The Works of the English Poets: With Prefaces, Biographical and Critical

For, clear precision all, the tongue of gods,
Is harmony itself; to every ear
Familiar known, like light to every eye.

385
Meantime disclosing ages, as she spoke,
In long succession pour’d their empires forth;
Scene after scene, the human drama spread ;
And still th' embodied picture rose to sight.

Oh Thou, to whom the Muses owe their flame; 390 Who bid'ft, beneath the pole, Parnassus sise, And Hippocrené flow; with thy bold ease, The striking force, the lightning of thy thought, And thy strong phrase, that rolls profound, and clear; Oh, gracious Goddess! re-inspire my song ; 395 While I, to nobler than poetic fame. Aspiring, thy commands to Britons bear.

NOT ES

Ver. 242.

NOTES on the preceding Poem. Ver. 83. L. J. Brutus, and Virginius.

Via Sacra. Ver. 247. M. Angelo Buonaroti, Palladio, and Raphael d'Urbino; the three great modern masters in sculpture, architecture, and painting.

Ver. 273. Tusculum is reckoned to have stood at a place now called Grotta Ferrata, a convent of monks.

Ver. 276. 'The bay of Mola (anciently Formiæ) in. to which Homer brings Ulysses, and his companions. Near Formiæ Cicero had a villa.

Ver. 284. Naples then under the Austrian govern

ment.

Ver. 288. Campagna Felice, adjoining to Capua.

Ver. 290. The coast of Baix, which was formerly adorned with the works mentioned in the following lines ; and where, amidst many magnificent ruins, those of a temple erected to Venus are still to be seen.

Ver. 303. All along this coast the ancient Romans had their winter retreats; and several populous cities tood.

GREECE.