great applause which the new Pope meets with.-One of his Bon mots p. 265 LETTER 29. To his FATHER.-Total want of amusement at Florence, occasioned by the late Emperor's funeral not being public.-A procession to avert the ill effects of a late inundation.— Intention of going to Venice.-An invasion from the Neapolitans apprehended.—The inhabitants of Tuscany dissatisfied with the government p. 267 LETTER 30. To Mr. WEST.-The time of his departure from Florence determined.—Alteration in his temper and spirits.-Difference between an Italian Fair and an English one.-A farewell to Florence and its prospects in Latin Hexameters.-Imitation, in the same language, of an Italian Sonnet P. 270 Account of Mr. Gray's return home, and of his second visit to the Grand Chartreuse, where he wrote an Alcaic Ode, which concludes the Section P. 274 SECTION III. Prefatory narrative.-Mr. Gray's father dies, and the year after he returns to Cambridge, and takes a degree in Civil Law; during that interval he corresponds with Mr. West P. 277 LETTER 1. From Mr. WEST.-His spirits not as yet improved by country air. Has begun to read Tacitus, but does not relish him p. 280 LETTER 2. To Mr. WEST.-Earnest hopes for his friend's better health, as the warm weather comes on.-Defence of Tacitus, and his character.-Of the new Dunciad.-Sends him a speech from the first scene of his Agrippina p. 281 The Plan, Dramatis Personæ, and all the speeches which Mr. Gray wrote of that Tragedy inserted p. 285 LETTER 3. From Mr. WEST.-Criticism on his friend's tragic p. 298 -On Joseph style.-Latin Hexameters on his own cough LETTER 4. To Mr. WEST.-Thanks for his verses.Andrews.-Defence of old words in Tragedy . LETTER 5. From Mr. WEST.-Answer to the former, on the subject of antiquated expressions p. 300 LETTER 9. From Mr. WEST.-Answer to the foregoing p. 315 LETTER 8. To Mr. WEST.-Criticises his Ode.-Of his own classical studies LETTER 7. From Mr. WEST.-With an English Ode on the approach of May LETTER 6. To Mr. WEST.-Has laid aside his Tragedy.-Difficulty of translating Tacitus p. 305 p. 309 p. 311 p. 313 ODE I. ON THE SPRING. LO! where the rosy-bosom'd Hours, Fair VENUS' train appear, Disclose the long-expecting flowers, The Attic warbler pours her throat, Cool Zephyrs thro' the clear blue sky Their gather'd fragrance fling. Where'er the oak's thick branches stretch A broader browner shade; Where'er the rude and moss-grown beech O'er-canopies the glade, Beside some water's rushy brink 1 With me the Muse shall sit, and think (At ease reclin'd in rustic state) How vain the ardour of the Crowd, How low, how little are the Proud, How indigent the Great! Still is the toiling hand of Care: · The panting herds repose: Yet hark, how thro' the peopled air The busy murmur glows! The insect youth are on the wing, To Contemplation's sober eye Such is the race of Man : And they that creep, and they that fly, Shall end where they began. Alike the Busy and the Gay But flutter thro' life's little day, In fortune's varying colours drest: Brush'd by the hand of rough Mischance, |