the other eminence of the fame mountain, was dedicated to Bacchus.

P. 309. 1. 1. Charm the mind of gods.] This whole paffage, concerning the effects of facred mufic among the gods, is taken from Pindar's firft Pythian ode.

P. 310. 1. 6. Phrygian pipe's.] The Phrygian mufic was fantastic and turbulent, and fit to excite diforderly paffions.

1. 11; 12. The gates where Pallas holds

The guardian key.] It was the office of Minerva to be the guardian of walled cities; whence fhe was named ΠΟΛΙΑΣ and ΠΟΛΙΟΥΧΟΣ, and had her ftatues placed in their gates, being fuppofed to keep the keys; and on that account ftiled KAHAOTXOE.

1. 19, 20. Fate of fober Pentheus.] Pentheus was torn in pieces by the bacchanalian priests and women, for defpifing their myfteries.

1. 27, 28. The cave Corycian.] Of this cave Paufanias, in his Tenth Book, gives the following defcription: Between Delphi and the eminences of "Parnaffus, in a road to the grotto of Corycium, "which has its name from the nymph Corycia, and is by far the moft remarkable which I have feen. One may walk a great way into it without a torch. It is "of a confiderable height and hath feveral fprings "within it; and yet a much greater quantity of water "diftills from the fhell and roof, fo as to be continu

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ally dropping on the ground. The people round "Parnaffus hold it facred to the Corycian nymphs and "to Pan."

1. 28. Delphic mount.] Delphi, the feat and oracle of Apollo, had a mountanious and rocky fituation, on

the skirts of Parnaffus.

P. 311. 1. 7. Cyrenaïc.] Cyrene was the native country of Callimachus, whofe hymns are the most remarkable example of that mythological paffion which is affumed in the preceding poem, and have always afforded particular pleasure to the author of it, by reason of the myfterious folemnity with which they affect the mind. On this account he was induced to attempt fomewhat in the fame manner; folely by way of exercife: the manner itself being now almost intirely abandoned in poetry. And as the meer genealogy, or the perfonal adventures of heathen gods, could have been but little interefting to a modern reader; it was therefore thought proper to felect fome convenient part of the history of nature, and to employ thefe ancient divinities as it is probable they were firft employed; to wit, in perfonifying natural causes, and in representing the mutual agreement or oppofition of the corporeal and moral powers of the world: which hath been accounted the very highest office of poetry.

INSCRI P.

INSCRIPTION S.

I.

FOR A GROTTO.

O me, whom in their lays the fhepherds call
Actæa, daughter of the neighbouring ftream,
This cave belongs. The fig-tree and the vine,
Which o'er the rocky entrance downward fhoot,
Where plac'd by Glycon. He with cowflips pale,
Primrofe, and purple lychnis, deck'd the green
Before my threshold, and my fhelving walls
With honeyfuckle cover'd, Here at noon,
Lull'd by the murmur of my rifing fount,
I flumber here my clustering fruits I tend:
Or from the humid flowers, at break of day,
Fresh garlands weave, and chace from all my bounds
Each thing impure or noxious. Enter in,

O ftranger, undifmay'd. Nor bat, nor toad
Here lurks: and if thy breast of blameless thoughts
Approve thee, not unwelcome shalt thou tread
My quiet manfion: chiefly, if thy name
Wife Pallas and the immortal Mufes own.

II. FOR

II.

FOR A STATUE OF CHAUCER AT WOODSTOCK.

S

UCH was old Chaucer.. Such the placid mien

Of him who firft with harmony inform'd
The language of our fathers. Here he dwelt
For many a cheerful day. These ancient walls
Have often heard him, while his legends blithe
He fang; of love, or knighthood, or the wiles
Of homely life through each estate and age,
The fashions and the follies of the world
With cunning hand portraying. Though perchance
From Blenheim's towers, O ftranger, thou art come
Glowing with Churchill's trophies; yet in vain
Doft thou applaud them if thy breast be cold
To him, this other hero; who, in times

Dark and untaught, began with charming verse
To tame the rudnefs of his native land.

WE

III.

7HOE'ER thou art whofe path in Summer lies Through yonder village, turn thee where the grove

"

Of branching oaks a rural palace old

Imbofoms. Their dwells Albert, generous lord
Of all the harveft round, And onward thence

A low