Dropt the dull lumber of the Latin store, Spoil'd his own language, and acquir'd no more; And last turn'd Air, the echo of a sound! And, as if a borough choose him, not undone; This glorious youth, and add one Venus more. So may the sons of sons of sons of whores, 321 325 330 Prop thine, O Empress! like each neighbour throne, And make a long posterity thy own. Pleas'd, she accepts the hero, and the dame, Wraps in her veil, and frees from sense of shame. REMARKS. 335 v. 326.---Jansen, Fleetwood, Cibber. Three very eminent persons, all managers of plays; who, though not governors by profession, had, each in his way, concerned themselves in the education of youth, and regulated their wits, their morals, or their finances, at that period of their age which is the most important, their entrance into the polite world. Of the last of these, and his talents for this end, see Book 1. ver. 199, &c. IMITATIONS. v. 332. So may the sons of sons, &c.] "Et nati natorum, et qui nascentur ab illis." Virg. Of ever-listless loit'rers, that attend No cause, no trust, no duty, and no friend. But Annius, crafty seer, with ebon wand, 340 355 Came, cramm'd with capon, from where Pollio dines. Soft, as the wily fox is seen to creep, Where bask on sunny banks the simple sheep, 351 Walk round and round, now prying here, now there, So he, but picus, whisper'd first his pray'r: Grant, gracious Goddess! grant me still to cheat! O may thy cloud still cover the deceit ! IMITATIONS. v. 342. Stretch'd on the rack---- "Sedet, æternumque sedebi!! "Infelix Theseus, Phlegyasque miserrimus omnes "Admonet.". v. 355.----grant me still to cheat! O may thy cloud still cover the deceit !] "Da, pulchra Laverna, "Da mihi fallere--- Virg. "Noctem peccatis et fraudibus objice nubem." Hor. So shall each youth, assisted by our eyes, 360 365 369 Bless'd in one Niger, till he knows of two. Mummius o'erheard him; Mummius, fool renown'd, Who like his Cheops, stinks above the ground, Fierce as a startled adder, swell'd, and said, Speak'st thou of Syrian Princes? traitor base ! 376 380 IMITATIONS. v. 383. Receiv'd each demigod.] 66 Emissumque ima de sede Typhoea terrae "Coelitibus fecisse metum' cunctosque dedisse, 385 I bought them, shrowded in that living shrine, 390 The Goddess smiling seem'd to give consent; So back to Pollio hand in hand they went. Then thick as locusts black'ning all the ground, A tribe, with weeds and shells fantastic crown'd, Each with some wondrous gift approach'd the Pow'r, A nest, a toad, a fungus, or a flow'r. 395 400 But far the foremost, two, with earnst zeal, And aspect ardent, to the throne appeal. The first thus open'd: Hear thy suppliant's call, Great Queen, and common mother of us all! 405 Fair from its humble bed I rear'd this flow'r, Suckl'd, and cheer'd, with air, and sun, and show'r. IMITATIONS. "Terga fugae: donec fessos Egyptia tellus Ovid. v. 405, &c. Fair from is humble bed, &c.----nam'd it Caroline! Each maid cry'd, Charming! and each youth Divine! Now prostrate! dead! behold that Caroline: No maid cries charming! and no youth divine!] Soft on the paper ruff its leaves I spread, Bright with the gilded button tipt its head. Each maid cry'd, Charming! and each youth Divine! Did Nature's pencil ever blend such rays, 411 No maid cries charming! and no youth divine! He ceas'd, and wept. With innocence of mien Of all th' enamel'd race, whose silv'ry wing Or swims along the fluid atmosphere, Once brightest shin'd this child of heat and air. 421 IMITATIONS. These verses are translated from Catullus, Epith. "Of all the race of silver-winged flies |