LIB. III. CARMEN IX. DIALOGUS HORATII ET LYDIE D HORAT. ONEC gratus eram tibi, Nec quifquam potior brachia candida Cervici juvenis dabat, Perfarum vigui Rege beatior. A DIALOGUE Between the Right Hon. HENRY PELHAM and Madam POPULARITY*. I. IN IMITATION OF HORACE, BOOK III. ODE IX. H. PELHAM. HILST I was pleafing in your eyes, WHILS And you was conftant, chaste, and wife; Ere yet you had your favours granted To ev'ry knave or fool who canted, In peaceful joy I pafs'd each hour, Nor envy'd WALPOLE's wealth and pow'r. From the commencement of the Spanish war in 1739, to the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle, figned October 7, 1748, the land-tax was raised from two fhillings to four fhillings. In 1749 it was lowered to three fhillings, at which rate it was continued till 1752, when Mr. Pelham, at that time the minifter, reduced it to two fhillings, at which rate it continued till the time of his death in 1754. This was one, amongst others, of thofe popular meafures which gilded the evening of this minifter's life, and rendered his death an object of public lamentation. To this event we owe this happy imitation, wrote foon after the Land-tax A&t of that year paffed. VOL. I. E. MADAM LYDIA. Donec non alià magis Arfifti, neque erat Lydia poft Chloën, Multi Lydia nominis Romanâ vigui clarior Ilià. HORAT. Me tune Threffa Chloë regit, Dulces docta modos, & citharæ fciens; Pro quâ non metuam mori, Si parcant animæ fata fuperftiti. LYDIA. Me torret face mutua Thurini Calais filius Ornithi; Pro MADAM POPULARITY. 2. While I poffefs'd your love alone, My heart and voice were all your own; But on my When I've moft reason for complaint, To hear you thus begin to fcold: H. PELHAM. 3. My juft regard I can't deny I'd freely facrifice my life. MADAM POPULARITY. 4. To her your warmest vows are plighted, For her I ev'ry day am flighted; |