The above is a Version of a Latin Epigram on the Pastor Arabs: decies octo sibi Persa requirit. amous John Duke of Marlborough, by the Abbé Sal-Myriadas sibi pulchra duas, duo millia poscit vini, which is as follows: Parthenope. Novies vult tellus mille Sicana. 8 Ut dicas, spatiis quam latis imperet orbi 10 Russia, myriadas ter denas adde trecentis: "Sardiniam cum sexcentis sex millia complent. Cum sexagenis, dum plura recluserit ætas, Myriadas ter mille homini dat terra " colendas. Vult sibi vicenas millesima myrias addi, 13 12 Vicenis quinas, Asiam " metata celebrem. Se quinquagenis octingentesima jungit Myrias, ut menti pateat tota Africa" doctæ. Myriadas septem decies Europa 15 ducentis Et quadragenis quoque ter tria millia jungit. His Tempelmanni numeris descripseris or- Myriadas denas dat, quinque et millia, sexque bem, Cum sex centuriis Judæo millia septem. Myrias Ægypto cessit bis septima pingui. Myrias adsciscit sibi nonagesima septem Imperium qua Turca' ferox exercet iniquum. Undecies binas decadas et millia septem, Sortitur 'Pelopis tellus quæ nomine gaudet. Myriadas decies septem numerare jubebit Centurias, et tres decadas Europa Britannis. 1 Millia myriadi septem fœcunda secundæ novem. Ter sex centurias Hollandia 19 jactat opima. Undecimum Camber 19 vult septem millibus addi. To the above Lines (which are unfinished, and can therefore be only offered as a fragment) in the Doctor's manuscript, are prefixed the words, "Geographia Metrica." As we are referred, in the first of the verses, to Templeman, for having furnished the numerical computations that are the subject of them, his work has been accordingly consulted, the title of which is, "A New Survey of the Globe," and which professes to give an accurate mensuration of all the empires, kingdoms, and other divisions thereof, in the square miles that they respectively contain. On comparison of the several numbers in these verses with those set down by Templeman, it appears that nearly half of them are precisely the same; the rest re not quite so exactly done. For the convenience of the reader, it has been thought right to subjoin each number, as it stands in Templeman's works, to that in Doctor Johnson's verses which refers to it. 1. In this first article that is versified, there is an accurate conformity in Dr. Johnson's number to Templeman's; who sets down the square miles of Palestine at 7,600.-2. The square miles of Egypt are, in Templeman, 140,700.-3. The whole Turkish empire, in Templeman, is computed at 960,057 square miles.-4. In the four following articles, the numbers in Templeman and in Johnson's verses are alike. We find, accordingly, the Morea, in Templeman, to be set down at 7,220 square miles.-Arabia, at 700,000.-Persia, at 800,000.-And Naples, at 22,000. -5. Sicily, in Templeman, is put down at 9,400.6. The Pope's dominions, at 14,868.-7. Tuscany, at 6,640.-8. Genoa, in Templeman, as in Johnson likewise, is set down, at 2,400.-9. Lucca, at 286.-10. The Russian empire, in the 29th plate of Templeman, is set down at 3,303,485 sq. miles.-11. Sardinia, in Templeman, as likewise in Johnson, 6,600.-12. The habitable world, in Templeman, is computed, in square miles, at 30,666,806.-13. Asia, at 10,257,487.— 14. Africa at 8,506,208.-15. Europe, at 2,749,349.-16. The British dominions, at 105,634.-17. England, as likewise in Johnson's expression of the number, at 49,450.-18. Ireland, at 27,457.-19. In the three remaining instances, which make the whole that Dr. Johnson appears to have rendered into Latin verse, we find the numbers exactly agreeing with those of Templeman; who makes the square miles of the United Provinces, 9,540; of the Province of Holland, 1,800; and of Wales, 7,011. ADDITIONAL POEMS. FRIENDSHIP, AN ODE. (This originally appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine, for the year 1743. See Boswell's Life of Johnson under that year. It was afterwards printed in Mrs. Williams's Miscellanies, in 1766, with several variations, which are pointed out below. J. B.) FRIENDSHIP! peculiar boon of heaven, The noble mind's delight and pride, To men and angels only given, To all the lower world denied. While love, unknown among the blest, Parent of thousand wild desires, The savage and the human breast Torments alike with raging fires; With bright, but oft destructive, gleam, Thy gentle flows of guiltless joys On fools and villains ne'er descend; In vain for thee the tyrant sighs, And hugs a flatterer for a friend. Directress of the brave and just, O guide us through life's darksome way! And let the tortures of mistrust On selfish bosoms only prey. Nor shall thine ardours cease to glow, When souls to blissful climes remove: What raised our virtue here below, Shall aid our happiness above. Stanza. 1. This stanza is omitted in Mrs. Williams's Miscellanies, and instead of it we have the following, which may be suspected from internal evidence not to have been Johnson's. When virtues kindred virtues meet, And sister souls together join, Thy pleasures, permanent as great, Are all transporting, all divine. Stanza 2, line 2d. Parent of rage and hot desires Mrs. W. line 4th. Inflames alike with equal fires. Stanza 4, line 3d. In vain for thee the monarch sighs. Stanza 6, line 1st. O! shall thy flames then cease to glow. TRANSLATION FROM THE MEDEA OF EURIPIDES, v. 190. [This was written by Johnson for his friend, Dr. Burney, and was inserted as the work of "A learned friend," in that gentleman's History of Music, Vol. II. p. 340. It has always been ascribed to Johnson; but to put the matter beyond a doubt, Mr. Malone ascertained the fact by applying to Dr. Burney him. self. J. B.] THE rites derived from ancient days But ne'er the flute or lyre applied Where Want repines and Vengeance swells; Ah! little needs the minstrel's power, END OF THE POEMS. |