CONTENTS of the FOREIGN ARTICLES, in the APPENDIX to this Volume.

N. B. For the CONTENTS of the Foreign Articles in the CORRESPONDENCE, inferted in the Numbers for Auguft, September, November, and December, Jee the GENERAL INDEX, with which they are incorporated.

THE

MONTHLY REVIEW,

For JULY, 1775.

ART. 1. Gray's Poems, with Memoirs of his Life by Mafon, continued. See Review for May.

NDOLENCE is an almoft certain characteristic of genius, and irrefolution is a natural effect of indolence. We wonder not, therefore, that Mr. Gray made many poetical effays and beginnings on fubjects from which, either by accident or through a want of induftry; he was afterwards diverted. Among thefe was a tragedy: the ftory, the death of Agrippina. The following fcene, expreffing her indignation ât being ordered to remove from Baia, and to have her guards taken from her, shews us how capable Mr. Gray was of fupporting the strongest characters, and leaves us to regret that he only attempted a tragedy. Aceronia, her confidant, thus addreffes her:

Forgive your fervant's fears, who fees the danger
Which fierce refentment cannot fail to raise

In haughty youth, and irritated power.
AGRIPPIN A..

And doft thou talk to me, to me, of danger,
Of haughty youth, and irritated power,
To her that gave it being, her that arm'd
This painted Jove, and taught his novice hand
To aim the forked bolt; while he flood trembling
Scar'd at the found, and dazzled with its brightness?
"Tis like, thou haft forgot, when yet a ftranger
To adoration, to the grateful fteam

Of flattery's incenfe, and obfequious vows
From voluntary realms, a pany boy,
Deck'd with no other luftre, than the blood
Of Agrippina's race, he liv'd unknown
To fame, or fortune; haply eyed at distance
Some edilefhip, ambitious of the power

To judge of weights, and meafures; fcarcely dar'd
On expectation's strongest wing to foar
VOL. LIII.

B

Hire

High as the confulate, that empty fhade
Of long-forgotten liberty: When I

Oped his young eye to bear the blaze of greatnefs;
Shew'd him, where empire tower'd, and bad him strike
The noble quarry. Gods! then was the time

To shrink from danger; fear might then have worn
The mask of prudence: but a heart like mine,
A heart that glows with the pure Julian fire,
If bright Ambition from her craggy feat

Display the radiant prize, will mount undaunted,
Gain the rough heights, and grafp the dangerous honour.
ACERONIA.

Through various life I have purfued your steps,
Have feen your foul, and wonder'd at its daring:
Hence rife my fears. Nor am I yet to learn
How vaft the debt of gratitude, which Nero
To fuch a mother owes; the world, you gave him,
Suffices not to pay the obligation.

I well remember too (for I was prefent)
When in a fecret and dead hour of night,
Due facrifice perform'd with barb'rous rites
Of mutter'd charms, and folemn invocation,
You bad the Magi call the dreadful powers,
That read futurity, to know the fate
Impending o'er your fon: Their answer was,
If the fon reign, the mother perishes,
Perish (you cry'd) the mother! reign the fon!
He reigns, the reft is heav'n's; who oft has bad,
Ev'n when its will feem'd wrote in lines of blood,
Th' unthought event difclofe a whiter meaning.
Think too how oft in weak and fickly minds
The fweets of kindness lavishly indulg'd
Rankle to gall; and benefits too great
To be repaid, fit heavy on the foul,

As unrequited wrongs. The willing homage
Of proftrate Rome, the fenate's joint applause,
The riches of the earth, the train of pleasures,
That wait on youth, and arbitrary sway;
These were your gift, and with them you bestow'd
The very power he has to be ungrateful.
AGRIP PINA.

Thus ever grave, and undisturb'd reflection
Pours its cool dictates in the madding ear

Of rage, and thinks to quench the fire it feels not.
Say'ft thou I must be cautious, must be filent,
And tremble at the phantom I have rais'd?
Carry to him thy timid counfels. He

Perchance may heed 'em : Tell him too, that one,
Who had fuch liberal power to give, may ftill
With equal power resume that gift, and raise
A tempeft, that shall shake her own creation
To its original atoms-tell me! fay

5

This