Page:The Poetical Works of Thomas Parnell (1833).djvu/95

Rh to laugh at any of the idle things about us this week. I have contracted a severity of aspect from deep meditation on high subjects, equal to the formidable front of black-brow'd Jupiter, and become an awful nod as well, when I assent to some grave and weighty proposition of the Doctor, or enforce a criticism of mine own. In a word, Young himself has not acquired more tragic majesty in his aspect by reading his own verses, than I by Homer's. In this state I cannot consent to your publication of that ludicrous, trifling, burlesque you write about. Dr. Parnelle joins also in my opinion, that it will by no means be well to print it.

Dr. Parnelle will honour Tonson's Miscellany with some very beautiful copies at my request. He enters heartily into our design. I only fear his stay in town may chance to be but short.

Poor poetry! the little that is left of it here, longs to cross the seas, and leave Eusden in full possession of the British laurel. And we begin to wish you had the singing of our poets as well as the croaking of our frogs to yourselves, in sæcula sæculorum. It would be well in exchange, if Parnelle, and two or three more of your swans would come hither, especially that swan, who like a true modern one, does not sing at all, Dr. Swift.