you know' of any translation, I shall be much obliged to you to acquaint me with the names of the author and the publisher. And, as my knowledge of the Italian is as yet but very partial, and I am anxious to improve it, I should . esteem it a favour, if, when you have a leisure hour,