ODE III. 1. This was the first English production of Mr. Gray which ap peared in print. It was published in folio, by Dodsley, in 1747; about the same time, at Mr. Walpole's request, Mr. Gray sat for his picture to Echart, in which, on a paper which he held in his hand, Mr. Walpole wrote the title of this Ode, and to intimate his own high and just opinion of it, as a first production, added this line of Lucan, by way of motto: Nec licuit populis parvum te, Nile, videre. Phars. lib. x. 1. 296. 2. And redolent of Joy and Youth. Stanza 2. l. 9. IMITATION. And bees their honey redolent of spring. Dryden's Fable on the Pythag. System. G. 3. And hard unkindness' alter'd eye. Stanza 8. l. 6. The elision here is ungraceful, and hurts this otherwise beautiful line: One of the same kind in the second line of the first Ode makes the same blemish; but I think they are the only two to be found in this correct writer: and I mention them here, that succeeding Poets may not look upon them as authorities. The judicious reader will not suppose that I would condemn all elisions of the genitive case, by this stricture on those which are terminated by rough consonants. Many there are which the ear readily admits, and which use has made familiar to it. 4. And moody Madness laughing wild. Stanza 8. 1. 9. IMITATION. -Madness laughing in her ireful mood. Dryden's Palamon and Arcite. G. ODE IV. 1. This Ode was first published, with the three foregoing, in Dodsley's Miscellany, under the title of an Hymn to Adversity, which title is here dropped for the sake of uniformity in the page. It is unquestionably as truly lyrical as any of his other Odes. 2. Exact my own defects to scan. Stanza 6. 1. 7. The many hard consonants, which occur in this line, hurt the ear; Mr. Gray perceived it himself, but did not alter it, as the words themselves were those which best conveyed his idea, and therefore he did not choose to sacrifice sense to sound. HAD Mr. Gray compleated the fine lyrical fragment, which I have inserted in the fourth section of the Memoirs, I should have introduced it into the text of his Poems, as the fifth and last of his monostrophic Odes. In order to fulfil the promise which I there made to my reader, I shall now reprint the piece with my own additions to it. I have already made my apology for the attempt; and therefore shall only add, that although (as is usually done on such occasions) I print my supplemental lines in the italic character, yet I am well aware that their inferiority would but too easily distinguish them without any typographical assistance. ODE ON THE PLEASURE ARISING FROM VICISSITUDE. Now the golden Morn aloft Waves her dew-bespangled wing, Till April starts, and calls around The sleeping fragrance from the ground; And lightly o'er the living scene Scatters his freshest, tenderest green. New-born flocks, in rustic dance, Frisking ply their feeble feet; Forgetful of their wintry trance, But chief, the Sky-Lark warbles high His trembling thrilling extacy; And, lessening from the dazzled sight, Melts into air and liquid light. Rise, my Soul! on wings of fire, Warm let the lyric transport flow, And animates the vernal grove With health, with harmony, and love. Yesterday the sullen year Saw the snowy whirlwind fly; The herd stood drooping by: Smiles on past Misfortune's brow And o'er the cheek of Sorrow throw A melancholy grace; While Hope prolongs our happier hour, Still, where rosy Pleasure leads, The hues of bliss more brightly glow, And blended form, with artful strife, See the Wretch, that long has tost At length repair his vigour lost, The meanest floweret of the vale, Humble Quiet builds her cell, Near the source whence Pleasure flows; 3 |