’TWAS LAURELLED MARTIAL ROARING MURTHER! MARTIAL; James ELPHINSTON (translator).

The Epigrams of M. Val. Martial, in twelve books: with a comment.

First and only edition of a disastrous poetical project, the folly of the distinguished educationalist James Elphinston, who nevertheless attracted a host of distinguished subscribers including Samuel Johnson and Adam Smith. ‘Garrick declared it the most extraordinary of all translations ever attempted, and told Johnson, who had lacked the courage to do the like, that he had advised Elphinston not to publish it. Elphinston’s brother-in-law, Strahan, the printer, sent him a subscription of £50 and offered to double it if he would refrain from publishing ... Beattie spoke of the book as “a whole quarto of nonsense and gibberish”, and Burns addressed the author in the following epigram (Letter to Clarinda, 1788): “O thou whom poesy abhors, Whom prose has turned out of doors! Heardst thou that groan? proceed no further, ’Twas laurelled Martial roaring murther!”’ (DNB).