A Translation of the Eighth Satire of Juvenal.

  To the Earl of Carlisle upon the Death of his
  Son.

  Some Imitations of Horace’s Odes.

  The Austrian Eagle.

  The Nature of Dreams.

  A Poem to the Memory of Queen Mary.

These performances are not very long, nor are the subjects upon which they are written very considerable.  It seems probable that the eminence to which Stepney rose, must have been more owing to some personal kindness lord Hallifax had for him, than to his merit as a writer.  In raising Stepney, his lordship might act as the friend of the man, but not as a patron of the poet.  Friendship, in many respects, participates of the nature of love; it begins, we know not how, it strengthens by imperceptible degrees, and grows into an established firmness.  Such might be the regard lord Hallifax had for Stepney, but we may venture to assert, from his lordship’s exquisite taste in poetry, that he never could highly admire the pretty trifles which compose the works of this author; and which are printed amongst the works of the Minor Poets, published some years ago by Mr. Tonson in two volumes 12mo.[A]

Our author died at Chelsea in the year 1707, and was buried in Westminster-Abbey, where a fine monument is erected over him, with the following inscription upon the pedestal;

  H.S.E.

  GEORGIUS STEPNEIUS, Armiger,

  viz.

  Ob Ingenii acumen,
  Literarum Scientiam,
  Morum Suavitatem,
  Rerum Usum,
  Virorum Amplissimorum Consuetudinem,
  Linguae, Styli ac Vitae Elegantiam,
  Praeclara Officia cum Britanniae; tum Europae Praestita,
  Sua aetate multum celebratus,
  Apud Posteros semper celebrandus;
  Plurimas Legationes obiit
  Ea Fide, Diligentia, & Felicitate,
  Ut Augustissimorum Principum
  GULIELMI & ANNAE
  Spem in illo repositam
  Nunquam sesellerit,
  Haud raro superavit. 
  Post longum honorum Cursum
  Brevi Temporis spatio confectum,
  Cum Naturae parvae Fama satis vixerat,
  Animam ad altiora aspirantem placide efflavit.

  On the left hand.

  G.S.

  Ex Equestri Familia STEPNEIORUM,
  De PENDEGRAST, in Comitatu
  PEMBROCHIENSI ORIENDUS,
  WESTMONASTERII natus est, A.D. 1663. 
  Electus in Collegium
  Sancti Petri WESTMONAST. A, 1676. 
  Sanctae TRINITATIS CANTAB. 1682. 
  Consiliariorum quibus Commercii
  Cura commissa est 1697. 
  CHELSEIAE mortuus, & Comitante
  Magna Procerum
  Frequentia huc elatus, 1707.

On the right hand is a particular account of all his employments abroad.

As a specimen of Mr. Stepney’s poetry, we shall quote the following lines on the Nature of Dreams,