Life -"Think ye the joys that follow early day" 315 The Sacrament-" O! sacred gift of God to men POEM S. Ipse per Ausonias Æneia carmina gentes LUCAN. Paneg. ad Pisones, VOL. II. B TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY-RICHARD FOX, LORD HOLLAND, OF HOLLAND, IN LINCOLNSHIRE; LORD HOLLAND, OF FOXLEY; AND FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. MY LORD, THAT the longest poem in this collection (1) was honoured by the notice of your Lordship's right honourable and ever-valued relation, Mr. Fox; that it should be the last which engaged his attention; and that some parts of it were marked with his approbation; are circumstances productive of better hopes of ultimate success than I had dared to entertain before I was gratified with a knowledge of them: and the hope thus raised leads me to ask permission that I may dedicate this book to your Lordship, to whom that truly great and greatly lamented personage was so nearly allied in family, so closely bound in affection, and in whose mind presides the same critical taste which he exerted to the delight of all who heard him. He doubtless united with his unequalled abilities a fund of good-nature; (1) [The Parish Register was the longest poem in the volume, published in 1807, to which this dedication was prefixed.] |