MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 



xvii 



So high my reputation stands. 

 The historic muse my aid demands 



To bid her laurels bloom ; 

 And Steiiart and Sallust now combine 

 In many a smooth and nervous line 



To bid me speak of Rome ! 



I, who was only used to write 

 Of Income-Tax, and Windoiv- Light, 



In many a weary column. 

 Shall now be call'd upon to tell 

 How Tidly spoke, how Catiline fell, 



In strains sublime and solemn. 



Instead of horses, grooms, and gigs, 

 And 'powder-tax for lawyers' wigs, 



And puppies just of age, 

 The fate of empires and of kings, 

 And other such majestic things, 



Shall live upon my page. 



Then cease, my Lords, to brand my face 

 With such unmerited disgrace, 



Since now I'm proud to know 

 The characters I trace shall stand, 

 And through at least the British land 



To other times shall go. 



" I am always, whether in prose or rhyme, my dear sir, 

 most faithfully yours, 



H. Mackenzie/' 



This translation of Sallust, with the preliminary disser- 

 tations and notes, was published by Baldwin & Co., 

 London, in the year 1806, in two large quarto volumes, 

 and is now out of print. To the literary world a new 

 and less costly edition would doubtless give much satis- 

 faction, as it still retains its position as the best transla- 

 tion of any of the classical authors, accompanied by much 

 important information on subjects connected with Roman 

 history, which has appeared in our times. It is to be 

 regretted, however, that this was the only publication of 

 the kind which was published by Sir Henry, whose close 

 application to literary pursuits for the preceding ten years 



c 



