 | Poems, in English, Scotch, and Latin |  |
115
VERSES IN LATIN.
“Ista tamen mala sunt: quasi nos manifesta negemus;
“Hæc mala sunt: sed tu non meliora facis.”
Mart. lib. 2. Ep. 8.
“Hæc mala sunt: sed tu non meliora facis.”
Mart. lib. 2. Ep. 8.
117
THE MUSE's PRELIMINARY EXPOSTULATION AND ADVICE.
------ Vetuit me tale voce Quirinus
Post mediam noctem visus ubi somnia vera.
Hor.
Post mediam noctem visus ubi somnia vera.
Hor.
To print or not my Latin verses?
I ask'd the Muse; quoth she, “Most arses
“(The seat of English judgment) are
“Become so nice, you may despair
“To please in English, or in Latin,
“Unless your paper's soft as satin.
“But why this jargon—cur Latina?
“Whence comes this rabies canina?
118
“To chuse to bark, when you can speak.
“Well then, if you'll take my advice,
“The actual cautery to each place
“That bears of canine jaw the trace,”—
“Alas,” I stopt her, “would you bid
“M' incur the guilt of suicide?
“Would y'ave me turn felo de se,
“And light up an auto-da-fe
“Of my dear self, like Indian relicts,
“Where widowhood's held worst of delicts?
“No,—I reject your harsh prescription,
“For if, t'each place of the description,
“Which you have given, 'twere applied,
“From cap-à-pe I should be fried.
| Poems, in English, Scotch, and Latin | |