Nocte pluit tota, redeunt spectacula mane; Divisum imperium cum Jove Cæsar habet.
The Show'rs brought on the Night, the Shews the Day: Thus Jove and Cæsar bear an equal Sway.
And the Inscription by a Modern design'd for the Palace of the late King of France:
Non orbis gentem, non urbem gens habet ullam, Urbsve domum, dominum nec domus ulla, parem.
The world no Realm, no Realm a City sees, No City House, no House a Lord like this.
In which, tho' there is not that witty Turn which is usually reckon'd essential to Epigram; yet the Climax is so finely work'd up, that it well deserves the great Praises that have been given it. There are other Epigrams of the Love Kind; as the following one in the Anthology of Italian Poets:
Me lætis Leonilla oculis, me Lydia torvis Aspicit; hæc noctem nuntiat, illa diem. Has Cytherea meo stellas præfecit amori; Hæc meus est Vesper, Lucifer illa meus.
One with a sleepy, one a smirking Ray, Fusca the Night foretels, Lucy the Day. Venus ordain'd, that each by Turns shou'd move, The Morning, and the Ev'ning Star of Love.
Here, indeed, we have the true Form and Shape of an Epigram, it has all the Appearance of Wit and Elegance; but I fear it offends against right Reason and Nature. Some there are, upon various Circumstances or Events, which are scarce reducible to any Class. As this of Martial, upon the City Ravenna, where there is a great Scarcity of Water:
[218] Callidus imposuit nuper mihi caupo Ravennæ; Cum peterem mixtum, vendidit ille merum.