Πρέσβιςα Μακάρων Moft bleft among the blessed.-Let it be a pre-eminence of any kind, to the exclufion of most venerable-ill fuiting a Goddess, who claims with Venus fuch an Address as this "Alma". "Hominum Divûmque Voluptas, "Lovelieft" "Delight of Heav'n and Earth, Had Johnson united to his powerful understanding and extenfive erudition, a true Taste, he had been the Aristotle of the moderns. Nature has drawn a broad line between Tafte and Judgment; and feems to delight in bestowing these advantages with a capricious hand-favo cum joco-Did not Locke prefer Blackmore to Milton; and was not Florus, the greatest Coxcomb among Writers, the favourite with Montefquieu? The images, or, rather the circumstances, in the Poem before us are crowded on one another without taste or distinction; fome unneceffarily repeated, others obfcurely expreffed. Why then, it will be asked, have you chofen it for the object of your imitation? I anfwer, the Outline pleafed me, though the Finifhing did not: in fhort, I thought I could improve it. 5 HYMN FIRS IRST-born of Heaven! for without thee, Opprefs'd by Immortality. Come then, thou beft of bleffings! come, Thy hand muft make them fit with ease: Whate'er we hope, whate'er endure, то ASSUME, my Verfe, thy wonted art, While all in expectation ftand, Canft thou not paint the willing heart Canft thou not summon from the sky Soft Venus and her milk-white Doves? Mark-in an eafy yoke they fly, An emblem of unfever'd loves. Now, Mira, art thou pale with fear ; Look not, thou Sweetness, thus forlorn; Quick, Hymen, to the temple lead; In blushes rose the confcious Maid; Well may the Lover fondly gaze On thy bright cheek, and bloom of youth, Impatient of the calmer praise Of fweetness, innocence, and truth. Yet thefe fhall to thy latest hour, |