Examen poeticum being the third part of miscellany poems containing variety of new translations of the ancient poets, together with many original copies by the most eminent hands.

Out of the ITALIAN OF FULVIO TESTI. TO Count Montecuccoli. AGAINST Pride upon sudden Advancement.

Ruscelletto Orgoglioso, &C.

1.

PRoud and foolish noisie Stream! Who to some muddy Plash thy Birth dost owe, Which casually a Brook became, Assisted by the Rain, and melting Snow: Tho' now thou boasts thy swelling Tide, August will soon be here, and end thy short-liv'd Pride.

2.

The Thames, great King of Floods! the Thames With peaceful Course hastes gently to the Main; Yet He upon his silent Streams The tallest Vessels does with ease sustain: And while one Summer Thee devours, His Flood shall ne're decrease, not Time contract his Shores.

3.

Thou foam'st, and boil'st along the Plain, The Flocks, and Shepherds threatning by the way; Through borrow'd Waters basely vain, List'st up thy head, and do'st regardless stray, Troubled, Oblique, and this alone, Thy noisie Pride is All which thou canst call Thy own.

4.

I know, Sir, you may well admire, To hear me Reason with a deaf'ning Stream,

But thus the Muse oft strikes the Lyre, When she'd most Lofty, and Majestick seem, And in Mysterious Numbers shrowd Deep Oracles, too deep, for the unthinking Croud.

5.

While thus I spake, there did appear, Phoebus the God of every tuneful Lay, A Lawrel crown'd his beamy Hair, Which with a brighter Light improv'd the Day; And thus he, what I saw, apply'd, Short is th' incertain Reign, and Pomp of Mortal Pride.

6.

New turns, and changes every day, Are of inconstant Chance the constant Arts, Soon she gives, soon takes away, She comes, embraces, nauseates you, and parts; But if she stays, or if she goes, The wise Man little Joy, or little Sorrow shows.

7.

Good is the Pilot, who preserves His shatter'd Vessel on the Stormy Main; But he no leass applause deserves, Who fears the Flattery of the Watry Plain; Who never trusts the fairest Gale, But dreads to be o'reset, and spreads but little Sail.

8.

Of all the Heroes known of old, I honour most Agathocles's Name; Who, tho' he made the sparkling Gold In polish'd Goblets on his Table flame: To temper, and rebate its Ray, He mixt his Father's Trade, the good old Potter's Clay.

9.

While thus the Charming God went on, And fixt in Wonder, and Delight I stood:

Behold! the Upstart Stream was gone, No drop remain'd of its insulting Flood: But the worst Cattle of the Plain, Trod o're the thirsty Sand, and spurn'd it with dis∣dain.