Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/197

 BOYSE. 186 adds, that they are taken from "a very noble poem, called the Deity, published about nine years ago (1749), and long since buried in oblivion; a proof that good books no more than good men, do always survive the bad." These enco- miums tended to revive the poem, of which a third edition was published in 1752; and it has since been reprinted in various collections. Fielding's respect for this poem was uniform. He praised it in a periodical paper, called The Champion, dated February 12, 1789-40, but at the same time points out its defects, and seems to object to the author's orthodoxy. An account of the Deity was sent to the Gentleman's Magazine, and, although not inserted, was probably the means of Boyse's introduction to Mr. Cave, from whom he obtained some supplies for writing and translating in that journal between the years 1741 and 1743. Cave's practice was to pay by the hundred lines, which after a while he wanted poor Boyse to make what is called the long hundred. His usual signature for his poems was Y. or Alcæus. When in a spunging-house in Grocer's alley, in the Poultry, he wrote the following letter to Cave, which was communicated by the late Mr. Astle to the editor of the Biographia Britannica. " Inscription for St. LAZARUS' CAVE. Hodie, teste ccelo summo, Sine panno, sine numnio, Sorte positus infesté, Scribo tibi dolens moesté Fame, bile, tumet jecur URBANE,mitte opem, precor Tibi enim cor humanum Non à malis alienum: Mihi mens nec malè grata, Pro à te favore data. Ex gehenna debitoria, Vulgo domo spongiatoria. AtcUS. ir "I wrote you yesterday an account of my unhappy case. I am every moment threatened to be turned out here,