sceptred Jove, the Thunderer disarmed_."

Enough has been said on the question of origin; but there is yet one
other aspect of the story.

The verse was hardly divulged when it became the occasion of various
efforts in the way of translation. Turgot had already done it into
French; so had D'Alembert. M. Nogaret wrote to Franklin, inclosing an
attempted translation, and says in his letter,--"The French have done
their best to translate the Latin verse, where justice is done you in so
few words. They have appeared as jealous of transporting this eulogy
into their language as they are of possessing you. But nobody has
succeeded, and I think nobody will succeed."[52] He then quotes a
translation which he thinks defective, although it appeared in the
"Almanach des Muses" as the best:--

"Cet homme que tu vois, sublime en tous les tems,
Derobe aux dieux la foudre et le sceptre aux tyrans."

To this letter Dr. Franklin made the following reply:[53]--

"_Passy, 8 March, 1781_.

"SIR,--I received the letter you have done me the honor of writing
to me the 2d instant, wherein, after overwhelming me with a flood
of compliments, which I can never hope to merit, you request my
opinion of your translation of a Latin verse that has been applied
to me. If I were, which I really am not, sufficiently skilled in
your excellent language to be a proper judge of its poesy, the
supposition of my being the subject must restrain me from giving
any opinion on that line, except that it ascribes too much to me,
especially in what relates to the tyrant, the Revolution having
been the work of many able and brave men, wherein it is sufficient
honor for me, if I am allowed a small share. I am much obliged by
the favorable sentiments you are pleased to entertain of me.

"With regard, I have the honor to be, Sir, etc.,

"B. FRANKLIN."

In his acknowledgment of this letter M. Nogaret says,--"Paris is pleased
with the translation of your '_Eripuit_,' and your portrait, as I had
foreseen, makes the fortune of the engraver."[54] But it does not appear
to which translation he refers.

Here is another attempt:--

"Il a par ses travaux, toujours plus etonnans,
Ravi la foudre aux Dieux et le sceptre aux tyrans."

There are other verses which adopt the idea of Turgot. Here, for
instance, is a part of a song by the Abbe Morellet, written for one of
the dinners of Madame Helv