Vin' tu

Curtis Judæis oppedere?

D.

It is certain, that the Poet here alludes to the Miracle wrought by Elijah, in caufing Fire to defcend from Heaven, and confume a Bullock cut in Pieces, the Wood, and the Stones, &c. after he had three Times poured' Water on the Sacrifice, and alfo filled the Trench with Water. See the Story at large in the First Book of Kings, Chap. 18.

The Jews, who had a Faith for such Sort of Miracles, which proved the Truth of their Religion, were thought by the Heathens credulous and fuperftitious. Therefore Horace refers the Miracle wrought at Egnatia (which much resembles that of Elijah) to a Jew, as worthy his Belief. DACIER.

Dacier is not fo kind as to inform us how he came to be fo very fure that Horace had read the Books of the Old Teftament; nor does the laft Claufe of this Remark furnish any Proof, that our learned Critic was himfelf too credulous. D.

20 Namque Deos didici, &c.]

Horace was an Epicurean; and the Epicuréans believed, that the Gods are unconcerned about the Affairs of this World. It may be observed, by the way, that this Philofophy, which taught that God was an idle Spectator of human Things, and neither wrought Good nor Evil, was known to the Jews, and had its Followers at Jerufalem, above three hundred Years before Epicurus eftablifhed his School in Greece: For thus God himself speaks by his Prophet Zephaniah, Chap. I. ver. 12. And it shall come to pass at that Time, that I will fearch Jerufalem with Torches, and punish the Men that are fettled on their Lees, (that is, thofe who fare deliciously,) who fay in their Hearts, The LORD will not do Good, neither will be do Evil.

We may collect from hence, that this Philofophy was embraced by the Rich, who feem chiefly interested, that God fhould not concern himself with Human Af-, fairs. DACIER,

21 Nec,

21 Nec, fi quid miri faciat Natura.]

Horace was of Opinion, that this fuppofed Miracle might be wrought by the Knowledge of fome natural Secret, and without the Intervention of any God.

Thus Varro fhows, that the Hirpinians walking unhurt with naked Feet on the live Coals of the Sacrifices, which they offered every Year to Apollo, was not owing to that God, but to the Virtue of an Ointment with which they rubbed the Soles of their Feet. DACIER.

The foretelling that the Sun fhould be darkened on a certain Day; or the holding of live Coals on the Tongue, without being burnt; or the making a Voice defcend from a Chimney, when there is nobody in it; would, no doubt, in the Times of Ignorance, have all been looked on as Miracles. D.

22 Brundufium longe finis chartaque viæque.] Brundufium, now Brindes, is fituated at the Beginning of the Adriatic. It has an excellent Port.

Horace juftly calls his Journey a long one, fince it was three hundred and feventy Miles from Rome to Brundufium. He travelled thither in fourteen Days and one Night, as will appear to those who examine the Particulars, i. e. at a Medium, about twenty-fix Miles a Day.

The SAME SATIRE Imitated. By M. HUET, afterwards Bishop of Avranches. Tranflated by Mr. J. DUNCOM BE.

[To the Rev. Mr. SACK, junior, of Berlin.

WHILE through the Paths of Science and of

Truth

You guide your Finckenftein's unpractis'd Youth, Teach him what Weeds to fpurn, what Flowers to chufe;

Unveil each Beauty of the Claffic Mufe,

And, to complete the Statesman, just and wise,
Fix on his Uncle his admiring Eyes;

*

Say, will my Frederick one fhort Hour unbend,
And, partial, liften to his British Friend?
Will you with me through Northern Regions stray,
By Land and Sea, where Huet leads the Way?
Urg'd by Chriftina's Fame, behold! he braves
Contending States, bleak Skies, and stormy Waves;
Urg'd by Chriftina's Fame, to Sweden's Court
See! Learning's Sons from every Clime refort!
To her juft Praise each Bard his vocal String
Then tun'd, as now to your illuftrious King.]
1765.

Chief Minister of State to the King of Prussia.

A TOUR

A TOUR to STOCKHOLM *.

FROM + Caen departing, first at Dive,
And next at Honfleur, I arrive.
Ill as I was, from jolting Stones
An eafy Litter fav'd my Bones;
But, as one Horfe was founder'd, down
Myfelf, Steeds, Litter, all were thrown.
Thence, after Dinner, in a Bark,
We cross'd to Havre; though 'twas dark
Before we landed at the Town

By your lov'd Name, King ‡ Francis, known.
Here, while for favouring Winds we wait,
Time feems to hobble in his Gait ;
And Walls and Citadel once feen,
No more are Medicines for the Spleen.
At length, ten Days elaps'd, our Sails
We hoisted, with aufpicious Gales.

*M. Bochart, a Proteftant Minister at Caen, and one of the most learned Men of that Age, having been invited to Stockholm by Queen Christina, he perfuaded M. Huet to accompany him. But being detained by Illness, he could not reach Havre de Grace till after M. Bochart had fet fail. However, our Author overtook him (as he tells us) at Amfterdam. This Journey was begun April 15 1652.

The Birth-place of the Author.

Havre de Grace is called in Latin Francifcopolis, from Francis I, who fortified it.

My Comrades, as the Veffel heels,
Are little better for their Meals;
While I, half-famish'd, every Hour,
Bifcuit and falted Beef devour.

Mean time, when Calais was in View,

**

Two English Frigates towards us flew
With crowded Canvafs; at the Sight,
Our Captain, in a wond'rous Fright,
(A Dutchman he,) cry'd, Arm, Boys, arm,
Stand to your Guns, and found th' Alarm!'
How mad, methought, was I to run
Such Hazards, now too late to fhun !
But, ftill diffembling my Miftruft,
My Sword I drew, half-eat with Rust.
And now the English nearer came,

And loudly hail'd us;

Whence, your Name, And whither bound?' What Truth infpir'd We frankly told; they ftrait retir'd.

In four Days Zealand's Coafts appear,
And a wifh'd Port we find at Veer.
Thence, Middleburgh by Land we gain:
Next Morn once more we tempt the Main,
And foon with Joy at Dort arrive,
Whence Maefe and Waal unite to drive,

The Republics of England and Holland were at this Time on very bad Terms, though Hoftilities were not commenced between them till the Month following.