University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Horace in London

Consisting of imitations of the first two books of the odes of Horace. By the authors of the rejected addresses, or the new theatrum poetarum [Horace and James Smith]

collapse sectionI. 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
 XII. 
 XIII. 
 XIV. 
ODE XIV. To Mr. KEMBLE,
 XV. 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
 XVIII. 
 XIX. 
 XX. 
 XXII. 
 XXIII. 
 XXIV. 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 XXVII. 
 XXVIII. 
 XXIX. 
 XXX. 
 XXXI. 
 XXXII. 
 XXXIII. 
 XXXIV. 
 XXXV. 
 XXXVI. 
 XXXVII. 
 XXXVIII. 
expand sectionII. 


57

ODE XIV. To Mr. KEMBLE,

Exhorting him to give up the tier of Private Boxes.

O navis, referent in mare te novi.

O Kemble, again you are tost on the seas;
For mercy's sake what are you doing?
Return into harbour, assuage the O. P.s,
This tempest may end in your ruin.
Your seams are uncaulk'd, and your mainmast is split,
Your sailors are all in commotion;
The storm of last winter still howls in the pit,
And vexes the bosom of ocean.
'Tis all to no purpose the gods to assail,
They will not afford you a cable;
Dame Fashion, who tempted you out in the gale,
May tow you to land if she's able.

58

Melpomene launch'd you a gallant first rate,
She seems at your danger to shudder;
Then give up your gingerbread cabin of state,
And prudently look to your rudder.
'Tis matter of lasting importance to me,
Again in smooth water to find you;
For certain I am, if you founder at sea,
You'll not leave your equal behind you.