Or dost thou fear lest dire disease Again thy tortur'd frame may seize; And hast thou therefore stay'd? O rather haste, where thou shalt find A ready hand, a gentle mind, To comfort and to aid. And while by sore afflictions try'd, O may I learn like thee to bear, NOTES ON ODES OF THE SIXTH CLASS. ODE VI. Page 15. The author, a native of Scotland, was brought up to the sea-service, in which he appears to have experienced what, in "The Shipwreck," he so feelingly describes. When that poem was published his situation was but little better than a common Sailor, but the genius it displayed occasioned him to be noticed, and procured him the Pursership of the Royal George. In 1769 he published a Marine Dictionary, which is a very useful performance; and soon afterward embarked on board the Aurora, to settle in the East Indies. He arrived at the Cape of Good Hope in December 1769, and after a short stay, sailed from thence; but neither ship, nor crew, have ever been heard of since. ODE IX. Page 30. This ingenious writer was son of a cler gyman in Herefordshire, and, by his mother, great grandson to the immortal Spenser. He was educated in Corpus-College Oxford, and afterwards had the rectory of Stopham in Sussex, near the seat of the Duke of Richmond, to whom he was chaplain. He is said to have lived some time at Hackney in a distressed condition. He was the writer of various other poems. ODE X. Page 40. The title of this truely classical composition, has an evident reference to the Author's farewell to the Muse, with which he closes his volume of commentaries on Asiatic poetry, &c. Vale, Camena, blanda cultrix ingenî, Seu Suada mavis Pitbo dicier, A te receptus in tua vivam fide: Mihi sit, oro, non inutilis loga, Nec indiserta lingua, nec turpis manus ! In what manner Sir William Jones presides at the bar of justice in India need not here be added. 41. Haste! the well-wrought basket bring, Which two Sister Graces wove." e.] Miss Louisa Bingham, and Miss Frances Molesworth her cousin, decked a basket with ribbands and flowers to hold the nuptial presents. 42. DUNCANNON, heav'nly Muse, and DEVONSHIRE invite.] Lady Henrietta Spencer, second daughter of John Earl Spencer, and wife of the Lord Viscount Duncannon, eldest son of the Earl of Besborough. 43. LAVINIA's pencil shall disclose New forms of dignity and grace, &c.] Lady Althorp (now Countess Spencer) has an extraordinary talent for drawing historic subjects, and expressing the passions in the most simple manner. 44. With all thy MOTHER'S grace.] Georgiana Poyntz, Countess (now Countess dowager) Spencer. Page 61. ODE XVI. For William's and for Walpole's eye.] The Duke of Cumberland. 66. When the great Patriot of his race Late shall assert his native sphere;] Sir Robert Walpole, first Earl of Oxford. ODE XVII. Page 68. The instrument called the AEOLIAN HARP, appears to have been invented by KIRCHER, who has given a very accurate description of it in his MUSURAfter having been neglected above an hundred years, it was again accidentally discovered by Mr. OSWALD. GIA. Page 70. ODE XVIII. The Author of this Ode was Rector of Harrietsham, Kent; and chaplain to the houshold of George the Firstat Kensington. 72. In Roman strains this Strada sweetly sung,] "Fidicinis and Philomelae Certamen." |