TO THE REV. WILLIAM WAY, WITH A COPY OF THE AUTHOR'S POEMS. Præsenti tibi maturos largimur honores.-HORAT. GREAT wits in this our iron age may mourn Maturing taste, that in thy early years Gave thee distinction 'mong thy bright compeers, (Thine is the wit of Atticus, the verse Horace might own, thine Martial's language terse,) Where flower-crown'd mirth is; in her robe of hues Various plays Fancy sages to amuse. Thy genius loves before our minds to place "Ex re fabellas," with a classic grace; A A As around Grecian vases figures clear Are grouped, the narratives distinct appear. Fresh from the spring, and not through channels wrought By pedantry to rust its virtues brought, Flows of thy song the stream in rapid tide : Though oft the cheering cry of "gone away" Attend thy muse the graces with their zone; Thessalian Tempe of thy mind the home Charm thee, or Horace genial friends among; By thy example taught we strive to hold, Snatch'd from time's stream descending, grains of gold. It is perchance a crime, since life is short, 'Mid vivid recollections to disport Of all that was in bygone ages fair, And dream of Greece while breathing British air. Thought on our modern projects—with thy taste. The scholar and the gentleman combin'd, Then lay aside thy criticism's spear, Its touch a worthier muse than mine may bear. Thee I propitiate,-if thou canst, protect These leaves from blasts of scorn, blight of neglect. March 6, 1839. NOTES ON LINES ADDRESSED "TO THE REV. WILLIAM WAY." P. 353, 1. 1. Great wits in this our iron age may mourn That country gentlemen write not like Bourne. The Reverend Sydney Smith, in his witty and clever pamphlet on the Ballot, makes the following comfortable remarks, which, no doubt, the Gentlemen of England" will know how to appreciate. "I long for the quiet times of King Log, when all the English common people are making calico, and all the English Gentlemen are making long and short verses, with no other interruption of their happiness than when false quantities are discovered in one or the other.”— Ballot, by the Rev. Sydney Smith, page 21. Vincent Bourne, the well-known admirable writer of Latin Poems, original and translations. The Poet Cowper had a very high opinion of his merits as a writer and as a man. His Thyrsis and Chloe (a translation of the William and Margaret of Mallet) is an exquisitely finished production. P. 353, 1. 5. Maturing taste, that in thy early years Gave thee distinction 'mong thy bright compeers. Some of the most beautiful contributions to the "Musa Etonenses" are from the pen of Mr. Way. P. 354, 1. 3. Gell in thy muse had seen the maiden Greek, So beautiful her dress is, à l'antique. The late Sir William Gell, a most accomplished Hellenist. P. 354, 1. 15. All, in thy spirit-stirring odes survive, Gratia te, Venerisque lepos, et mille colorum, Formarumque chorus sequitur, motusque decentes. GRAY, De Principiis Cogitandi. Such forms as glitter in the Muse's ray GRAY, Progress of Poetry. P. 355, 1. 7. Then strike the Theban lyre with master-hand, Fidibusque Latinis Thebanos aptare modos studet, auspice Musâ? HORAT. |