Drafts:Essay on Man

Scope and Content

Drafts of HLP's translation of part of Racine's Essay on Man, written on loose sheets, now bound up in one volume. On folio 1 is the note: Essay on Man. A translation from Racine by H.L.S. at a very early Period, perhaps 13 years old. The draft constitutes an unpublished verse translation by HLP of part of Racine's essay. HLP combines imitation with individuality in her translations and these drafts illustrate how carefully she constructed her compositions.

The manuscript comprises: an untitled preface by HLP; her introduction; translations of Racine's preface and notes; drafts of HLP's verse translation; translations of five letters, two from Sir James Ramsay to Racine, Racine's reply to Ramsay, a letter from Alexander Pope to Racine and the reply; and, in another hand, some remarks on the above essay. HLP signs her own notes T and Racine's notes R.

See William McCarthy, 'A Verse Essay on Man by H. L. Piozzi', The Age of Johnson, vol. 2 (1989), pp. 375-420.