| Description | He received Herschel's letter, but judging from the first book [of 'The Iliad'] he need have no apprehension of any mistakes in Book 2. He has gone over it as carefully as his blindness would permit, but he has no Grecian friends with him at present. He has been able to have Herschel's translation read line by line against his own and referred any differences to [William] Cowper's version. He has noted a few lines which Herschel may wish to look at again, and he has only looked at some passages, as Herschel requested. The lady who read them to Cochrane had few difficulties in reading as they were meant. He notes one awkward line contraction. Dr. [William] Whewell is a great enemy of contractions. Herschel has not taken Whewell's advice to abandon italics in epithets and Cochrane describes his own rule in this area. He thanks Herschel for his kind sympathy with Cochrane's blindness. He has not thought it necessary to check on proper names, and the numbers of men and ships in the catalogue, taking it for granted that Herschel would see to it. With line by line comments on the translation, commencing at line 4. |