EPIGRAMS, &c.

MARTIAL

SPECTAC. LIB. EPIG. II.

TO VESPASIAN.*

WHERE yon fublime Coloffus braves the skies,

And vaft machines+ with felf-mov'd stages rife,
A favage tyrant's palace, one proud dome,
Itself a city, stood alone in Rome.

The tyrant Nero having demolished almost one-third of Rome, to erect his "Golden Palace" as he called it, (confifting of porticos near a mile in extent, a coloffal ftatue of himself 120 feet high; lakes, parks, and woods, ftocked with wild and tame beasts of every kind) the Emperors Vefpafian and Titus destroyed it, and built the magnificent amphitheatre, which still remains; put the head of Apollo on the Coloffus in the place of

Nero's,

Where the wide lake its flagnant waters spread,
An amphitheatre now lifts its head,

See! publick baths erected, where before

Wafte lawns ufurp'd the manfions of the poor:
On the court's utmost verge, a grand arcade
Affords at noon its hofpitable shade.
Rome to itself by Cæfar now reftor'd,
Delights a nation-not one worthless lord.

Nero's, and erected porticos and publick baths for the use of the people.If the unhappy Louis XVI. had followed his own inclination, and, on his acceffion to the throne, had effected fome more important popular acts, he might probably have saved himfelf and his country from the present diftracted fituation.

† Some wooden machines for the use of the amphitheathre, I believe, to amuse the populace.

ON THE DEATH OF

JAMES COLLINGS, Esq.

FEB. 1788, AT BATH.

IMITATED FROM MARTIAL, B. i. EP. 40.

Is there a man, like those distinguish'd few
For friendship fam'd whom happier ages knew;
His mind with science ftor'd, with claffick taste,
And true fimplicity of manners grac'd;

Of ftricteft honour and to virtue dear,

Who form'd no wish, but all mankind might hear :* Such was the man, whofe loss his friends deplore: Such Collings was-+but is, alas! no more.‡

* Alluding to the secret prayers of the hypocrites. HOR. †The word Difpeream is too familiar for this occafion-but may be excufed in the following imitation.

This character was brought to the author's memory, by the recent death of the worthy Mr. Hoare, to whom it is strictly applicable.

MARTIAL,

BOOK i. EP. 40. IMITATED.

IMPROMPTU

HAVE

you not seen, to Dover pofting down, My curious friend, about ten miles from town, If to the right you haply caft your eyes,

A fplendid villa's front majestick rise?

Where, 'midft the verdant lawn, pavilions gay,
And sculptur❜d urns,* the owner's taste display?
Where wood and water harmoniz'd unite,
And many a rural object charms the fight?
Neat cottages and farms the landskip grace,
But more-the happy peafant's ruddy face
And healthy, cheerful looks, adorn the scene?—
Hang met if 'tis not D-nf-n that you mean.

* One, a beautiful antique marble urn, brought from Rome, with its pedestal 10 or 12 feet high.

† Difpeream, fi non &c.

BOOK ii. EP. 7.

DECLAMAS BELLE', &c.

MODERNIZED.

YES, you're a pretty preacher, fir, we know it,
Write pretty novels, are a pretty poet;

A pretty critick, and tell fortunes+ too;
Then, who writes farce or epigrams like you?
At every ball how prettily you nick it:
You fiddle, fing, play prettily at cricket.
Yet, after all, in nothing you excel,
Do all things prettily, but nothing well.
What shall I call you?-Say the best I can,
You are, my friend, a ‡very busy man.

Bellas hiftorias. † Bellus es aftrologus.

Magnus es Ardelio. Aulóral.