Two Satires of Boileau Translated by Sidney Godolphin (1645–1712), Lord Treasurer

Sidney Godolphin (1645–1712), first Earl of Godolphin, the nephew of the Civil War poet responsible for The Destruction of Troy, was a translator and versifier as well as a very prominent courtier and politician. One or two of his literary productions were published posthumously. Unprinted and unknown until now have been his verse translations of Nicolas Boileau: Satires 2 and 5, and one canto of L’Art poétique. The two satires are here introduced and transcribed in full from the British Library manuscript in which they appear.