Once more, says Fame, for battle he prepares,
And threatens rhymers with a second farce :
But, if as long for this as that we stay,
He 'll finish Clevedon sooner than his play.

This precious tool did the new statesmen use
In Cæsar's breath their whispers to infufe :
Suspicion 's bred by gravity, beard, and gown ;
But who suspects the madman and buffoon ?
Drolling Villerius this advantage had,
And all his jests sober impressions made :
Besides, he knew to chuse the softest hour,
When Cæsar for a while forgot his power,
And, coming tir'd from empire's grand affairs,
In the free joys of wine relax’d his cares.
'Twas then he play'd the fly successful fool,
And serious mischief did in ridicule.
Then he with jealous thoughts his prince could fill,
And gild with mirth and glittering wit the pill.
With a grave mien, discourse, and decent state,
He pleasantly the ape could imitate,
And soon as a contempt of him was bred,
It made the way for hatred to succeed.

Gravities disguise The greatest jest of all, “ he'd needs be wise-.."

[Here the writer left off.]

OVID, BOOK 1. EL EGY V.

'TWAS

WAS noon, when I, scorch'd with the double fire

Of the hot fun and my more hot desire,
Stretch'd on my downy couch at ease was laid,
Big with expectance of the lovely maid.
The curtains but half drawn, a light let in,
Such as in shades of thickest groves is seen;
Such as remains when the sun flies away,
Or when night's gone, and yet it is not day.
This light to modest maids must be allow'd,
Where Thame may hope its guilty head to Throwd.
And now my love, Corinna, did appear,
Loose on her neck fell her divided hair;
Loose as her flowing gown, that wanton'd in the air.
In such a garb, with such a grace and mien,
To her rich bed approachid th’ Assyrian queen.
So Laïs look’d, when all the youth of Greece
With adoration did her charms confess.
Her envious gown to pull away I try'd,
But she resisted still, and still deny'd ;
But fo resisted, that the feem'd to be
Unwilling to obtain the victory.
So I at last an easy conquest had,
Whilft

my

fair combatant herself betray'd: But, when she naked stood before my eyes. Gods! with what charms dist she my soul surprize! What snowy arms did I both fee and feel ! With what rich globes did her soft bosom swell!

Plump,

Plump, as ripe clusters, rose each glowing breast,
Courting the hand, and sueing to be prest!
In
every

limb what various charms were spread,
Where thousand little Loves and Graces play'd !
One beauty did through her whole body shine.
I saw, admir’d, and press’d it close to mine.
The rest, who knows not? Thus entranc'd we lay,
Till in each other's arms we dy'd away;
O give me such a noon (ye gods) to every day.

HORACE, BOOK II. ODE IV.*
BLUSH not, my friend, to own the love

Which thy fair captive's eyes do move :
Achilles, once the fierce, the brave,
Stoop'd to the beauties of a Nave;
Tecmessa's charms could overpower
Ajax her lord and conqueror ;
Great Agamemnon when success
Did all his arms with conquest bless ;
When Hector's fall had gain’d him more
Than ten long rolling years before,
By a bright captive virgin's eyes
Ev'n in the midst of triumph dies.
You know not to what mighty line
The lovely maid may make you join ;
See but the charms her forrow wears,
No common cause could draw such tears :
Those streams sure that adorn her so
For loss of royal kindred flow :

* See another imitation of this ode in Yalden's Poems, p. 376.

Oh!

3

Oh! think not fo divine a thing
Could from the bed of commons spring;
Whose faith could so unmov'd remain,
And so averse to fordid gain,
Was never born of any race
That might the noblest love disgrace.
Her blooming face, her snowy arms,
Her well-shap'd legs, and all her charms
Of her body and her face,
I, poor I, may safely praise.
Suspect not, Love, the youthful rage
From Horace's declining age,
But think remov'd, by forty years,
All his flames and all thy fears.

HORACE, BOOK II. ODE VIII.

IF

F ever any injur'd power,

By which the false Bariné swore,
False, fair Bariné, on thy head
Had the least mark of vengeance shed;
If but a tooth or nail of thee
Had suffer'd by thy perjury,
I should believe thy vows ; but thou
Since perjur'd dost more charming graw,
Of all our youth the public care,
Nor half so false as thou art fair.
It thrives with thee to be forfworn
By thy dead mother's facred urn,

Ву

By heaven and all the stars that shine
Without, and every god within :
Venus hears this, and all the while
At thy empty vows does smile,
Her nymphs all smile, her little fon
Does smile, and to his quiver run ;
Does smile, and fall to whet his darts,
To wound for thee fresh lovers hearts.
See all the youth does thee obey,
Thy train of Naves grows every day;
Nor leave thy former subjects thee,
Though oft they threaten to be free,
Though oft with vows falle as thine are,
Their forsworn mistress they forswear.
Thee every careful mother fears
For her son's blooming tender .years ;
Thee frugal fires, thee the young bride
In Hymen's fetters newly ty’d,
Lest thou detain by stronger charms
Th' expected husband from her arms.

HORACE A N D L Y D I A.

BOOK

III.

ODE 'IX.

HORACE.

WHILST I was welcome to your heart,

In which no happier youth had part,
And, full of more prevailing charms,
Threw round your neck his dearer arms,

H

I flourishid