obscurity, the reputation of the poem which celebrated their worth, still retains. its original splendour. And, in truth, as a matter of equity, if blockheads and dunces are worthy to be recorded in the Poet's page, why may not Privy Councillors and Lords of the Bedchamber demand a similar exaltation?

POLITICAL MISCELLANIES.

PROBATIONARY ODE

EXTRAORDINARY,

By the Rev. W. MASON, M.A.

THE following second attempt of Mr. MASON, at the ROYAL SACK, was not inserted in the celebrated collection of Odes formed by Sir JOHN HAWKINS.-What might be the motive of the learned Knight for this omission can at present only be known to himself.-Whether he treasured it up for the next edition of his Life of Dr. JOHNSON, or whether he condemned it for its too close resemblance to a former elegant lyric effusion of the Rev. Author, must remain for time, or Mr. FRANCIS BArber, to develope.-Having, however, been fortunate enough to procure a copy, we have printed both the Odes in opposite leaves, that in case the latter supposition should turn out to be well founded, the public may decide how far the worthy magistrate was justified in this exclusion.]

ODE

To the Honourable WILLIAM PITT.

By W. MASON, M.A.

Με νύν; οτι φθονεραί

Θνατῶν φρένας ἀμφικρέμανται ελπίδες;

Μήτ ̓ ἀρετάν ποτε σιγάτω πατρώαν,

Μηδὲ τύσδ ϋμίως.

PINDAR. Isthm. Ode 2.

I.

"Tis May's meridian reign; yet Eurus cold
Forbids each shrinking thorn its leaves unfold,
Or hang with silver buds her rural throne :
No primrose shower from her green lap she throws *,
No daisy, violet, or cowslip blows,

And Flora weeps her fragrant offspring gone.

Hoar frost arrests the genial dew;

To wake, to warble, and to woo

No linnet calls his drooping love :

Shall then the poet strike the lyre,
When mute are all the feather'd quire,

And Nature fails to warm the syrens of the grove?

This expression is taken from Milton's song on May Morning, to which

this stanza in general alludes, and the 4th verse in the next,

ODE

To the Right Hon. WILLIAM PITT.

By W. MASON, M.A.

"Give not the Mitre now!

"Lest base-tongued ENVY squinting at my brow,
"Cry, 'lo! the price for CAVENDISH betray'd!'
"But in good time nor that, oh! PITT! forget,
"Nor my more early service yet unpaid,

"My puffs on CHATHAM in his offspring's aid,
“Not what this loyal Ode shall add to swell the debt.”

MY OWN TRANSLATION.

1.

Tis now the TENTH of APRIL; yet the wind
In frigid fetters doth each blossom bind,

No silver buds her rural throne emboss:
No violets blue from her green lap she throws *
Oh! lack-a-daisy! not a daisy blows,

And (ere she has them) FLORA weeps their loss.
Hoar frost, with bailiff's grizly hue,
At Winter's suit, arrests the dew;

No Cuckow wakes her drowsy mate:
His harp then shall a Parson strum,
When other Blackbirds all are dumb,
When neither Starlings, Daws, or Magpies prate?

* Improved from Milton.

II.

He shall for what the sullen Spring denies
The orient beam of virtuous youth supplies:
That moral dawn be his inspiring flame.
Beyond the dancing radiance of the east
Thy glory, son of CHATHAM! fires his breast,
And proud to celebrate thy vernal fame.
Hark, from this lyre the strain ascends,
Which but to Freedom's fav'rite friends
That lyre disdains to sound.

Hark and approve, as did thy sire *

The lays which once with kindred fire

His muse in attic mood made MONA's oaks rebound.

III.

Long silent since, save when, in KEPPEL's name,
Detraction, murd'ring BRITAIN'S naval fame,

Rous'd into sounds of scorn th' indignant string f.

But now, replenish'd with a richer theme,

The vase of harmony shall pour its stream,

Fann'd by free Fancy's rainbow-tinctur'd wing.
Thy country too shall hail the song,
Her echoing heart the notes prolong;
While they alone with envy sigh,

Whose rancour to thy parent dead
Aim'd, ere his funeral rites were paid,

With vain vindictive rage to starve his progeny.

*The poem of Caractacus was read in MS. by the late Earl of Chatham, who honoured it with an approbation which the author is here proud to record.

See Ode to the Naval Officers of Great Britain, written 1779.
See the motto from Pindar.