Grant, that, like Solomon's of old, Conundrums of divinity. And O! to mine let each strong charm belong, That breathes salacious in the wise man's Song. And thou, sweet bard, for ever dear To each impassion'd love-fraught ear, Soft, luxuriant ROCHESTER;?/ Descend, and ev'ry tint bestow That gives to phrase its ardent glow; From thee thy willing Hill shall learn Thoughts that melt, and words that burn: Then smile, O gracious smile, on this petition! So Solomon, gay Wilmot join'd with thee, Shall show the world that such a thing can be As, strange to tell !-u virtuous Coalition ! 2, 15 IV. Thou too, thou dread and awful shade. On Sion's top, or near the Pole!....... The Lord doth give---The Lord doth take away.--- And give the praise to a true Pharisee: Exert thy jaw-and straight disperse them all- So to th' end 't shall be; My Muse will ne'er leave singing The LORD of SAL'SBURY!!! NUMBER V. DUAN, IN THE TRUE OSSIAN SUBLIMITY, By MR. MACPHERSON. Does the wind touch thee, O Harp? Is it thy hand, Spirit of the departed Scrutiny? Bring me the harp, pride of CHATHAM ! Snow is on thy bosom, Maid of the modest eye! A song shall rise! Every soul shall depart at the sound!!! I behold thee sitting on mist!!! Singing in the deep like an oyster!!!! Thy face is like the beams of the setting moon! Thy eyes are of two decaying flames ! The wither'd thistle shall crown my head! Son of CHATHAM ! But thou, O King! give me the Laurel! NUMBER VI. We [THOUGH the following Ossianade does not immediately come under the description of a Probationary Ode, yet, as it appertains to the nomination of the Laureat, we class it under the same head. must at the same time compliment Mr. Macpherson for his spirited address to Lord Salisbury on the subject. The following is a copy of his letter:] MY LORD, I TAKE the liberty to address myself immediately to your Lordship, in vindication of my poetical character, which, I am informed, is most illiberally attacked by the Foreign Gentleman, whom your Lordship has thought proper to select as an assessor on the present scrutiny for the office of Poet Laureat to His Majesty. Signor Delpini is certainly below my notice: but I understand his objections to my Probationary Ode are two;--first, its conciseness; and next, its being in prose. For the present, I shall wave all discussion of these frivolous re marks; begging leave, however, to solicit your Lordship's protection to the following Supplemental Ode, which, I hope, both from its quantity and its style, will most effectually do away the paltry, insidious attack of an uninformed reviler, who is equally ignorant of British Poetry and of British Language. I have the honour to be, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient, and faithful servant, J. MACPHERSON. |