| GENERAL EDITORS Richard C. Boys, University of Michigan Ralph Cohen, University of California, Los Angeles Vinton A. Dearing, University of California, Los Angeles Lawrence Clark Powell, Clark Memorial Library ASSISTANT EDITOR W. Earl Britton, University of Michigan ADVISORY EDITORS Emmett L. Avery, State College of Washington Benjamin Boyce, Duke University Louis Bredvold, University of Michigan John Butt, King's College, University of Durham James L. Clifford, Columbia University Arthur Friedman, University of Chicago Louis A. Landa, Princeton University Samuel H. Monk, University of Minnesota Ernest C. Mossner, University of Texas James Sutherland, University College, London H. T. Swedenberg, Jr., University of California, Los Angeles CORRESPONDING SECRETARY Edna C. Davis, Clark Memorial Library |
André Dacier's Poëtique d'Aristote Traduite en François avec desRemarques was published in Paris in 1692. His translation of Horacewith critical remarks (1681-1689) had helped to establish his reputationin both France and England. Dryden, for example, borrowed from itextensively in his Discourse Concerning the Original and Progress ofSatire (1693). No doubt this earlier work assured a ready reception anda quick response to the commentary on Aristotle: how ready and how quickis indicated by the fact that within a year of its publication in FranceCongreve could count on an audience's recognizing a reference to it. Inthe Double Dealer (II, ii) Brisk says to Lady Froth: "I presume yourladyship has read Bossu?" The reply comes with the readiness of acliché: "O yes, and Rapine and Dacier upon Aristotle andHorace." A quarter of a century later Dacier's reputation was stillgreat enough to allow Charles Gildon to eke out the second part of hisComplete Art of Poetry (1718) by translating long excerpts from thePreface to the "admirable" Dacier's Aristotle.[1] Addison ridiculed thepedantry of Sir Timothy Tittle (a strict Aristotelian critic) whorebuked his mistress for laughing at a play: "But Madam," says he, "youought not to have laughed; and I defie any one to show me a single rulethat you could laugh by.... There are such people in the world asRapin, Dacier, and several others, that ought to have spoiled yourmirth."[2] But the scorn is directed at the pupil, not the master, whomAddison considered a "true critic."[3] A work so much esteemed wascertain to be translated, and so in 1705 an English version by ananonymous translator was published.
It cannot be claimed that Dacier's Aristotle introduced any new criticaltheories into England. Actually it provides material for little morethan an extended footnote on the hi