I could produce feveral inftances of thefe peculiar beauties in this ode *, the whole of which is indeed one continued fcene of grandeur and fweetness. The inferiority of Mr. Pope's ode on the fame fubject is too well known to need any proof. It is indeed amazing to think of that poet's attempting it after fo exquifite a one as Dryden had composed on the fame fubject. Mr. Gray's ode on mufic contains fome very fine lines, which breathe the true fpirit of poetry. The conclufion of the first part of the third stanza is very expreffive:

Thine too these golden keys, immortal boy!
This can unlock the gates of joy ;

Of horror that, and thrilling fears,

Or ope the facred fource of fympathetic tears t.

• Particularly the ftanza beginning-Revenge! revenge!

+ Odes by Mr. Gray, p. 10.

I have before obferved, that an impetuous enthufiafm was the characteristicof Pindar, and lyric compofitions. I know not any ode that comes fo near to his fupreme excellency as that of Dryden, in which we are hurried on by a most noble poetic fire. But the conclufion of Mr. Gray's mufic-ode can boaft of great beauties, though of a different kind.

Hark, his hands the lyre explore!
Bright-eyed fancy hovering o'er,

Scatters from her pictur'd urn

Thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.

But, ah! 'tis heard no more.

Oh! lyre divine, what daring spirit
Wakes thee now? Tho' he inherit

Nor the pride nor ample pinion
That the Theban eagle bear,
Sailing with fupreme dominion,
Thro' the azure deep of air:

Yet oft before his infant eyes would run
Such forms as glitter in the Mufe's ray
With orient lines, unborrow'd of the fun :

Yet fhall be mount and keep his distant way
Beyond the limits of a vulgar fate,

Beneath the good how far—but far above the great.

The idea of bright-eyed Fancy scattering thoughts and words from her pictured urn, is extremely happy, and as happily expreffed. The other paffages which are diftinguished by Italics are also very beautiful. In this whole ftanza the thoughts are juft, the numbers harmonious, and the true fpirit of lyric poetry breathes throughout it. But the best ode which this ingenious gentleman has publifhed, is that on the tradition of Edward the Third's putting the Welch bards to death; which is truly a moft excellent piece of poetry, and has many ftrokes that indicate an exuberant imagi. nation, and contains much of that fire which is the very foul of poetry. N

Mr.

Mr. Mafon's lyric pieces are well known. If they do not rife to that fine enthusiasm which we fo much admire in Dryden, they never fail to please. That on the fate of tyranny is the best, and, if I may venture my opinion, that on independency the worft; though there are fome paffages in it that are really poetic, as in the third ftanza.

Thou heard'ft him, goddess, ftrike the tender ftring,
And badft his foul with bolder passions move :
Strait these refponfive fhores forgot to ring,
With beauty's praise, or plaint of flighted love;
To loftier flights his daring genius rofe,
And led the war 'gainst thine and freedom's foes*.

These lines are wrote with fpirit; but the two harsh words beard'ft and badft are far from adding to their beauty. Mr. Mafon feems rather to aim at a steady

* Odes by Mr. Mafon, p. 10.

and

and flowing diction than a fublime and pompous one. Horace, not Pindar, appears to have been his model. The following lines, though not animated with poetic enthusiasm, are beautifully defcriptive.

Can mufic's voice, can beauty's eye,
Can painting's glowing hand supply
A charm fo fuited to my mind,
As blows this hollow guft of wind,

As drops this little weeping rill

Soft tinkling down the mofs-grown hill,

While thro' the weft, where finks the crimson day, Meek twilight flowly fails, and waves her banners grey?

It would be unpardonable here to omit Dr. Akenfide's ode to lord Huntingdon, which is compofed in a fine fpirit of lyric poetry; there is an expreffive majefty in his numbers, that appears with N 2

great