CONTENTS.

EPISTLES

DESCRIPTIVE AND NARRATIVE.

EPISTLES DESCRIPTIVE AND NARRATIVE.

EPISTLE I.

VERTUMNUS.

ΤΟ
MR. JACOB BOBART,

[Professor of Botany, at Oxford.)

FROM
ABEL EVANS, D.D.

THANK Heaven! at last our wars are o'er;
We're very wise, and very poor :
All our campaigns at once are done :
We've ended where we just begun,
In perfect peace : long may it last,
And pay for all the taxes past !
Refill th'Exchequer, chace our fears,
And dry up all the ladies' tears,
For husbands, sons, and lovers lost;
In duels some, in battles most.

Rise, rise, ye Britons, thankful rise ! Extol your Empress to the skies; Crown her with laurels ever green,

With olives fair inwove between : Vol. IV.

B

Her courage drew the conquering sword;
Her wisdom banish'd peace restor'd.

Long, wondrous Annal may'st thou live,
T'enjoy those blessings which you give :
To guard thy friends, confound thy foes,
And fix the Church and State's repose :
And late, for peace to Britain given,
Be crown'd with endless peace in Heaven !

Farewell, ye camps and sieges dire,
With all your cannons, smoke, and fire !
Ye victories and trophies vain,
A certain loss, uncertain gain.
Ye squadrons and battalions brave,
Who first your foes, then friends enslave.
Ye gallant leaders, who delight,
For glory less, than gold, to fight.
Ye public patriots plac'd on high,
To sell those votes, which first

ye buy.
And bards, whose mercenary lays
Such heroes and such statesmen praise.

An honest Muse alike disclaims
Such authors and their impious themes;
And, with a more becoming grace,
Her song impartial will address,
Bobart, to thee, the Muses’ friend :
Bobart, the promis'd song attend.
And where no difference appears