STUDY VIII. i^y 



" frequently retires well-pleafed from the enfan- 

 *' guined plain, to folace himfelf in the foft dalli- 

 " ance of thy uncloying love. ...In thofe fond mo- 

 ** ments, when affeélion can deny nothing, intreat 

 '^ him to have compaffion on his own Rome and 

 ** thine, and beflovv on it lafling tranquillity j for 

 " how can the voice of the philofophic Mufe be 

 " heard amidft the confufed noife of civil dif» 

 " cord ?"* 



Lucretius 



* Mr. Creech and Mr. Bryden have both tranflated this paf- 

 fage of Lucretius. It would have faved me a little labour, had 

 I dared to tranfcribe from either of their poetical vei-fions. But, 

 every thing confidered, I have ventured rather to hazard one of 

 my own. If it Ihall be deemed deficient in poetical merit, two 

 qualities, at leafl, it poflefles ; it conveys enough of the fenfe 

 of the Original, to anfwer the purpofe of it's being quoted in 

 this Work, and it cannot poflibly give offence to any modeft 

 ear. 



Venus, all hail ! of Gods and men the pride ; 

 Mov'd by whofe pow'r, the heav'nly bodies glide^ 

 In myftic round ; thine is the teeming Earth, 

 To thee the fwelling Ocean owes his birth : 

 Source of all life ! thou breath'ft the living foul. 

 And kindleft joy " from Indus to the Pole." 

 At thy approach the noify tempefts ceafe. 

 The air grows pure, and all the World is peace ; 

 For thee the Spring her fiow'ry mantle weaves. 

 For thee Autumnus piles his golden flieaves i 



The 



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