She flies of love the name. In fhady woods,
And spoils of captive beafts alone she joys;
To copy Dian' emulous; her hair

In careless treffes form'd, a fillet bound.
By numbers fought,-averfe alike to all;
Impatient of their fuit, through forests wild,
And groves, in maiden ignorance the roams;
Nor cares for Cupid, nor hymeneal rites,
Nor foft connubial joys. Oft cry'd her fire;
"My Daphne, you should bring to me a fon;
"From you, my child, I hope for grandfons too."'
But the detefting wedlock as a crime,

(Suffus'd her features with a bafhful glow)
Around his aged neck, her beauteous arms,
Winds blandishing, and cries, "O fire, most dear!
"One favor grant,-perpetual to enjoy
"My virgin purity;-the mighty Jove
"The fame indulgence has to Dian' given."
Thy fire complies;-but that too beauteous face,
And lovely form, thy anxious with oppose:
Apollo loves thee;--to thy bed aspires ;-
And looks with anxious hopes, his wish to gain :
Futurity, by him for one unfeen.

As the light ftubble when the ears are fhorn,
The flames confume: as hedges blaze on high
From torches by the traveller closely held,

Or heedlefs flung, when morning gilds the world :
So flaming burnt the god ;--fo blaz'd his breaft,
And with fond hopes his vain defires he fed.

Her treffes careless flowing o'er her neck

He view'd, and, "Oh! how beauteous, deck'd with care," Exclaim'd her eyes which fhone like brilliant fire,

Or fparkling ftars, he fees; and fees her lips;

Unfated with the fight, he burns to touch:
Admires her fingers, and her hands, her arms,
Half to the shoulder naked :—what he fees

Though beauteous, what is hid he deems more fair.
Fleet as the wind, her fearful flight the wings,
Nor ftays his fond recalling words to hear :
"Daughter of Peneus, ftay! no foe pursues,-

"Stay, beauteous nymph!-fo flies the lamb the wolf;
"The ftag the lion;-fo on trembling wings
"The dove avoids the eagle :-these are foes,
"But love alone me urges to purfue.

"Ah me! then, fhouldst thou fall,-or prickly thorns
"Wound thy fair legs,-and I the caufe of pain !
"Rough is the road thou runneft; slack, I pray,
"Thy fpeed ;-I fwear to follow not so fast.

"But hear who loves thee -no rough mountain swain;

PP 2

"No

"No fhepherd;-none in raiments rugged clad,

"Tending the lowing herds: rafh thoughtlefs nymph, "Thou fly'st thou know'st not whom, and therefore fly'st! "O'er Delphos' lands, and Tenedos I fway, "And Claros, and the Pataræan realms.

My fire is Jove. To me are all things known, "Or prefent, paft, or future. Taught by me "Melodious founds poetic numbers grace."Sure is my dart, but one more fure I feel "Lodg'd in this bofom; ftrange to love before."Medicine me hails inventor; through the world "My help is called for; unto me is known "The power of plants and herbs :-ah! haplefs I, "Nor plants, nor herbs, afford a cure for love; "Nor arts which all relieve, relieve their lord." All this, and more :-but Daphne fearful fied, And left his fpeech unfinish'd. Lovely then She running feem'd ;-her limbs the breezes bar'd; Her flying raiment floated in the gale; Her carelefs treffes to the light air ftream'd; Her flight increas'd her beauty. Now no more The god to wafte his courteous words endures, But urg'd by love himfelf, with fwifter pace Her footsteps treads: the rapid greyhound fo, When in the open field the hare he fpies, Trufts to his legs for prey,-as fhe for flight; And now he fnaps, and now he thinks to hold, And brushes with his outftretch'd nofe her heels ;She trembling, half in doubt, or caught or no, Springs from his jaws, and mocks his touching mouth. Thus fled the virgin and the god ;-he fleet

Through hope, and fhe through fear,-but wing'd by love
More rapid flew Apollo;-fpurning reft,

Approach'd her clofe behind, and panting breath'd
Upon her floating treffes. Pale with dread,
Her ftrength exhaufted in the lengthen'd flight,

66

Old Peneus' ftreams fhe faw, and loud exclaim'd :—
"O fire, afiist me, if within thy ftreams
"Divinity abides. Let earth this form,
"Too comely for my peace, quick swallow up:
"Or change those beauties to an harmless shape."
Her prayer fcarce ended, when her lovely limbs
A numbnefs felt; a tender rhind enwraps
Her beauteous bofom; from her head fhoots up
Her hair in leaves; in branches fpread her arms;
Her feet but now fo fwift, cleave to the earth
With roots immoveable; her face at laft
The fummit forms; her bloom the fame remains.
Still loves the god the tree, and on the trunk

His right hand placing, feels her breast yet throb,
Beneath the new-grown bark; around the boughs,
As yet her limbs, his clafping arms he throws;
And burning kifles on the wood imprints.
The wood his lips repels, Then thus the god
"O laurel, though to be my bride deny'd,
"Yet fhalt thou be my tree; my temples bind;
"My lyre and quiver fhalt thou still adorn:
"The brows of Latian conquerers fhalt thou grace,
"When the glad people fing triumphant hymns,
"And the long pomp the capitol afcends.
"A faithful guard before Augustus' gates,
"On each fide hung ;-the fturdy oak between.
"And as perpetual youth adorns my head.
"With locks unfhorn, thou also still shalt bear
"Thy leafy honors in perpetual green."
Apollo ended, and the laurel bow'd
Her verdant fummit as her grateful head.

P. 23.

The work throughout is of an uniform tenor, and certainly entitled to confiderable commendation. The exercife doubtlefs beguiled the tranflator's leifure hours, and his performance deferves, and will have, a place in all collections of which verfions from the claffics form a part, and the number of thefe is by no means infignificant. If other remuneration be expected, the confequence of extenfive and popular circulation, all fuch hope it is to be feared will terminate in disappointment.

BRITISH CATALOGUE.

POETRY.

ART. 11. Oxford Prize Poems: being a Collection of such Englis Poems as have at various Times obtained Prizes in the Univerfity of Oxford. Second Edition. 12mo. 128 pp. 35. Rivingtons, &c. 1807.

That this is a collection which many perfons are defirous to have, is proved by its having arrived at a fecond edition. The poems contained in it are feven: "The Conqueft of Quebec," by Mr. Howard, of Wadham, 1768. "The Love of our Country," by Mr. Butfon, of New College, 1771. "The beneficial Effects of Inoculation," Mr. Lipfcombe, of Corpus, 1772. "Aboriginal Britons," Mr. Richards, of Oriel, 1791. "Palestine,"

Pp3

"Paleftine," Mr. Heber, of Brazen Nofe, 1803. "On ancient Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting," Mr. Wilfon, of Magdalen, 1806; and Mofes conducting Ifrael to the promifed Land," Mr. Rolleston, of Univerfity College, 1807. The chief part of thefe have long had an established credit, proportionable to their merits. Of Mr. Heber's Paleftine, we fpoke particu larly, and gave a specimen, in noticing the fecond volume of the Poetieal Register *. The poem which clofes the collection, is probably now firft included in it . It is a fpirited and able poem. The defcription of the divine cloud and fire attending the march of the Ifraelites, is conceived with a very poetical mind, and expreffed with energy and beauty.

.

"They go; but all is filent as the tomb.-
For look! where column'd high in maffy gloom,
Deep as the darkness of the coming ftorm,
Moves flow before the hoft a giant form;
And fee, as all the twilight landfcape fades,
A pale and dubious light the mafs pervades,
And, as the night rolls on, the wondrous frame
Pours a broad glare, and brightens into flame :
'Tis not the beacon fire, which wakes from far
The wand'ring fons of rapine and of war;
'Tis not of night's fair lamp the filvery beam,
Nor the quick-darting meteor's angry gleam;
No1 'tis the pillar'd cloud, the torch of heav'n,
Pledge of the prefent God, by mercy given;
The facred boon, by Providence fupplied,

By day to cover, and by night to guide." P. 116.

The principal miracles of that wonderful march are defcribed with equal force and vigour; and the conclufion, applying the whole to the journey of the chriftian, towards the heavenly Canaan, is at once animated and judicious. It is evident, therefore, that this concluding poem well maintains its rank with thofe which had preceded.

ART. 12. Poetical Tales, founded on Fals. By M. Savory. 12mo. 5s. Darton and Harvey. 1808.

These tales can affert no claim to any great poetical merit, but they will afford a very pleafing and innocent amusement to younger readers. The tale of Marian is very pathetic, and exceedingly well told, but unfortunately the author, contrary to all example and ufage, places the accent of Conftantine on the middle fyllable, and not on the firft.

*Brit. Crit. vel. xx111. p. 616.

+ We did not happen to fee the first edition, fo cannot be fure,

ART.

ART. 13. Poems written on different Occafions, by Charlotte Richardfon. To which is prefixed, fome Account of the Author; together with the Reasons which have led to their Publication, by the Editor, Catharine Cappe. Printed by Subscription, for the Benefit of the Author. I 2mo. 129 pp. 5s. York, printed. Johnfon, Hatchard, &c. London. 1806.

A plain, but interefting narrative, of a female, in very humble life, who, under great disadvantages, grew up in piety and virtue, and was able even to attain a confiderable degree of mental cultivation, introduces thefe poems to the reader; and as the fubject of it is no other than Mrs. Richardfon, the author of the Poems, every eye will be turned with favour towards them. The fentiments expreffed in them are pious, with a tinge perhaps of enthusiasm; but it is a Chriftian enthusiasm, which feems to have fupported the author in many trials, and kept her firm in the path of duty. The following fhort poem, addressed to a friend, may ferve as a fpecimen of the author's powers.

56 A VALENTINE,

"Addreffed by the Author to A, B. Feb. 14, 1802.

"No tales of love to you I fend,

No hidden flame difcover,

I glory in the name of Friend
Difclaiming that of Lover.

And now while each fond fighing youth
Repeats his vows of love and truth,
Attend to this advice of mine;
With caution choose a Valentine,

"Heed not the Fop who loves himself,
Nor let the Rake your love obtain;

Choose not the Mifer for his pelf,

The Drunkard treat with cold difdain.
The Profligate with caution fhun,
His race of ruin foon is run:

To none of these your heart incline,
Nor choofe from them a Valentine.

"But, fhould fome gen'rous youth appear
Whofe honeft mind is void of art,
Who fhall his Maker's laws revere,
And ferve him with a willing heart.
Who owns fair Virtue for his guide,
Nor from her precepts turns afide;
To him at once your heart refign,
And bless your faithful Valentine.