"Yet Portugal's our old and best ally, 115 120 "Your lordship's hairs would stand on end to hear "My last dispatches from the Grand Vizier. "The fears of Dantzick-merchants can't be told; Accounts from Cracow make my blood run cold. "The state of Portsmouth, and of Plymouth Docks, 125 "Your Trade your Taxes-Army-Navy-Stocks"All haunt me in my dreams; and, when I rise, "The bank of England scares my open eyes. " I see-I know fome dreadful storm is brewing; "Arm all your coasts-your navy is your ruin. "I say it still; but (let me be believed) 130 "In this your lordships have been much deceiv'd. "A noble Duke affirms, I like his plan: "I never did, my lords !-I never can "Shame on the slanderous breath! which dares instill 135 "That I, who now condemn, advis'd the ill. "Plain words, thank Heav'n! are always understood: "I could approve, I said-but not I wou'd. "Anxious to make the noble Duke content, 140 ་་ My view was just to seem to give consent, While all the world might see that nothing less was "meant." While JEKYLL thus, the rich exhaustless store Of LANSDOWNE's rhetoric ponders o'er and o'er; And, wrapt in happier dreams of future days, 145 From Figtree-Brick--Hare--Pump and Garden court. Anxious they gaze-and watch with silent awe Meanwhile, with softest smiles and courteous bows, 150 66 Thanks, generous friends," he cries," "kind Tem"plers, thanks! "Tho' now, with LANSDOWNE's band your JEKYLL «ranks, "Think not, he wholly quits black-letter cares; "Still-still the lawyer with the statesman shares." 455 Strange, novice thoughts, and alien cares delude. 165 Yes, modest Eloquence! ev'n I must court For once, with mimic vows, thy coy support; Oh! would'st thou lend the semblance of my charms! Fein'd agitations, and assum'd alarms! "Twere all I'd ask :-but for one day alone 170 To ape thy downcast look-my suppliant tone: 175 PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE, BY THE EDITOR. HAVING, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy-six, put forth A HISTORY OF MUSIC, in five volumes quarto (which buy), notwithstanding my then avocations as Justice of the Peace for the county of Middlesex and city and liberty of Westminster; I, Sir John Hawkins, of Queen-square, Westminster, Knight, do now, being still of sound health and understanding, esteem it my bounden duty to step forward as Editor and Revisor of THE PROBATIONARY ODES. My grand reason for undertaking so arduous a task is this: I do from my soul believe that Lyric Poetry is the own, if not twin sister of Music; wherefore, as I had before gathered together every thing that any way |