Endless labour all along,`
Endless labour to be wrong;

Phrase that time has flung away,
Uncouth words in disarray,

Tricked in antique ruff and bonnet,
Ode, and elegy, and sonnet.

PARODY

OF A TRANSLATION

FROM THE MEDEA OF EURIPIDES.

ERR shall they not, who resolute explore
Times gloomy backward with judicious eyes;
And, scanning right the practices of yore,
Shall deem our hoar progenitors unwise.

They to the dome where smoke with curling play Announced the dinner to the regions round, Summoned the singer blythe, and harper gay, And aided wine with dulcet-streaming sound.

The better use of notes, or sweet or shrill,
By quivering string, or modulated wind;
Trumpet or lyre-to their harsh bosoms chill,
Admission ne'er had sought, or could not find.

Oh! send them to the sullen mansions dun,
Her baleful eyes where Sorrow rolls around;
Where gloom-enamoured mischief loves to dwell,
And Murder,all blood-boltered,schemes the wound.

When cates luxuriant pile the spacious dish,
And purple nectar glads the festive hour;
The guest, without a want, without a wish,
Can yield no room to musick's soothing power.

BURLESQUE

On the modern Versification of ancient Legendary Tales.

AN IMPROMPTU.

THE tender infant meek and mild,

Fell down upon the stone;

The nurse took up the squealing child,
But still the child squealed on.

EPITAPH

FOR MR. HOGARTH.

THE hand of him here torpid lies,
That drew the essential form of grace;
Here closed in death the attentive eyes
That saw the manners in the face,

TRANSLATION

Of the two first Stanzas of the song "Rio verde, Rio verde," printed in Bishop Percy's Reliques of Ancient

English Poetry.

AN IMPROMPTU.

GLASSY water, glassy water,

Down whose current clear and strong,
Chiefs confused in mutual slaughter,
Moor and Christian roll along.

TO MISS THRALE,

On her completing her thirty-fifth Year.

AN IMPROMPTU.

OFT in danger, yet alive,
We are come to thirty-five;
Long may better years arrive,
Better years than 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,

Nature gives at thirty-five;

Ladies, stock and tend your hive,
Trifle not at thirty-five;

For, howe'er we boast and strive,
Life declines from thirty-five:
He that ever hopes to thrive,
Must begin by thirty-five-
And all who wisely wish to wive
Must look on Thrale at thirty-five.

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;
He who blindly trusts will find
Faith from every generous mind:
He who still expects deceit
Only teaches how to cheat.

LINES

Written under a Print representing Persons Skaiting.
O'ER crackling ice, o'er gulfs profound,
With nimble glide the skaiters play;
O'er treacherous pleasure's flowery ground
Thus lightly skim, and haste away.

TRANSLATION

Of a Speech of Aquileio in the Adriano of Metastasio, begin. ning, "Tu che in Corte invechiasti.”

GROWN old in courts thou art not surely one Who keeps the rigid rules of ancient honour; Well skilled to sooth a foe with looks of kindness, To sink the fatal precipice before him,

And then lament his fall with seeming friendship: Open to all, true only to thyself,

Thou knowest those arts which blast with envious praise,

Which aggravates a fault with feigned excuses, And drives discount'nanc'd virtue from the throne:

That leave the blame of rigor to the prince,
And of his every gift usurp the merit;
That hide in seeming zeal a wicked purpose,
And only build upon each other's ruin.

IMPROMPTU

On hearing Miss Thrale consulting with a friend about e Gown and Hat she was inclined to wear.

WEAR the gown and wear the hat,

Snatch thy pleasures while they last;