17 JUNE 1899, Page 16

[To THE EDITOR Of THE "SPECTATOR:'] SIR,—The simplest and most

literal translation of such a masterpiece of terse simplicity will be the best : and if it con- tains a few more words, that (as your correspondent "J. D." rightly points out) is inevitable from the different genius of the two languages. In " J. W. G.'s " version there are, it is true, only thirteen words : but " famous but little known " does not quite reproduce the antithesis of "panels notes paucioribus ignotns," and surely there is something awkward in "immortalised of Melancholia." I would suggest :— Known to few, To fewer unknown, Here We A new Denaoceltus, Dead yet alive Through Melancholy.

am, Sir, &c., T. L. P.