A Hymn

JONAH's Prayer Paraphras'd
ISAIAH xii. Paraphras'd

A Hymn on the Converfion of St. Paul

To Mrs. SAY

Written in a Storm

HORACE, Book iii. Ode 16. Imitated

A Hymn on 1 CHRONICLES XVii, 16.

To Mr. HENRY FAGEL, on his Hiftorical Differtation: De Ori

The INTRODUCTION to PARADISE LOST: In Latin Hexameter
Verse

92

gine & Ufu Juris Romani in Hollandia

PSALM XCVii. in Paraphraftic Verfe

To Mr. HUGHES, on the Publication of his Poem, entiled THE : COURT OF NEPTUNE..

PROS E.

Two CRITICAL ESSAYS.

I. On the Harmony, Variety, and Power of Numbers, whether in

II. On the Numbers of PARADISE LOST

Remarks on the Scripture Senfe of the Word PREACHING

95

139

172

ERRATA.

Page 23, Line 8, read bought. Page 112, Line 16, in the Note, read unquestionably.

EPISTLES

EPISTLES

O F

HORACE

IN

BLANK VERS E.

------Sermoni propiora.

B

The ARGUMENT of the FIRST EPISTLE

of the Firft Book.

MECENAS having often kindly upbraided HORACE with his Indolence in not fending him Lyric Verfes, the Paet writes This Epifle by way of Apology: In which he tells him, that Thofe Amusements, which were the Diverfion of his Youth, have Now, in his Maturer Age, loft all their Charms, and given place to more important Enquiries; and that he has no Relish for any thing but Moral Philofophy, which Alone can regulate our Manners, and guide us to Happiness.

He shows the great Advantages This Philofophy procures, by teaching us how deftructive Avarice and Ambition prove to the Peace and Quiet of our Own Breafts: And afterwards taxes That Fickleness of Temper, which hinders us from knowing our own Good, and frenuously adhering to it; And gives a lively Defcription of the abfurd Conduct of men in reproving their Friends for an Aukward Drefs, while they overlook their Follies and Vices.

At the Conclufion he draws the Character of a Wife Man, according to the Principles of the Stoics, with a Touch of humorous Ridicule on the Extravagant Pretenfions of That Sect.

HORACE,

Book the Firft, EPISTLE the First.

To MÆ CENAS.

ELOV'D MECENAS, whom my Earliest Muse

By Addreft, my

Addreft, my Laft fhall fing; you call in vain
Me to my youthful Studies.

With my Years

Declines that sprightlier Vigour. Long enough,
Like fome fam'd Champion on the Theatre,
Have I been seen. It is but fitting Now
To grant me a Discharge: The brave VEJANIUS
(His Arms in great ALCIDES' Temple hung)
Himself lies buried in a Country Life;
Wisely, left wonted Strength decay'd disgrace
His ancient Honours; on the fartheft Cirque
Imploring Pity with uplifted Hands.
A fecret Voice whispers, Release in time

The batter'd Horse, left, worn with Age, he tire
In the mid Race, or broken-winded pant
Along the Downs, the Laughter of the Crowd.
Verse therefore now and Trifles I difcard:
But what is True and Fitting, This I seek ;
On This revolve.---My fole Employment This,
To hoard up Moral Rules to guide my Life.
But if you ask, what School I'm of; what Sect
I follow? Sworn to No Man's Sentiments,
Where-e'er the Tempeft hurries me, I drive.
An active Statesman now, I plunge into
The Sea of Business, rigidly Severe,
Of strictest Virtue: Now fteal back again

TO ARISTIPPUS' Tent, and make the World
Subject to Me, not Me a Slave to That.
Long is the Day to Laborers; the Year
Long to impatient Wards; and Long to Me
The Time that checks my great Defign, the Work
Which thro' all States, thro' Every Age of Life,
Alike concerns us, Young; concerns us, Old;
The common Intereft of Rich' and Poor.

Mean