written, and am very far from infinuating that I have the remoteft defign of performing any part of the task myself; for, to say the truth, I should not have fuffered even the following trifles to fee the light, if I were not very defirous of recommending to the learned world a fpecies of literature, which abounds with so many new expreffions, new images, and new inventions. SOLI MA, ΑΝ ARABIAN ECLOGUE, Written in the Year 1768. E maids of Aden, hear a loftier tale Y was Than e'er was fung in meadow, bow'r, or dale, The fmiles of Abelah, and Maia's eyes, Where beauty plays, and love in flumber lies; The fragrant hyacinths of Azza's hair, That wanton with the laughing fummer-air; Love-tinctur'd cheeks, whence roses seek their bloom, And lips, from which the Zephyr steals perfume, Invite Invite no more the wild unpolish'd lay, But fly like dreams before the morning ray. See yon fair groves that o'er Amana rise, And with their fpicy breath embalm the skies; Fair Solima! the hills and dales will fing, Fair Solima! the diftant echoes ring. *It was not eafy in this part of the tranflation to avoid a turn fimilar to that of Pope in the known description of the Man of Rofs. But But not with idle shows of vain delight, To charm the foul, or to beguile the fight; At noon on banks of pleasure to repose, Where bloom intwin'd the lily, pink, and rose; Till morn with pearls has deck'd the glowing east; Far other thoughts her heav'nly mind employ, To lull the weary on the couch of rest; To warm the trav'ler numb'd with winter's cold; The fad to comfort, and the weak protect; The poor to fhelter, and the loft direct : These are her cares, and this her glorious task; Come to thefe groves, and thefe life-breathing glades, Weeps there a maid in pining sadness left, And |