 | A collection of original poems and translations |  |
249
Imitation of Horace.
Book I. Epist. XI.
By the same.
What says dear A---th to fine Places seen,
Magnificent Versailles, polite Turin?
Is Paris quite so charming, as we hear?
And not one Sigh for Thames and B---r?
With Roman Glories is thy Spirit fir'd,
Or to Geneva studiously retir'd,
With Arts delighted, and with rambling tir'd?
Magnificent Versailles, polite Turin?
Is Paris quite so charming, as we hear?
And not one Sigh for Thames and B---r?
With Roman Glories is thy Spirit fir'd,
Or to Geneva studiously retir'd,
With Arts delighted, and with rambling tir'd?
Yes, yes (you cry) that Corner be my Lot,
Of English Friends forgetful and forgot;
By gliding Rhone th' oblivious Slumber take,
Or musing, view the wide-expanded Lake.
Of English Friends forgetful and forgot;
By gliding Rhone th' oblivious Slumber take,
Or musing, view the wide-expanded Lake.
'Tis well, I own, to bait upon the Road,
But who wou'd make an Ale-house his Abode?
Arriv'd in Town, thro' Cold, and Dirt, and Snow,
Late, wet, and weary, to the Bagnio go:
The Bagnio for a Night affords good Chear;
But not the best of Lodging by the Year.
Too wise, if cast upon a distant Shore,
To sell the Vessel, and return no more.
France, Flanders, Spain, and Italy and Greece
Are doubtless as essential to our Peace;
As, in the scorching Dog-days, warm Attire,
A Stream in Winter, or in June a Fire.
At Ease, in Affluence—Naples, Florence, Rome,
Are pretty Things to chat about at Home:
Commend the soft Montpelier's balmy Air,
But, hail and vig'rous, what need you go there?
But who wou'd make an Ale-house his Abode?
251
Late, wet, and weary, to the Bagnio go:
The Bagnio for a Night affords good Chear;
But not the best of Lodging by the Year.
Too wise, if cast upon a distant Shore,
To sell the Vessel, and return no more.
France, Flanders, Spain, and Italy and Greece
Are doubtless as essential to our Peace;
As, in the scorching Dog-days, warm Attire,
A Stream in Winter, or in June a Fire.
At Ease, in Affluence—Naples, Florence, Rome,
Are pretty Things to chat about at Home:
Commend the soft Montpelier's balmy Air,
But, hail and vig'rous, what need you go there?
When Fortune hovers with Auspicious Wings,
In Gratitude accept the Boon she brings:
No nice Delays; for if you like your Meat,
Ne'er quarrel with the Room, in which you eat.
If Reason and good Sense alone give Ease,
Not airy Views, and Prospects of the Seas;
Voyage and Travel, are but Loss of Time;
Our Temper will not alter with the Clime.
In idle Diligence from Morn to Night,
We trifle to live well with all our Might.
For this, in Scythia's Cold, and India's Sun,
On Horse, in Ships, we swim, and ride, and run.
Live well we may, without the Help of Sails,
No Matter where, in Cumberland or Wales;
Content is stinted to no certain Space,
The Man may be in Fault, but not the Place.
In Gratitude accept the Boon she brings:
No nice Delays; for if you like your Meat,
Ne'er quarrel with the Room, in which you eat.
If Reason and good Sense alone give Ease,
Not airy Views, and Prospects of the Seas;
253
Our Temper will not alter with the Clime.
In idle Diligence from Morn to Night,
We trifle to live well with all our Might.
For this, in Scythia's Cold, and India's Sun,
On Horse, in Ships, we swim, and ride, and run.
Live well we may, without the Help of Sails,
No Matter where, in Cumberland or Wales;
Content is stinted to no certain Space,
The Man may be in Fault, but not the Place.
| A collection of original poems and translations | |