EMENDANDA. p. 15. l. 10. for informs read inftructs 20. dele. And, if it so delight The great Reftorer, rear their long-fall'n fhrine To loftier height: 34. dele the two last lines, and 35. the fix first 37. the seventh and eighth lines -1. 17. read And call'd her CYRUS to unfheath his blade 93.7. for acris read alma 97. In the motto dele feffis laft line, read Quoque cremes 99.4. read, And you approved 11. 102. 3. with dull cold file How faft his fhadowy 105. 7. for rigidis read frigidis. WITH regard to the following collection of Poems, I have little to premife. The greatest part of them were printed in the latter end of the year 1795, on which account that date is adopted in the title-page; but other, and (it is trusted) better employments have fufpended their publication. The firft, entitled "The Restoration of the Jews," obtained the SEATON-prize in the University of Cambridge in 1794: the next, "The Deftruction of Babylon," was an unsuccessful candidate for it in the ensuing year. As implying the poffeffion of fome invaluable friendships, I feel a pride in stating that the Latin elegiacs. p. 71. are by GEO. CALDWELL, M. A., and the English lines p. 79., with the three ftanzas fubjoined in a note p. 83., by S. T. COLERIDGE (both of Jefus College, Cambridge, and both having done but too much honour to the original verses by their very elegant translations); and that to the Rev. Dr. SYMMONS, whom no panegyric can praise too highly, I am indebted as well for the translation of the prefixed Italian motto, as for many judicious corrections pervading the whole work. That there are two tranfgreffions of Terentianus' canon, "De elemento apaliny E," in the tranflation of the Prologue to CATO (p. 89. ll. 11, 14.) I am not ignorant; nor do I fully know, whether I may adopt in their defence the apology made by DAWES in behalf of those writings of HORACE, “quæ fermoni propiora ipse est profeffus." To the charge likewife, of the "infinitivum poeticum ier in versu elegiaco," p. 91. 1. 5. (cenfured, as "non abfolutæ prorfus Latinitatis," by the Editor of the laft Mufa Etonenfes) I plead guilty. Of the smaller English compofitions several, I fear, contain in themselves evidence, fuperfeding my own confeffion, that they were written at an early age, and under the ftrong impulfe of youthful feelings; feelings, which "in life's rofy prime" find admiffion into every bofom, except fuch as are closed against them by less venial propenfities. E certo ogni mio ftudio in quel temp' era, In qualche modo, non d'acquiftar fama. I might fay with MENAGE, Amatorios verfus, pudias licet, hic excufarem, fi meum effet exemplum. Sic fcripfit, quicunque verfus fcripfit: et profectò fine Venere frigent carmina. Sed cui non fit venia poft Cardinalem PERRONIUM, BERTALDUM Sagienfem Epifcopum, PORTAUM Tironenfem Abbatem ; qui amatoria, quæ juvenes fecerant, etiam in ampliffimo gradu dignitatum conftituti, etiam feniores, publicare non dubitarunt ? (POEM. Præf.) It remains only to add that, as a Preface to this Vou lume, I had long ago prepared a fhort "Account of my Academical Life," in order to obviate any unfavourable inferences, which might otherwise be deduced from my filence upon the subject of my rejection at Trinity-Hall. Such inferences, I am aware, would but too readily` obtrude themselves, even upon many not naturally uncandid, who knew that my moral conduct (in a college, not remarkable for its regularity) had been unexceptionable; and that, upon taking my bachelor's degree in 1790, I had obtained the third Wranglership, the fecond Mathematical Prize, and the first Claffical Medal. But this would probably be deemed querulous; and the circumftance of my exclusion, whatever were its caufe, has too long appeared to me in the light of a bleffing, to demand or to justify complaint. It has not much, I would hope, diminished my utility; while it has certainly very much promoted my happiness. Without any oppreffive sense of obligation, therefore, to its human contrivers, I feel deeply grateful for its accomplishment to that Providence, whofe judgments are far above out of their fight; and willingly dismiss the subject— perhaps for ever. F. W. |