William Gifford

William Gifford

William Gifford (April 1756 – 31 December 1826) was an English critic, editor and poet, famous as a satirist and controversialist.

Quotes

• For none become at once completely vile.
  • Translation of Juvenal's Satires, satire ii, line 120 (line 83 in the original: Nemo repente fuit turpissimus).

• None question whence it comes, but come it must.
  • The Satires of Juvenal, satire xiv, line 284 (207: Unde habeas quaerit nemo, sed oportet habere).

• In all her charms, set Virtue in their eye,
  And let them see their loss, despair, and—die!
  • Translation of Persius, Satire III, line 71 (38: Virtutem videant, intabescantque relicta).

Quotes about Gifford

• Gifford's Juvenal [is], probably, take it all in all, the very best version of a classic in the language.
  • John Conington, preface to The Satires, Epistles, and Art of poetry of Horace (1869).