Grac'd with all that charms the heart,
Blushing nature, fmiling art.
Venus, courted by an ode;
On the bard her dove beftow'd:
Vefted with a master's right,
Now Anacreon rules my flight;
His the letters that you fee,
Weighty charge, confign'd to me:
Think not yet my fervice hard,
Joylefs task without reward;
Smiling at my master's gates,
Freedom my return awaits
But the liberal grant in vain
Tempts me to be wild again.
Can a prudent dove decline
Blissful bondage fuch as mine?
Over hills and fields to roam,
Fortune's guest without a home;
Under leaves to hide one's head,
Slightly shelter'd, coarsely fed:
Now my better lot beftows
Sweet repast, and soft repose;
Now the generous bowl I fip
As it leaves Anacreon's lip:
Void of care, and free from dread,
From his fingers fnatch his bread;
Then with luscious plenty gay,
Round his chamber dance and play ;
Or from wine as courage springs,
O'er his face extend my wings;
And when feaft and frolick tire,
Drop asleep upon his lyre.
This is all, be quick and go,
More than all thou canst not know;
Let me now my pinions ply,
I have chatter'd like a pye.
LINES written in ridicule of certain POEMS
WHERESOE'ER I turn my view,
All is ftrange, yet nothing new;
Endless labour all along,
Endless labour to be wrong;
Phrafe that time has flung away,
Uncouth words in difarray,
Trick'd in antique ruff and bonnet,
Ode, and elegy, and fonnet.
PARODY of a TRANSLATION from the MEDEA of EURIPIDES.
ERR fhall they not, who refolute explore
Times gloomy backward with judicious eyes;
And scanning right the practices of yore,
Shall deem our hoar progenitors unwife.
They to the dome where fmoke with curling play
Announc'd the dinner to the regions round,
Summon'd the finger blythe, and harper gay,
And aided wine with dulcet-ftreaming found.
The better ufe of notes, or sweet or shrill,
By quiv'ring ftring or modulated wind;
Trumpet or lyre-to their harfh bofoms chill,
Admission ne'er had fought, or could not find.
Oh! fend them to the fullen mansions dun,
Her baleful eyes where forrow rolls around;
Where gloom-enamour'd mischief loves to dwell,
And murder, all blood-bolter'd, fchemes the wound.
When cates luxuriant pile the spacious dish,
And purple nectar glads the festive hour;
The guest, without a want, without a wish,
Can yield no room to musick's foothing pow'r.
BURLESQUE of the modern Verfifications of ancient LEGENDARY TALES.
HE tender infant meek and mild,
Fell down upon the stone;
The nurse took up the fquealing child,
But ftill the child squeal'd on.
TRANSLATION of the Two First Stanzas of the Song" Rio verde, Rio verde," printed in Bishop PERCY's Reliques of ancient English Poetry.
IMPROMPTU.
GLASSY water, glaffy water,
Down whofe current clear and strong,
Chiefs confus'd in mutual flaughter,
Moor and Christian roll along.
IMITATION of the Style of
HERMIT hoar, in folemn cell
Wearing out life's evening grey;
Strike thy bofom fage, and tell
What is blifs, and which the way.
This I fpoke, and speaking figh'd,
Scarce reprefs'd the starting tear,
When the hoary fage reply'd,
Come, my lad, and drink fome beer.
BURLESQUE of the following Lines of LOPEZ DE VEGA.
AN IMPROMPT U.
E acquien los leones vence
Vence una muger hermofa
O el de flaco averguençe
O ella di fer mas furiofa.
IF the man who turnips cries
Cry not when his father dies,
'Tis a proof that he had rather
Have a turnip than his father.
TRANSLATION of the following Lines at the End of BARETTI'S EASY PHRASEOLOGY.
AN IMPROMPT U.
IVA viva la padrona,
Tutta bella, e tutta buona,
La padrona è un angiolella
Tutta buona e tutta bella;
Tutta bella e tutta buona;
Viva! viva la padrona!
LONG may live my lovely Hetty!
Always young and always pretty,
Always pretty, always young,
Live my lovely Hetty long!
Always young and always pretty,
Long may live my lovely Hetty!
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