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play, and are preparing to fill my house with harmony against all events; that, if we have worse times, we may have better spirits."

P. 96, 1. 19.

Who lives not for another.

How often, says an excellent writer, do we err in our estimate of happiness! When I hear of a man who has noble parks, splendid palaces, and every luxury in life, I always inquire whom he has to love; and, if I find he has nobody or does not love those he has in the midst of all his grandeur I pronounce him a being in deep adversity.

P. 96, 1. 28.

O thou all-eloquent, whose mighty mind

Cicero. It is remarkable that, among the comforts of Old Age, he has not mentioned those arising from the society of women and children. Perhaps the husband of Terentia and "the father of Marcus felt something on the subject, of which he was willing to spare

himself the recollection."

P. 99, 1. 25.

And stars are kindling in the firmament,

An old writer breaks off in a very lively manner at a later hour of the night. "But the Hyades run low in the heavens, and to keep our eyes open any longer were to act our Antipodes. The Huntsmen are up in America, and they are already past their first sleep in Persia."

BEFORE I conclude, I would say something in

favour of the old-fashioned triplet, which I have here ventured to use so often. Dryden seems to have delighted in it, and in many of his poems has used it much oftener than I have done, as for instance in the Hind and Panther, and in Theodore and Honoria, where he introduces it three, four, and even five times in succession.

If I have erred any where in the structure of my verse from a desire to follow yet earlier and higher examples, I rely on the forgiveness of those in whose ear the music of our old versification is still sounding.

Pope used to mention this poem as the most correct specimen of Dryden's versification. It was indeed written when he had completely formed his manner, and may be supposed to exhibit, negligence excepted, his deliberate and ultimate scheme of metre.-JOHNSON.

Villula,

AN EPISTLE

ΤΟ

A FRIEND.

et pauper agelle,

Me tibi, et hos unà mecum, quos semper amavi,

Commendo.

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