Advertisement. IN N reading several passages of the prophet Ifaiah, which foretell the coming of Christ, and the feli. cities attending it, I could not but observe a remarkable parity between many of the thoughts, and those ia the l'ollio of Virgil. This will not seem surprising, when we reilet, that the Eclogue was taken from a Sibylline prophecy on the same subject. One may judge that Virgil did not copy it line by line, but feJedied such ideas 29 best agreed with the nature of paf. toral poetry, and disposed them in that manner which served most to beautify his piece. I have endeavour. ed the fame in this imitation of him, though withouç admitting any thing of my own; fince it was written with this particular view, that the reader, by compar. ing the several thoughts, might see how far the images and defcriptions of the Prophet are fuperior to those of the Poer. But as I fear i baie prejudiced them by my management, I fall fubjoin the passages of lfaiah, and those of Virgil, under the fame disadvantage of a literal tranlation. M E S SI A H. A SACRED ECLOGUE, In Imitation of VIRGIL's POLLIO. Y Nymphs of Solymal begin the long: To heav'nly themes sublimer trains belong. Rapt into future times, the Bard begun : IMITATIONS. Ver. 8. A Virgin Mall conceive -- All crines fall cease, etc.] Virg. Ecl. iv, ver. 6. Jam dit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna ; Pacatumque reget patriis virtutibus o bem, “ Now the Virgin returns, now the kingdom of Saturn returns, now a new proçeny is sent down from high heaven. By means “ of thee, whatever reliques of our crimnes remain, mall be wip" ed away, and free the world from perpetual fears vern the earth in peace, with the virtues of his Father.” ISAIAH, Ch. vii, ver. 14. “Behold a Virgin shall conceive and « bear a Son.-Chap. ix, ver. 6, 7. Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; the Prince of Peace : of the increase of his government, and of his peace, there shall be no end: Upon the “ throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order and to eit.blith " it, with judgment and with justice, for ever and ever.” He shall goo From a Jeffe's root behold a branch arise, 25 IMITATIONS, At tibi prima, puer, nullo munuscula cultu, Ipfa tibi blandos fundent ounabula fures. " For thee, O Child, fall the earth, without being tilled, pro• duce her early offerings; winding ivy, mixed with Baccar, and “ Colocasia with smiling Acanthus. Thy cradle shall pour forth « pleasing flowers about thee." ISAIAH, Ch. XXXV. ver. 1. « The wilderness and the folitary 6 place shall be glad, and the desert thall rejoice and blossom as « the role. Ch. lx. ver. 13. “ The glory of Lebanon shall come “ unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the box together, to « beautify the place of thy sanctuary.' a Ifai. xi. ver. I. b Ch. xlv, ver, S. d Ch. ix. ver. 7. e Ch, xxxv. ver. 2. c Ch. xxv. ver. 4. 30 Hark! a glad voice the lonely defert chears ; 40 'Tis he th' obstructed paths of found shall clear, And bid new music charm th' unfolding ear: The : dumb shall fing, the lame his crutch forego, And leap exulting like the bounding roe. IMITATIONS. VER. 29. Hark! a glad voice, etc.] Aggredere ô magnos, aderit jam tempus, honores, E. v. ver. 62. come and receive the mighty honours : the time draws " nigh, O beloved offspring of the Gods, O great encrease of Jove! « The uncultivated mountains send fhouts of joy to the stars, o the very rocks fing in verse, the very thrubs cry out, A God, a * God !" ISAIAH, Ch. xl. ver. 3, 4. “ The voice of him that cryeth in “ the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord ! make straight “ in the desert a high way for our God ! Every valley shall be ex“ alted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the “ crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain." “ Break forth into singing, ye mountains ! O “ forest, and every tree therein! for the Lord hath redeemed Ch. iv. ver. 13+ “ Israel.” Ch, xl, ver, 3, 4. & Ch. xliii. ver, 18. Ch. xxxv. ver. 5, 6, |