From the hard season gaining? Time will run The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire He who of those delights can judge, and spare XXI [TO CYRIACK SKINNER] CYRIACK, whose grandsire on the royal bench Let Euclid rest, and Archimedes pause, And what the Swede intend, and what the French. To measure life learn thou betimes, and know Towards solid good what leads the nearest way; For other things mild Heaven a time ordains, And disapproves that care, though wise in show, That with superfluous burden loads the day, And, when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains. XXII [TO THE SAME] CYRIACK, this three years' day these eyes, though clear, Against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot Right onward. What supports me, dost thou ask? Of which all Europe rings from side to side. This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask Content, though blind, had I no better guide. XXIII [ON HIS DECEASED WIFE] METHOUGHT I saw my late espoused saint Brought to me like Alcestis from the grave, Whom Jove's great son to her glad husband gave, Rescued from Death by force, though pale and faint. Mine, as whom washed from spot of child-bed taint Purification in the Old Law did save, And such as yet once more I trust to have Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint, Came vested all in white, pure as her mind. Her face was veiled; yet to my fancied sight Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined So clear as in no face with more delight. But, oh! as to embrace me she inclined, I waked, she fled, and day brought back my night. TRANSLATIONS THE FIFTH ODE OF HORACE, LIB. I. Quis multâ gracilis te puer in rosá. Rendered almost word for word, without rhyme, according to the WHAT slender youth, bedewed with liquid odours, In wreaths thy golden hair, Plain in thy neatness? Oh, how oft shall he Who now enjoys thee credulous, all gold; To whom thou untried seem'st fair! Me, in my vowed My dank and dropping weeds To the stern God of Sea. [As Milton inserts the original with his translation, as if to challenge comparison, it is right that we should do so too.] AD PYRRHAM. ODE V. Horatius ex Pyrrhæ illecebris tanquam e naufragio enataverat cujus amore irretitos affirmat esse miseros. QUIS multâ gracilis te puer in rosâ Grato, Pyrrha, sub antro? Cui flavam religas comam Simplex munditie! Heu, quoties fidem Mutatosque Deos flebit, et aspera Emirabitur insolens, Qui nunc te fruitur credulus aureâ; Fallacis! Miseri quíbus Nine of the Psalms done into metre; wherein all, but what is in a different character, are the very words of the Text, translated from the original. PSALM LXXX I THOU Shepherd that dost Israel keep, Who leadest like a flock of sheep That sitt'st between the Cherubs bright, Shine forth, and from thy cloud give light, 2 In Ephraim's view and Benjamin's, Awake1 thy strength, come, and be seen 3 Turn us again; thy grace divine To us, O God, vouchsafe; Cause thou thy face on us to shine, And then we shall be safe, 4 Lord God of Hosts, how long wilt thou, Thy smoking wrath, and angry brow, 5 Thou feed'st them with the bread of tears; ΙΟ 20 And mak'st them largely 1 drink the tears 6 A strife thou mak'st us and a prey Among themselves they 2 laugh, they 2 play, 7 Return us, and thy grace divine, Cause thou thy face on us to shine, And then we shall be safe. 8 A Vine from Egypt thou hast brought, And drov'st out nations proud and haut, And filled the land at last. IO With her green shade that covered all Her boughs as high as cedars tall Advanced their lofty head. II Her branches on the western side And upward to that river wide 12 Why hast thou laid her hedges low, That all may pluck her, as they go, With rudest violence? 13 The tusked boar out of the wood Upturns it by the roots; Wild beasts there browse, and make their food 14 Return now, God of Hosts; look down From Heaven, thy seat divine; And visit this thy Vine. 15 Visit this Vine, which thy right hand Hath set, and planted long, 30 40 50 60 |