f Poft haec ille catus, quantumvis rufticus, “ Ibit, “ Ibit eo, quo vis, qui zonam perdidit, inquit. Romae nutriri mihi contigit, atque doceri, Iratus Graiis quantum nocuisset Achilles. Adjecere bonae paulo plus artis Athenae : Scilicet ut poflem curvo dignoscere reclum, Atque inter filvas Academi quaerere verum. Dura sed emovere loco me tempora grato; Civilisque rudem belli tulit aestus in arma, Caefaris Augufti non responsura lacertis. Unde fimul primum me dimisere Philippi, Decisis humilem pennis, inopemque paterni Et laris et fundi, paupertas impulit audax Ut versus facerem : fed, quod non defit, habentem, Quae poterunt unquam satis expurgare cicutae, VIR. 51. Let bim take cafles wbo bas ne'er a gróat.] This has neither the force nor the justness of the original. Horace makes his Soldier say, Ibit, Ibit eo, quo vis, qui zonam perdidit. for it was not his poverty, but his loss, that pushed him upon danger; many being equal to the one, who cannot bear the other. What betrayed our poet into this inacuracy of expression was it's suiting better with the application. But in a great writer we pardon nothing. And such should never forget, that the expression is not perfect, but when the ideas it conveys fit both the tale and the application : for then they reflect mutual light upon one another. “ Go on, my Friend (he cry'd) see yonder walls! “ Advance and conquer ! go where glory calls ! “ More honours, more rewards, attend the brave." Don't you remember what reply he gave? “ D'ye think me, noble Gen'ral, such a Sot? 50 « Let him take castles who has ne'er a groat.' .. Bred up at home, full early I begun To read in Greek the wrath of Peleus' fon. Besides, my Father taught me from a lad, The better art to know the good from bad: 55 (And little fure imported to remove, To hunt for Truth in Maudlin's learned grove.) But knottier points we knew not half so well, Depriv'd us foon of our paternal Cell; And certain Laws, by suffrers thought unjust, 60 Deny'd all posts of profit or of trust: Hopes after hopes of pious Papifts fail'd While mighty WILLIAM's thund'ring arm prevail d. For Right Hereditary tax'd and find, He stuck to poverty with peace of mind; And me, the Muses help'd to undergo it; Convict a Papist he, and I a Poet. But (thanks to Homer) since I live and thrive, Indebted to no Prince or Peer alive, 65 VER. 53. To read in Greek the wrath of Peleus' son.] This circumstance has a happier application in the imitation than is the original; and properly introduces the 68th verse. Ni melius dormire putem, quam fcribere versus? $ Singula de nobis anni praedantur euntes ; Eripuere jocos, venerem, convivia ludum; Tendunt extorquere poemata. quid faciam vis? "Denique non omnes eadem mirantur amantque. Carmine tu gandes: hic dele&tatur iambis ; Ille Bioneis sermonibus, et fale nigro. Tres mihi convivae prope disentire videntur, Poscentes vario multum diverfa palato. Quid dem quid non dem? renuis quod tu, jubet alter: Quod petis, id fane eft invisum acidumque duobus. Praeter caetera nie Romaene poemata censes Scribere poffe, inter tột cùras totque labores ? Hic sponsum vocat, hic auditum scripta, reli&tis, Omnibus officiis: cubat hic in colle Quirini, VIR. 70. Monroes.] Dr. Monroe, Physician to Bedlam Hofpital. Sure I should want the care of ten Monroes, 70 If I would fcribble, rather than repose. & Years foll'wing years, fteal fomething ev'ry day, At last they steal us from ourselves away; In one our Frolics, one Amusements end, In one a Mistrefs drops, in one a Friend: 75 have do? 80 85 Hard tak! to hit the palate of fuch guests, When Oldfield loves, what Dartineuf detests, But grant I may relapse, for want of grace, Again to rhyme; can London be the place? Who there his Mufe, or felf, of soul attends, 90 dn crouds, and courts, law, business, feasts, and friends! My counsel sends to execute a deed : A Poet begs me, I will hear him read: VÆR.93. A lap they Beal us from ourselves away;] i fa Time changes all our passions, appetites, and inclinations, Hic extremo in Aventino; visandus uterque. num: Tristia robuftis luctantur funera plaustris: Ingenium, fibi quod vacuas desumfit Athenas, 1 VER. 104. Have you not seen, etc.] The satirical pleasantry of this image, and the humourous manner of representing it, raises the imitation, in this place, far above the original, VIR. 113. Would drink and doze, etc.] This has not the deli. cacy, for it wants the elegant ambiguity, of Rite cliens Bacchi, somno gaudentis et umbra. where the intemperance of Poets is not the obvious, but the fecres meaning. For Bacchus was the patron of the Drama as |