So vaft, that twelve strong men of modern days

"Th' enormous weight from earth could hardly raise. I
He heav'd it at a lift and, pois'd on high,'
Ran staggering on, against his enemy.
"But fo diforder'd, that he scarcely knew

His way; or what unwieldy weight he threw.
His knocking knees are bent beneath the load:
And fhivering cold congeals his vital blood.
The stone drops from his arms; and falling short,
For want of vigour, mocks his vain effort.
And as, when heavy fleep has clos'd the fight,
The fickly fancy labours in the night:

We feem to run; and, deftitute of force,

1305

Our finking limbs forfake us in the course : 1315
In vain we heave for breath; in vain we cry:
The nerves unbrac'd their usual strength deny,
And on the tongue the faultering accents die:
So Turnus far'd, whatever means he try'd,

All force of arms, and points of art employ'd, 1320
The fury flew athwart, and made th' endeavour void.
A thousand various thoughts his foul confound :
He ftar'd about; nor aid nor iffue found:

His own men ftop the pafs, and his own walls furround.

Once more he pauses; and looks out again:
And feeks the goddess charioteer in vain.

1325

Trembling, he views the thundering chief advance,

And brandishing aloft the deadly lance:

Amaz'd

Amaz'd he cowers beneath his conquering foe,
Forgets to ward, and waits the coming blow.
Aftonish'd while he ftands, and fix'd with fear,
Aim'd at his fhield he fees th' impending spear.

2330

1335

The hero meafur'd firit, with narrow view, The deftin'd mark: and, rising as he threw, With its full fwing the fatal weapon flew. Not with lefs rage the rattling thunder falls, Or ftones from battering engines break the walls: Swift as a whirlwind, from an arm so strong, The lance drove on; and bore the death along. Nought could his feven fold fhield the prince avail, 1340 Nor aught beneath his arms the coat of mail; It pierc'd through all; and, with a grizly wound, Transfix'd his thigh, and doubled him to ground. With groans the Latins rend the vaulted sky: Woods, hills, and valleys, to the voice reply. Now low on earth the lofty chief is laid, With eyes caft upwards, and with arms difplay'd; And recreant thus to the proud victor pray'd: I know my death deferv'd, nor hope to live

·

1345

Ufe what the gods and thy good fortune give.

Yet think; oh think, if mercy may be shown,

(Thou hadst a father once, and hadft a fon):

Pity my fire, now finking to the grave;
And for Anchifes' fake, old Daunus fave!
Or, if they vow'd revenge, purfue my death;
Give to my friends my body void of breath!
The Latian chiefs have feen me beg my life;
Thine is the conqueft, thine the royal wife;
Against a yielded man, 'tis mean ignoble strife.

1350

1355

In

A

In deep fufpence the Trojan feem'd to ftand; 1360
And, just appear'd to ftrike, reprefs'd his hand.
He roll'd his eyes, and every moment felt
His manly foul with more compaffion melt.
When, cafting down a cafual glance, he spy'd
The golden belt that glitter'd on his fide:
The fatal fpoils which haughty Turnus tore
From dying Pallas, and in triumph wore.
Then, rouz'd anew to wrath, he loudly cries

1365

(Flames, while he spoke, came flashing from his eyes);
Traitor, doft thou, doft thou to grace pretend,

Clad, as thou art, in trophies of my friend?
To this fad foul a grateful offering go;
'Tis Pallas, Pallas gives this deadly blow.
He rais'd his arm aloft; and at the word,
Deep in his bofom drove the shining sword.

1379

1375

The ftreaming blood diftain'd his arms around,
And the disdainful foul came rufhing through the

wound.

POST

POST SCRIPT.

WHAT Virgil wrote in the vigour of his age, in

plenty and at eafe, I have undertaken to tanflate in my declining years: ftruggling with wants, oppreffed with fickness, curbed in my genius, liable to be misconstrued in all I write; and my judges, if they are not very equitable, already prejudiced against me, by the lying character which has been given them of my morals. Yet, fteady to my principles, and not difpirited with my afflictions, I have, by the bleffing of God on my endeavours, overcome all difficulties; and, in some measure, acquitted myself of the debt which I owed the public, when I undertook this work. In the first place, therefore, I thankfully acknowledge to the Almighty Power, the affiftance he has given me in the beginning, the profecution, and conclufion of my prefent ftudies, which are more happily performed, than I could have promised to myself, when I laboured under fuch discouragements. For, what I have done, imperfect as it is, for want of health and leifure to correct it, will be judged in after-ages, and poffibly in the present, to be no dishonour to my native country; whose language and poetry would be more esteemed abroad, if they were better understood. Somewhat (give me leave to fay) I have added to both of them, in the choice of words, and harmony of numbers, which were wanting, efpecially the laft, in all our poets, even in those who, being endued with genius, yet have not cultivated their mother-tongue with fuffi

cient care; or, relying on the beauty of their thoughts, have judged the ornament of words, and sweetness of found, unneceflary. One is for raking in Chaucer (our English Ennius) for antiquated words, which are never to be revived, but when found or fignificancy is wanting in the prefent language. But many of his deserve not this redemption, any more than the crowds of men who daily die, or are flain for fix-pence in a battle, merit to be restored to life, if a wifh could revive them. Others have no ear for verfe, nor choice of words, nor diftinction of thoughts; but mingle farthings with their gold to make up the fum. Here is a field of satire opened to me : but, fince the Revolution, I have wholly renounced that talent. For who would give phyfic to the great, when he is uncalled? to do this patient no good, and endanger himself for his prefcription? Neither am I ignorant, but I may justly be condemned for many of thofe faults, of which I have too liberally arraigned others.

"Cynthius aurem vellet, & admonuit.”

It is enough for me, if the government will let me pafs unquestioned. In the mean time, I am obliged, in gratitude, to return my thanks to many of them, who have not only distinguished me from others of the fame party, by a particular exception of grace, but, without confidering the man, have been bountiful to the poet : have encouraged Virgil to speak fuch English as I could teach him, and reward his interpreter, for the pains he has taken, in bringing him over into Britain, by defraying the charges of his voyage. Even Cerberus, when he had received the fop, permitted Æneas

to