IMITATED FROM THE SPANISH. SURE 'twas by Providence design'd, That he should be, like Cupid, blind, To save him from Narcissus' fate. 1 From The Bee, 1759. No. 1. Anonymous.- Mr. Evans printed the same text in The Poetical and Dramatic Works, 1780. THE GIFT." TO IRIS, IN BOW-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN. SAY, cruel Iris, pretty rake, Dear mercenary beauty, What annual offering shall I make, Expressive of my duty? My heart, a victim to thine eyes, Say, would the angry fair-one prize From The Bee, 1759. No. 2. Anonymous.-The poem was reprinted, with the name of the author, in A collection of the most esteemed pieces of poetry, 1767. It is imitated from a specimen of étrennes en vers, which were published by La Monnoye in 1715. A bill, a jewel, watch, or toy, I'll give them; when I get them. I'll give but not the full-blown rose, I'll give thee something yet unpaid, I'll give theeah! too charming maid, THE LOGICIANS REFUTED.' IN IMITATION OF DEAN SWIFT. LOGICIANS have but ill defin'd, By ratiocinations specious, Printed, says Mr. Prior, in The Busy-body, 1759. No. 5. I have adopted the text of Mr. Evans, 1780.- Goldsmith was no admirer of Swift. He describes him as one who, careless of censure, chose to draw nature "with all its deformities."-Line 5. Aristotle and Smiglecius. Aristotle, as the classical Addison remarks, was one of the best logicians that ever appeared. Smiglecius, a Pole, also became famous as a writer on logic. He died in 1618; and his work, which was reprinted at Oxford in 1658, seems to have been in use at Dublin. Our poet elsewhere notices its dreary subtilties. Line 9. Homo est ratione præditum. Man is endowed with reason. Line 18. Deus est anima brutorum. God is the soul of brutes. It is a quotation. Line 32. Bob. Sir Robert Walpole, the state-minister. Swift was one of his innumerable assailants. = = Have strove to prove with great precision, With definition and division, Homo est ratione præditum But for my soul I can not credit 'em; Than reason-boasting mortals' pride, And that brute beasts are far before 'em: Deus est anima brutorum. Who ever knew an honest brute At law his neighbor prosecute; Bring action for assault and battery, Or friend beguile with lies and flattery? O'er plains they ramble unconfin'd, No politics disturb their mind; They eat their meals, and take their sport, They never to the levee go To treat as dearest friend a foe; 28 |