TO THE EMPEROR OF CHINA.
DEAR KIEN LONG,
At length an opportunity presents itself for conversing with the second potentate upon earth, George the Third being most undoubtedly the first, although he never made verses. Thy praises of Moukden, thy beautiful little Ode to Tea, &c. have afforded me infinite delight; and to gain my plaudit, who am rather difficult to please, will, I assure thee, be a feather in thy imperial cap.
Principibus placuisse viris, non ultima laus est.
Praise from a bard of my poetic spirit,
Proclaims indeed no small degree of merit.
Excuse this piece of egotism—it is natural, and justified by the sublimest authorities. What says Virgil?
‘Tentanda via est quâ me quoque possim,
Tollere humo, victorque virûm volitare per ora.
What, likewise, Lucretius?
‘Insignemque meo capiti petere inde coronam
Unde prius nulli velarunt tempora musæ.’
What, also, Ovid?
‘Jamque opus exegi,’ &c.
What, moreover, Horace?
‘Exegi monumentum ære perennius,’ &c.
What, Ennius?
‘Nemo me lacrumeis decoret nec funera fletu,’ &c.
What, again, the great father of poetry, Homer, in his delightful Hymn, that some impudent scholiasts declare he never wrote?
------τις δ' υμμιν ανηρ ηδιστος ΑΟΙΔΩΝ
Ενθαδε: πωλειται; και τεω τερπεσθε μαλιστα;
Τυφλος ανηρ: οικει δε χιω ενι παιπαλοεσση
Του πασαι μετοπισθεν αριστευουσιν Αοιδαι.
Which, with a few preceding lines omitted in the quotation, I thus a little paraphrastically and beautifully translate:
Should Curiosity at times inquire
Who strikes with sweetest art the muse's lyre?
This be thine answer—‘A poor man, stark blind;
An aged minstrel that at Chios dwells,
Who sells and sings his works, and sings and sells,
And leaves all other poets far behind.’
So much for my profound learning in defence of egotism; for where is the man that does not rank himself amongst his own admirers?
Now to the point.—As Lord Macartney, with his most splendid retinue, is about to open a trade with thee, in the various articles of tin, blankets, woollen in general, &c. in favour of the two kingdoms; why might not a literary commerce take place between the great Kien Long, and the no less celebrated Peter Pindar? Thou art a man of rhimes—and so am I. Thou art a genius of uncommon versatility—so am I. Thou art an enthusiast to the Muses—so am I. Thou art a lover of novelty—so am I. Thou art an idolator of royalty—so am I. With such a congeniality of mind, in my god's name, and thine, let us surprise the world with an interchange of our lucubrations, both for its improvement and delight. And to show thee that I am not a literary swindler, unable to repay thee for goods I may receive from thy imperial majesty, I now transmit specimens of my talents, in ode, ballad, elegy, fable, and epigram.
I am, dear Kien Long, Thy humble servant, and brother poet, P. PINDAR.
