Happy Horace (65-8 B.C.).  The epithet is used to describe the lightsome and genial tone of Horace’s poetry. Ausonian lyre = Italian song.  Ausonia is a poetical name for Italy.

Alcoeus and Sappho.  Two of the early lyric poets of Greece.

A work outlasting monumental brass.  This line is suggested by one of Horace, when he describes his work as “a monument more lasting than brass.”

The Julian star, and great Augustus here.  Referring to the Imperial house and its representative, Augustus, Horace’s chief patron.

Stagyrite.  Aristotle, the great philosopher of Greece (384-322 B.C.), born at Stagira.  Pope here shortens the second syllable by a poetical licence.

Tully.  Marcus Tullius Cicero, the great orator, statesman, and writer of Rome.  For saving the city from the conspiracy of Catiline, he was honoured with the title of “Father of his country.”

Narrative old age.  Talkative old age.

Unlike successes equal merits found = The same desert found now success, now failure.]

* * * * *

LABRADOR.

The following narrative is from the periodical account of the Moravian Missions.  It contains some of the most impressive descriptions I ever remember to have read.

Brother Samuel Liebiseh was at the time of this occurrence entrusted with the general care of the brethren’s missions on the coast of Labrador.  The duties of his office required a visit to Okkak, the most northern of our settlements, and about one hundred and fifty English miles distant from Nain, the place where he resided.  Brother William Turner being appointed to accompany him, they left Nain together on March the 11th, 1782, early in the morning, with very clear weather, the stars shining with uncommon lustre.  The sledge was driven by the baptised Esquimaux Mark, and another sledge with Esquimaux joined company.

An Esquimaux sledge is drawn by a species of dogs, not unlike a wolf in shape.  Like them, they never bark, but howl disagreeably.  They are kept by the Esquimaux in greater or larger packs or teams, in proportion to the affluence of the master.  They quietly submit to be harnessed for their work, and are treated with little mercy by the heathen Esquimaux, who make them do hard duty for the small quantity of food they allow them.  This consists chiefly in offal, old skins, entrails, such parts of whale-flesh as are unfit for other use, rotten whale-fins, &c.; and if they are not provided with this kind of dog’s meat, they leave them to go and seek dead fish or muscles upon the beach.