We

the Rings, by the clattering which they made, not only gave the People Notice to keep out of the Way, but contributed very much to the Boy's Diverfion. must take care not to think this only a childish Exercife, fince we find Horace ranking it with other manly Sports:

17.

Ludere qui nefcit, campeftribus abftinet armis ;
Indoctufve pile, difcive, trochive, quiefcit.
De Arte Poet.

DACIER.

Vetitâ legibus aleâ.] All Games of Chance, and efpecially with Dice, were forbidden the Romans by feveral Laws, under fevere Penalties, except in December, during the Festival of the Saturnalia. Whoever was detected in playing, was fent to Pifon, or to the Mines. Suetonius obferves, that Auguftus was fo fond of this Game, that he not only played in the Saturnalia, and on every Festival, but indeed every Day. If therefore the Ancients had been as malicious in their Applications as the Moderns are, they might have cenfured this Line as a Reflection on Auguftus himself. This fedentary Diverfion was, at firft, thought fit only for aged Men; but, when a general Corruption of Manners prevailed, it was practifed alfo by Youths and Boys, as is obferved by Juvenal, in his 14th Satire:

Si damnofa fenem juvat alea, ludit et hæres
Bullatus, parvoque eadem movet arma fritillo.

If Gaming does an aged Sire entice,

Then my young Mafter fwiftly learns the Vice, And shakes, in Hanging-fleeves, the little Box and

Dice.

DRYDEN.

The

The SAME ODE Imitated.

By Mr. J. DUNCOMBE.

COUL

OULD you Golconda's Treafures gain,
Or wreft Potofi's Mines from Spain,

Did your majestic Manfion ftand

In Richmond's Vale, the Work of Jones's Hand,. Degenerate Briton! when the Dart

Of Death is levell'd at your Heart,

Not all your Power, not all your Wealth, Can ward the dreaded Stroke, or purchase Health. Happier the Mohawk, who for Food Trufts to the Foreft, or the Flood; Far happier, with his Spear and Bow, The fkin-clad Laplander, in Realms of Snow, In Winter, doom'd to endless Night,

In Summer, bleft with endless Light;
No Daughter's impious Arts prepare
Deftructive Powders for her Father there;
No Niece* there fhares his guilty Bed
Who flits her Uncle's vital Thread:
There, all the Produce of their Plains,
Herds of Rein-Deer alone the Husband gains,
With Chastity, a spotlefs Name,

Which Slander never can defame;
Adultery, Murder, Theft, are Crimes

Unknown, unheard of in thofe virtuous Climes.

See the Tryals of Mils Blandy at Oxford, and of Mila Jefferies

at Chelmsford, both in the Year 1752.

Oh !

Oh! who will Luxury, the Bane Of every profperous State reftrain ?. Whoe'er in lively Tints would glow On Ifis' Banks, or grace the Shrines of Stowe Whoe'er, the Favourite of the Nine, Would Minister and Patriot join, Should by Example, Law, and Force, Check (while he can) Corruption's rapid Courfe. To those whom living we neglect, When dead, we Monuments erect: Thus many a Bard who wanted Bread On Marble Pillows refts his laurell'd Head. What can avert th' impending Storm, Unless the Great themselves reform ? Or how can Vice be quell'd, if they Who Statutes make, thofe Statutes disobey? If from th' ideal Paths of Wealth,

Of Place and Power, nor Fame, nor Health, Nor focial Blifs, though fought by all, Can Courtiers, Sages, Citizens, recall? Strange that a Borough's venal Charms" Should tempt the wifeft to her Arms! But Oh! reflect, alarming Thought!

That they who buy, may in their Turn be bought. Ere all your Gold be made the Price

Of Riot, Infamy, and Vice,

Your Guinéas to the Bank convey,

A welcome Gift, the Nation's Debt to pay!
If of your own contagious Crimes
Convinc'd, you wish for better Times,

Infpire,

Inspire, ye Great, with Virtue's Love

Your lifping Babes, and bid your Sons improve! Our Youths, on fain'd Nervmarket's Plain, Are taught betimes the Steed to rein; Unfkill'd in Science and in Arts,

Hoyle in their Heads, and Arthur's in their Hearts.

To aggrandize this worthlefs Race,

The Sire for Titles or a Place

His Confcience fells; but from his Bed

Sleep flies indignant to yon happier Shed.

WH

HITHER, Bacchus, wouldft thou bear me?
To what Grott or hallow'd Grove?
Say, what facred Cave fhall hear me
Sing great Cæfar, Son of Jove?

Where, enraptur'd, fhall I raise him
To the Synod of the Sky?
In unrivall'd Songs I'll praise him,
High as mortal Strains may fly.

Full of thy infpiring Potion,
Glowing with a new-born Fire

All

All my Soul, in wild Commotion,
Louder Notes fhall wake my Lyre.

Thus amaz'd, on airy Mountains,

2 Rous'd from Reft, thy Votaries glow, Viewing 3 Hebrus' fabled Fountains, Rhodopé o'erwhelm'd with Snow.

s How its folemn Profpects please me,
Wandering through the filent Grove!
What ecftatic Tranfports feize me,
• While o'er craggy Rocks I ́rove!

Hear me, Bacchus! Power victorious
O'er the fierce lymphatic Train ;
Nothing groveling, nor inglorious,
Shall my facred Song profane.

Though th' advent'rous Theme alarm thee,
Still, my Mufe, be blithe and gay;
Let the Thought of Danger warm thee;
7 Vine-crown'd Bacchus leads the Way.

NOTES.

According to Sanadon, this Ode was not written till after the Confecration of Auguftus: And he seems to think That to be the Subject of it. If this be true, fays he, the Date of it must be fixed in the Year of Rome 725.

1 Quæ in nemora aut quos agor in specus,

Velox mente nova ?]

Bentley fays, that the beft MSS. and old Copies, read Que nemora; and he obferves, that, when two Members

of