Poem 136.
Perhaps no writer who has given such strong proofs of the poetic nature has left less satisfactory poetry than Thomson. Yet he touched little which he did not beautify: and this song, with "Rule Britannia" and a few others, must make us regret that he did not more seriously apply himself to lyrical writing.
Poem 140.
Aeolian lyre: the Greeks ascribed the origin of their Lyrical Poetry to the colonies of Aeolis in Asia Minor.
Thracia's hills supposed a favourite resort of Mars.
Feather'd king the Eagle of Jupiter, admirably described by Pindar in a passage here imitated by Gray.
Idalia: in Cyprus, where Cytherea (Venus) was especially worshipped.
Hyperion: the Sun. St. 6-8 allude to the Poets of the Islands and Mainland of Greece, to those of Rome and of England.
Theban Eagle: Pindar.
Poem 141.