Author: BURRELL [née Raymond], (Sophia, Lady Burrell):
Title: The Thymbriad, (From Xeonphon's Cyropedia.)
Description: London: Sold by Leigh and Sotheby, York Street, Covent Garden; T. Payne, at the Mews Gate; and J. Robson, in Bond Street. 1794, FIRST EDITION. 8vo, 207 x 122 mms., pp. [iv], 154 {155 Errata, 156 blank]. BOUND WITH Telemachus. By Lady Burrell. London: Sold by Leigh and Sotheby, York Street, Covent Garden; T. Payne, at the Mews Gate; and J. Robson, in Bond Street. 8vo, 207 x 122 mms., pp. [iv], 78. 2volumes in 1, contemporary mottled calf, gilt spines (rubbed and slightly dried); joints slightly cracked (but firm), a goodish copy with the autograph of "Richard and Julia Rowley" on the verso of the front free end-paper. Lady Burrell's opening line of The Thymriad repeats Dryden's opening line in his translation of Virgil's AEnid, "Arms, and the Man I sing...." The two volumes seem to have been offered for sale separately, but The Monthly Review in 1795 , noted, "Though these two poems are published separately, we give our opinion of them jointly, because they are of the same character. They are both grounded on well-known stories; both amplify the original incidents and sentiments, in order to afford an opportunity of displaying the poet's descriptive powers; both express at large, in set speeches, the motions and passions respectively belonging to the principal characters; and both are composed in an easy kind of measure, very suitable for fictitious narrative, with no other difference than that one is with, and the other without, rhyme." In a longer review, The British Critic, and Quarterly Theological Review, also in 1795, concluded its very favourable assessment of the two poems, "Many...passages might be pointed out which are distinguished by no inconsiderable portion of genius, as well as by much warmth of imagination. We have no reluctance in pronouncing that whoever can receive delight from the perusal of elegant and harmonious versification - whoever is pleased with a poetical bouquet, where, though the different flowers which compose it vary both in fragrance and in beauty, the whole is sweet and agreeable, will have many acknowledgments to make to the author of the above publications."

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