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,
And fent his conquering bands to foreign wars;>
Abroad when dreaded, and belov'd at home,
He faw his fame increafing with his years;
Horace, great bard! (fo Fate ordain'd) arofe,
And, bold as were his countrymen in fight,
Snatch'd their fair actions from degrading profe,
And fet their battles in eternal light:

High as their trumpets tune his lyre he ftrung,
And with his prince's arms he moraliz'd his fong.

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;
To the high theme he match'd his noble lays :
He travell❜d England o'er on fairy ground,

In myftic notes to fing his monarch's praise :·
Reciting wondrous truths in pleafing.dreams,
He deck'd Eliza's head with Gloriana's beams.

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 numbers fhall record, what tongue fhall fay,.
Thy wars on land, thy triumphs on the main ?
O faireft model of imperial sway!

What equal pen fhall write thy wondrous reign ?
Who fhall attempts and feats of arms rehearse,
Not yet by story told, nor parallel'd by verfe?

IV.

Me all too mean for fuch a task I weet:
Yet, if the Sovereign Lady deigns to fmile,.
I'll follow Horace with impetuous heat,
And cloath the verfe in Spenfer's native style.
By thefe examples rightly taught to fing,
And fmit with pleasure of my country's praise,
Stretching the plumes of an uncommon wing,
High as Olympus I my flight will raife;
And latest times fhall in my numbers read

Anna's immortal fame, and Marlborough's hardy deed.

V.

As the ftrong eagle in the filent wood,
Mindiefs of warlike rage and hoftile care,
Plays round the rocky cliff or cryftal flood,
Till by Jove's high behefts call'd out to war,
And charg'd with thunder of his angry king,
His bofom with the vengeful meffage glows;
Upward the noble bird directs his wing,

And, towering round his master's earth-born foes,
Swift he collects his fatal ftock of ire,

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,
And gives her fecond thunder to his hand.
Then, leaving fweet repofe and gentle ease,
With ardent speed he feeks the distant foe;
Marching o'er hills and vales, o'er rocks and seas,
He meditates, and strikes the wondrous blow.
Our thought flies flower than our General's fame ;
Grafps he the bolt? we afk-when he has hurl'd the
flame.

VII.

When fierce Bavar on Judoign's fpacious plain
Did from afar the British chief behold,

Betwixt defpair, and rage, and hope, and pain,
Something within his warring bofom roll'd :

He