Classic Poem

N YMPHA Caledoniae, quae nunc feliciter orae:
Missa per innumeros sceptra tueris avos
Quae sortem antevenis meritis, virtutibus annos:
Sexum animis, morum nobilitate genus.
Accipe, sed facilis, cultu donata Latino
Carmina, fatidici nobile regis opus
Illa quidem cyrha procul est et Parnasside lympha
Pene sub arctoi sydere nata poli
Non tamen ausus eram, male natum exponere faetum
Ne mihi displiceant quae placuere tibi
Nam quod ab ingenio Domini sperare nequibant
Debebunt genio forsitan illa tuo.

THUS TRANSLATED .

F AIR Nymph of Scotland, happily who reigns,
And sways the sceptre of our numerous kings,
Whose rare endowments to the world shine forth
Beyond thy sex, thy years, and princely birth;
In Latin verse a Paraphrase I bring
Of David's Psalms, the sweet prophetic king:
Which were not hatched at learn'd Parnassus well,
But near the pole, where nipping frosts do dwell.
Nor durst I thus expose th' abortive birth,
Not pleasing me, your pleasure sets it forth;
And what it wants of ornamental flowers
Shall owe to that great genius of yours.