INSULA KENNETHI, INTER HEBRIDAS. PARVA quidem regio, sed religione priorum Huc ego delatus placido per cærulea curşu, Et summi accendat pectus amore boni. Nil opus est æris sacra de turre sonantis Admonitu, ipsa suas nunciat hora vices. Quid, quod sacrifici versavit foemina libros ? Sint pro legitimis pura labella sacris Quo vagor ulterius? quod ubique requiritur hic est; Hic secura quies, hic et honestus amor. SKIA. PONTI profundis clausa recessibus, His cura, credo, sedibus exulat; At non cavata rupe latescere, In specula numerare fluctus. Humana virtus non sibi sufficit; Exæstuantis pectoris impetum, ODE DE SKIA INSULA. PERMEO terras, ubi nuda rupes Rura labores. Pervagor gentes hominum ferorum, Squallet informis, tugurique fumis Foeda latescit. Inter erroris salebrosa longi, Inter ignotæ strepitus loquela, Quot modis, mecum, quid agat, requiro, Thralia dulcis? Seu viri curas pia nupta mulcet, Sedula mentem. Sit memor nostri, fideique solvat Littora Skiæ. SPES. Apr. 16, 1783. HORA sic peragit citata cursum; VERSUS COLLARI CAPRE DOMINI BANKS PERPETUI, ambita bis terra, præmia lactis AD FŒMINAM QUANDAM GENEROSAM QUÆ LIBERTATIS CAUSE IN SERMONE PATROCINATA FUERAT. LIBER ut esse velim, suasisti, pulchra Maria: JACTURA TEMPORIS. HORA perit furtim lætis, mens temporis ægra QUAS navis recipit, quantum sit pondus aquarum, QUOT Vox missa pedes abit, horæ parte secunda? Εἰς ΒΙΡΧΙΟΝ. Εἶδεν ̓Αληθείη πρῴην χαίρουσα γράφοντα Εἰς τὸ τῆς ΕΛΙΣΣΗΣ περὶ τῶν ὀνείρων αἴνιγμα". • The rev. Dr. Thomas Birch, author of the History of the Royal Society, and other works of note. P When Johnson had composed this Greek epigram to Mrs. Elizabeth Carter, he said, in a letter to Cave, "I think she ought to be celebrated in as many different languages as Louis le grand." His admiration of her learning was so great, that when he wished to praise the acquirements of any one excessively, he remarked that, he knew as much Greek almost as Mrs. Carter. The verses in Elizæ Ænigma are addressed to the same excellent and accomplished lady. It is now nearly an insult to add, that she translated Epictetus, and contributed Nos. 44 and 100, to the Rambler. See Boswell, i. iii. and iv. and preface to Rambler, ii.----Ep. |