HORACE'S EPISTLES, BOOK I. EPIstle 7. (See Vol. LXXVII. p. 524.) away. TO MECENAS. MECENAS, I know that I promis'd to be, In the course of five days, in the city with thee, [stay, But the charms of the country inviting my I have linger'd, unpunctual, all August [bless'd But, if thou wouldst have me be happy, and With a body in health, and a mind quite at rest, [my dread Thou wilt take an excuse, and consider Of sickness, as tho' I were ill in my bed; For now the first figs and hot weather are [Rome; come, Undertakers display their black lictors at Now fathers and mothers look pale for their boys, [and noise, And the forum's engagements, its bustle And officious attentions, together combine [to resign. To bring fevers, which cause us our wills But, when Winter shall whiten the country with snow, [to go; To the Ocean's warm shore I will venture There, careful of health, I will read at my leisure [and pleasure; Such books as will yield me both profit And with the first zephyrs and swallows intend, If he will receive me, to visit my friend. Thou hast given me much, but thy bounty appears [pears; Unlike the Calabrian host's,, with his "Pray eat some," he said; "I've enough;" "Pray take more ;" "It is kind;" "For thy boys keep the others in store ;" "I thank thee as tho' I went loaded away;" "Well, my hogs will at least fare the bet ter to-day." The fool and the prodigal, what they despise [arise; Will freely bestow; hence disgusts will While the good and the wise, tho' they very well know [stow, The worth of the favours they kindly beDispense them with prudence, and they are repaid [happy have made. By the thanks of the good, whom they Thy favours to me have been many, but still more, I wish to retain my own freedom of will; And if thou wouldst wish me to ramble no [forehead restore, My firm health, my black hair o'er my And restore me the sprightly and elegant [could please, ease Of talking and laughing, which always And the feelings which mov'd me when drinking my wine, At the jiltings of Cynara fair to repine. A thin country mouse had crept into a chest [himself blest, Of grain, thro' a cranny, and thought me, My modesty oft is commended by thee, As a father and king thou art honour'd by [pray, Both present and absent. Now try me, I Whether I can restore all thy gifts, and be gay? The son of Ulysses replied with some wit, That Ithaca's Isle was for horses unfit, Abounding in rocks, and of pasturage bare, [are." "Thy horses, Atrides, fare best where they Small things suit the small; Rome now ceases to please, At Tarentum and Tibur I live at my ease. A man, named Philip, both active and strong, [along, A pleader, one evening was saunt'ring Complaining of age, and the length of the way Which his business oblig'd [ev'ry day; him to walk At the shop of a barber he chanc'd to look As tho' he knew none of the troubles of Demetrius, he call'd (for this man was hisslave, Attentive to ev'ry direction he gave), Go yonder, said Philip, minutely enquire The name of that man, and the name of his sire? [whom he depends? Where he lives? what his fortune? on" The name of his patron? the names of his friends? Demetrius obeys, then returns to relate, 'Tis Vulteius Mena, of moderate estate, A profess'd auctioneer, "of a character fair, Sometimes very busy in selling his ware, Then slothful and easy, in company gay, And delighting in sports at the close of the day; "Invite him to supper, I have a desire More minutely from him of these things to enquire." [prize Mena could not believe it-in silent surHe sat-(Why enlarge?)" Very kind, he replies. [deny Philip wonders at this-"What, does he "The fellow denies, or is fearful or shy, In the morning as Philip was taking a walk, Vulteius he saw, full of business and talk: He He saluted him first, when Vulteius made Excuses, and pleaded engagements in trade, [cept; Why his kind invitation he could not acBut in not first saluting he own'd his neglect. [me "All this I will pardon, if thou wilt with Sup to-day."-" I'm oblig'd, and to this I agree :" [time, attend "Then be punctual at nine in the mean To thy bus'ness, and labour thy fortune to mend." [said, At supper things proper, improper, were And Vulteius at length was dismiss'd to his bed. {quite, This kind entertainment enchanted him He repeated his visits both morning and night; [brook, Like a fish which at liberty swims in the And incautiously swallows the bait with the book. Now Philip invites him his calls to repeat, And at the next holiday come to his seat: To his villa on horseback he hastes to repair, [air: He praises the fields and the pure Sabine Philip smiles, and tho' kindness is made fall a prey, Many die, many others are stolen away; Crops fail, and his ox drops fatigued at the plough, [knows how. And other things waste, and he scarcely In the midst of the night, quite oppress'd with his wocs, [goes. On his poney he mounts, and to Philip he When Philip beheld him, unshaven, forlorn, [be worn "Vulteius," said he, "thou appear'st to With labour and care”. "If the truth be express'd, [tress'd; My Patron," said he, "I am deeply disAnd I pray thee, most earnestly, pity my fate, And restore me again to my former estate." When a man once perceives he has chang'd to his cost, [has lost, And grieves at remembering the things he Let him quickly retreat, and regain his lost treasure, ODE TO THE POPPY. NOT for the promise of the labour'd field, Not for the good the yellow harvests yield, 1 bend to Ceres' shrine; The golden glories of the year; I hail the Goddess for her scarlet flower! That dost so far exceed The richest gifts gay Flora can bestow; Heedless I pass'd thee in life's morning.. hour (Thou comforter of woe), 'Till Sorrow taught me to confess thy power. In early days, when Fancy cheats, Of laughing Spring's luxuriant sweets, The rose or thorn my numbers crown'd, E'en languid Hope no more is mine, Unless, perchance, the attributes of grief, Hail, lovely blossom! thou canst ease Which never open but to weep; For, oh! thy potent charm Can agonizing pain disarm; Expel imperious Memory from her seat, And bid the throbbing heart forget to beat. Soul-soothing piant! that can such blessings give, By thee the mourner bears to live, By thee the hopeless die! Oh! ever "friendly to Despair," Might Sorrow's palid votary dare, Without a crime, that remedy implore Which bids the spirit from its bondage fly, I'd court thy palliative aid uo more; No more I'd sue, that thou shouldst spread Thy spell around my aching head, Burst these terrestial bonds, and other regions try. Mr. URBAN, Warham, Norfolk, May 8. IF you think the following Ode deserving of a place in your valuable Publication, you are at liberty to insert it. The performance performance is from the same juvenile hand as that I last transmitted to you. Yours, &c. W. H. LANGTON. "Ingratam Veneri pone superbiam.” AD LYDIAM. EN! te mille proci supplicibus petunt Votis; dum citharæ carmine, dum lyræ, Contendunt animum flectere, Lydia! O nullis precibus favens ! Cur te nec gemitus, nec lacrymis genæ Roratæ moveant? Ah! fera! non times Fodam canitiem? non metuis Jovis Iras, et Superûm manus ? Hæc non sempèr erunt, nec capitis decus Nec ver perpetuum est: munera quæ dedit Aufert, cum voluit, Jupiter, et dies Cervicis fugiet non domitæ nitor, Languens agmen amantium. Nam quos nunc lacrymis et prece sup plicat And catch the glowing spark of sacred That, kindling at thy touch, illum'd his And rush'd impetuous through his ardent frame! Oh! could my feeble voice like him rehearse The deeds of mighty warriors slain, And rise in numbers of majestic verse, Such as he breath'd upon the sanguine plain [spear, When dauntless Fingal shook the lifted And scatter'd from his arm wild Death and trembling Fear: Or, such as sweet at midnight silent hour, His swelling bosom oft would pour, When, seated in the desert blast, He told the plaintive tale of days long past, Lulling to gentle rest, and placid form, The dark-ey'd Genius of the howling [the night, While the pale, misty phantoms of Sighing on ev'ry gale that flitted by, storm ; Paus'd in their shadowy flight To catch the strains that warbled through the sky: And as, in melody sublimely loud, Swift o'er the quiv'ring strings he swept along, Drew softly round, And, struck with wonder at the magic sound, Hung o'er the visionary cloud, Yes! were it mine like him to raise Piërian tributes of eternal bloom: Then, matchless Hoffer! would I sound thy name [of Fame, Loud through the bursting trump And 'blazon to admiring earth 'Alike thy valour and thy worth! Then should my willing Muse, in strains sublime, Commemorate thy deeds so brave; And, soaring high beyond the reach of Time, [from the grave. Snatch, with triumphant hand, thy laurels But, ah! to other lyres belong The pomp of verse, the pride of The humble lay, the simple line, And mourn, oh! gallant Chief! thy fate severe, When Treach'ry gave thee to a ruthless Foe! Yet will I weep the luckless hour That made thee victim to a Tyrant's power, Wreck'd all thy Country's hopes, and stretch'd thee low! Then Unhappy Chief! what destiny severe Has curb'd the glories of thy bright career! [more The martial thunder of thy voice no Swells 'mid the battle's angry roar, Chill'd is thy heart, and cold the patriot form [ing hour That struggled long in danger's threat'nTo stem the course of lawless pow'r, And guard a sinking State from wild Oppression's storm! might, Ah! what avail'd thy dauntless [fight! Thy ardent courage in the fields of False were thy hopes, thy efforts all were vain ; And meanly barter'd to a tyrant's hand, We see thee now-untimely slain! Thy mould'ring relics slumber in a land Where fetter'd History her immortal scroll [relate Shuts from thy name, nor dares The matchless virtues of thy soul: Where no kind mourner, weeping o'er thy fate, taught line, In gentle strain commemorates thy doom, [tomb! Or decks thy ashes with a friendly Yet, fallen Warrior! shall renown be thine, [grave. And laurels yet shall blossom on thy What though no loftyverse, noheav'n[brave! Records thy merit, and try deeds so What, though no sculptur'd pile, or marble bust, [ing dust; Rise in proud grandeur o'er thy sleepYet, if my humble Muse aright Through future years, prophetic, turns her sight, A day shall yet be known, When Freedom's smile shall beam through ev'ry clime, And patriot valour cease to be a crime; When godlike Justice, mounting on her [earth, throne, Shall rend the fetters that enslave the Shall trample down Oppression's crown, worth! And 'blazon wide the story of thy [hour Yet shall arrive the glad auspicious When lawless Might shall drop the rod of Pow'r; Then stay, oh Muse! thy wand'ring flight, And, pale with horror, turn thy sight [dismay, Where Austria's Genius, frantic with Loud shrieking, flies round Mantua's tow'ring spires :[day, Where savage Murder blots the face of And Valour's darling Son, betray'd, expires! Oh! gaze in pity o'er the deed, Though round him point the level'd No coward accents tremble on his The bleeding sorrows of his native land! near [fear, To succour Virtue in the hour of Oh! round his friendless head But, ah! 'tis done-the deed is His manly bosom heaves no more: Hark! Mantua's walls re-echo back And, steep'd in gushing blood, The firm defender of his Country's good Sinks on the crimson'd ground! And pour wide ruin on the barb'rous Down from thy native rocks? Was it for this, prostrated low, The batter'd legions of thy foe Wide o'er the plains lay stretch'd in mangled heaps; When, faithful to thy signal word, Loud bursting from the sever'd cord, With crash tremendous, and resistless force, [course The pond'rous fragment urg'd its rapid Down the rough, craggy steeps; And, whirling round in many a stroke of death, [neath? Spread frightful havock on the vales be When, aw'd no more by frowns severe, hate No longer check'd by coward fear, The tributary song shall sweetly rise, And waft thy glory to the list'ning skies! Yes, gallant Chief! though tyrant [page, Awhile may blot th' historic Yet shall thy virtues flourish great Through many a distant age: Applauding worlds shall yet revere thy name, And wreaths of future praise immortalize thy Fame. PROCEEDINGS IN THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE FOURTH PARLIAMENT OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 22. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply to some apprehensions expressed by Mr.Horner, entered into some details, by which it appeared, that, with respect to the ships entered inwards, the increase of the British shipping above that of the Foreign shipping from 1807 to 1809, amounted to 6033; and with respect to the ships cleared outwards in the same period, the increase of the British shipping over that of the Foreign shipping amounted to 262. So that, instead of the British shipping having given way to the Foreign shipping, they were in the gross amount, for the same period, 865 ships above them. The resolution originally put, and also a resolution, doubling the duties on timber from the Baltic, and granting bounties on timber imported in British vessels from our territories in America, were then agreed to. Mr. Perceval obtained leave to bring in a Bill for regulating the manner of making surcharges upon the Assessed Taxes and the Tax on Property, and for amending the said Acts. He proposed causing notice to be made of every surcharge to the person on whom it was imposed, who might then apply again to the Commissioners; and if it should appear that the return was not fraudulent, no double charge was to take place. May 23. On the motion of Mr. Calcraft, Mr. Hunt, the late Treasurer of the Ordnance, was expelled the House for misapplying the public money. The resolution was carried nem. con. The Report of the Select Committee of Privileges was brought up. Mr. Horner moved the re-committal of the Report, with a view to move Resolutions, declaratory of the existence of the privilege to their utmost extent. Messrs. Iynne and Parnell supportel the motion; and Messrs. Wilberforce, Brougham, and Rose, opposed it. The motion was negatived without a division. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 24. The Royal Assent was given by Commission to the Duke of Brunswick's Annuity Bill, the Exchequer Bills Fundding Bill, the Irish Stage Coaches Bill, the Malt Intercourse Bill, the West Middlesex Water-Works Bill, the Forfarshire Statute Labour and the Forfarshire Road Bills, with several Local and Private Bills; in all 37. In the Commons, the same day, the Chancellor of the Exchequer brought up the following gracious Message from his Majesty: "G. R.-His Majesty, relying on the experienced zeal and affection of his faithful Commons, and considering that it may be of very great importance to provide for such emergencies as may arise, trusts that this House will enable him to take such measures as may be necessary to disappoint or defeat any enterprises or designs of his Enemies, and as the exigencies of affairs may require." Sir J. Newport then submitted his promised motion upon the case of the Receiver-General in Ireland, Sir G. Shee. By the 35th of his Majesty, the office was abolished, and Mr. Clements, the then Receiver-General, was compensated for the abolition by a pension of 30001. per annum. On his death, Sir H. Cavendish succeeded; and, though the office was only held during pleasure, the reversion was granted to Sir G. Shee in 1802. In 1804, Sir H. Cavendish died, and of course Sir G. Shee succeeded. Sir J. Newport concluded by moving a censure upon Ministers, for a gross dereliction of their duty, &c. Messrs. IV. Pole, Foster, Perceval, M. Fitzgerald, Wilberforce, and Sir G. Hill, opposed it; and Messrs. Bankes, W. Smith, H. Thornton, Johnstone, Marryatt, and Barham, spoke in favour of it. On a division there appeared, Ayes 48, Noes 99. May 25. In a Committee of Ways and Means, the Irish Loan, amounting to 1,400,0001 was stated to have been contracted for on the same terms as the English Loan, and by the same parties, making the aggregate amount of interest and charges 57. 138. 5d. per cent. In the above Committee, a Lottery of 60,000 Tickets was agreed to. In a Committee of Supply, the sum of 216,000l. was, on the motion of Mr. Foster, granted to his Majesty, to purchase the Earl of Ormond's right to the duty of prizage, &c. on wines imported into Ireland, and which had been found excessively troublesome to trade. The yearly average of those duties amounted to 13,000/.; but they had been purchased at 12,0007. The |