Translations ought never to be written in a verse which requires much command of rhyme.

The stanza becomes a bed of Procrustes; and the thoughts of the unfortunate author are alternately racked and curtailed to fit their new receptacle.
The abrupt and yet consecutive style of Dante suffers more than that of any other poet by a version diffuse in style, and divided into paragraphs, for they deserve no other name, of equal length.
Nothing can be said in favour of Hayley's attempt, but that it is better than Boyd's.

His mind was a tolerable specimen of filigree work,--rather elegant, and very feeble.

All that can be said for his best works is that they are neat.

All that can be said against his worst is that they are stupid.