1. 28. Delphic mount.] Delphi, the feat and oracle of Apollo, had a mountainous and rocky fituation, on the fkirts of Parnaffus.

P. 311.1.7. Cyrenaïc.] Cyrene was the native country of Callimachus, whofe hymns are the most remarkable example of that mythological paffion which is affumed in the preceding poem, and have always afforded particular pleasure to the author of it, by reason of the myfterious folemnity with which they affect the mind. On this account he was induced to attempt fomewhat in the fame manner; folely by way of exercife: the manner itself being now almoft intirely abandoned in poetry. And as the meer genealogy, or the perfonal adventures of heathen gods, could have been but little interefting to a modern reader; it was therefore thought proper to felect fome convenient part of the hiftory of nature, and to employ thefe ancient divinities as it is probable they were first employed; to wit, in perfonifying natural caufes, and in reprefenting the mutual agreement or oppofition of the corporeal and moral powers of the world: which hath been accounted the very higheft office of poetry.

INSCRIPTION S.

T

I.

FOR A GROTT O.

O me, whom in their lays the fhepherds call Actæa, daughter of the neighbouring ftream, This cave belongs. The fig-tree and the vine, Which o'er the rocky entrance downward shoot, Were plac'd by Glycon. He with cowflips pale, Primrose, and purple lychnis, deck'd the green Before my threshold, and my fhelving walls With honeysuckle cover'd. Here at noon, Lull'd by the murmur of my rifing fount, I flumber: here my clustering fruits I tend : Or from the humid flowers, at break of day, Fresh garlands weave, and chace from all Each thing impure or noxious. Enter-in,

my

bounds

O ftranger, undifmay'd. Nor bat, nor toad
Here lurks and if thy breaft of blameless thoughts
Approve thee, not unwelcome fhalt thou tread

My quiet manfion: chiefly, if thy name
Wife Pallas and the immortal Mufes own.

II.

FOR A STATUE OF CHAUCER

SUCH

AT WOODSTOCK.

UCH was old Chaucer. Such the placid mien
Of him who first with harmony inform'd
The language of our fathers. Here he dwelt
For many a cheerful day. These ancient walls
Have often heard him, while his legends blithe
He fang; of love, or knighthood, or the wiles
Of homely life through each eftate and age,

:

The fashions and the follies of the world

With cunning hand portraying. Though perchance
From Blenheim's towers, O ftranger, thou art come
Glowing with Churchill's trophies; yet in vain
Doft thou applaud them, if thy breast be cold
To him, this other hero; who, in times
Dark and untaught, began with charming verfe
To tame the rudeness of his native land.

HOE'ER thou art whose path in Summer lies Through yonder village, turn thee where the grove

Of branching oaks a rural palace old

Imbofoms. There dwells Albert, generous lord
Of all the harveft round. And onward thence

H

A low

A low plain chapel fronts the morning light
Faft by a filent rivulet. Humbly walk,
O ftranger, o'er the confecrated ground;
And on that verdant hilloc, which thou fee'ft
Befet with ofiers, let thy pious hand

Sprinkle fresh water from the brook, and strew
Sweet-fmelling flowers. For there doth Edmund reft,
The learned fhepherd; for each rural art
Fam'd, and for fongs harmonious, and the woes
Of ill-requited love. The faithless pride
of fair Matilda fank him to the grave

In manhood's prime. But foon did righteous Heaven
With tears, with fharp remorse, and pining care,
Avenge her falsehood. Nor could all the gold
And nuptial pomp, which lur'd her plighted faith
From Edmund to a loftier husband's home,
Relieve her breaking heart, or turn aside
The ftrokes of Death. Go, traveller; relate
The mournful ftory. Haply fome fair maid
May hold it in remembrance, and be taught
That riches cannot pay for truth or love.

IV.

YOUTHS and virgins: O declining eld:
O pale Misfortune's flaves: O ye who dwell
Unknown with humble quiet; ye who wait
In courts, or fill the golden feat of kings:
O fons of Sport and Pleafure: O thou wretch
That weep'ft for jealous love, or the fore wounds