The Annual miscellany, for the year 1694 being the fourth part of Miscellany poems : containing great variety of new translations and original copies / by the most eminent hands.

TO Mr. DRYDEN, UPON His Translation OF THE THIRD BOOK OF VIRGIL's Georgicks▪ Pindarick ODE.

By Mr. John Dennis.

WHile mounting with expanded Wings The Mantuan Swan unbounded Heav'n explores; While with Seraphick Sounds he Towring Sings, Till to Divinity he Soars:

Mankind stands wond'ring at his Flight, Charm'd with his Musick, and his Height: Which both transcend our Praise. Nay Gods incline their ravish'd Ears, And tune their own harmonious Spheres To his Melodious Lays. Thou, Dryden, canst his Notes recite In modern Numbers, which express Their Musick, and their utmost Might: Thou, wondrous Poet, with Success Canst emulate his Flight.

2.

Sometimes of humble Rural Things, Thy Muse, which keeps great Maro still in Sight, In middle Air with varied Numbers Sings; And sometimes her sonorous Flight To Heav'n sublimely Wings.

But first takes time with Majesty to rise, Then, without Pride, Divinely Great, She Mounts her Native Skyes; And, Goddess-like, retains her State When down again she flyes. Commands, which Judgment gives, she still obeys, Both to depress her Flight, and raise. Thus Mercury from Heav'n descends, And to this under World his Journey bends, When Jove his dread Command has giv'n. But, still, Descending, Dignity maintains, As much a God upon our humble Plains, As when he Tow'ring, re-ascends to Heav'n.

3.

But when thy Goddess takes her Flight, With so much Majesty, to such a Height As can alone suffize to prove, That she descends from mighty Jove:

Gods! how thy Thoughts then rise, and soar, and shine! Immortal Spirit animates each Line, Each with bright Flame that Fires our Souls is Crown'd, Each has magnificence of Sound, And Harmony Divine. Thus the first Orbs in their high Rounds, With Shining Pomp advance; And to their own Celestial Sounds Majestically Dance. On, with eternal Symphony they rowl, Each turn'd in its harmonious Course, And each inform'd, by the prodigious Force Of an Empyreal Soul.