91 SKETCH OF HIS OWN CHARACTER.* Too poor for a bribe, and too proud to importune; NO VERY GREAT WIT, HE BELIEV'D IN A GOD. But left Church and State to Charles Townshend and Squire.t *This was written in 1761, and found in one of Mr. Gray's pocket-books. + At that time Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, and afterwards Bishop of St. David's. POEMATA. HYMENEAL. ON THE MARRIAGE OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES.* IGNARE nostrûm mentes, et inertia corda, Scilicit ignorant lacrymas, sævosque dolores, * Printed in the Cambridge collection. Tuque Oh! Angliacis, Princeps, spes optima regnis, Ne tantum, ne finge metum ; quid imagine captus Hæres, et mentem pictura pascis inani? Umbram miraris: nec longum tempus, et ipsa Ibit in amplexus, thalamosque ornabit ovantes. Ille tamen tabulis inhians longum haurit amorem, Affatu fruitur tacito, auscultatque tacentem Immemor artificis calami, risumque, ruboremque Aspicit in fucis, pictæque in virginis ore: Tanta Venus potuit; tantus tenet error amantes. Nascere, magna Dies, qua sese AUGUSTA Bri tanno Committat Pelago, patriamque relinquat amœnam Nascere, Lux major, qua sese Augusta Britanno Sculptile sicut ebur, faciemque arsisse venustam Pygmaliona canunt: ante hanc suspiria ducit, Alloquiturque amens, flammamque et vulnera narrat : Implorata Venus jussit cum vivere signum, Fœminæam inspirans animam; quæ gaudia surgunt, Audiit ut primæ nascentia murmura linguæ, Luctari in vitam, et paulatim volvere ocellos Sedulus, aspexitque novâ splendescere flammâ ; Corripit amplexu vivam, jamque oscula jungit Acria confestim, recipitque rapitque; prioris Immemor ardoris, Nymphæque oblitus eburnæ. THO. GRAY, Pet. Coll. Sæpe enim curis vagor expeditâ Mente; dum, blandam meditans Camænam, Vix malo rori, meminive seræ Cedere nocti; • Mr. Mason considered this as the first original production of Mr. Gray's Muse; because verses imposed, either by schoolmasters or tutors, ought not to be taken into the consideration. Et, pedes quò me rapiunt, in omni Fonte Aganippen. Risit et Ver me, facilesque Nymphæ Surripit aura: Me reclinatum teneram per herbam; Nectit in omni. Hæ novo nostrum ferè pectus anno Purior hora: Otia et campos nec adhuc relinquo, Mollior æstas.) Namque, seu, lætos hominum labores Vestit, et auro; Sedulus servo veneratus orbem Pingere Calpen; |