Joseph Trapp

“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.”

“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 most judicious of men as the very flower of human thinking, the most exquisite spirit that can be extracted from the wit and learning of mankind.”

“The art and triumph of poetry are in nothing more seen and felt than in moving the passions.”

“Death, judgment, heaven, and hell! Think, Christians, think!You stand on vast eternity's dread brink.Faith and repentance, piety and prayer!Despise this world, the next be all your care.Thus while my tomb the solemn silence breaks,And to the eye this cold dumb marble speaks,Though dead I preach, if ever with ill success,Living I strove the important truths to press,Your precious, your immortal souls to save;Hear me, at least, oh, hear me from my grave.”

“Adjectis istiusmodi notis nitori paginae detractum fore existimavimus.”