In working on the revised study notes for Plutarch's Life of Philopoemen, I came across a funny example of why North's translation is sometimes easier to understand than Dryden's. Imagine this scene: Philopoemen is in the midst of a battle, and someone shoots a javelin through his leg. He is not so much reeling in pain as annoyed by the fact that he can't fight, because things are just getting interesting.
Dryden says that " he was transported with the desire of partaking in [the battle]."
North says "it spited him to the guts."
Dryden says that " he was transported with the desire of partaking in [the battle]."
North says "it spited him to the guts."
