rupted by Adulteries) differed from thofe old Romans, who had dyed the Seas with the Blood of the Carthaginians, and conquered Pyrrhus, Antiochus, and Hannibal. 10 Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, was one of the Defcendants of Achilles, the Grandfon of Eacus; and is thence called by the Tranilator, acides. He overcame the Conful Lavinus, near Heraclea; but foon after was himfelf defeated by Fabricius and Curius. After he returned into Greece, a Woman (whofe Son he was about to kill) flew him with a Tile, aimed at him from the Roof of a Houfe in Argos, which he had just taken from Antigonus, in the Year of Rome 480. He was efteemed the greatest General of the Age in which he lived. 11 Ingentem Antiochum.] Anticchus, furnamed the Great, King of Syria. He was fubdued at Sea by Emilius Regulus, defeated on Land by L. Scipio, and, at last, slain by his own People in the Year of Rome 567. 12 Hannibalemque dirum.] For an Account of Hanniba, fee the Notes on the 12th Ode of the second Book. 13 Sed rufticorum mascula militum Proles.] The Roman Armies were compofed of Men who dwelt in the Country, whom, for the most part, they enlifted from the Marf, Apulia, and the Lands of the Samnites. There is, on this. Subject, a fine Paflage of Varro, at the Beginning of his Book on Hufbandry: Viri magni, noftri majores, &c. Thofe great Men, our Ancestors, preferred the Romans of the Country to the Romans of the City; and, indeed, not without Reafon : For as even in the Country it is obferved, that they who are employed in Houfes are more idle than fuch as work in the Fields; in like manner, they thought the Inhabitants of the City more flothful, than the Inhabitants of the Country.' DACIER. 14 Etas parentum.] Horace has here, with great Addrefs, comprised the Characters of four Generations in three fhort Verfes. As his Defcription of the three first is exactly conformable to Hiftory, he alfo proved a Prophet in the fourth. This might be eafily fhown, by comparing the Reign of Tiberius with that of Auguftus. See the Remark on the following Imitation. DACIER. The The Reader will find fome curious Particulars relating to the Life of the Tranflator of this Ode, in Mr. Fenton's Obfervations on Waller's Poems, p. 133. 1730. 12mo. Mr. Pope fays of him, in his Essay on Criticism, Such was Rofcommon, not more learn'd than good, With Manners generous as his noble Blood; To him the Wit of Greece and Rome was known, And every Author's Merit but his own. He died in 1684. The SAME ODE Imitated. By Dr. ROBERT LOWTH, To the PEOPLE of GREAT BRITAIN. BR I. RITON! the Thunder of the Wrath divine, Due to thy Fathers Crimes, and long withheld from thine, Shall burst with tenfold Rage on thy devoted Head; Unless, with confcious Terrors aw'd, By meek, heart-ftruck Repentance led, Suppliant thou fall before th' offended God: If haply yet thou may'st avert his Ire, And stay his Arm, out-stretch'd to launch th' avenging Fire. II. Did not High GOD of old ordain, When to thy Grafp he gave the Sceptre of the Main, That Empire, in this favour'd Land, Fix'd on Religion's folid Base should stand? When from thy struggling Neck He broke Th' inglorious, galling, Papal Yoke, Humbled the Pride of haughty Spain, And freed thee by a Woman-Hero's Hand; He then confirm'd the ftrong Decree: "Briton, be virtuous, and be free; "Be Truth, be Sanctity, thy Guide: "Be humble: fear thy GOD; and fear thou none " befide." III. Oft has th'offended Power his rising Anger shown: Led on by His avenging Hand, Rebellion triumphs in the Land: Twice have her barbarous Sons our war-train'd Hofts o'erthrown. They fell a cheap inglorious Prey; Th' ambitious Victor's Boast was half fuppreft, While Heaven-bred Fear, and wild Dismay, Unmann'd the Warrior's Heart, and reign'd in every Breaft. iv. Her Arms to foreign Lands Britannia bore; With frequent Conqueft where the Sires were crown'd, The Sons ill-fated fell, and bit the hoftile Ground: The tame, war-trading Belgian fled, While in his Cause the Briton bled: The Gaul flood wondering at his own Success; Oft did his hardieft Bands their wonted Fears confefs, Struck with Difmay, and meditating Flight: While the brave Foe ftill urg'd th'unequal Fight, While WILLIAM, with his Father's Ardor fir'd, Through all th' undaunted Hoft the generous Flame infpir'd.. V.. But heavier far the Weight of Shame, In vain she spreads her once victorious Sails; Or Fear, or Rafhnefs, in her Chiefs prevails; And wildly these prevent, those basely shun the Fight: Content with humble Praife, the Foe Avoids the long-impending Blow; Improves the kind Escape, and triumphs in his Flight! First, unreftrain'd by Honour, Faith, or Shame, Confounding every facred Name, The hallow'd nuptial Bed with lawless Luft profan'd: Deriv'd from this polluted Source, The dire Corruption held its Course Through the whole canker'd Race, and tainted all the Land. VII. The ripening Maid is vers'd in every dangerous Art, [Heart; That ill adorns the Form, while it corrupts the Practis'd to dress, to dance, to play, In wanton Mask to lead the Way, To move the pliant Limbs, to roll the luring Eye; In empty Noife, and vain Expence ; Studious of every Praise, but Virtue, Truth, and VIII. Thus leffon'd in Intrigue, her early Thought im proves, Nor meditates in vain forbidden Loves: Soon the gay Nymph, as Nature leads, shall rove |