"Has pride a portion in the parted foul? "No---'tis a fpirit's nobler task of bliss, "That feels the worth it left, in proofs like "this; "That not its own applaufe, but thine approves, "Whofe practice praifes, and whofe virtue. "loves; "Who liv'ft to crown departed friends with "fame; "Then dying late, fhalt all thou gav'ft re"claim." It must not be omitted, that in the year 1740, our Author appeared once more in the character of an Editor, having given an elegant edition in two volumes octavo, printed by Meffrs. Knapton, of fome of the fineft Latin poems of the best Italian poets. The principal in this collection are the Syphilis of FRACASTORIUS, the Bombyx, the Poetics and the Scacchia Lufus of VIDA, the De Animorum Immortalitate of PALEARIUS, the Eclogues and Elegies of SANNAZARIUS, and the Sylva of POLITIAN. It has been before intimated, that our author had formed a defign of writing an epic poem on a ftory related in the old annalift, Geoffery of Monmouth, concerning the arrival of Brutus, the fuppofed grandfon of Eneas, into our ifland, and and the fettlement of the first foundations of the British monarchy. A sketch of this intended piece, now lies before the writer of thefe fheets; and as the plan feems to be noble, extenfive, and edifying, he trusts that an account of it will not only be entertaining, but inftructive; as the defign may ferve as a model to employ fome genius, if any there be, or fhall hereafter arife, equal to the execution of fuch an arduous task. The poem, as has been obferved, was to have been entitled BRUTUS. As Eneas was famed for his piety, fo his grandfon's characteristic was benevolence; the first predominant principle of his character, which prompted his endeavours to redeem the remains of his countrymen, the defcendants from Troy, then captives in Greece, and to establish their freedom and felicity in a juft form of government. He goes to Epirus, from thence he travels all over Greece; collects all the fcattered Trojans; and redeems them with the treasures he brought from Italy. Having collected his fcattered countrymen, he confults the oracle of Dodona, and is promifed a fettlement in an island, which, from the defcription, appears to have been Britain. He then puts to fea, and enters the Atlantic ocean. The The first book was intended to open with the appearance of Frutus at the ftraits of Calpe, in fight of the Pillars of Hercules, (the ne plus ultra.) He was to have been introduced debating in council with his captains, whether it was advifeable to launch into the great ocean, on an enterprise bold and hazardous as that of the great Columbus. One reafon, among others, affigned by Brutus, for attempting the great ocean in fearch of a new country, was, that he entertained no profpect of introducing pure manners in any part of the then known world; but that he might do it among a people uncorrupt in their manners, worthy to be made happy; and wanting only arts and laws to that purpose. A debate enfues. Pifander, an old Trojan, is rather for fettling in Betica, a rich country, near the ftraits, within the Mediterranean, of whose wealth they had heard great fame at Carthage. Brutus apprehends that the foftness of the climate, and the gold found there, would corrupt their manners; befides, that the Tyrians, who had established great commerce there, had introduced their fuperftitions among the natives, and made them unapt to receive the inftructions he was defirous to give. Cloanthes, one of his captains, out of avarice and effeminacy, nevertheless defires to fettle in a rich and fertile country, rather than to tempt the dangers of the ocean, out of a romantic notion of heroifm. 1 This has fuch an effect, that the whole council being dismayed, are unwilling to pass the ftraits, and venture into the great ocean; pleading the example of Hercules for not advancing farther, and urging the prefumption of going beyond a god. To which Brutus, rifing with emotion, anfwers, that Hercules was but a mortal like them; and that if their virtue was fuperior to his, they would have the fame claim to divinity: for that the path of virtue, was the only way which lay open to heaven. At length he refolves to go in a single ship, and to reject all fuch daftards, as dared not accompany him. Upon this, Orontes takes fire, declares he will attend him through any dangers; that he wants no oracle, but his own courage, and the love of glory. That it was for merchants like the Tyrians, not for heroes like them, to make trading fettlements in a country, for the fake of its wealth. All the younger part of the council agree to the fentiments of Orontes; and,from the love they bear to Brutus, determine to be the companions of his enterprize, and it is refolved to fet fail the next day. That night Hercules appears to him in a vifion, applauding and confirming the fentiments he had that day delivered in council, and encouraging him to perfevere in the purfuit of the intended enterprize. The The second book opens with a picture of the fupreme God in all his majefty, fitting on his throne in the highest heaven. The fuperintending angel of the Trojans empire (the Regnum Priami vetus) falls down before the throne, and confeffes his justice in having overturned that kingdom, for the fins of the princes, and of the people themselves. But adds, that after having chastised and humbled them, it would now be agreeable to his mercy and goodnefs, to raise up a new state from their ruins, and form a people who might serve him better. That, in Brutus, his Providence had a fit inftrument for fuch a gracious defign. This proftrate angel is raised by the Almighty, and permitted to attend upon Brutus in his voyage to Britain, in order to affift him in the reduction of that island. The guardian angel, in pursuance of this commiffion, flies from heaven to the high mountain of Calpe; and from thence caufes an east wind to blow, which carries the fleet out of the ftreights weftward to the Canary islands, where he lands. Here was to have been a description of Teneriff, and of the volcanoes, as likewife of a most delicious ifland, which is defcribed to be without inhabitants. A great part of his followers are difpofed to fettle here. What more, say they, can we wish for ourselves, than fuch a pleasing end of all our labours? In an inhabited country we muft, perhaps, be forced to fight, and de ftroy |