Jezt misch' ich mich ein
Zum polternden Reihn,
Wohlauf, ihr alle, gelacht, gelacht!"
Although the classic ear may be offended by the "barbarous adjunct of rhyme," and by the solecisms and false quantities which sometimes occur, "et alia multa damna atque outragia," others may be amused with these emulations of the cloistered muse of the Middle Ages. The witty author of Whistlecraft has shown that he had a true relish for them, and has successfully tried his hand, observing at the same time:
"Those monks were poor proficients in divinity,
And scarce knew more of Latin than myself;
Compar'd with theirs, they say that true Latinity
Appears like porcelain compar'd with delf."
Honest Barnaby had no intention of rivalling Horace: his humbler, but not less amusing, prototypes were Walter de Mapes and his cotemporaries. We may accept his own defence, if any is needed:
"That paltry Patcher is a bald translator,