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"the purposes of religion," is surely a very singular and narrow sentiment. Who would not rejoice at the recovery of some of those historical records which are expressly mentioned as containing at large, facts only given in abridgment by the extant Jewish writers? And what reader of the Bible, not destitute of common feeling, will concur in the critic's assertion, that the effect of the theocratical system is to prevent us from readily sympathising in the joys and griefs of those who lived under it? That mind must indeed be strangely impressed with the character of theocracy, which is rendered incapable of being interested by the natural circumstances in the adventures of Joseph or David. That the intermixture of poetical fiction in such narrations is a matter of much delicacy, will readily be acknowledged; since if the additions are not perfectly conformable to the original ground-work, they will prove offensive to those who are firm believers in the authenticity and importance of the scriptural records. But there seems no reason why the amplifications and ornaments usual in sober epick poetry should not be as admissible in a subject of Jewish history,

as in one of any other. Dr. Johnson was not, perhaps, aware at the time of writing, what a sweeping clause in critical legislation he was propounding, and how many fine works were involved in his condemnation. The particular merit of the "Davideis" is quite another consideration; and it appears to have been estimated by the critic with his usual perspicacity. Cowley's genius was, indeed, altogether unsuitable to the epick. His place is among the ingenious poets, and he may justly rank the first in his class.

ELEGIA DEDICATORIA,

AD

ILLUSTRISSIMAM ACADEMIAM

CANTABRIGIENSEM.

HOC tibi de nato, ditissima mater, egeno
Exiguum immensi pignus amoris habe."
Heu, meliora tibi depromere dona volentes
Astringit gratas parcior arca manus.
Túne tui poteris vocem hìc agnoscere nati
Tam malè formatam, dissimilemque tuæ ?
Túne hìc materni vestigia sacra decoris,

Tu speculum poteris hìc reperire tuum?
Post longum, dices, Coulëi, sic mihi tempus?
Sic mihi speranti, perfide, multa redis?
Quæ, dices, Saga Lemurésque Deæque, nocentes,
Hunc mihi in infantis supposuêre loco ?
At tu, sancta parens, crudelis tu quoque, nati
Ne tractes dextrâ vulnera cruda rudi.

Hei mihi, quid fato genetrix accedis iniquo?
Sit sors, sed non sis, ipsa, noverca mihi.

Si mihi natali Musarum adolescere in arvo.

Si benè dilecto luxuriare solo,
Si mihi de doctâ licuisset pleniùs undâ
Haurire, ingentem si satiare sitim,
Non ego degeneri dubitabilis ore redirem,
Nec legeres nomen fusa rubore meum.
Scis benè, scis quæ me tempestas publica mundi
Raptatrix vestro sustulit è gremio,

Nec pede adhuc firmo, nec firmo dente, negati
Poscentem querulo murmure lactis opem.
Sic quondam, aërium vento bellante per æquor,
Cum gravidum autumnum sæva flagellat hyems,
Immatura suâ velluntur ab arbore poma,
Et vi victa cadunt; arbor & ipsa gemit.
Nondum succus inest terræ generosus avitæ,
Nondum sol roseo redditur ore pater.
O mihi jucundum Granta super omnia nomen!
O penitùs toto corde receptus amor!
O pulchræ sine luxu ædes, vitæque beatæ,
Splendida paupertas, ingenuúsque, decor!
O chara ante alias, magnorum nomine regum
Digna domus! Trini nomine digna Dei!
O nimium Cereris cumulati munere campi,
Posthabitis Ennæ quos colit illa jugis!
O sacri fontes! & sacræ vatibus umbræ,

Quas recreant avium Pieridúmque chori !
O Camus! Phœbo nullus quo gratior amnis!
Amnibus auriferis invidiosus inops!

Ah mihi si vestræ reddat bona gaudia sedis,
Detque Deus doctâ posse quiete frui !
Qualis eram, cum me tranquillâ mente sedentem
Vidisti in ripâ, Came serene, tuâ;
Mulcentem audîsti puerili flumina cantu;

Ille quidem immerito, sed tibi gratus erat.
Nam, memini ripâ cum tu dignatus utrâque,
Dignatum est totum verba referre nemus.
Tunc liquidis tacitisque simul mea vita diebus,
Et similis vestræ candida fluxit aquæ.
At nunc cœnosæ luces, atque obice multo
Rumpitur ætatis turbidus ordo meæ.

Quid mihi Sequanâ opus, Tamesisve aut Thybridis unda ?

Tu potis es nostram tollere, Came, sitim. Felix, qui nunquam plus uno viderit amne! Quique eadem Salicis littora more colit! Felix, qui non tentatus sordescere mundus, Et cui pauperies nota nitere potest! Tempore cui nullo misera experientia constat, Ut res humanas sentiat esse nihil! At nos exemplis fortuna instruxit opimis, Et documentorum satque supérque dedit. Cum capite avulsum diadema, infractáque sceptra, Contusásque hominum sorte minante minas, Parcarum ludos, & non tractabile fatum,

Et versas fundo vidimus orbis opes.

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