HY M N TO THE NAI A IAD S. BY DR. AKEN SIDE. M DCC XLVI. a Dr. Mark Akenfide was born on the 9th of November, 1721, at Newcastle upon Tyne. His father Mark was a butcher, of the Prefbyterian Sect. He received the first part of his education at the grammar fchool of Newcastle, and was afterwards inftructed by Mr. Wilson, who kept a private academy. Being intended for the office of a Difsenting minifter, he was fent at the age of eighteen years to Edinburgh; but, altering his firft defign, he turned his application to the study of phyfick, which he afterwards continued at Leyden, where he took his degree of Doctor on the 16th of May, 1744. He first practised in his profeffion at Northampton, from whence he removed to Hampstead, and afterwards to London. He was chofen Fellow of the Royal Society; became a phyfician to St. Thomas's Hofpital; was admitted by mandamus to the degree of Doctor of Physic in the university of Cambridge; and was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in London. Upon the Settlement of the Queen's household he was appointed one of the physicians to her Majefty. He died of a putrid fever June 23, 1770, and was buried at the church of St. James's, Westminster. *** VOL. VI. A ARGUMENT. The Nymphs who prefide over Springs and rivulets are addressed at day-break in bonour of their feveral functions, and of the relations which they bear to the natural and to the moral world. Their origin is deduced from the firft allegorical deities, or powers of nature; according to the doctrine of the old mythological poets, concerning the generation of the Gods and the rife of things. They are then fucceffively confidered, as giving motion to the air and exciting fummer-breezes; as nourishing and beautifying the vegetable world; as contributing to the fulness of navigable rivers, and confequently to the main tenance of commerce, and by that means to the maritime part of military power. Next is reprefented their favourable influence upon health, when afifted by rural exercife; which introduces their connection with the art of phyfic, and the happy effects of mineral, medicinal fprings. Laftly, they are celebrated for the friendship which the Mufes bear them, and for the true infpiration which temperance only can receive; in oppofition to the enthufiafm of the more licentious poets. H Y M N TO THE N A Ο I AD S. ER yonder eaftern hill the twilight throws Waits yet to leave the ocean. Tarry, Nymphs, |