This be our part-let Heav'n dispose the rest And gentle gales spring from the balmy West. We at least shall have to say, Your auburn locks will soon be silver'd o'er, HOR. LIB. I. ODE 38. Persicos odi, puer, apparatus. Boy, I hate their empty shows, Plainer myrtle pleases me, Thus out-stretch'd beneath my vine Myrtle more becoming thee, Waiting with thy master's wine. English Sapphicks have been attempted,but with little success, because in our language we have no certain rules by which to determine the quantity. The following version was made merely in the way of experi ment how far it might be possible to imitate a Latin Sapphick in English, without any attention to that cir cumstance. HOR. B. I. ODE 39. Boy! I detest all Persian fopperies Bring me alone (for thou wilt find that readily) HOR. LIB. II. ODE 16. Otium Divos rogat in patenti. EASE is the weary merchant's pray'r, For ease the Mede with quiver graced, A blessing which no treasure buys For neither gold can lull to rest, Happy the man, whose table shows Poor short-liv'd things, what plans we lay' For self sticks close where'er we roam. Care follows hard; and soon o'ertakes The well rigg'd ship, the warlike steed, Her destin'd quarry ne'er forsakes, Not the wind flies with half her speed. From anxious fears, of future ill Guard well the cheerful, happy Now; Gild even your sorrows with a smile, No blessing is unmix'd below. Thy neighing steeds and lowing herds, Thy num'rous flocks around thee graze, And the best purple Tyre affords On me indulgent Heav'n bestow'd A rural mansion, neat and small, This Lyre; and as for yonder crowd, The happiness to hate them all. I make no apology for the introduction of the fol lowing lines, though I have never learned who wrote them. Their elegance will sufficiently recommend them to persons of classical taste and erudition, and I shall le happy if the English version that they have received from me, be found not to dishonour them. Affection for the memory of the worthy man whom they celebrate, alone prompted me to this endeavour. ABIIT senex! periit senex amabilis ! Senem colendum præstitit, Seu quando, viribus valentioribus Florentiori vos juventute excolens Seu quando fractus, jamque donatus rude, Vultu sed usque blandulo, Miscere gaudebat suas facetias His annuis leporibus. Vixit probus, puraque simplex indole Blandisque coris moribus, Et dives æqua mente-charus omnibus, Unius* auctus munero. Ite tituli! meritis beatioribus Aptate laudes debitas! Nec invidebat ille, si quibus favens Placide senex! levi quiescas cespite, Decus sit inditum, nec mortuo THE SAME IN ENGLISH. OUR good old friend is gone, gone to his rest, How once ye loved, and eyed him with respect. He knew no wish that he might blush to speak, And richer than the rich in being so, Obtain'd the hearts of all, and such a meed At length from One,t as made him rich indeed. * He was usher and under-master of Westminister near fifty years, and retired from his occupation when he was near se venty, with a handsome pension from the king. See the note in the Latin copy. |