Epistles.
55
"But let vain Greece indulge her growing fame,
"Proud with celestial spoils to grace her name;
"Yet when my arts shall triumph in the West,
"And the White Isle with female pow'r is blest, 20
"Fame, I foresee, will make reprisals there,
"And the translator's palm to me transfer:
"With less regret my claim I now decline;
“The world will think this English Iliad mine.” 24
"Proud with celestial spoils to grace her name;
"Yet when my arts shall triumph in the West,
"And the White Isle with female pow'r is blest, 20
"Fame, I foresee, will make reprisals there,
"And the translator's palm to me transfer:
"With less regret my claim I now decline;
“The world will think this English Iliad mine.” 24
AN EPISTLE
TO THOMAS LAMBARD, ESQ.
Omnia me tua delectant; sed maxime, maxima cum fides in amicitia,
consilium, gravitas, constantia; tum lepos, humanitas, literæ.
Cicero, Lib. xi. Ep. 27.
consilium, gravitas, constantia; tum lepos, humanitas, literæ.
Cicero, Lib. xi. Ep. 27.
Slow tho' I am to wake the sleeping lyre,
Yet should the Muse some happy song inspire,
Fit for a friend to give, and worthy thee,
That fav'rite verse to Lambard I decree:
Such may the Muse inspire, and make it prove 5
A pledge and monument of lasting love!
Mean-time intent the fairest plan to find
To form the manners and improve the mind,
Me the fam'd wits of Rome and Athens please,
By Orrery's indulgence wrapt in ease, 10
Whom all the rival Muses strive to grace
With wreaths familiar to his letter'd race:
Yet should the Muse some happy song inspire,
Fit for a friend to give, and worthy thee,
That fav'rite verse to Lambard I decree:
Such may the Muse inspire, and make it prove 5
A pledge and monument of lasting love!
Mean-time intent the fairest plan to find
To form the manners and improve the mind,
Me the fam'd wits of Rome and Athens please,
By Orrery's indulgence wrapt in ease, 10
Whom all the rival Muses strive to grace
With wreaths familiar to his letter'd race:
