To thee, impell'd by fond desire
Whene'er my eager steps retire,

Lov'd MERGILLINA-bending low,
I venerate the powers that haunt thy woods
Straight, o'er the rocks in gushing floods
Effus'd, PEGASEAN waters flow.

Then, in full choir, the harmonious nine,
To aid my rapturous song combiné ;
PHOEBUS himself sublimest themes
Inspires, and as its current full and strong
The rill miraculous pours along,
Strives to deduce a thousand streams.

Be then our HELICON! be thine
As his prophetic springs, divine,
And let thy shady summits waye
As those PARNASSIAN regions far renown'd,
Whose airy heights, with ivy crown'd,
To song its rapturous impulse gave.

Boy-from the nearest column bring

The harmonious lyre, whose trembling string
Vibrates accordant to my lay

Haste, and my path bestrew with vernal flow'rs;
Let pleasure lead the circling hours,

And grief and care be far away.

His

His princely name, through regions round Fame, let thy echoing clarion sound,

Whose praise my grateful song inspiresWhere the bright sun, in orient state ascends Heaven's shining path, and where he bends In downward flight his setting fires:

To realms unknown, far northern shores, Where bleak, eternal winter hoars

With endless frost his drear domains : To burning climes, swept by the sultry blast, Where borne impetuous o'er the waste, Torrents of sand obscure the plains.

Dear to my lyre! his pious care
He gives the favour'd Muse to share ;
And while the bard, in life's decline,
Warbles-on themes illustrious still intent,
His virtuous deeds—his high descent;
The honours of his ancient line ;—

Such gifts-as royal bounty showers,
With no reluctant hand he pours ;
And deigns in youthful breasts to aid
Sublime desire of literary praise :-
To song dispensing liberal ease,
PARNASSIAN haunt, and sylvan shade.

P

BEMBUS.

TE QUOQUE PIERIOS FAMA EST POTASSE LIQUORES, ET VIDISSE DEAS QUIBUS EST CUSTODIA SACRI

FONTIS, ET EUROTE CAMPOS, AC PHOCIDIS ARVA; IPSE UBI FRONDE SUA TIBI TEMPORA CINXIT APOLLO,

DONA DEDIT,

PLECTRA.

CITHARAM,

NERVOS, ET EBURNEA

BAPTISTA MANTUANUS.

AMONG the Italians who cultivated polite literature, and the Muses, about the end of the fifteenth, and the commencement of the sixteenth centuries, PIETRO BEMBO holds a conspicuous place. He was born at Venice, A. D. 1470. His family was one of the most ancient, and honourable of the republic; and among those in whom the patrician or senatorial dignity was hereditary.

His father Bernardo, an accomplished scholar, and a distinguished statesman, (a) being sent by his countrymen, on a embassy to Florence, carried with him young Pietro, then only eight years of age; with a view to improve him in the orthography and pronunciation of the Italian language; which was supposed to be there written and spoken, in its greatest purity.

It was on occasion of this embassy, that Politian addressed the following complimentary verses to the father of Pietro; which are calculated to give us a high idea of his eloquence, and fitness for the character of an ambassador. (1)

Bernardo

(a) Doctoratús laureâ, equestri gradu, et senatorio ordine, insignis fuit. Plura scripsit, quamvis paucissima typis vulgata sint. (Zeno) The father of Pietro, maintained a friendly intercourse with many illustrious and learned persons of the age; and is honourably spoken of by various writers. Frequent mention of him occurs in the letters of Marsilius Ficinus, and that in the highest terms of commendation. He discharged many of the most honourable offices of the state, at home and abroad. He died A. D. 1518, in his 86th year. See the notes of Apost. Zeno to Casa's life of Bembo, and also the letters of Ficinus.

(1) Vid. Poemata Politiani.