advertisement prefixed to this epiftle, we are told, that the diftinguished names on the title-page can excite no expectation in the public, which the poetical merit of it is not capable of gratifying. For our own part, faving the refpe&t that is due to the name of a Lord, we think the poetical genius of this epiftle-writer hardly ever foars above the level of a commoner. Let our readers judge from the following fpecimens: All would be great, but who with care attends Whence greatnefs fprings, it's progrefs, and it's ends? If there be not much poetry in this epiftle, there is, however, good fenfe, good advice, if the world be difpofed to profit by them. When men unfit for greatness will be great, • Why don't they trust to title and estate ?` ↑ Haft thou not wit? be generous and fincere : Is private life, then, void of graceful aims? The rule that leads us with unerring pace To guard the plain good man, and grace the wit, Why truft they not. + Sure. Is wit deny'd? Fails learning tạo? Thro' Thro' court, camp, cottage, heard, felt, underflood, Failings and faults from diff'rent fprings proceed And tread life's labyrinth with judgment's 'clue, We cannot help remarking here, that our noble moralift's making HONESTY the pis-aller, is rather difcouraging to virtue, and does not accord with that famous line of Pope's, "An honeft man's the nobleft work of God." A line which, in our opinion, conveys the feverèft and most unjust fatire on mankind; infinuating that an honeft man is a very great rarity; whereas, we are of opinion, that mere honefty, however commendable, is a very general, and in the prefent acceptation of the term, a very ignoble quality. ART. XIII. Variety. A Tale. For married People. 4to. is. DodЛley, NEC TECUM POSSUM VIVERE, NEC SINE TES A tale, pleafingly and poetically told, inculcating the neceffity of occafionally diversifying the fcene, to make even the most loving couple always agreeable to each other. The inference of the first part of the tale, defcribing the country life of a fond pair, is We live, my dear, too much together. The conclufion of the fecond, defcribing their town-life, is the re verfe. A fhort extract may be acceptable to the poetical reader. Advanc'd to fashion's wav'ring head, They now, where once they follow'd, led. A-bed all day, and up all night, In diff'rent circles reign'd fupreme, Wives copied her, and husbands him; Till fo divinely life ran on, So feparate, fo quite bon ton, That meeting in a public place Look'd in each other's face a-while * Which. Now Now scarce retain'd it's fainteft ftreak; She lank, and pale, and hollow-ey'd, Both wifh'd to fpeak, both hung the head. Are you too tir'd ?"- -then check'd a groan, "How delicate the married life! "You love your hufb nd, I my wife. "Not ev❜n fatiety could tame, Nor diffipation quench the flame. "True to the-bias of our kind, "'Tis happiness we wish to find. In rural fcenes retir'd we fought "In vain the dear delicious draught. “Tho' bleft with love's indulgent store, "We found we wanted fomething more. 'Twas company, 'twas friends to fhare "The blifs we languifh'd to declare. 'Twas focial converfe, change of scene, "To footh the fullen hour of fpleen; "Short abfences to wake defire, 1 And fweet regrets to fan the fire. "In diffipation's giddy round, "A thoufand novelties to wake "The fprings of life and not to break. "As, from the neft not wand'ring far, "(Sip the cool fprings that murm'ring flow, "We fported freely with the reft; *And, still. returning to the neft, In pleasures ev'ry hour employ, "Our company, th' exalted fet "Of all that's gay, and all that's great: "Nor happy yet!—and where's the wonder? "WE LIVE, MY DEAR, TOO MUCH ASUNDER." ART. ART. XIV. Ode for the Year 1776. 4to. 18. Almon. This ode is advertised, in the news-papers, as not being the Laureat's. It is, however, not the lefs poetical for that, as our readers may learn from the five first stanzas. I. Genius of Albion! whither art thou fled! Thou, who was wont, at freedom's call, to rise, In mercy to this groaning ifle! Can fix the fordid mind: Ambition breaks laws feeble chain, Beyond the rough Atlantic tide, Thy junior fons ftill dare be free ; Nor e'er fhall fubtle fraud divide The gen'rous band. O, while the tempest low'rs, Peace to thy fhade, lamented king; Great BRUNSWICK, fecond of thy race For lo! fierce iffuing from their native north, Glut Gallia's great revenge, and spread vile flav'ry's night! In vain, alas thy gallant fon, (What time Culloden's glorious field In vain rejoic'd th' admiring world, While the dark tyrant crouch'd and fled. No longer now, in patriot fhackles bound, V. Ah, what avails thy honour'd name, Mild, but determin'd, Rockingham! Rome's priftine fire that beams from Richmond's eye! -With Tully's pow'rs, and Cato's foul, Thy virtues difregarded fhine, Loft is thy eloquence divine With Camden's lore profound, and Chatham's gen'rous rage! We have before hinted that this ode is no lefs poetical than the laureat's: but if fiction be the life and foul of poetry, our patriotic partizans may raise a doubt about it. There is, to be fure, fome little alloy of truth in both; but, as Prior faid to his mistress, Would you have a man fwear to the truth of a fong? ART. XV. The Bard, a Pindaric Poem. By Mr. Gray. Tranflated into Latin Verfe. To which is prefixed a dedication to the Genius of Ancient Britain. 4to. 1s. Poole, Chester. It is not uncommon to meet with latin verfifyers, who can compofe poetical and pleafing cantos from the antient claffics, without being able to write ten lines of tolerable poetry in their native language. That this is not the prefent cafe, the tranflator of Mr. Gray's Wel Bard endeavours to demonstrate in his prefixed dedication. Genius of Cambria, hail! and oh! infuse Thy native spirit in a Latin mufe! From Conway's fhores, to mourn thy patriots dead: No longer pregnant with poetic dreams; Yet pluck one tading laurel to reward The fond ambition of a kindred bard. Oh! teach his fympathizing breaft to feel His country's wrongs; oh! fuffer him to steal One radiant fpark of thy expiring flame, And from oblivion vindicate his name! As a fpecimen of his tranflation our readers will accept of the |