What with your friend you nobly share Nov. 1784. # The following TRANSLATIONS, PARODIES, and BURLESQUE VERSES, most of them extempore, are taken from ANECDOTES of Dr. JOHNSON; published by Mrs. Piozzi. ANACREON, ODE IX. LOVELY courier of the sky, Soft Anacreon's vows I bcar, VOL. I. His the letters that you see, my return awaits ; iny better lot bestows Sweet repast, and soft repose; Now the gen'rous bowl I sip As it leaves Anacreon's lip: Void of care, and free from dread, From his fingers snatch his bread; Then, with luscious plenty gay, Round his chamber dance and play ; Or from wine, as courage springs, O'er his face extend my wings; And when feast and frolic tire, Drop asleep upon his lyre. This is all, be quick and go, More than all thou canst not know; Let me now my pinions ply, I have chatter'd like a pye. LINES in 1777. PARODY OF A TRANSLATION From the MEDEA of EURIPIDES. ERR shall they not, who resolute explore, Times gloomy backward with judicious eyes; And, scanning right the practices of yore, Shall deem our hoar progenitors unwise. They to the dome where Smoke, with curling play, Announc'd the dinner to the regions round, Summon'd the singer blythe, and harper gay, And aided wine with dulcet-streaming sound. The better use of notes, or sweet or shrill, By quiv'ring string or modulated wind; Trumpet or lyre-to their harsh bosoms chill Admission ne'er had sought, or could not find. Oh! send them to the sullen mansions dun, Her baleful eyes where Sorrow rolls around; Where gloom-enamour'd Mischief loves to dwell, And Murder, all blood-bolter'd, schemes the wound. When cates luxuriant pile the spacious dish, And purple nectar glads the festive hour; The guest, without a want, without a wish, Can yield no room to mụsick's soothing pow's, TRANSLATION Of the Two First Stanzas of the Song “ Rio verde, “ Rio verde," printed in Bishop Percy's Reliquer of Ancient English Poetry. An IMPROMPTU. GLASSY water, glassy water, Down whose current, clear and strong, Moor and Christian, roll along. IMITATION of the Style of ****, Hermit hoar, in solemn cell Wearing out life's evening grey, What is bliss, and which the way. Thus I spoke, and speaking sigh'd, Scarce repress'd the starting tear, Come, my lad, and drink some beer: BURLESQUE An IMPROMPTU. Vence una muger hermosa O el de flaco averguençe O ella di fer mas furiosa. If the man who turnips cries, TRANSLATION Of the following Lines at the End of BARETTI's EASY PHRASEOLOGY. An IMPROMPTU, Viva viva la padrona! LONG may live toy lovely Hetty! |