And Topham's sense; perversely gay can smile, While Este, (p) the zany, in his motley style, 280 Calls barbarous names; while Bell and Boaden

rave.

And Vaughan, a brother blockhead's verse to save,
Toils day by day my character to draw,
And heaps upon me every thing-but law,

IMITATIONS.

(p) Men' moveat cimex Pantilius? aut crucier,

quod

Vellicet absentem Demetrius? aut quod ineptus

Fannius Hermoginis lædat conviva Tigelli ?

66

NOTES.

Approach'd the monarch, and with sobs profound Explain'd th' impending wrath o'er Ilium's royal "dome."

J. BELL.

inattentive to the compound epithets of this great poet. But why does Homer call Alexander Godlike, when he appears from Curtius Quintiuses tedious gazette in verse, to have had one shoulder higher than the other? My friend Vaughan thinks it was purely to pay his court to him, in hopes of getting into his Will, or rather into his MISTRESS'S. It may be so; but 'tis strange the absurdity was never noticed before.

J. BELL.

But do I then, (abjuring every aim,)
All censure slight, and all applause disclaim?
Not so where judgment holds the rod, I bow
My humbled neck, awed by her angry brow;
Where taste and sense approve, I feel a joy,
Dear to my heart, and mix'd with no alloy.

285

290

I write not to the modish herd: my days, Spent in the tranquil shades of letter'd ease, Ask no admiring stare from those I meet, No loud "that's HE!" to make their passage sweet : Pleased to steal softly by, unmark'd, unknown, 295 I leave the world to Holcroft, Pratt,* and Vaughan.

NOTES.

*PRATT. This gentleman lately put in practice a very notable scheme. Having scribbled himself fairly out of notice, he found it expedient to retire to the continent for a few months-to provoke the inquiries of Mr. Lane's indefatigable readers.

Mark the ingratitude of the creatures! No inquiries were made, and Mr. Pratt was forgotten before he had crossed the channel. Ibi omnis effusus labor.-But what! The mouse that is content with one poor hole, Can never be a mouse of any soul.

Baffled in this expedient, he had recourse to another, and while we were dreaming of nothing less, came before us in the following paragraph.

Of these enough. Yet (q) may the few I love, (For who would sing in vain ?) my verse approve; Chief THOU, my friend! who, from my earliest years, Hast shared my joys, and more than shared my cares. Sure, if our fates hang on some hidden Power, 301 And take their colour from the natal hour,

IMITATIONS.

(9)-probat hæc Octavius, optimus atque Fuscus et hæc utinam Viscorum laudet uterque !

:

NOTES.

"A few days since died, at Basle in Swisserland, the inge"nious Mr. Pratt. His loss will be severely felt by the "literary world; as he joined to the accomplishments of "the gentleman the erudition of the scholar."

This was inserted in the London papers for several days successively. The country papers too "yelled out like "syllables of dolour." At length, while our eyes were yet wet for the irreparable loss we had sustained, came a second paragraph:

"As no event of late has caused a more general sorrow "than the supposed death of the ingenious Mr. Pratt, we 66 are happy to have it in our power to assure his nume"rous admirers, that he is as well as they can wish, and "(what they will be delighted to hear) busied in preparing "his TRAVELS for the press."

"Laud we the Gods!"

I

Then, IRELAND!* the same planet on us rose,
Such the strong sympathies our lives disclose!

NOTES.

*Here, on account of its connection with the person mentioned in the text, I shall take the liberty-extremum hunc mihi concede—of inserting the following "Imitation,” addressed to him several years since. It was never printed: nor, as far as I know, seen by any one but himself: and I transcribe it for the press with mingled sensations of gratitude and delight, at the favourable change of circumstances which we have eоTH experienced since it was written.

TO THE

REV. JOHN IRELAND.*

IMITATION OF HORACE.

LIB. II. ODE 16.

Otium Divos rogat, &c.

WHEN howling winds, and lowering skies,
The light, untimber'd bark surprise,
Near Orkney's boisterous seas;
The trembling crew forget to swear,
And bend the knees unused to prayer,
To ask a little ease.

-for ease,

For ease the Turk, ferocious, prays,
For ease the barbarous Russe-
Which Palk could ne'er obtain ;

*Now Prebendary of Westminster.

Thou know'st how soon we felt this influence

bland,

305

And sought the brook and coppice, hand in hand,
And shaped rude bows, and uncouth whistles blew,
And paper kites (a last, great effort) flew;

And when the day was done, retired to rest,
Sleep on our eyes, and sunshine in our breast. 310
In riper years, again together thrown,
Our studies, as our sports before, were one.

NOTES.

Which Bedford lack'd amidst his store,

And liberal Clive, with mines of ore,
Oft bade for-but in vain.

For not the liveried tribes which wait
Around the mansions of the great,
Can keep, my friend, aloof,
Fear, that attacks the mind by fits,
And Care that, like a raven, flits
Around the lordly roof.

"O, well is he" to whom kind heaven
A decent competence has given!
Rich in the blessing sent,

He grasps not anxiously at more,
Dreads not to use his little store,
And fattens on content.