IMITATION OF HORACE, AND OTHER POEMS. We have not room for a poetical composition of any length, although we have many lying by us, ready for insertion. But our readers may expect some poetry; or something in the shape of light and amusing composition, which, if not poetry, is, at least, written in rhyme. We, therefore, publish the following parody of Horace; and the more willingly, as we have just been speaking of the sea and watering-places. One of the other short pieces is founded on a fact, which occurs but too often; and where the fault, we are afraid, is far more frequently on the side of man, than of woman. The remaining two have the merit of expressing those feelings, which every man must feel, who loves his country, and is separated from it. HORAT. Lib. I., Od. 3. Sic te Diva potens Cypri, Debes Virgilium, finibus Atticis Reddes incolumem, precor; IMITATION. So may the Cyprian belles, who grace Circa pectus erat, qui fragilem truci He, who first dared in ship or packet, Commisit pelago ratem Primus; nec timuit præcipitem Aprium Decertantem Aquilonibus, Consign his sails and self together, But she, ah, heedless! did invest But muslin gown, and satin spencer,- Nec tristes Hyadas, nec rabiem She stepped upon the steamer's deck. Noti; Quo non arbiter Adriæ Yet feared she not the winds that shiver The trading craft, which line the river; Nor crowded boat; nor messmates puking Major, tollere seu ponere vult freta. That plague past bearing or rebuking; Quem mortis timuit gradum, Qui videt mare turgidum, et Prudens Oceano dissociabili Terras, si tamen impiæ Whether above you choose to stride, The close confinement of the cabin. And little monsters bathing round? Non tangenda rates transiliunt vada. Made road and turn-pike, mail and Audax omnia perpeti stage; And thought there should in justice be Gens humana ruit per vetitum nefas. If impious cits, with son and daughter, Audax Iapeti genus Will go to Margate still by water. dashes, onward Ignem fraude malâ gentibus intulit: Nor needs to M. or spur, or lashes. Post ignem ætheriâ domo PresumptuousWatt, with guileful aims, urge Subductum, macies et nova febrium The vessel through the wondering Terris incubuit cohors; Semotique prius tarda necessitas Lethi corripuit gradum Expertus vacuum Dædalus aëra Pennis non homini datis : surge. Perrupit Acheronta Herculeus labor: Straight as the ball unto the target. Nil mortalibus arduum est, Cœlum ipsum petimus stultitiâ, ne que Per nostrum patimur scelus Iracunda Jovem ponere fulmina. STANZAS, WRITTEN ABROAD. THOUGH from his native land afar His step the Briton bends; There they protect him-there they seem A guardian spell-a sacred beam- In ev'ry clime, at ev'ry hour, Or, borne o'er ocean, as the keels For to the world's remotest shore, Old Albion's deeds are known ; And till its white waves roll no more, Shall Ocean seem her own. Then must the Briton, though he strays O'er distant seas or earth, Find reason yet to love and praise A TRUE TALE. 'TWAS when the birds of summer flock To climes where warmer suns are glowing; The waves dash'd loudly o'er the rock, And ev'ning now was into night, As autumn into winter fading: One gallant vessel lay in sight, With frequent steps its deck parading. |