AD RUBECULAM INVITATIO.

HOSPES avis, conviva domo gratissima cuivis,
Quam bruma humanam quærere cogit opem
Huc O! hyberni fugias ut frigora cœli,

Confuge, et incolumis sub lare vive meo!
Unde tuam esuriem releves, alimenta fenestræ
Apponam, quoties itque reditque dies

Usu, etenim edidici, quod grato alimenta rependes
Cantu, quæ dederit cunque benigna manus.
Vere novo tepidæ spirant cum molliter auræ,
Et novus in quavis arbore vernat honos,
Pro libitu ad lucos redeas, sylvasque revisas,

Læta quibus resonat Musica parque tuæ !
Sin iterum, sin fortè iterum, inclementia brume
Ad mea dilectam tecta reducet avem,
Esto, redux, grato memor esto rependere cantu

Pabula, quæ dederit cunque benigna manus' Vis hinc harmoniæ, numerorum hinc sacra potestas Conspicitur, nusquam conspicienda magis, Vincula quod stabilis firmissima nectit amoris, Vincula vix longa dissaocinda die.

Captat, et incantat blando oblectamine Musa

Humanum pariter pennigerumque genus; Nos homines et aves quotcunque animantia vivunt Nos soli harmoniæ gens studiosa sumus

VOL. III.

23

INVITATION TO THE REDBREAST.

SWEET bird, whom the winter constrains

And seldom another it can

To seek a retreat, while he reigns,

In the well-shelter'd dwellings of man, Who never can seem to intrude,

Tho' in all places equally free,

Come, oft as the season is rude,

Thou art sure to be welcome to me.

At sight of the first feeble ray,

That pierces the clouds of the east,
To inveigle thee every day

My windows shall show thee a feast.
For, taught by experience, I know
Thee mindful of benefit long;
And that thankful for all I bestow,

Thou wilt pay me with many a song.

Then, soon as the swell of the buds
Bespeaks the renewal of spring,
Fly hence, if thou wilt, to the woods,
Or where it shall please thee to sing:
And shouldst thou, compell'd by a frost,
Come again to my window or door,
Doubt not an affectionate host,

Only pay as thou pay'dst me before.

Thus musick must needs be confest
To flow from a fountain above;
Else how should it work in the brʻ
Unchangeable friendship and love

And who on the globe.can be found,
Save your generation and ours,
That can be delighted by sound,
Or boasts any musical pow'rs?

STRADE PHILOMELA.

PASTOREM audivit calamis Philomela canentem,
Et voluit tenues ipsa referre modos;
Ipsa retentavit numeros, didicitque retentans
Argutum fida reddere voce melos.

Pastor inassuetus rivalem ferre, misellam

Grandius ad carmen provocat, urget avem Tuque etiam in modulos surgis Philomela; sed impar Viribis, heu, impar, exanimisque cadis,

Durum certamen! tristis victoria! cantum
Maluerit pastor non superasse tuum.

STRADA'S NIGHTINGALE.

THE Shepherd touch'd his reed; sweet Philomel
Essay'd, and oft assay'd to catch the strain,

And treasuring, as on her ear they fell,

The numbers, echo'd note for note again.

The peevish youth, who ne'er had found before
A rival of his skill, indignant heard,
And soon, (for various was his tuneful store,
In loftier tones defied the simple bird.

She dar'd the task, and rising, as he rose,

With all the force, that passion gives, inspir'd, Return'd the sounds awhile, but in the close, Exhausted fell, and at his feet expir'd.

Thus strength, not skill prevail'd. O fatal strife,
By thee, poor songstress, playfully begun;

And, O sad victory, which cost thy life,
And he may wish that he had never won'

ANUS SECULARIS,

Quæ justam centum annorum ætatem, ipso die natale, explevit, et clausit anno 1728.

SINGULARIS prodigium O senectæ,
Et novum exemplum diuturnitatis,
Cujus annorum series in amplum

desinit orbem!

Vulgus infelix hominum, dies en !
Computo quam dispare computamus!
Quam tua a summa procul est remota

summula nostra !

Pabulum nos luxuriesque lethi,
Nos simul nati, incipimus perire,
Nos, statim a cunis cita destinamur

præda sepulchro '

Occulit mors insidias, ubi vix
Vix opinari est, rapidæve febris
Vim repentinam, aut male pertinacis

semina morbi.

Sin brevem possit superare vita
Terminum, quicquid superest vacivum,
Illud ignavis superest et imbe-

cillibus annis.

Detrahunt multum, minuuntque sorti
Morbidi questus gemitusque anheli;
Ad parem crescunt numerum diesque

atque dolores

Si quis hæc vitet (quotus ille quisque est !)
Et gradu pergendo laborioso

Ad tuum, fortasse tuum, moretur

reptilis ævum

At videt, mæstum tibi sæpe visum, injurias, vim, furta, dolos, et insolentiam, quo semper eunt, eodem

Nil inest rebus novitatis, et quod
Uspiam est nugarum et ineptiarum,
Unius volvi videt, et revolvi

Integram ætatem tibi gratulamur;
Et dari nobis satis æstimamus,
Si tuam, saltem vacuam querelis

23*

ire tenore

circulus ævi.

dimidiemus