Quote#God & Faith
If Helenus has any skill
Quote byJoseph Trapp · 1679–1747
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Volume I (1718), Book III, lines 552–559, p. 127.
English (original)
If Helenus has any skill, If any faith, and if Apollo right Inspires his prophet: one thing, goddess-born, One thing, above the rest, I will advise, and oft repeat it: with religious prayer First Juno's deity adore; to her Pay willing sacrifices, and with vows, Suppliant, overpower the mighty queen of heaven.
— Joseph Trapp
More from Joseph Trapp
If some gentlemen are resolved that blank verse shall be prose, they have my free leave to enjoy their saying, provided I may have theirs to think they mean nothing by it, unless they can prove that rhyme is essential to metre; …
He who says he values no translation of this or that poem because he understands the original, has indeed no true relish, that is, in effect, no true understanding of either.
Poetry itself being the music of thoughts and words, as music is the poetry of sounds.
The art and triumph of poetry are in nothing more seen and felt than in moving the passions.
However poetry may have been dishonoured by the follies of some and the vices of others, the abuse or corruption of the best things being always the worst, it will notwithstanding be ever regarded, as it ever has been, by the wisest and …
Of mine the world will and ought to be judge, whatever I say or think, and its judgment in these matters is never erroneous.