Mox iræ assumpsit cultus, faciemque minantem,

Inque odium versus, versus et in lacrymas:
Ludentem fuge, nec lacrymanti, aut crede furenti; 5
Idem est dissimili semper in ore Deus.

NOTES.

Ver. 5. Ludentem] So Moschus, Idyll. i. 25:

Κὴν ποτ' ἴδης κλαίοντα, φυλάσσει μή σε πλανήση.

Κὴν γελάα, τὸ νιν ἕλκε, καὶ ἦν ἐθέλῃ σὲ φιλᾶσαι
Φεῦγε.

This little poem has been translated into English verse by Mr. Walpole; see his Works, vol. iv. p. 454; and also by the author of 'The Pleasures of Memory:' see Rogers's Poems, p. 165.

ALCAIC ODE,*

WRITTEN IN THE ALBUM OF THE GRANDE CHARTREUSE, IN DAUPHINY,
AUGUST 1741.

(See Mason's Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 160.)

Oн Tu, severi Religio loci,
Quocunque gaudes nomine (non leve
Nativa nam certè fluenta

Numen habet, veteresque sylvas;

NOTES.

* In Mr. Heron's [Pinkerton's] Letters of Literature,' p. 299, is a translation of this Ode; and after that, a most extraordinary assertion, which I wish the author of that book had not given me an opportunity of producing: as, to say no worse, it is erroneous in every instance. "This exquisite ode," says he, "is by no means in the Alcaic measure, which Mr. Gray seems to have intended it for. The Alcaic measure, as used by Horace, consists of six feet, or twelve syllables, in the two first lines; three feet and a half, or seven syllables, in the third; and four feet, or eight syllables, in the fourth. Truly, Master Holofernes, the epithets are sweetly varied, like a scholar at the least*."" And yet I am afraid that this ingenious commentator has not experienced how true is the admonition given by the Moorish grammarian:

*Shaksp. Love's Labour's Lost.

Præsentiorem et conspicimus Deum
Per invias rupes, fera per juga,
Clivosque præruptos, sonantes

Inter
aquas, nemorumque noctem ;
Quàm si repostus sub trabe citreâ
Fulgeret auro, et Phidiacâ manu)
Salve vocanti ritè, fesso et

Da placidam juveni quietem.
Quod si invidendis sedibus, et frui
Fortuna sacrâ lege silentii

Vetat volentem, me resorbens

In medios violenta fluctus:

NOTES.

"Quid sit litera, quid duæ,
Junctæ quid sibi syllabæ.
Dumos inter, et aspera
Scruposis sequimur vadis.
Fronte exile negotium

Et dignum pueris putes.

Aggressis labor arduus

Nec tractabile pondus est."

Terent. Maur. Præf. 6. ed Brissæo.

Ver. 2. Non leve] "Neque enim leve nomen Amatæ,” Æn. vii. 581.

Ver. 6. Per invias] This verse would be reckoned faulty, from the absence of the cæsura

in its right place. See the note to the 'Carmen ad Favonium,' ver. 30.

Ver. 8. Noctem] "Veteris sub nocte cupressi," Val. Flac. i. 774. " Nox propria luco

est," Senecæ Thyestes, ver. 678.

Ver. 9. Trabe] "Ponit marmoream sub trabe citrea," Hor. Od. IV. i. 20.

Ver. 10. Phidiacâ] "Phidiacâ manu," Martial. vi. 75. x. 89.

Ver. 11. Ritè] "Mihi cumque salve

Rite vocanti." Hor. Ode I. xxxii. 15.

Ver. 14. Sacra] "Utrumque sacro digna silentio," Hor. Od. II. xiii. 29. "Resorbens," Hor. Od. II. vii. 15.

Saltem remoto des, Pater, angulo
Horas senectæ ducere liberas ;
Tutumque vulgari tumultu
Surripias, hominumque curis.

20

PART OF

AN HEROIC EPISTLE

FROM SOPHONISBA TO MASINISSA.

(See Mason's Memoirs, vol. iii. p. 46.)

EGREGIUM accipio promissi Munus amoris,
Inque manu mortem, jam fruitura, fero:
Atque utinam citius mandasses, luce vel unâ ;
Transieram Stygios non inhonesta lacus.
Victoris nec passa toros, nova nupta, mariti,
Nec fueram fastus, Roma superba, tuos.
Scilicet hæc partem tibi, Masinissa, triumphi
Detractam, hæc pompæ jura minora suæ

Ver. 4. Inhonesta]

NOTES.

5

"Quamvis ista mihi mors est inhonesta futura,
Mors inhonesta quidem."

Propert. El. II. vii. 89.

Ver. 5. Passa] "Virgineo nullum corpore passa virum," Ovid. Fast. v. 146. Virg. Georg. iii, 60.

Ver. 7. Masinissa] In Mr. Mason's edition it is spelt ' Massinissa;' which, however, will only partially correct the quantity; as the second syllable will still be short. See Ovid. Fast. vi. 769:

VOL. I.

"Postera lux melior, superat Masinissa Syphacem."

2 G