1740 ca.
ENGLISH POETRY 1579-1830: SPENSER AND THE TRADITION
Rev. Christopher Pitt
Edward Cobden, "To Mr. Pitt, on his having a Bay Leaf sent him from Virgil's Tomb" 1740 ca.; Discourses and Essays (1757) 124-25.
Commentary for
Rev. Christopher Pitt:
1725: Thomas Cooke
1726: Alexander Pope
1728: Rev. Joseph Spence
1730: George Woodward
1740 ca.: Rev. Glocester Ridley
1740 ca.: Edward Cobden
1742: Rev. William Broome
1744: Anonymous
1751: Anonymous
1764: Rev. Joseph Warton
1772: Rev. John Duncombe
1795: Dr. John Anderson
1807: Robert Southey
1809: Charles Lamb
1833: James Montgomery
1843: John Holland
Commentary by
Edward Cobden:
1740 ca.: Rev. Christopher Pitt
Forgive me, Sir, if I approve
The Judgment of your Friend,
Who chose this Token of his Love
From Virgil's Tomb to send.
You, who the Mantuan Poet dress
In purest English Lays,
Who all his Soul and Flame express,
May justly claim his Bays.
Those Bays which water'd by your Hand,
From Vida's Spring shall rise,
And, with fresh Verdure crown'd, withstand
The Light'ning of the Skies.
Let hence your Emulation fir'd
His matchless Strains pursue,
As, from Achilles' Tomb inspir'd,
The Youth a Rival grew.