XVIII
Importava la maggior gabella; e che egli non mancherebbe. (Bianchi, p. 490.)
It (the lease) involved the highest tax, and that he would not fail of his word.
The farm would produce more, and could not possibly fail. (Roscoe, p. 475.)
I have selected these few instances at random, when I might have culled the like by handfuls. But I may furthermore add that Roscoe is hardly less negligent in translating the Italian of Cellini's commentators. Thus we read on page 265 this version of a note by Carpani: "He was under apprehension of being flayed alive." Carpani wrote scannato, which means having his throat cut.[1] It remains in the last place to be remarked that Roscoe is not excused by having followed bad readings of the original or incomplete authorities. His translation (dated, in its second edition, January 1, 1847) appeared after the labours of Carpani, Tassi, and Molini, and professes on the" titlepage to be "collated with the new text of Giuseppe Molini."
I have now shown reason why a new translation of Cellini's autobiography in our language is not a superfluity. At the same time, after severely criticising my predecessor, I disclaim the pretension that my own version will be found impeccable. There are many passages which it is extremely hard for an Italian even, versed in the old dialect of Tuscany, to
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- ↑ Carpani, vol. i. p. 423.
