Manes Verulamiani
Translator's Comments
|
I HAVE undertaken to supply a literal translation with
notes of the poems known as Manes Verulamiani -- The Verulamian
Shades. This is the title prefixed to them in Blackbourne's edition of
Bacon's Works (London, 1730). Dr. Cantor published a reprint of them
(Halle, 1897) taken from the Harleian Miscellany (X, 287), "a collection
of scarce, curious, and entertaining pamphlets," among which these form "a
tract of very rare occurrence, consisting of seventeen leaves." This in its
turn was a reprint of the original pamphlet printed in 1626 -- the year of
Bacon's death -- by John Haviland. I have followed the Latin text therein
given. There are several obscurities in the text and scholars will differ
as to their interpretation. The poems nevertheless are full proof that a
large number of contemporaneous scholars, Fellows of the Universities, and
members of the Inns of Court, knew Bacon to be a supreme poet. In the
fourth poem he gets credit for uniting philosophy to the drama, for
restoring philosophy through comedy and tragedy. Other equally amazing
titles to literary fame
are also lavished on him in many places throughout the series. In this attempt of mine at translating and elucidating these extraordinary elegies, I am deeply indebted to the articles contributed to Baconiana (1896-98) by Mrs. Pott chiefly, but also by Dr. Cantor and others. Indeed, but for these articles, I never would have taken up the subject. I am also under great obligations to Mr. W. Theobald for revising my version and even placing at my service his own. There is plenty of room for difference of opinion here and there; but, on the whole, there can be no doubt of the general drift and extreme value of these pieces in connection with the Bacon-Shakespeare question. I ought also to mention that through the kindness of Mr. G. Stronach, I have been able to profit by the translation of Mr. E. K. Rand, of Harvard University, printed by him for private circulation (Boston, 1904). As this translation is not generally available, it has been thought advisable to proceed with the present version, which was begun under the impression that no complete and literal translation had been yet published. -- William A. Sutton, S.J. |
 Preceding |  Contents |  Following |