kind may be reckoned another stanza in the same book : -fussa coram non fine conscio Dedecorum pretiofus emptor. FRANCIS. He has little knowledge of Horace who imagines that the factor, or the Spanish merchant, are mentioned by chance: there was undoubtedly some popular story of an intrigue, which those names recalled to the memory of his reader. The flame of his genius in other parts, though fomewhat dimmed by time, is not totally eclipsed; his address and judgment yet appear, though much of the spirit and vigour of his sentiment is loft: this has happened to the twentieth Ode of the first book ; l'ile potabis modicis Sabinum Cùm tibi plaufus, il lontis image, A poet's A poet's beverage humbly cheap, (Should great Mæcenas be my guest) The vintage of the Sabine grape, But yet in faber cups, shall crown the feast ; Its rougher juice to melt away; With annual joy to mark the glorious day, Spread from the theatre around, FRANCIS, We here easily remark the intertexture of a happy compliment with an humble invitationbut certainly are less delighted than those, to whom the mention of the applause bestowed upon Mæcenas, gave occasion to recount the actions or words that produced it. Two lines which have exercised the ingenuity of modern critics, may, I think, be reconciled to the judgment, by an easy supposition: Horace thus addresses Agrippa ; Scriberis Vario fortis, et hoftium That Varius should be called " A bird of Homerie “ song,” appears so harsh to modern cars, that an emendation of the text has been proposed : buc surely the learning of the ancients had been long ago obliterated, had every man thought himself ac liberty D 3 liberty to corrupt the lines which he did not understand. If we imagine that Varius had been by any of his cotemporaries celebrated under the appellation of Mufarum Ales, the swan of the Muses, the language of Horace becoines graceful and familiar; and that such a compliment was at least pollible, we I now from the transformation feigned by Horace of hiinself. The most elegant compliment that was paid to Addijon, is of this obfcure and perishable kind: When panting Virtue her last efforts made, You brought your Clio to the virgin's aid. These lines must please as long as they are understood; but can be understood only by those that have observed Addison's signatures in the Spectutora The nicety of these minute allusions I shall exemplify by another instance, which I take this occasion to mention, because, as I am told, the coinmentators have omitted it. Tibullus addresses Cynthia in this manner: Te fpe?eni, fuprema mibi cùm venerit hora, Ti teneam moriens deficiente manu. To these lines Ovid thus refers in his elegy on the cleath of Tibullus; Cynthia decedens, felicius, inquit, amata Sum tibi; vixisli dum tuus ignis eram, Blest was my reign, retiring Cynthia cry'd: The beauty of this passage, which consists in the appropriation made by Nemesis of the line originally directed to Cynthia, had been wholly imperceptible to succeeding ages, had chance, which has destroyed so many greater volumes, deprived us likewise of the poems of Tibullus, Numb. 62, SATURDAY, June 9, 1753. SENECA. O fortuna uiris invida fortibus } To the ADVENTURER. T. SIR, Fleet, June 6. 10 the account of such of my companions as are imprisoned without being miserable, or are miserable without any claim to compassion; I promised to add the histories of those, whose virtue has made them unhappy, or whose misfortunes are at least without a crime. That this catalogue should be very numerous, neither you nor your readers ought to expect; “rari quippe boni ;” “ the good are few.” Virtue is uncommon in all the classes of humanity; and I suppose it will scarcely be imagined more frequent in a prison than in other places. Yet in these gloomy regions is to be found the tenderness, the generosity, the philanthropy of Serenus, who might have lived in competence and ease, if he could have looked without emotion on de miseries of another. Serenus was one of those exalted minds, whoin knowledge and sagacity could not make suspicious ; who poured out his foul in boundless intimacy, and thought community of porsessions the iaw of friendihip. The friend of Serenus was arrested for debt, and after many endeavours to foften his creditor, fent his wife to solicit that allistance which never was refused. The tears and importunity of female diitress were more than was neCeflary to move the heart of Serenus; he hafted immediately away, and conferring a long time with his friend, found him confident that if the present presfure was taken off, he should soon be able to reestablish his affairs. Serenus, accustomed to believe, and airaid to aggravate distrets, did not aticmpe ro detect the fallacies of hope, nor reflect that (very man overwhelmed with calamity believes, that if that was removed he shall immediately be happy : he, therefore, with little hesitation offered himself as furety. In the first raptures of escape all was joy, gratiiude, and confidence; the friend of Serenus displayed |