‘Nostrae spes altera Romae!’

The Court of Neptune, was written on king William’s return from Holland, two years after the peace, in 1699.  This Poem was admired for the verification, however, the musical flow of the numbers is its least praise; it rather deserves to be valued for the propriety, and boldness of the figures and metaphors, and the machinery.

The following lines have been justly quoted as an instance of the author’s happy choice of metaphors.

  As when the golden god, who rules the day,
  Drives down his flaming chariot to the sea,
  And leaves the nations here, involved in night,
  To distant regions he transports his light;
  So William’s rays by turns, two rations cheer,
  And when he sets to them, he rises here.

A friend of Mr. Hughes’s soon after the publication of this poem, complimented him upon the choice of his subject, and for the moral sentiments contained in it.  ’I am sure (says he) virtue is most for the interest of mankind; and those poets have ever obtained the most honour in the world, who have made that the end and design of their works.  A wanton Sappho, or Anacreon, among the ancients, never had the same applause, as a Pindar, or Alexis; nor in the judgment of Horace did they deserve it.  In the opinion of all posterity, a lewd and debauch’d Ovid, did justly submit to the worth of a Virgil; and, in future ages, a Dryden will never be compared to Milton.  In all times, and in all places of the world, the moral poets have been ever the greatest; and as much superior to others in wit, as in virtue.  Nor does this seem difficult to be accounted for, since the dignity of their subjects naturally raised their ideas, and gave a grandeur to their sentiments.’

The House of Nassau, a Pindaric Ode (printed in 1702) was occasioned by the death of king William.  ’In Pindaric and Lyric Poetry (says Mr. Duncomb) our author’s genius shines in its full lustre.  Tho’ he enjoyed all that fire of imagination, and divine enthusiasm, for which some of the ancient poets are so deservedly admired, yet did his fancy never run away with his reason, but was always guided by superior judgment; and the music of his verse is exquisite.’

The Translation of the third Ode of the third Book of Horace, and the Paraphrase of the twenty-second Ode, of the first book, were both written when he was very young; and the latter of them was his first poetical Essay, which appeared in print.  Mr. Hughes, in a private letter sent to one of his friends, gives it as his opinion, that the Odes of Horace, are fitter to be paraphrased, than translated.

The Tenth Book of Lucan, was translated by Mr. Hughes, long before Mr. Rowe undertook that author.  The occasion of it was this:  Mr. Tonson the bookseller, sollicited a translation of Lucan, by several hands.  Mr. Hughes performed his part, but others failing in their promises, the design was dropp’d; and Mr. Rowe was afterwards prevailed upon to undertake the whole, which he performed with great success.