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

P. 311.1.7. Cyrenaïc.] Cyrene was the native country of Callimachus, whose 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 mysterious 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 almost intirely abandoned in poetry. And as the meer genealogy, or the perfonal adventures of heathen gods, could have been but little interesting to a modern reader; it was therefore thought proper to felect fome convenient part of the history of nature, and to employ thefe ancient divinities as it is probable they were firft employed; to wit, in perfonifying natural caufes, and in representing the mutual agreement or oppofition of the corporeal and moral powers of the world: which hath been accounted the very highest office of poetry.

INSCRIPTIONS.

T

I.

FOR A GROTT O.

O me, whom in their lays the shepherds call Actæa, daughter of the neighbouring stream, This cave belongs. The fig-tree and the vine, Which o'er the rocky entrance downward fhoot, Were plac'd by Glycon. He with cowflips pale, Primrose, and purple lychnis, deck'd the green Before my threshold, and my shelving 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 my bounds Each thing impure or noxious. Enter-in,

:

O ftranger, undismay'd. Nor bat, nor toad
Here lurks and if thy breaft of blameless thoughts
Approve thee, not unwelcome shalt thou tread
My quiet manfion: chiefly, if thy name
Wife Pallas and the immortal Mufes own.

II.

FOR A STATUE OF CHAUCER AT WOODSTOCK.

UCH was old Chaucer. Such the placid mien

SUCH

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 estate and age, The fafhions 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 verse To tame the rudeness of his native land.

W

HOEVER thou art whofe 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

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'st
Befet with ofiers, let thy pious hand

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

In manhood's prime. But foon did righteous Heaven
With tears, with sharp remorfe, 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 story. 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 Pleasure: O thou wretch
That weep'ft for jealous love, or the fore wounds