Yes, Brother, curse with me that baleful hour, Gave wealth, to sway the mind with double force. Have we not seen at pleasure's lordly call, Ev'n now, perhaps, as there some pilgrim strays And all around distressful yells arise, Casts a long look where England's glories shine, And bids his bosom sympathize with mine. Vain, very vain, my weary search to find That bliss, which only centres in the mind: Why have I stray'd, from pleasure and repose, To seek a good each government bestows? In every government, though terrors reign, Though tyrant kings, or tyrant laws restrain, How small of all that human hearts endure, That part which laws or kings can cause or cure. Still to ourselves in every place consign'd, Our own felicity we make-or find: With secret course, which no loud storms annoy, Glides the smooth current of domestic joy. The lifted axe, the agonizing wheel, Luke's iron crown, and Damien's bed of steel; END OF FPISTLES DESCRIPTIVE AND NARRATIVE. NOTES ON EPISTLES DESCRIPTIVE AND NARRATIVE. EPISTLE I. Page 1. DR. Evans though scarcely known but for some bitter epigrams, was once celebrated at Oxford as a Poet, and is mentioned by Pope, with whom he corresponded, together with Swift and Young. Being admitted of St. John's College, he became fellow and bursar, and was vicar of St. Gyles's in Oxford. 8. 10. Her -The Epidaurian leech. Aesculapius. squares of Horticulture By Danby planted -] The Physic Garden at Oxford, was the donation of Henry Danvers earl of Danby; who bought for the purpose five acres of ground, surrounded it with a wall which he orna❤ mented with several handsome entrances, and annexed an annual income for it's proper cultivation. The institution was further patronized by Dr. Sherard, who on his return from Smyrna, where he had been for some time consul, enriched it with a fine collection of exotics, added a library of botanical books, and augmented the professor's stipend. 12. Wainfleet -] The founder of Mag dalen College. EPISTLE II. Page 18. The Author of this Epistle was educated at Oxford, for the profession of medicine; but quitted it through a predilection for painting, which he cultivated with attention abroad, and practised for his amusement in private. He had some employment from the crown under the Duke of Buckingham who was attached to him-wrote several lives in the "English School of Painters," translated a Novel from Cervantes, and printed several little poems.— An account of VERRIO may be seen in Mr. Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting. EPISTLE III. Page 21. As on the winding banks of Yare I stray.] The river whence Yarmouth derives it's name. 22. Nor, blest with Ridley, want Apollo's aid. GLOSTER RIDLEY, L. L. D. of whose poetical ta lents several specimens will be given. ibid. -ancient Elmham- -] [North] Elmham, now a small village, formerly the bishop's see, which is now at Norwich. WALPOLE. |