SONNET.

"Vafco, whofe bold and happy bowfprit bore
Against the rifing morn; and, homeward fraught,
Whofe fails came weftward with the day, and brought
The wealth of India to thy native shore :

Ne'er did the Greek fuch length of feas explore:
The Greek, who forrow to the Cyclop wrought,
And he, who, Victor, with the Harpies fought,
Never fuch pomp of naval honours wore.
Great as thou art, and peerless in renown,
Yet thou to Camoens ow'ft thy nobleft fame;
Farther than thou didft fail, his deathless song
Shall bear the dazzling fplendor of thy name;
And under many a sky thy actions crown,

While Time and Fame together glide along."

An abstract of the argument of the piece, with a particular account and specimen of the translation will be given in our next Review.

ART. IV. Poctical Amusements at a Villa near Bath. Vol. II. 45. Dilly, London; Frederic, Bath.

Of the first volume of these amufements, and the laudable application of the profits arifing from the publication, we gave fome account in the firft number of our Review. We are happy to find that fo benevolent an inftitution is not only encouraged by the public, but that it is likely to be fupported by poetical contributions of greater merit than the first volume gave us reafon to expect. We are told, in the preface, indeed, that the editors have nothing to do with criticifm, the object of the inftitution being amusement, and its end charity; it therefore concerns them little who ridicules the one or reprobates the other. What a formidable idea these editors entertain of criticism ; or where they got it we can hardly conceive. The bufinefs of criticism, "the mufe's handmaid," is to see that her mistress be not more fplendid than elegantly dreffed, to point out to poetry the path of propriety, and confine the fictions of fancy within the province of truth. Why then should criticifm be fuppofed fo ready to ridicule poetical amusement, or to reprobate christian charity? If charity will hide a multitude of fins, why not excufe a moderate portion of nonfenfe? To be ferious, we are glad, flightingly as they affect to treat us critics, that their amusements begin to rife into an object worthy of criticifm. As they chufe however to have nothing to do with us, we shall at present have just as little to do with them; confining ourselves to a short extract from the preface,

preface, with a fpecimen or two of the pieces contained in this fecond volume, as a tribute due to the design of the editors, the talents of the contribution, and the entertainment of our readers. "The rapid fale of an entire edition of the Poetical Amusements, within ten days from its appearance, calls for a fecond edition of the firft, and juftifies our publication of this fecond volume.

"Bouts Rimées—those little aliens to British genius and British liberty-held out in the infancy of our inftitution to accommodate the indolent and to encourage the diffident-having, in fome measure, anfwered the objects of their introduction, are, at prefent, under a general prohibition. The fmall number of them difperfed through the following fheets-if they bear not with them their own juftification-may probably be the laft-to confine the writer or moleft the reader.

“The subjects given out were calculated to preclude all difcuffion of Party and Opinion-all tendency to Perfonality-and to discourage every violation of the fanctities of fociety. Nothing (we apprehend) in these volumes can

Give virtue, fcandal; innocence, a fear;

Or from the foft-ey'd virgin fteal a tear.”

In confequence of the fubjects being given out, the reader will find a number of poems on the fame topic. The principal fubjects of the prefent volume, are Simplex Munditiis.-The difference between wit and humour.-Charity-Hope-Harmony-Beauty---Christmas Gambols---The New Year's Elegy, and Benevolence. We shall select from those on the difference between wit and humour, and on the elegiac mufe, the two following.

On the Difference between WIT and HUMOUR.

"'Twas May; and o'er the chearful ground Each fhrub with bloffoms fmil'd around,

When on the downy lap of earth,

Lo! twins congenial at a birth

Euphrofyne to Phoebus bore,

And feem'd to wifh the two were four :

Then, seeking titles that might fit,
One, humour tyl'd; the other, wit,
The mufes in officious hafte

The natals with their prefence grac'd:
While each in flattering fpeech exprefs'd
The fire and dam fupremely blefs'd:
Their father this resembles; t'other
Refembles more his blue-ey'd mother.
Some few this difference cannot strike;
As eggs, they're both fo much alike.
Apollo fmiled, while three times three
Thus from each other difagree.
In hopes the knotty fuit to end,
He bids the graces ftrait attend.

6

Quick

Quick they obey the call divine,
And join with speed the tuneful nine.
Yet, what avails this special jury,
Pick'd for the cause in such a hurry?
Confounded like their coufin mufes,
A verdict clear each nymph refuses.
Some difference they difcern; but where,
They vow 'tis puzzling to declare.
Surpris'd, too hard to find the cafe
For every mufe, and every grace
His fentence, with an awful nod,
Utter'd the verse-infpiring god:

I marvel much that none can fee In what these bantlings disagree. Then hear me, all ye virgin train, By my prophetic skill explain,

• What thus you seek but seek in vain :
• What in their face 'tis hard to find,

I view---the difference of their mind.
That little, faucy, prattling chit,
Call'd by his doating mother quit,
With fmiling look, and fparling eye,
And forehead full of gaiety,
• Fraught with ideas quaint and new,.
And quick conception, known to few;
With pleafing well-tim'd fimile,
And lively, poignant repartee;

• From objects diftant and unlike
• Shall catch resemblances that strike ;

And charm the fenfe, well-pleased to find
Things varying, ftill the fame in kind:
With harmlefs, but fatyric turn,

}

In thoughts that fpeak; and words that burn; • Sometimes an epigram fhall throw,

Like fhaft from Lilliputian bow:
Sometimes, in fong or roundelay,

• The smart, yet civil thing fhall fay,
That wounds like painful-pleafing dart
And captivates fair lady's heart.
• Good-natur'd 'midst his various fallies,
• With elegant conceits he rallies,

The head to teach, the heart to mend,
A foe to Vice, and Virtue's friend.

But fee! how different is that other,
You think fo like his elder brother!
Cheerful, like bim, and good and kind,
He labours to inform the mind,
Its lurking foibles to detect,
Its vicious fancies to correct :

• But mark thofe lineaments of face;
How full of banter and grimace!

• Solemn

1

⚫ Solemn his air, as though he felt

Scarce butter in his mouth would melt:
"Yet the arch ftripling all the while
'Indulges a continual fmile.
⚫ On fubtle irony, and leer,

The jeft polite, and cover'd fneer,
(While few observe him) ftill intent,
He fays the thing, that is not meant.
No mimic droll, in beau or belle,
⚫ Can act a character so well,

And to the man hold up the fool
In all the garb of ridicule :
From wit as diftant (though as keen)
As epigram from comic scene.

• Yet still the lads, as things may hap,
• Shall fometimes wear each other's cap;
And it perchance for humour pass:
• Humour in turn fhall tafte the glass,
To fee what likenefs he can hit;
And how he apes his brother wit.
• But foon fhall each his fault confefs,
• Each foon resume his proper drefs.
Already can my profpect trace,

When each fhall boast a numerous race,

This, of Molieres; of Butlers, that:

Each pleafing with his lively chat;

Yet each from each as wide asunder,
As winds and tempefts are from thunder;
No more alike, than fong to rant is ;

⚫ Than Parfon Swift to Don Cervantes.

Take then, ye Mufes, take these boys,
And foon complete their parents' joys:
Teach them to utter, as they mean:
No thought be clumfey, or unclean.
Then, ere they learn their aukward paces,
Confign them to the Sifter Graces :
Let them with fpeed as you began,
Finish the well-digefted plan:
For what is humour, wit, or face;
If either's nurs'd without a grace?

On the ELEGIAC MUSE. By Mifs DAVIS.

" "Twas at Bath-Eafton where the Fair

And all the Beaux Efprits repair,

That ever figh for fame,

There often from the hill, Parnassus,

Apollo, and his fprightly laffes,

To país the morning came.

All but that melancholy maid,

Of penfive look, that loves the fhade

Where

Where weeping lovers ftray,

Yet once, fo fweet her fifters drew,
The feftive fcene, fhe left the yew
And e'en her favourite Gray,

All fweetly beam'd her penfive eyes,
Bright as the blue that paints the skies
When vernal rofes bloom.
A cyprefs bound her flowing hair,
With budding myrtle here and there,
Which gave a foft perfume.

Attentive near the Vafe reclin'd,
With modefty and sweetness join'd,
She liften'd to the lays;

For Miller, gracefully polite,
Had pray'd each different bard to write
A fonnet in her praise.

Then rifing with peculiar grace,
A gentle fmile play'd o'er her face,
Her penfive accent stole:

Each liftening ear, each raptur'd fenfe,
Whilft her foft eloquence difpenfe

A charm that won the foul.

Ah me! no longer wild furprise
Within my penfive breaft fhall rise,

Why every blooming Grace,

And Love, with every Sifter Mufe,
Should leave their groves, and rather chuse
To haunt this favour'd place.

But I no more must here be seen,

I feek the dull Funereal Green

Where weeping Love appears;

Where foft-ey'd Melancholy ftrays,
We join to all our tender lays,
The luxury of tears.

Oh may no blooming nymph or fwain
That haunt thefe groves, invoke my strain,
To paint fuccefsful love:

May each be juft, may each be true,
And, Miller, long, long blefs'd by you,
Oh be this FAIRY GROVE."

We have by no means felected the above as preferable to the greater part of this collection, but because fome choice though made at random was neceffary. On the whole, whatever exceptions may be made to fome of the poetry, we cannot better take leave of this fecond volume of Bath-Eafton Amusements, than in the concluding paragraph of the preface,

"The