93 



now rhimcs, not after the manner of monks, nor even that of France 

 or any other poliflied ftate ; but after the manner of her Sclavonian an- 

 ceftors ; that is, after the good old Runic mode. The learned Abbd 

 Fortis, lias obferved, that the Sclavonian language cannot be doubted to 

 have esifted in Dalmatia, even from the time of the Roman Republic ; 

 which he proves in an infinity of inftances, drawn from the names of 

 cities, rivers, mountains, families, &c. preferved by the Greek and 

 Roman authors, that are manifeftly Sclavonian : to fay nothing of the in- 

 fcriptions yet exifting in Dalmatia, under the firfl emperors. So that 

 the Ruffian rhimes, that are but a dialed: of the Illyrian, are as ancient 

 in Europe as any perhaps that may be brought againft them. 



Number V. 



Since the writing of the note to which this refers, an ingenious friend 

 has favoured me, with a view of " Le Api," a work that I had not 

 feen before. It was compofed in the year 1524, and printed at Venice, 

 In 1539. J do not afFeft much Ikill in Italian verfe, but " Le Api" 

 is, undoubtedly, a very fine poem. The following fimile is in Virgil's 

 beft manner, and not unworthy of the country which gave birth to that 

 poet. 



Come ne la fucina i gran Cyclopi, 

 Che fanno le faette horrende a Giove, 

 Alcuni con la forcipe a due man! 

 Tengono ferma la candente malTa ; 

 E la rivolgon fu la falda incude ; 

 Altri, levando in alto ambe le braccia, 

 Battonla a tempo. con horribil colpi ; 

 Altri hor alzando le bovine pelli, 

 Et hor premendo, mandan fuori il fiato 

 Grave, che ftride ne i carboni accefi : 

 Parte quando piu bolle, e piu sfavilla, 



. Frigon 



