H OR A A CE, I. ·D' BOOK IV. ODE VIII. IMIT A TE D. TO THE SAME. ID but kind fate to me impart Wealth equal to my gen'rous heart, Some curious gift to ev'ry friend, A token of my love, I'd send; 2. But ftill the choicest and the best Should be confign'd to friends at WREST, An organ, which, if right I guess, A coral fet in burnish'd gold: To you, well knowing what you like, 3. Portraits by LELY or VANDYKE, A curious bronze, or bust antique. } 4.. Sed non hæc mihi vis: nec tibi talium 6. Non incifa notis marmora publicis, Laudes, quam Calabræ Pierides: neque, Obftaret 4. But fince these gifts exceed my power, Are pleas'd with verfe, tho' fuch as mine; I'll make my presents all in rhymes; Like them I'll set their value forth. 6. Not monumental brafs or ftones, The guardians of heroic bones, Not victories won by MARLBRO's fword, As can the labours of the mufe. 7. But if she should her aid deny, With you your virtues all muft die, 8. Of him who built imperial ROME? What now had been th' ignoble doom Or 9. Virtus & favor & lingua potentium Vatum divitibus confecrat infulis. Dignum laude virum Musa vetat mori, 9. Or him, deferving ten times more, The mufe forbids the brave to die, 10. Still by her aid in bleft abodes ALCIDES feafts among the Gods; And royal ARTHUR ftill is able With English beef, and English knights, To |