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TRAGEDY.

"Ecce fpectaculum dignum, ad quod refpiciat, in-"tentus operi fuo, Deus! Ecce par Deo dignum, "vir fortis cum malâ fortunâ compofitus! Non ❝ video, inquam, quid habeat in terris Jupiter pul"chrius, fi convertere animum velit, quàm ut "spectet Catonem, jam partibus non femel fractis, "nihilominùs inter ruinas publicas erectum."

SEN. de Divin. Prov.

With so much strength you write, and so much ease,
Virtue and fenfe! how durft you hope to please?
Yet crowds the fentiments of every line
Impartial clapt, and own'd the work divine.
Ev'n the four critics, who malicious came,
Eager to cenfure, and refolv'd to blame,
Finding the hero regularly rife,

Great while he lives, but greater when he dies,
Sullen approv'd, too obftinate to melt,

And ficken'd with the pleasures which they felt.
Not fo the fair their paffions fecret kept,
Silent they heard, but, as they heard, they wept;
When gloriously the blooming Marcus dy'd,
And Cato told the gods, I'm fatisfy'd.

See how your lays the British youth inflame !
They long to fhoot and ripen into fame
Applauding theatres difturb their rest,

;

And unborn Cato's heave in every breaft; Their nightly dreams, their daily thoughts repeat, And pulfes high with fancy'd glories beat. So, griev'd to view the Marathonian fpoils, The young Themiftocles vow'd equal toils; Did then his fchemes of future honours draw From the long triumphs which with tears he faw. How fhall I your unrival'd worth proclaim, Loft in the fpreading circle of your fame! We faw you the great William's praise rehearfe, And paint Britannia's joys in Roman verse. We heard at distance foft enchanting strains, "From blooming mountains, and Italian plains.

Virgil began in English drefs to fhine,

His voice, his looks, his grandeur, still divine :
From him too soon unfriendly you withdrew,
But brought the tuneful Ovid to our view.
Then the delightful theme of every tongue,
Th' immortal Marlborough, was your darling fong.
From clime to clime the mighty victor flew,
From clime to clime as swiftly you purfue.
Still with the hero's glow'd the poet's flame,
Still with his conquests you enlarg'd your fame.
With boundless raptures here the Muse could swell,
And on your Rofamond for ever dwell:
There opening sweets and every fragrant flower
Luxuriant fmile, a never-fading bower!

Next, human follies kindly to expofe,

You change from numbers, but not sink in profe:
Whether in vifionary fcenes you play,

Refine our tastes, or laugh our crimes away.

Now, by the buskin'd Muse you shine confest,
The patriot kindles in the poet's breast.

Such energy of fense might pleasure raise,

Though unembellish'd with the charms of phrase :
Such charms of phrase would with fuccefs be crown'd,
Though nonfenfe flow'd in the melodious found.

The chafteft virgin needs no blushes fear,
The learn'd themselves not uninftructed hear.
The libertine, in pleasures us'd to roll,
And idly sport with an immortal soul,

Here comes, and, by the virtuous heathen taught,
Turns pale, and trembles at the dreadful thought."

Whene'er you traverse vast Numidia's plains,
What fluggish Briton in his ifle remains!
When Juba feeks the tiger with delight,
We beat the thicket, and provoke the fight;
By the description warm'd, we fondly fweat,
And in the chilling eaft-wind pant with heat.
What
eyes behold not, how the ftream refines,
Till by degrees the floating mirror shines ?
While hurricanes in circling eddies play,

Tear up the fands, and sweep whole plains away,
We fhrink with horror, and confefs our fear,
And all the fudden founding ruin hear.

When royal robes, diftain'd with blood, deceive,
And make poor Marcia beautifully grieve;
When the her fecret thoughts no more conceals,
Forgets the woman, and her flame reveals;
Well may the prince exult with noble pride,
Not for his Libyan crown, but Roman bride.
But I in vain on fingle features dwell,
While all the parts of the fair piece excel.
So rich the ftore, fo dubious is the feast,
We know not which to pafs, or which to taste.
The fhining incidents fo juftly fall,

We may the whole new scenes of transport call.
Thus jewellers confound our wandering eyes,
And with variety of gems furprize.

Here fapphires, here the Sardian stone is seen,
The topaz yellow, and the jafper green.
The coftly brilliant there, confus'dly bright,
From numerous furfaces darts trembling light :

The

The different colours mingle in a blaze,
Silent we ftand, unable where to praise,
In pleasure sweetly loft ten thousand ways.

Trinity College, Cambridge.

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L. EUSDEN.

SIR,

HEN your generous labour first I view'd,

WHE

And Cato's hands in his own blood imbrued, That scene of death so terrible appears,

My foul could only thank you with her tears.
Yet with fuch wondrous art your skilful hand
Does all the paffions of the foul command,
That ev'n my grief to praise and wonder turn'd,
And envy'd the great death which first I mourn'd.
What pen, but yours, could draw the doubtful ftrife
Of honour struggling with the love of life?
Defcribe the patriot, obftinately good,

As hovering o'er eternity he stood :

The wide, th' unbounded ocean lay before
His piercing fight, and heaven the diftant fhore.
Secure of endlefs blifs, with fearful eyes,

He grafps the dagger, and its point defies,
And rushes out of life to snatch the glorious prize.
How would old Rome rejoice, to hear you tell
How juft her patriot liv'd, how great he fell!
Recount his wondrous probity and truth,
And form new Juba's in the British youth.

R

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