Refolv'd to write, the noble theme I chofe, And to the Princess thus the poem rofe. "Aid me, bright Phoebus! aid, ye facred Nine? Exalt my genius, and my verse refine. "My ftrains with Carolina's name I grace, "The lovely parent of our royal race.

"Breathe foft, ye winds! ye waves, in filence fleep! Let profperous breezes wanton o'er the deep, "Swell the white fails, and with the ftreamers play, "To waft her gently o'er the watery way."

Here I to Neptune 'form'd a pompous prayer, To rein the winds, and guard the Roval Fair; Bid the blue Tritons found their twisted fhells, And call the Nereids from their pearly cells.

Thus my warm zeal had drawn the Mufe along, Yet knew no method to conduct her fong: I then refolv'd fome model to purfue, Perus'd French criticks, and began anew. Long open panegyrick drags at best, And praife is only praise when well address'd. Straight Horace for fome lucky ode I fought : And all along I trac'd him thought by thought. This new performance to a friend I show'd: For fhame! fays he; what, imitate an ode! I'd rather ballads write, and Grub-ftreet lays, Than pillage Cæfar for my patron's praise : One common fate all imitators fhare, To fave mince-pies, and cap the grocer's ware. Vex'd at the charge, I to the flames commit Rhymes, fimilies, Lords' names, and ends of wit;

In blotted ftanzas fcraps of odes expire,
And fuftian mounts in pyramids of fire.

Ladies to you I next infcrib'd my lay,
And writ a letter in familiar way:

For, ftill impatient till the Princefs came,
You from defcription with'd to know the dame.
Each day my pleasing labour larger grew,
For ftill new graces open'd to my view.
Twelve lines ran on to introduce the theme;
And then I thus purfued the growing scheme :
"Beauty and wit were fure by nature join'd,
"And charms are emanations of the mind;
"The foul, tranfpiercing through the fhining frame,
"Forms all the graces of the Princely Dame:
"Benevolence her conversation guides,

"Smiles on her cheek, and in her eye refides.
"Such harmony upon her tongue is found,
"As foftens English to Italian found:

"Yet in those founds fuch fentiments appear,
"As charm the judgement, while they footh the ear.
Religion's chearful flame her bofom warms,

"Calms all her hours, and brightens all her charms. "Henceforth, ye Fair, at chapel mind your prayers, "Nor catch your lover's eyes with artful airs ; "Reftrain your looks, kneel more, and whisper lefs, "Nor most devoutly criticize on dress.

"From her form all your characters of life, "The tender mother, and the faithful wife. "Oft' have I feen her little infant-train, "The lovely promife of a future reign;

VOL. I.

M

"Obferv'4

"Obferv'd with pleasure every dawning grace,
"And all the mother opening in their face.
"The fon fhall add new honours to the line,
"And early with paternal virtues shine;
"When he the tale of Audenard repeats,
"His little heart with emulation beats;

"With conquests yet to come his bosom glows,
"He dreams of triumphs, and of vanquish'd foes;
"Each year with arts shall store his ripening brain,
"And from his grandfire he fhall learn to reign."
Thus far I'd gone: Propitious rifing gales
Now bid the failor hoift the fwelling fails.
Fair Carolina lands; the cannons roar;

White Albion's cliffs refound from fhore to fhore.
Behold the bright original appear,

All praise is faint when Carolina 's near.

Thus to the nation's joy, but poet's cost,

The Princess came, and my new plan was loft.

Since all my schemes were baulk'd (my last resort),

I left the Mufes, to frequent the Court;
Penfive each night from room to room I walk'd,
To one I bow'd, and with another talk'd;
Enquir'd what news, or fuch a Lady's name,
And did the next day, and the next, the fame.
Places, I found, were daily given away,
And yet no friendly Gazette mention'd Gay.
I afk'd a friend what method to pursue;
He cry'd, I want a place as well as you.
Another ask'd me, why I had not writ;
A poet owes his fortune to his wit.

Straight

Straight I reply'd, With what a courtly grace
Flows eafy verfe from him that has a place!
Had Virgil ne'er at court improv'd his strains,
He still had fung of flocks and homely swains;
And, had not Horace sweet preferment found,
The Roman lyre had never learnt to found.
Once Ladies fair in homely guife I fung,

And with their names wild woods and mountains rung.
O teach me now to ftrike a fofter ftrain!

The Court refines the language of the plain.

You muft, cries one, the Ministry rehearse,
And with each Patriot's name prolong your verse:
But fure this truth to Poets fhould be known,
That praising all alike, is praifing none.
Another told me, if I wifh'd fuccefs,
To fome diftinguish'd Lord I must address;
One whofe high virtues fpeak his noble blood,
One always zealous for his country's good;
Where valour and strong eloquence unite,
In council cautious, refolute in fight;
Whose generous temper prompts him to defend,
And patronize the man that wants a friend.
You have, 'tis true, the noble patron fhown;
But I, alas! am to Argyll unknown.

Still every one I met in this agreed,
That writing was my method to fucceed;
But now preferments fo poffefs'd my brain,
That fearce I could produce a fingle strain :
Indeed I fometimes hammer'd out a line,
Without connection, as without defign.

One morn upon the Princess this I writ,
An Epigram that boasts more truth than wit.

“The pomp of titles easy faith might shake,
"She fcorn'd an empire for religion's fake :
"For this on earth the British crown was given,
"And an immortal crown decreed in heaven."
Again, while George's virtues rais'd my thought,
The following lines prophetic fancy wrought.

"Methinks I fee fome Bard, whofe heavenly rage "Shall rife in fong, and warm a future age; "Look back through time, and, wrapt in wonder, trace "The glorious feries of the Brunswick race.

"From the first George these godlike kings defcend, "A line which only with the world fhall end. "The next a generous Prince renown'd in arms, "And blefs'd, long blefs'd, in Carolina's charms; "From thefe the reft. 'Tis thus, fecure in peace, "We plow the fields, and reap the year's increase: "Now Commerce, wealthy Goddefs, rears her head, "And bids Britannia's fleets their canvafs fpread; "Unnumber'd fhips the peopled ocean hide, "And wealth returns with each revolving tide." Here paus'd the fullen Muse; in hafte I dress'd, And through the croud of needy courtiers prefs'd; Though unfuccefsful, happy whilft I fee Thofe eyes, that glad a nation, shine on me.

EPISTLE