THE

FIRST ODE

OF THE

FIRST BOOK OF HORACE

IMITATED. AND ADDRESSED TO

JOHN MILLER, ESQ.

OF BATHEASTON.

THE

FIRST ODE

OF THE

FIRST BOOK
BOOK OF HORACE

IMITATED.

TO JOHN MILLER, ESQ.*

MILLER,

'whom fair IERNE bore

Το grace Britannia's happier shore,

Whose Genius guides, whose counsel guards

The labours of Bathonian bards, +

* This address was accompanied with a copy of the subsequent Poem entitled" An Election Ball.”

+ Mrs. Miller had recently established a Poetical Coterie at her villa at Batheaston, of which a more particular account is given in the preceding Memoir. EDIT.

Sunt, quos 'curriculo pulverem Olympicum *Collegisse juvat, metaque fervidis

Evitala rotis: palmaque nobilis
"Terrarum Dominos evehit ad Deos.

Hunc, si nobilium turba Quiritium
Certat 'tergeminis tollere honoribus:
'Illum, si proprio condidit horreo
Quidquid de Lybycis verritur areis

Survey mankind, and each you'll view

His various path of joy pursue.

There are in 'Phaetons who smoke ye, *Collecting dust enough to choke ye,

With elbows square and nodding heads,
And long-tail'd scrambling quadrupeds

Whip round the post-turn sharp-cut neat-
Despise and frighten all they meet:

Or studious of the Olympic races,

Keep half a running horse at SCRace's,*
Hedging, and odds, and bets their theme-
By which some knowing ones, I deem,

With zones about their necks have vaulted
"Tow'rds heaven above their peers exalted.

The alderman who pants to grace "The golden chain, the sword, and mace; 'The griping hunks, whose barns contain Full many a year's well-hoarded grain,

*The Riding-School at BATH.