that ode, I have taken the liberty to go off from it, and to add variously, as the subject and my own imagination carried me. As to the style, the choice I made of following the ode in Latin determined me in English to the stanza; and herein it was impoffible not to have a mind to follow our great countryman Spenfer; which I have done (as well at least as I could) in the manner of my expreffion, and the turn of my number: having only added one verfe to his ftanza, which I thought made the number more harmonious; and avoided fuch of his words as I found too obfolete. I have however retained fome few of them, to make the colouring look more like Spenfer's. Bebeft, command; band, army ; prowess, ftrength; I weet, I know; I ween, I think; hilom, heretofore; and two or three more of that kind, which I hope the ladies will pardon me, and not judge my Mufe lefs handfome, though for once the appcars in a farthingale. I have alfo, in Spenfer's manner, ufed Cæfar for the emperor, Boya for Bavaria, Bavar for that prince, Ifter for Danube, Iberia for Spain, &c. of the Ode which I juft now men "Gens, quæ cremato fortis ab Ilio "Jactata Tufcis æquoribus, &c.” where Horace praifes the Romans as being defcended from Æneas, I have turned to the honour of the British nation, defcended from Brute, likewise a Trojan. That this Brute, fourth or fifth from Æneas, fettled in England, England, and built London, which is called Troja Nova, or Troynovante, is a story which (I think) owes its original, if not to Geoffry of Monmouth, at leaft to the Monkifh writers; yet is not rejected by our great Camden; and is told by Milton, as if (at leaft) he was pleased with it, though poffibly he does not believe it however it carries a poetical authority, which is fufficient for our purpose. It is as certain that Brute came into England, as that Æneas went into Italy; and upon the fuppofition of these facts, Virgil wrote the best poem that the world ever read, and Spenfer paid queen Elizabeth the greateft compliment. I need not obviate one piece of criticism, that I bring my hero "From burning Troy, and Xanthus red with blood?” whereas he was not born, when that city was deftroyed. Virgil, in the cafe of his own Æneas relating to Dido', will stand as a fufficient proof, that a man in his poetical capacity is not accountable for a little fault in chronology. My two great examples, Horace and Spenfer, in many things refemble each other: both have a height of imagination, and a majefty of expreflion in defcribing the fublime; and both know to temper those talents, and sweeten the defcription, fo as to make it lovely as well as pompous: both have equally that agreeable manner of mixing morality with their story, and that Curiofa Felicitas in the choice of their diction, which every writer aims at, and fo very few have reached & R 4 : reached both are particularly fine in their images, and knowing in their numbers. Leaving therefore our two mhafters to the confideration and study of those who defign to excel in poetry, I only beg leave to add, that it is long fince I have (or at least ought to have) quitted Parnaffus, and all the flowery roads on that fide the country; though I thought myself indifpenfably obliged, upon the present occafion, to take a little journey. into thofe parts. D E.. WHE "HEN great Auguftus govern'd ancient Rome, High as their trumpets tune his lyre he ftrung, II. When bright Eliza rul'd Britannia's state, Widely diftributing her high commands, And boldly wife, and fortunately great, Freed the glad nations from tyrannic bands; An An equal genius was in Spenfer found; In myftic notes to fing his monarch's praise :· III. But, greatest Anna! while thy arms pursue: Paths of renown, and climb afcents of fame, Which nor Augustus,. nor Eliza knew; What poet shall be found to fing thy name? What equal pen fhall write thy wondrous reign ? IV. Me all too mean for fuch a task I weet: Anna's immortal fame, and Marlborough's hardy deed. V. As the ftrong eagle in the filent wood, And, towering round his master's earth-born foes, Lifts his fierce talon high, and darts the forked fire = VI. Sedate and calm thus victor Marlborough fate, . Shaded with laurels, in his native land, Till Anna calls him from his foft retreat, VII. When fierce Bavar on Judoign's fpacious plain Betwixt defpair, and rage, and hope, and pain, He |