IMPROVISO TRANSLATION OF THE FOLLOWING DISTICH ON THE DUKE OF MODE NA'S RUNNING AWAY FROM THE COMET IN 1742 OR 1743. SE al venir vostro i principi se n' vanno IF at your coming princes disappear, Comets and stay a year. IMPROVISO TRANSLATION OF THE FOLLOWING LINES OF M. BENSERADE, A SON LIT. THEATRE des ris, et des pleurs, Lit! où je nais, et où je meurs, IN bed we laugh, in bed we cry, EPITAPH FOR MR. HOGARTH. THE hand of him here torpid lies, That saw the manners in the face. TRANSLATION OF THE FOLLOWING LINES WRITTEN UNDER A PRINT SUR un mince chrystal l'hyver conduit leurs pas, Telle est de nos plaisirs la legere surface; O'ER ice the rapid skater flies, With sport above, and death below; IMPROMPTU TRANSLATION OF THE SAME. O'ER crackling ice, o'er gulphs profound, TO MRS. THRALE, ON HER COMPLETING HER THIRTY FIFTH YEAR. AN IMPROMPTU. OFT in danger, yet alive, We are come to thirty five; Could philosophers contrive Life to stop at thirty five, Time his hours should never drive O'er the bounds of thirty five. High to soar, and deep to dive, Ladies, stock and tend your hive, For, howe'er we boast and strive, And all who wisely wish to wive IMPROMPTU TRANSLATION OF AN AIR IN THE CLEMENZA DE TITO OF METASTASIO, BEGINNING," Deh se piacermi vuoi." WOULD you hope to gain my heart, Bid your teasing doubts depart; TRANSLATION OF THE SPEECH OF AQUILEIO IN THE ADRIANO OF METASTASIO, BEGINNING "tu che in corte invenchiasti." GROWN old in courts, thou surely art not one And then lament his fall with seeming friendship; Open to all, true only to thyself, Thou know'st those arts which blast with envious praise, And drive discountenanc'd virtue from the throne ; And of his ev'ry gift usurp the merit ; ΡΟΕΜΑΤΑ. MESSIA.* Ex alieno ingenio poeta, ex suo tantum versificator. SCALIG. Poet. TOLLITE concentum, Solymææ tollite nymphæ Immatura calens rapitur per secula vates * This translation has been severely criticised by Dr. Warton, in his edition of Pope, vol. i. p. 105. 8vo. 1797. It certainly contains some expressions that are not classical. Let it be remembered, however, that it was a college exercise, performed with great ras. pidity, and was at first praised beyond all suspicion of defect. C: |