I make no apology for the introduction of the following lines, though I have never learned who wrote them. Their elegance will sufficiently recommend them to persons of classical taste and erudition, and I shall be happy if the English version that they have received from me, be found not to dishonour them. Affection for the memory of the worthy man whom they celebrate, alone prompted me to this endeavour. W. COWPER. VERSES ΤΟ THE MEMORY OF DR. LLOYD, SPOKEN AT THE WESTMINSTER ELECTION NEXT AFTER HIS DECEASE. ABIIT senex! periit senex amabilis ! Senem colendum præstitit, Seu quando, viribus valentioribus Florentiori vos juventute excolens Seu quando fractus, jamque donatus rude, Vultu sed usque blandulo, Miscere gaudebat suas facetias His annuis leporibus. Vixit probus, puraque simplex indole, Et dives æqua mente-charus omnibus, Unius* auctus munere. Ite tituli! meritis beatioribus Aptate laudes debitas! Nec invidebat ille, si quibus favens Decus sit inditum, nec mortuo THE SAME IN ENGLISH. OUR good old friend is gone, gone to his rest, How once ye loved, and eyed him with respect, And richer than the rich in being so, Obtain'd the hearts of all, and such a meed *He was usher and under-master of Westminister near fifty years, and retired from his occupation when he was near seventy, with a handsome pension from the king. See the note in the Latin copy Hence then, ye titles, hence, not wanted here, Light lie the turf, good Senior! on thy breast, TO MRS. THROCKMORTON, ON HER BEAUTIFUL TRANSCRIPT OF HORACE'S ODE, AD LIBRUM SUUM. [February, 1790.] MARIA, Could Horace have guess'd The honour which you have bestow'd, So elegant, even, and neat, He had laugh'd at the critical sneer Which he seems to have trembled to meet. And sneer, if you please, he had said, A nymph shall hereafter arise, Who shall give me, when you are all dead, The glory your malice denies. Shall dignity give to my lay, Although but a mere bagatelle; Nothing ever was written so well. INSCRIPTION For a Stone erected at the Sowing of a Grove of Oaks at Chillington, the seat of T. Gifford, Esq. 1790. [June, 1790.] OTHER stones the era teil, Which shall longest brave the sky, I must moulder and decay, Cherish honour, virtue, truth, Stone at heart, and cannot grow. ANOTHER, For a Stone erected on a similar occasion at the same place in the following year. HEAR, Lord, the song of praise and pray'r, Thanks for thy Word and for thy Day; And grant us, we implore, Never to waste in sinful play Thanks that we hear-but oh impart To each desire sincere, That we may listen with our heart, And learn as well as hear. |