was a kind of blossom of injustice, to seize upon what was so found." Agreeable to which practice of his was that law of Stagira, Quod non posuisti ne tollas, "Take not that up which you never laid down." Cal. Rhod. I. 19. c. 26. p. 916. 12. When the Senate of Rome was in debate about the election of Censor, and that Valerianus was in nomination, Trebellius Pollio writes, that the universal acclamation of the Senators was; The life of Valerianus is a Censorship, let him be the judge of us all, who is better than all of us: let him judge of the Senate who cannot be charged with any crime; let him pass sentence upon our life, against whom nothing is to be objected. Valerianus was almost a Censor from his cradle, Valerianus is a Censor in his whole life. A prudent Senator, modest, grave, a friend to good men, an enemy to tyrants, an enemy to the vicious, but a greater unto voice. We receive this man for our Censor: him we will all imitate: he is the most noble amongst us, the best in blood, of exemplary life, of excellent learning, of choice manners, and the example of antiquity." This was a glorious character of a man given by so honourable an assembly: and yet we see after what manner virtue is sometimes afflicted in the world: this worthy person having attained to the Empire, was unfortunately taken by Sapores, King of Persia, and made his footstool. Trebell. Poll. Cal. Rhod. 1. 21. c. 11. ・p. 978. Pezel. Mellific. Hist. tom. 2. p. 229. 13. Upon the death of Julian the Emperor, by. the unanimous consent of the army, Salustius the Prefect of the Prætorian soldiers was elected; but he excused himself, pretending his age and the in firmities of his body; so that Jovinianus was thereupon chosen. When he also was dead, by the means of this Salustius, Valentinianus a Tribune was elected as Emperor; of this Salustius the refect, Suidas saith, "That he was a person of that integrity, that when Valentinian was Emperor, he commanded any that had ever received any injury from him, that they should go to the Emperor to complain of him but there was no man that had any such complaint to prefer against him." Pezel. Mellific. Hist. tom. 2. p. 277. 14. Richard the Second, King of England, was deposed, and Henry Bolingbroke crowned King in his stead. It was also enacted in Parliament, "That the inheritance of the crown and realm of England should be united, and remain in the person of King Henry, and in the heirs of his body lawfully begotten: a motion was likewise made in the same Parliament, what should be done with the deposed King?" Then it was that Thomas Merks, Bishop of Carlisle, shewed at once his great loyalty and integrity: he rose up, and with extraordinary freedom and constancy, he made an honest and learned oration, wherein by Scripture, reason, and other arguments, he maintained the right of his deposed Sovereign; resolutely opposed the usurpation of his supplanter, concluding, that the Parliament had neither power nor policy to depose King Richard, or in his place to elect Duke Henry; and however this doctrine first got the good Prelate a prison, and then the loss of his life, yet the memory of so gallant an action shall never die, so long as fidelity and loyalty shall have any respect amongst men. Daniel's Hist. continued, l. 3. p. 52. THE PARNASSIAN GARLAND. FOR SEPTEMBER, 1801. G ON PRESENTING A SENSITIVE PLANT TO A YOUNG LADY. O little plant, to Julia's gentle care, With many a friendly wish I thee resign: What tho' her tender touch too often try'd, Go, little plant-in all thy beauty go, Obey her mandate, droop, but not repine; And thus obedient, thou shalt quickly know Her sensibility can equal thine. T. W. PORTSEA. EMMA OF THE VALE. OW happy in my native bow'rs, H My youthful days I spent: Serenely past the fleeting hours, There, urg'd by innocence and love, To her who did its flame approve; Together oft we rang'd the dell, But now, alas! those days are gone, Unus'd to live midst pomp and shew, I long in calmer scenes to dwell, SONNET, H. V. SELWYN. WRITTEN IN MARCH, DURING A STORM. By Mr. William Hanbury. HAT tho' the stormy tempests dreadful roar, WHA What tho' the raging north, from shore to shore, Soon cease the wintry storms; and thou, fair spring, And happiness diffuse to all around. The sun, who late his radiant face conceal'd, For thee, sweet spring, his glories soon shall yield, In ev'ry heart content and joy shall reign, Whilst many a nymph and village hind shall sing, As with light footsteps swift they pace the plain, "All hail! thou queen of beauty, fragrant spring!" LINES On the two recent Poems of the Farmer's Boy, and Matilda. W HY does Britannia Thompson's loss deplore? In vain she shews where partial beauties shine, You, who in honest Giles* an interest take, * Farmer's Boy. |