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Mr. Cooke's Original Poems

with Imitations and Translations of Several Select Passages of the Antients, In Four Parts: To which are added Proposals For perfecting the English Language

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276

The 6th Ode of the 1st Book of Horace. To Varius.

I

Some future Bard thy Deeds shall write,
Inspir'd with a Mæonian Strain,
Whether on Land you lead the Fight,
Or owe your Triumphs to the Main.

II

But, Varius, I such Themes decline:
Pelides' unforgiving Pride
I sing not, Pelops' cruel Line,
Nor him who ten Years stem'd the Tyde.

III

The Goddess of the feeble Lyre,
The Lyric Muse, and conscious Shame,

277

Forbid me, with unequal Fire,
To sully thine or Cæsar's Fame.

IV

Who now can sing the God of War
When Arms of Adamant he wore?
Or Merion dreadful in his Car,
With Trojan Dust all cover'd o'er?

V

Tydides, and the martial Maid,
In Battel fierce, who now can write,
Tydides, with Minerva's Aid,
A Match for even Gods in Fight.

VI

The Banquets, and the Wars, of Love,
Themes fited to the Lyre, I chuse;
And freely, as my Passions move,
I suit my Subject to my Muse.