CLXXI. THE PRIZE-POEM,

Spoken at Harrow, on the death of Dr Parr by C. Wordsworth, Son of the Master of Trin. Coll. Cam. and Nephew of the Poet.

Epicedium in Samuelem Parr LL. D. Harroviensem.

Valete, lusus; vos, hilares joci,
Valete mostam nænia barbiton
Deposcit, et lugubre murmur
In liquidis fidium susurris
Auditur. Eheu! non humilem virum
Leti peremit dura Necessitas;

Clarus sepulcrali sub urna

Marcet honos, et amica torpet

Musis in ævum gratia; cui Fides
Nil recta posthac, nil Labor impiger,
Nil artium Doctrina nutrix,

Inveniet simile aut secundum.
Ergo neque illum carpere lividas
Obliviones Melpomene sinet;
Nec laude inornatum silebit
Pierio recubans in antro.
O si Poetæ mi tenui melos
Camena dignum præciperet! pios
Mulcere tum Manes querela, et
Exiguo decorare cantu,
Nec dedeceret te, cithara, aptior
Quanquam choreis dicere mollibus,
Nec me reclinatum sub umbra,

Qua faciles iterare norat

Et ipse ludos. Proh! miseras vices !
Proh! fata justis addita! nec jubar
Hoc dulce, nec natalis olim

Aspiciet juga læta collis.

At auspicatos quid revoco dies,
Quando hic juventæ delicias novæ,
Declive contemplans viretum, et,

Herga, tuam, pia mater, ædem,
Carpebat? eheu! jam nihil interest,
Hic rite, magna nec sine gloria,
Artes laborarit sagaci

Ingenuas aperire cura;

An lætus omni tempore vixerit,
Ludo innocenti deditus et joco,
Nec vina nec dulces amores
Tempserit, aut hilares choreas.
Quo, Musa, tendis? desine tristium
Tandem modorum: vivit adhuc decus,
Et fama per terras relicto

Gestit ovans volitare busto.
Illum inquieti non strepitus Fori
Claravit; illum civibus haud suis
Res bellica ostendit, corona

Et titulis tumidum superbis; Sed dia Virtus nudaque Veritas, Themisque, fraudum nescia, nobilem Finxere, nascentemque Pallas

Numine dextra suo beavit.

Hinc vena clari contigit ingenî,
Hinc improborum munera Principum
Mens certa fastidire, et audax
Magnificos oculo irretorto

Spectare fasces. Propositi tenax,
Puræque amicus justitiæ, aspera
Nec sorte contraxisse frontem

Solicitam male, nec secunda
Risisse fertur plus nimio: tamen
Fugit sereni gratia luminis,
Fugit; renidentemque vultum
Perpetuæ cohibent tenebræ.

Sed usque nomen, clare

senex, tuum

Doctrina servans, funereæ, diu

Sedebit ad caras alumni

Relliquias, opifex coronæ : Quin et solutis te quoque crinibus Flebunt tacentem Pieridum chori; Lugebit et nostri per omnes

Sanctus apex Heliconis annos. Auditis? aures non gemitus meas Percellit? audire, et videor jugi Hergam per obscuros recessus Solicitis pedibus vagantem Videre jam jam te vocat, et pio Mocrore frustra prosequitur; tuas Jam prata, muscososque saltus Triste docet resonare laudes: Puella flavo sicut ubi in proco Suspirat, it quacunque per invias

Ruris latebras, "Daphnin" antra

"Daphnin" aquæ, nemora alta "Daphnin,"

Incisa dulci nomine corticem,

Loquuntur; omni non secus in jugo

Vox tristis exauditur Herga,

Præteritos revocantis annos,

Quando has per ædes, dulcibus aut simul
Vacare ludis, aut gelidum nemus

Lustrare, vel famæ per artes

Quærere primitias futuræ,

*

Teque et sodalem par amor inclytum,

Par vis juventæ, par nitor ingenî,
Incendit: O! luces amatæ,

O! animi nimium beati !
At jam querelis fige modum tuis,
Mostoque luctu, Pieri: quem doles,
Non fraus neque immatura leti
Vis rapuit: sed, honesta longæ

* Sir W. Jones.

Carpens senectæ leniter otia, et
Vices, remoto ruris in angulo,‡
Expertus annorum serenas,

Et studio invigilans diserto,
Tandem recessu cessit amabili;
Purique ritu fluminis, in mare
Cum pace delabentis, altos

Molliter in thalamos sepulcri Descendit illic sub tenero, precor, Artus quiescant cespite, et e sacra Calthæque nascentes favilla

Et violæ tumulum coronent. At tu, benigno si vel adhuc memor Terrena vultu respicis, O! senex

Illustris, arridere nostræ

Ne renuas operi camenæ.

Hatton.

C. WORDSWORTH.

CLXXI. ODE TO PEACE BY W. COWPER ESQ.

Come, peace of mind, delightful guest!

Return, and make thy downy nest

Once more in this sad heart:

Nor riches I, nor pow'r pursue,
Nor hold forbidden joys in view,

We therefore need not part.

Where wilt thou dwell, if not with me,
From av'rice and ambition free,

And pleasure's fatal wiles?

For whom, alas! dost thou prepare

The sweets, that I was wont to share,

The banquet of thy smiles?

CLXI. THE PITCHER PLANT.

This plant abounds in the stony and arid parts of the island of Java, from which, were it not for this vegetable wonder, small birds and quadrupeds would be forced to migrate in quest of water. At the foot-stalk of each leaf is a small bag, shaped like a pitcher, furnished with a lid, and having a kind of hinge that passes over the handle of the pitcher, and connects it with the leaf. This hinge is a strong fibre, which contracts in showery weather and when the dew falls. Numerous little goblets, filled with sweet fresh water, are thus held forth, and furnishes a delicious draught to the tiny animals that climb their branches and to a great variety of winged visitants. But no sooner has the cloud passed by, and the warm sun shone forth, than the heated fibre begins to expand, and closes the goblet so firmly as to prevent evaporation, precluding a further supply till called for by the wants of another day.

CLXII. ALEXANDER'S TOMB.

It is not generally known that the tomb of Alexander the Great is now deposited in the British Museum. Where the body itself of that celebrated warrior has been removed is altogether uncertain. After his death, the greatest care was taken of his remains. A golden chasework encircled the corpse, surrounded with an envelope of the same metal, inclosed in a purple vestment. His superb armour covered all. The body, after two years' preparation for a magnificent funeral, was borne in a splendid car from Babylon to Alexandria, and deposited in a tomb which Ptolemy had prepared for the remains of his deified master, who was ever after deemed the thirteenth god of the Egyptians. His tomb itself became the object of worship with the Corabiasis. Augustus Cæsar, three centuries after his decease, viewed the body of the hero, which was then entire,