1791- CHARACTER OF GEORGE BUCHANAN. 235 



generofity in another^ may firft poflibly have infpirfed 

 him with that difdain of royahy, and thofe levelling 

 republican principles which formed, as it were, the ef- 

 fence of his foul. 



It is true that our author has produced many beau- 

 tiful panegyrics on fome of the moft eminent perfon- 

 ages of his time ; but thefe are to be regarded rather as 

 the fports of imagination, as the labours of convenience 

 or necefTity, than as the offspring of voluntary choice*. 

 He feems to have owed much of the happinefs of his 

 life to the univerfal veneration excited by his abilities. 

 No man, perhaps, ever enjoyed a more numerous, il- 

 luftrious, and affe£lionate circle of correfpondents ; 

 and their attachment fhows, that if he did not feel, he 

 muft at leaft have exerted, in an uncommon degree, 

 the focial virtues. Indeed, one or two poets excepted, 

 none hag excelled him in difplaying the fenfibilities of 

 friendfhip, of gratitude, and of love. As a fpecimen 

 of his talents in this line the reader may perufe part of 

 an ode addreffed to a young lady. 



CamiUa, muko me mihl carior, 

 Aiit fi quid ipfo eft me mihi carius, 



Camilla, doAorum parentum 



Et patrise decus et voluptas : 



Ki Gratiae te plus oculis ament, 

 Ni te Caman;e plus oculis ament, 



Nee Gritias gratas, nee ipfas 



Efle rcarlepidas Camoenas. 



(}\ix virgo nondum nubllis, artibus 

 Uoftis Minervam. pedinc Apollinem, 



Cantu Camoenas et lepore 



Vel fuperes Charites, vel xques. 



" Camilla much dearer to me than myfelf, or than 

 " whatever elfe is dearer to me than myfelf : — Camil- 



* V/e are indebted for the Ode on Alexander's Feaft to the iinpor- 

 ,U'.ni'.je3 of » Mufical Club. 



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