86 THE BENEFIT RECEIVED BY HIS MAJESTY,
Big with a curse too closely pent,
That struggled vainly for a vent,

He totter'd, reel'd, and died.

'Tis not for us, with rash surmise,
To point the judgments of the skies,
But judgments plain as this,
That, sent for Man's instruction, bring
A written label on their wing,
'Tis hard to read amiss.

&c.

ON THE

BENEFIT RECEIVED BY HIS MAJESTY
FROM SEA-BATHING.

IN THE YEAR 1789.

O Sov'REIGN of an isle renown'd

For undisputed sway
Wherever o'er yon gulph profound
Her navies wing their way.

With juster claim she builds at length

Her empire on the sea,

And well may boast the waves her strength

Which strength restored to Thee.

HOR. LIB. I. ODE IX.

Vides, ut alta stet nive candidum

Soracte;

SEE'ST thou yon mountain laden with deep snow,
groves beneath their fleecy burthen bow,
The streams congeal'd forget to flow,

The

Come, thaw the cold, and lay a cheerful pile
Of fuel on the hearth;

Broach the best cask, and make old winter smile
With seasonable mirth.

This be our part-let Heaven dispose the rest;
If Jove command, the winds shall sleep,
That now wage war upon the foamy deep,
And gentle gales spring from the balmy West.

E'en let us shift to-morrow as we may,
When to-morrow's past away,

We at least shall have to say,

We have liv'd another day;

Your auburn locks will soon be silver'd o'er,

Old age is at our heels, and youth returns no more.

HOR. LIB. I. ODE 38.

Persicos odi, puer, apparatus;

Boy, I hate their empty shows,
Persian garlands I detest,
Bring not me the late-blown rose,
Ling'ring after all the rest:

Plainer myrtle pleases me,

Thus out-stretch'd beneath my vine,
Myrtle more becoming thee,
Waiting with thy master's wine.

English Sapphics 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 experiment how far it might be possible to imitate a Latin Sapphic in English, without any attention to that cir

cumstance.

HOR. B. I. ODE 38.

Boy! I detest all Persian fopperies,
Fillet-bound garlands are to me disgusting,

Task not thyself with any search, I charge thee, Where latest roses linger,

Bring me alone (for thou wilt find that readily) Plain myrtle. Myrtle neither will disparage Thee occupied to serve me, or me drinking Beneath my vine's cool shelter.

HOR. LIB. II. ODE 16.

Otium Divos rogat in patenti.

EASE is the weary merchant's pray'r,
Who plows by night the Ægean flood,
When neither moon nor stars appear,
Or faintly glimmer through the cloud.

For ease the Mede with quiver graced,
For ease the Thracian hero sighs,
Delightful ease all pant to taste,

A blessing which no treasure buys:

For neither gold can lull to rest,
Nor all a Consul's guard beat off,
The tumults of a troubled breast,
The cares that haunt a gilded roof.

Happy the man, whose table shows
A few clean ounces of old plate;

No fear intrudes on his repose,
No sordid wishes to be great.

Poor short-liv'd things, what plans we lay
Ah, why forsake our native home!
To distant climates speed away:

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 ev'n 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
Thy robe magnificent displays.

On me indulgent Heav'n bestow'd
A rural mansion, neat and small;
This Lyre; and as for yonder crow
The happiness to hate them all.