There are two peculiarities in Homer's diction, which are a sort of marks

or moles by which every common eye distinguishes him at first sight; those

who are not his greatest admirers look upon them as defects, and those who

are, seemed pleased with them as beauties. I speak of his compound

epithets, and of his repetitions. Many of the former cannot be done

literally into English without destroying the purity of our language. I

believe such should be retained as slide easily of themselves into an

English compound, without violence to the ear or to the received rules of

composition, as well as those which have received a sanction from the

authority of our best poets, and are become familiar through their use of

them; such as "the cloud-compelling Jove," &c. As for the rest, whenever

any can be as fully and significantly expressed in a single word as in a

compounded one, the course to be taken is obvious.

Some that cannot be so turned, as to preserve their full image by one or

two words, may have justice done them by circumlocution; as the epithet

einosiphyllos to a mountain, would appear little or ridiculous translated

literally "leaf-shaking," but affords a majestic idea in the periphrasis:

"the lofty mountain shakes his waving woods." Others that admit of

different significations, may receive an advantage from a judicious

variation, according to the occasions on which they are introduced. For

example, the epithet of Apollo, hekaebolos or "far-shooting," is capable

of two explications; one literal, in respect of the darts and bow, the

ensigns of that god; the other allegorical, with regard to the rays of the

sun; therefore, in such places where Apollo is represented as a god in

The Iliad of Homer