1. Proceedings and Debates IV. Select Pieces of POETRY

Printed by EDWARD CAVE, at St JOHN'S GATE.

To the candid READERS of this WORK, now (Decem. 31, 1736.) arriv'd to Six Volumes.

O ev'ry City, Shire, and Market-Town,
In England, Wales and Scotland be it known,
To British Colonies, and foreign Kingdoms,
In fhort, to all, where-e'er the Magazine comes,
That its tame Author, hight Sylvanus Urban,
Under long Slanders keeping Wrath a Curb on!
Lets fierce Opponents fnarl till out of breath,
Or with invenom'd Rancour fwell to death:
At fcandal prompt, with truth ftill at defiance,
They call him Bane of Learning, Foe to Science;
Yes,Witness his propounding large Rewards
To manual skill, or heav'n-enraptur'd Bards:
Witness (which nearer with their charge agrees)
The copious MAG he fells for flender Fees;
Of thefe Detractors every aim we know;
For fordid Int'reft is his only Foe:

Hence, Hints contriv'd t' alarm the jealous Great,
And make him feem obnoxious to the State;
Hence the reverfe too! he is call'd a Tool;
A Man of great Importance, yet a Fool.

All this defpifing he his end pursues,
His numerous Priends to profit and amufe:
Beft at defigning, ableft to pursue,

Still thrives his Work, and ftill our Pleasure's new.
Happy in this, that while his Rivals fall,
Ten Thoufand Monthly for his Labours call;
Such conftant Favour warms his grateful Heart,
By generous Schemes new Knowledge to impart ;
Prompts him to raise the drooping Mufe's aim,
And bid the World revere the British Name*:
For this, the Hebraic learn'd he strives to cheer,
Who from falfe glofs the facred Text would clear:
For this, Du Halde's improving pleafing Toil
He too would land entire on Britain's Ife;

Alluding to the 50 l. and other Prizes for the Poets, particularly the Gold
Medal, the Motto of which is, England may challenge the World,

(Not

(Not robb'd, or mangled in its choiceft parts,
By ruthless Enemies to lib'ral Arts)

A Work! that opens to our ravish'd Eyes,
What Scenes in Afia's utmoft Regions rife:
Where the rich Globe with double Harvefts fmiles,
And num'rous Cities lift their fplendid Piles ;
Along their fpacious Streets what Millions prefs!
And Trade and Arts the happy Natives blefs!
Their civil Policy, their martial Schemes,
Their Morals, Faith, and Philofophic Themes:
The Æras of their Empire here you'll trace,
And all the Monarchs of this antient Race:
No views of Gain the Editor excite
To usher these important Tomes to light:
He's well content to play a faving Game;
Be yours th' Advantage; his the honeft Fame,
If out of vile Caftrating Hands he clears
His Author's Teil of twenty ftudious years.
But why fo fond, his fneering Foes may ask
Of fo expenfive, hazardous a Task?
'Tis you, kind Readers! to oblige, who bless
His MAGAZINE with fuch unhop'd Succefs.
For you no Pains and no Expence he'll spare,
To make its Pages ftill deserve your Care.
And here, ye tuneful Train! his Thanks receive,
Who in his Garland your rich Flowrets weave,
And pardon, if, by Correfpondents prest,
A Weed he fometimes mingles with the rest ;
Whate'er of trivial may your Eyes offend
O'erlook-to more inviting Leaves attend ;
And if the Poet aught of Future knows,
If in his Breaft prophetic Influence glows;
Or, if the late Improvements you perceive,
Of a maturer Work may earnest give,
Each Volume fhall its growing Credit raife,
And Envy, what she would condemn, shall praise.

BARDUS.

In Locupletiffimum ornatiffimumque SYL. URB. Thefaurum.

ENSTRUA concinnat SYLVANUS, & ANNUA Dona,
Quantus ubique Lepos! quantus ubique Decor!

ΜΕ

Apte antiqua novis mifcentur, & utile dulci :
PALLAS ubique docet; ridet ubique VENUS.
*Talis in aterne felix Vortumnus Olimpo,
* Mille babet Ornatus, mille decenter babet.

RUSTICUS

Tibull, Lib. IV.