with Nails of Gold Which Rhamnes wore This present long ago On Remulus did Caedicus bestow And absent joyn'd in hospitable Tyes He dying to his Heir bequeath'd the prize Till by the conquering Rutuli opprest He fell and they the glorious gift possest These gaudy spoils Eurialus now bears And vainly on his brawny Shoulders wears Messapus Helm he found amongst the dead Garnish'd with plumes and fitted to his head They leave the Camp and take the safest road Mean time a Squadron of their foes abroad Three hundred Horse with Bucklers arm'd they spy'd Whom Volscens by the Kings command did guide To Turnus these were from the City sent And to perform their Message sought his Tent. Approaching near their utmost lines they draw When bending tow'rds the left their Captain saw The faithful pair for through the doubtful shade His glitt'ring Helm Euryalus betray'd On which the Moon with full reflection play'd 'T is not for nought cry'd Volscens from the crowd These Men go there then rais'd his voice aloud Stand stand why thus in Arms And whether bent From whence to whom and on what errand sent Silent they make away and hast their flight To Neighb'ring Woods and trust themselves to night The speedy horsemen spur their Steeds to get 'Twixt them and home and every path beset And all the windings of the well known Wood Black was the Brake and thick with Oak it stood With fern all horrid and perplexing thorn Where tracks of Bears had scarce a passage worn The darkness of the shades his heavy prey And fear misled the younger from his way But Nisus hit the turns with happier hast Who now unknowing had the danger past And Alban Lakes from Alba's name so call'd Where King Latinus then his Oxen Stall'd Till turning at the length he stood his ground And vainly cast his longing eyes around For his lost friend Ah! wretch he cry'd where have I left behind Where shall I hope th' unhappy Youth to find Or what way take again he ventures back And treads the Mazes of his former track Thro the wild wood at last he hears the Noise Of trampling Horses and the riders voice The Sound approach'd and suddainly he view'd His Foes inclosing and his friend pursu'd Fore laid and taken while he strove in vain The Covert of the Neighb'ring Wood to gain What shou'd he next attempt what arms employ With fruitless force to free the Captive Boy Or tempt unequal numbers with the Sword And die by him whom living he ador'd Resolv'd on death his dreadful Spear he shook And casting to the Moon a mournful look Fair Queen said he who dost in woods delight Grace of the Stars and Goddess of the Night Be present and direct my Dart aright If e're my pious Father for my sake Did on thy Altars grateful offerings make Or I increas'd them with successful toils And hung thy Sacred Roof with savage Spoils Through the brown shadows guide my flying Spear To reach this Troop Then poyzing from his ear The quiv'ring Weapon with full force he threw Through the divided shades the deadly Javelin flew On Sulmo's back it splits the double dart Drove deeper onward and transfixt his heart He staggers round his eye-balls rowl in death And with short Sobbs he gasps away his breath All stand amaz'd a second Javelin flies From his stretch'd arm and hisses through the Skies The Lance through Tagus Temples forc'd its way And in his brain-pan warmly buried lay Fierce Volscens foams with rage and gazing round Descry'd no Author of the Fatal wound Nor where to fix revenge But thou he cries Shalt pay for both and at the Pris'ner flies With his drawn Swoâ—d Then struck with deep despair That fatal fight the Lover cou'd not bear But from his Covert rusht in open view And sent his voice before him as he flew Me me employ your Sword on me alone The crime confes'd the fact was all my own He neither cou'd nor durst the guiltless Youth Ye Moon and Stars bear witness to the Truth His only fault if that be to offend Was too much loving his unhappy friend Too late alas he speaks The Sword which unrelenting fury guides Driv'n with full force had pierc'd his tender sides Down fell the beauteous Youth the gaping wound Gush'd out a Crimson stream and stain'd the ground His nodding neck reclines on his white breast Like a fair Flow'r in furrow'd Fields opprest By the keen Share or Poppy on the plain Whose heavy head is overcharg'd with rain Disdain despair and deadly vengeance vow'd Drove Nisus headlong on the Hostile Crow'd Volsâ—ens he seeks at him alone he bends Born back and push'd by his surrounding friends He still press'd on and kept him still in sight Then whirld aloft his Sword with all his might Th' unerring Weapon slew and wing'd with death Enter'd his gaping Mouth and stop'd his breath Dying he slew and stagg'ring on the plain Sought for the Body of his Lover slain Then quietly on his dear Breast he fell Content in death to be reveng'd so well O happy pair for if my verse can give Eternity your fame shall ever live Fix'd as the Capitols Foundations lies And spread where e're the Roman Eagle flies The entire Episode of Mezentius and Lausus translated out of the 10 th Book of Virgils Aeneids Connection of the Episode with the foregoing Story Mezentius was King of Etruria or Tuscany from whence he was expell'd by his Subjects for his Tyrannical government and cruelty and a new King Elected Being thus banish'd he applies himself to King Turnus in whose Court he and his Son Lausus take Sanctuary Turnus for the Love of Lavinia making War with Aeneas Mezentius ingages in the cause of his Benefactor and performs many great actions particularly in revenging himself on his late Subjects whâ— now assisted Aeneas out of hatred to him Mezentius is every where describ'd by Virgil as an Atheist his Son Lausus iâ— made the Pattern of silial Piety and Vertue And the death of those two is the subject of this Noble Episode THus equal deaths are dealt and equal chance By turns they quit their ground by turns advance Victors and vanquish'd in the various field Nor wholly overcome nor wholly yeild The Gods from Heav'n survey the doubtful strife And mourn the Miseries of humane life Above the rest two Goddesses appear Concern'd for each Here Venus Iuno there Amidst the Crowd infernal Aâ—è shakes Her Scourge aloft and hissing Crest of Snakes Once more Mezentius with a proud disdain Brandish'd his Spear and rush'd into the Plain Where tow'ring in the midmost ranks he stood Like vast Orion stalking o'r the floud When with his brawny Breast he cuts the waves His shoulders scarce the topmost billow laves Or like a Mountain Ash whose roots are spread Deep fix'd in earth in clouds he hides his head Thus arm'd he took the field The Trojan Prince beheld him from a far With joyful eyes and undertook the war Collected
the Trojan race While we behold such springing worth appear In youth so brave and breasts so void of fear With this he took the hand of either Boy Embrac'd them closely both and wept for joy Ye brave young men what equal gifts can we What recompence for such desert decree The greatest sure and best you can receive The Gods your vertue and your fame will give The Rest our grateful General will bestow And young Ascanius till his Manhood owe. And I whose welfare in my Father lies Ascanius adds by all the Deities By our great Country and our household Gods By Hoary Vesta's rites and dark abodes Adjure you both on you my Fortune stands That and my Faith I plight into your hands Make me but happy in his safe return For I No other loss but only his can mourn Nisus your gift shall two large Goblets be Of Silver wrought with curious Imag'ry And high embost which when old Priam reign'd My conquering Sire at sack'd Arisba gain'd And more two Tripods cast in antique mould With two great Tallents of the finest Gold Besides a Boul which Tyrian Art did grave The Present that Sidonian Dido gave But if in Conquer'd Italy we reign When Spoils by Lot the Victors shall obtain Thou saw'st the Courser by proud Turnus prest That and his golden Arms and sanguine Crest And Sheild from lot exempted thou shalt share With these twelve captive Dam'sels young and fair Male Slaves as many well appointed all With Vests and Arms shall to thy portion fall And last a fruitful Field to thee shall rest The large demenes the Latian King possest But thou whose years are more to mine ally'd No fate my vow'd affection shall divide From thee O wondrous Youth be ever mine Take fâ—ll possession all my Soul is thine My lifes Companion and my bosom Friend One faith one fame one fate shall both attend My peace shall be committed to thy care And to thy Conduct my concerns in war Then thus the bold Euryalus reply'd What ever fortune good or bad betide The same shall be my Age as now my Youth No time shall find me wanting to my truth This only from your bounty let me gain And this not granted all rewards are vain Of Priams Royal Race my Mother came And sure the best that ever bore the name Whom neither Troy nor Sicily cou'd hold From me departing but o're spent and old My fate she follow'd ignorant of this What ever danger Neither parting kiss Nor pious Blessing taken her I leave And in this only Act of all my life deceive By this your hand and conscious Night I swear My youth so sad a farewel cou'd not bear Be you her Patron fill my vacant place Permit me to presume so great a grace Support her Age forsaken and distrest That hope alone will fortifie my breast Against the worst of fortunes and of fears He said th' Assistants shed presaging tears But above all Ascanius mov'd to see That image of paternal piety Then thus reply'd So great beginnings in so green an Age Exact that Faith which firmly I engage Thy Mother all the priviledge shall claim Creâ—sa had and only want the name Whate'r event thy enterprise shall have 'T is Merit to have born a Son so brave By this my Head a sacred Oath I swear My Father us'd it what returning here Crown'd with success I for thy self prepare Thy Parent and thy Family shall share He said and weeping while he spoke the word From his broad Belt he drew a shining Sword Magnificent with Gold Lycaon made And in an Iv'ry scabbard sheath'd the Blade This was his Gift while Mnestheus did provide For Nisus Arms a grisley Lions Hide And true Alethes chang'd with him his helm of temper try'd Thus arm'd they went the noble Trojans wait Their going forth and follow to the Gate With Pray'rs and Vows above the rest appears Ascanius manly far above his years And Messages committed to their care Which all in Winds were lost and empty air The Trenches first they pass'd then took their way Where their proud foes in pitch'd Pavilions lay To many fatal e'r themselves were slain The careless Host disperst upon the Plain They found who drunk with Wine supinely snore Unharness'd Chariots stand upon the shore Midst wheels and reins and arms the Goblet by A Medley of Debauch and War they lie Observing Nisus shew'd his friend the sight Then thus behold a Conquest without fight Occasion calls the Sword to be prepar'd Our way lies there stand thou upon the guard And look behind while I securely go To cut an ample passage through the Foe Softly he spoke then stalking took his way With his drawn Sword where haughty Rhamnes lay His head rais'd high on Tapestry beneath And heaving from his breast he puff'd his breath A King and Prophet by King Turnus lov'd But fate by Prescience cannot be remov'd Three sleeping Slaves he soon subdues then spyes Where Rhemus with his proud Retinue lies His Armour Bearer first and next he kills His Charioteer entrench'd betwixt the wheels And his lov'd Horses last invades their Lord Full on his Neck he aims the fatal Sword The Gasping head flies off a purple â—loud Flows from the Trunk that wallows in the bloud Which by the spurning heels dispers'd around The bed besprinkles and bedews the ground Then Lamyrus with Lamus and the young Serranus who with gaming did prolong The night opprest with wine and slumber lay The beauteous Youth and dreamt of lucky Play More lucky had it been protracted till the day The famish'd Lion thus with hunger bold O're leaps the fences of the nightly fold The peaceful Flock devours and tears and draws Wrapt up in silent fear they lie and pant beneath his paws Nor with less rage Euryalus imploys The vengeful Sword nor fewer foes destroyes But on th' ignoble Crowd his fury flew Which Fadus Hebesus and Rhaetus slew With Abaris in sleep the rest did fall But Rhaetus waking and observing all Behind a mighty Jar he slunk for fear The sharp edg'd Iron found and reach'd him there Full as he rose he plung'd it in his side The cruel Sword return'd in crimson dy'd The wound a blended stream of wine and blood Pours out the purple Soul comes floating in the sloud Now where Messapus quarter'd they arrive The fires were fainting there and just alive The warlike Horses ty'd in order fed Nisus the discipline observ'd and sed Our eagerness of blood may both betray Behold the doubtful glimmering of the day Foe to these nightly thefts No more my friend Here let our glutted execution End A Lane through slaughter'd Bodies we have made The bold Euryalus though loath obey'd Rich Arms and Arras which they scatter'd find And Plate a precious load they leave behind Yet fond of Gaudy spoils the Boy wou'd stay To make the proud Caparisons his prey Which deck'd a Neigh'bring steed Nor did his eyes less longingly behold The Girdle studded o're
two Authors are equally sweet yet there is a great distinction to be made in sweetness as in that of Sugar and that of Honey I can make the difference more plain by giving you if it be worth knowing my own method of proceeding in my Translations out of four several Poets in this Volume Virgil Theocritus Lucretius and Horace In each of these before I undertook them I consider'd the Genius and distinguishing Character of my Author I look'd on Virgil as a succinct and grave Majestick Writer one who weigh'd not only every thought but every Word and Syllable Who was still aiming to crowd his sence into as narrow a compass as possibly he cou'd for which reason he is so very Figurative that he requires I may almost say a Grammar apart to construe him His Verse is every where sounding the very thing in your Ears whose sence it bears Yet the Numbers are perpetually varied to increase the delight of the Reader so that the same sounds are never repeated twice together On the contrary Ovid and Claudian though they Write in Styles differing from each other yet have each of them but one sort of Musick in their Verses All the versification and little variety of Claudian is included within the compass of four or five Lines and then he begins again in the same tenour perpetually closing his sence at the end of a Verse and that Verse commonly which they call golden or two Substantives and two Adjectives with a Verb betwixt them to keep the peace Ovid with all his sweetness has as little variety of Numbers and sound as he He is always as it were upon the Hand-gallop and his Verse runs upon Carpet ground He avoids like the other all Synalaepha's or cutting off one Vowel when it comes before another in the following word So that minding only smoothness he wants both Variety and Majesty But to return to Virgil though he is smooth where smoothness is requir'd yet he is so far from affecting it that he seems rather to disdain it Frequently makes use of Synalaepha's and concludes his sence in the middle of his Verse He is every where above conceipts of Epigrammatick Wit and gross Hyperboles He maintains Majesty in the midst of plainess he shines but glares not and is stately without ambition which is the vice of Lucan I drew my definition of Poetical Wit from my particular consideration of him For propriety of thoughts and words are only to be found in him and where they are proper they will be delightful Pleasure follows of necessity as the effect does the cause and therefore is not to be put into the definition This exact propriety of Virgil I particularly regarded as a great part of his Character but must confess to my shame that I have not been able to Translate any part of him so well as to make him appear wholly like himself For where the Original is close no Version can reach it in the same compass Hannibal Caro's in the Italian is the nearest the most Poetical and the most Sonorous of any Translation of the Aeneids yet though he takes the advantage of blank Verse he commonly allows two Lines for one of Virgil and does not always hit his sence Tasso tells us in his Letters that Sperone Speroni a great Italian Wit who was his Contemporary observ'd of Virgil and Tully that the Latin Oratour endeavour'd to imitate the Copiousness of Homer the Greek Poet and that the Latine Poet made it his business to reach the conciseness of Demosthenes the Greek Oratour Virgil therefore being so very sparing of his words and leaving so much to be imagin'd by the Reader can never be translated as he ought in any modern Tongue To make him Copious is to alter his Character and to Translate him Line for Line is impossible because the Latin is naturally a more succinct Language than either the Italian Spanish French or even than the English which by reason of its Monosyllables is far the most compendious of them Virgil is much the closest of any Roman Poet and the Latin Hexameter has more Feet than the English Heroick Besides all this an Author has the choice of his own thoughts and words which a Translatour has not he is confin'd by the sence of the Inventor to those expressions which are the nearest to it So that Virgil studying brevity and having the command of his own Language cou'd bring those words into a narrow compass which a Translatour cannot render without Circumlocutions In short they who have call'd him the torture of Grammarians might also have call'd him the plague of Translatours for he seems to have studied not to be Translated I own that endeavouring to turn his Nisus and Euryalus as close as I was able I have perform'd that Episode too literally that giving more scope to Mezentius and Lausus that Version which has more of the Majesty of Virgil has less of his conciseness and all that I can promise for my self is only that I have done both better than Ogleby and perhaps as well as Caro. So that methinks I come like a Malefactor to make a Speech upon the Gallows and to warn all other Poets by my sad example from the Sacrilege of Translating Virgil. Yet by considering him so carefully as I did before my attempt I have made some faint resemblance of him and had I taken more time might possibly have succeeded better but never so well as to have satisfied my self He who excells all other Poets in his own Language were it possible to do him right must appear above them in our Tongue which as my Lord Roscomon justly observes approaches nearest to the Roman in its Majesty Nearest indeed but with a vast interval betwixt them There is an inimitable grace in Virgils words and in them principally consists that beauty which gives so unexpressible a pleasure to him who best understands their force this Diction of his I must once again say is never to be Copied and since it cannot he will appear but lame in the best Translation The turns of his Verse his breakings his propriety his numbers and his gravity I have as far imitated as the poverty of our Language and the hastiness of my performance wou'd allow I may seem sometimes to have varied from his sence but I think the greatest variations may be fairly deduc'd from him and where I leave his Commentators it may be I understand him better At least I Writ without consulting them in many places But two particular Lines in Mezentius and Lausus I cannot so easily excuse they are indeed remotely ally'd to Virgils sence but they are too like the trifling tenderness of Ovid and were Printed before I had consider'd them enough to alter them The first of them I have forgotten and cannot easily retrieve because the Copy is at the Press The second is this When Lausus dy'd I was already slain This appears pretty enough at first sight but I am convinc'd
Translated from the 5th and 9th Books of Virgil's Aeneids by Mr. Dryden Pag. 1 The entire Episode of Mezentius and Lausus Translated out of the 10th Book of Virgils Aeneids by Mr. Dryden P. 32 The Speech of Venus to Vulcan Translated out of the 8th Book of Virgils Aeneids by Mr. Dryden 48 The beginning of the First Book of Lucretius Translated by Mr. Dryden 52 The beginning of the Second Book of Lucretius Translated by Mr. Dryden 56 The Translation of the latter part of the Third Book of Lucretius Against the Fear of Death by Mr. Dryden 60 Lucretius the Fourth Book concerning the Nature of Love beginning at this Line Sic igitur Veneris qui telis accipit ictum c. by Mr. Dryden 80 From Lucretius Book the Fifth Tum porro puer c. by Mr. Dryden P. 98 Theocrit Idyllium the 18th the Epithalamium of Helen and Menelaus by Mr. Dryden 100 Theocrit Idyllium the 23d the Despairing Lover by Mr. Dryden 107 Daphnis from Theocritus Idyll 27. by Mr. Dryden 134 The third Ode of the first Book of Horace Inscrib'd to the Earl of Roscomon on his intended Voyage to Ireland by Mr. Dryden 124 The 9th Ode of the first Book of Horace by an unknown hand 128 The 29th Ode of the 3d. Book of Horace Paraphras'd in Pindarick Verse and inscrib'd to the Right Honourable Lawrence Earl of Rochester by Mr. Dryden 131 From Horace Epode 2d by Mr. Dryden 135 Part of Virgils 4th Georgick Englished by an unknown Hand P. 145 The Sixth Elegy of the first Book of Tibullus 155 Ovids Dream 158 A Prologue intended for the Play of Duke and no Duke 162 The Fourth Ode of the Second Book of Horace 166 The First Idyllium of Theocritus Translated into English 353 The Reapers the 10th Idyllium of Theocritus Englished by William Bowles Fellow of Kings College in Cambridge 367 The 12th Idyllium of Theocritus 373 The 19th Idyllium of Thocritus 378 The Complaint of Ariadna out of Catullus by Mr. William Bowles P. 380 The 20th Idyllium of Theocritus by Mr. William Bowles 388 To Lesbia out of Catullus 392 To Lesbia 394 To Lesbia A Petition to be freed from Love 399 The 12th Elegy of the 2d Book of Ovid Englished 397 The 16th Elegy of the 2d Book of Ovid. 395 The 19th Elegy of the 3d. Book 432 Of Natures Changes from Lucretius Book the 5th by a Person of Quality 406 The 7th Ode of the 4th Book of Horace Englished by an unknown Hand 418 The 10th Ode of the 2d Book of Horace P. 420 The 18th Epistle of the first Book of Horace 423 The 2d Satyr of the first Book of Horace Englished by Mr. Stafford 436 The 4th Elegy of the 2d Book of Ovid. 44â— Elegy the 11th Lib. 5. De Trist. Ovid complains of his three years banishment 44â— An Ode Sung before the King on New-Years Day 449 Vpon the late Ingenious Translation of Pere Simonâ— Critical History by H. D. Esq 452 Horti Arlingtoniani ad Clarissimum Dominum Henricum Comitem Arlingtoniae c. by Mr Charles Dryden 457 A New Song 46â— A Song P. 467 On the Death of Mr. Oldham 468 On the Kings-House now Building at Winchester 475 The Episode of the Death of Camilla translated out of the Eleventh Book of Virgils Aeneids by Mr. Stafford 481 The entire Episode of Nisus and Euryalus translated from the 5 th and and 9 th Books of Virgils Aeneids Connection of the First Part of the Episode in the fifth Book with the rest of the foregoing Poem Aeneas having buried his Father Anchises in Sicily and setting sail from thence in search of Italy is driven by a Storm on the same Coasts from whence he departed After a years wandring he is hospipitably receiv'd by his friend Acestes King of that part of the Island who was born of Trojan Parentage He applies himself to celebrate the memory of his Father with divine honours and accordingly institutes Funeral Games and appoints Prizes for those who should conquer in them One of these Games was a Foot Race in which Nysus and Euryalus were engag'd amongst other Trojans and Sicilians FRom thence his way the Trojan Hero bent Into a grassy Plain with Mountains pent Whose Brows were shaded with surrounding wood Full in the midst of this fair Valley stood A native Theater which rising slow By just degrees o're look'd the ground below A numerous Train attend in solemn state High on the new rais'd Turfe their Leader sate Here those who in the rapid Race delight Desire of honour and the Prize invite The Trojans and Sicilians mingled stand With Nisus and Euryalus the formost of the Band. Euryalus with youth and beauty crown'd Nisus for friendship to the Boy renown'd Diores next of Priam's Regal Race Then Salius joyn'd with Patron took his place But from Epirus one deriv'd his birth The other ow'd it to Arcadian Earth Then two Sicilian Youths the name of this Was Helimus of that was Panopes Two jolly Huntsmen in the Forest bred And owning old Acestes for their Head With many others of obscurer name Whom Time has not deliver'd o're to Fame To these Aeneas in the midst arose And pleasingly did thus his mind expose Not one of you shall unrewarded go On each I will two Cretan Spears bestow Pointed with polish'd Steel a Battle-ax too With Silver studded these in common share The formost three shall Olive Garlands wear The Victor who shall first the Race obtain Shall for his Prize a well breath'd Courser gain Adorn'd with Trappings to the next in fame The Quiver of an Amazonian Dame With feather'd Thracian Arrows well supply'd Hung on a golden Belt and with a Jewel ty'd The third this Grecian Helmet must content He said to their appointed Base they went With beating hearts th' expected Sign receive And starting all at once the Station leave Spread out as on the Wing of Winds they flew And seiz'd the distant Goal with eager veiw Shot from the Crowd swift Nisus all o'r past Not stormes nor thunder equal half his haste The next but tho the next yet far disjoyn'd Came Salius then a distant space behind Euryalus the third Next Helymus whom young Diores ply'd Step after Step and almost side by side His shoulders pressing and in longer space Had won or left at least a doubtful Race Now spent the Goal they almost reach at last When eager Nisus hapless in his haste Slipt first and slipping fell upon the plain Moist with the bloud of Oxen lately slain The careless Victor had not mark'd his way But treading where the treacherous puddle lay His heels flew up and on the grassy floor He fell besmear'd with filth and holy gore Nor mindless then Euryalus of thee Nor of the sacred bonds of amity He strove th' immediate Rival to oppose And caught the foot of Salius as he rose So Salius lay extended on the Plain Euryalus springs out the prize to gain And cuts the Crowd applauding peals
small for thy offence To Heavens strict Justice he his wrongs apply'd And call'd down vengeance for his perish'd Bride She while she fled from thee unhappy Maid By heedless fear to treacherous Banks betray'd Ne're saw the Snake glide o're the grassie ground But e're she knew the foe she felt the wound Her fellow Dryads fill'd the Hills with cries In groans the soften'd Rhodope replies Rough Thrace the Getes and Hebrus streams lament Forget their fury and in grief consent While he to doleful tunes his strings does move And strove to solace his uneasie Love Thee Thee Dear Bride on Desart shores alone He mourn'd at rising and at setting Sun His restless Love did natural fears expel He dar'd to enter the black Jaws of Hell He saw the Grove where gloomy horrors spread The Ghosts and gastly Tyrant of the dead With those rough Powers that there severely reign Unus'd to pity when poor men complain He strook his Harp and strait a numerous throng Of Airy people fled to hear the Song Thither vast troops of wretched Lovers came And shriekt at the remembrance of their flame With heavy grief and gloomy thoughts opprest Meagre each shape and wounds in every breast How deep ah me and wide must mine appear If so much Beauty can be so severe With these mixt troops of Fathers Husbands Wives As thick as swarms of Bees fly round their Hives At Evening close or when a Tempest drives With Ghosts of Heroes and of Babes expos'd And Sons whose dying eyes their Mothers clos'd Which now the dull unnavigable flood With black Cocytus horrid weeds and mud And Styx in nine large Channels spread confine The wondrous numbers soft'ned all beneath Hell and the inmost flinty seats of Death Snakes round the Furies heads did upward rear And seem'd to listen to the pleasing Air While fiery Styx in milder streams did rowl And Cerberus gap'd but yet forbore to howl Ixion's Wheel stood still all tortures ceast And Hell amaz'd knew an usual rest All dangers past beyond the reach of fear Restor'd Euridice breath'd the upper air Following behind for mov'd by his complaint Hell added this condition to the grant When fury soon the heedless Lover seiz'd To be forgiven if Hell cou'd be appeas'd Fornear the consines of Aetherial Air Unmindful and unable to forbear He stopt look'd back what cannot love perswade To take one view of the unhappy Maid Here all his Pains were lost one greedy look Defeats his hopes and Hells conditions broke Thrice Stix resounded thrice Averne shook A fatal Messenger from Pluto flew And snatch'd the forfeit from a second veiw Backward she fell ah me too greedy Youth She cry'd what fury now hath ruin'd both Death summons me again cold fates surprise And Icy sleep spreads o're my nodding eyes Wrapt up in night I feel the Stygian shore And stretch my arms to thee in vain ah thine no more This scarc'd pronounc'd like smoke disperst in air So vanish'd the twice-lost unhappy Fair And left him catching at the flying shade He stood distracted much he would have said In vain for Charon wou'd not waâ—t him o're Once he had pass'd and now must hope no more What should he do where should he seek repose Where flie the trouble of his second loss In what soft numbers should the wretch complain And beg his dear Euridice again She now grew cold in Charon's boat beneath And sadly sail'd to the known seats of Death But while nine circling months in order turn'd Beneath bleak rocks thus Fame reports he mourn'd By freezing Sirymon's unfrequented stream Euridice his lost Euridice his theme And while he sang this sad event of Love He tam'd fierce Tygers and made Oaks to move With such soft Tunes and such a doleful Song Sweet Nightingales bewail their ravisht young Which some hard hearted Swain hath born away While Callow Birds or kill'd the easie prey Restless they sit renew their mournful strains And with sad Passion fill their neighb'ring Plains No face cou'd win him and no charms cou'd move He fled the heinous thoughts of second Love In vain the Thracians woed wit wealth esteem Those great Enticers lost their force on him Alone he wander'd thro' the Scythian Snows Where Icy Tanais freezeth as it flows Thro' fields still white with frost or beat with hail Constant to grief and eager to bewail Euridice the Gods vain gift employs His thoughts and makes him deaf to other joys The slighted Thracians heat this scorn increast They breath'd revenge and fir'd at Bacchus feast For what so soon as wine makes fury burn And what can wound a Maid so deep as scorn Full of their God they wretched Orpheus tore Scatter'd his limbs and drank his reeking gore His head torn off as Hebrus roll'd along Eurydice fell from his dying tongue His parting Soul when flying thro' the wound Cry'd ah Euridice the floods around Eurydice Eurydice the banks resound The Sixth ELEGY Of the First Book of TIBULLUS OFt I by Wine have try'd to lull my cares But vexing grief turn'd all my wine to Tears Each sprightly bottle did but still supply Another Fountain for my weeping Eye I chang'd my Love but midst the kind embrace I think on her and my attempt decays The Maid deluded from my feeble Arms Straight starts and shriek's and much complains of Charms I know says she strong charms thy force restrain You us'd to prove your self a greater Man Go dull unactive Load thy strength restore Then come prepar'd and mock my hopes no more Ah me no Charms but her bewitching face Damps all my thoughts and deadens my embrace Yet now a wealthy Fool and Bawd conspire A griping Bawd to blast my just desire And what can the poor Man securely hold Against the force of Treachery and gold I faint I die yeâ— e're I mount above I 'le call down vengeance for my injur'd love Let hatred blast her and the publick scorn Who drew the fair One first to be forsworn Unpity'd hated let her range the Streets Worry'd by Dogs and curst by all she meets At night let groaning Spectres round her wait And break her rest complaining of their Fate All this will come I shall be pleas'd to see The speedy punishment of Treachery No slow delay shall coming fate prolong For Venus soon resents a Lovers wrong But take heed Fair one be no longer aw'd But fly the cunning precepts of the Bawd The Rich mans bribes her greedy hope devours She pleads for her own profit not for yours For tho the wealthy may present you more He cannot pay the service of the poor The poor is ready he will ne're disdain The meanest servile Office of thy Train He 'l bear thy Chair of the preferment proud Or force a passage for you thro' the Crowd What ever friendships strictest ty's can crave Or utmost duty challenge from a Slave In vain I sing nor will my words command This Gate ne're opens to an empty hand But happy Sir
to dwell upon your Brow The modest Men are thought obscure and low And they who an affected silence keep Are thought to be too rigid sower and deep Amongst all other things do not omit To search the Writings of great Men of Wit And in the conversation of the Wise In what true happiness and pleasure lyes Which are the safest rules to live at ease And the best way to make all fortunes please Least through the craving hopes of gaining more And fear of loosing what you gain'd before Your poor unsatisfied misguided mind To needy wishes and false joys confin'd Puts its free boundless searching thoughts in chains And where it sought its pleasure find's it pains If virtuous thoughts and if a prudent Heart Be given by nature or obtain'd by Art What lessens cares the minds uneasie pain And reconciles us to our selves again Which doth the truest happiness create Unblemish'd Honour or a great Estate Or a safe private quiet which betrays It self to ease and cheats away the days When I am at where my kind fate Hath placed my little moderate Estate Where natur's care hath equally employ'd It s inward Treasures and its outward Pride What thoughts d'ye think those easie Joy's inspire What do you think I covet and desire T is that I may but undisturb'd possess The littl ' I have and if Heaven pleases less That I to Nature and my self may give The little time that I have left to live Some Book 's in which I some new thoughts may find To entertain and to refresh my mind Some Horses which may help me to partake The lawful pleasures which the seasons make An easie plenty which at least may spare The frugal pains of a Domestick care A Friend if that a faithful Friend there be Who can love such an idle life and me Then Heav'n give me but life and health I 'le find A grateful Soul and a contented Mind HORACE Saty. 2. Lib. 1. By Mr. STAFFORD I Was at first a piece of Figtree wood And long an honest Joyner pondring stood Whether he should employ his shaping Tool To make a God of me or a Jointstool Each knob he weigh'd on every inch did plod And rather chose to turn me to a God As a Priapus hence I grew adord The fear of every Thief and every bird The Raskals from their pilfring tricks desist And dread each wooden Finger of my fist The Reeds stuck in my cap the Peckers fright From our new Orchards far they take their flight And dare not touch a Pippin in my sight When any of the rabble did decease They brought 'em to this place to stink in peace Unnoisom here the snuffs of Rogues went out T was once a common grave for all the rout Loose Nomentanus left his riots here And lewd Pantalabus forgot to jeer Nor in these pit-holes might they put a bone Cou'd lye beneath a dunghil of it's own But now the ground for Slaves no more they tear Sweet are the Walks and vital is the Air Myrtle and Orange groves the Eye delight Where Sculls and Shanks did mix a ghastly fight While here I stand the Guardian of the Trees Not all the Jays are half the grievances As are those Hags who diligent in ill Are either poys'ning or bewitching still These I can neither hurt nor terrifie But every Night when once the Moon is high They haunt these Allies with their shriekes groans And pick up baneful Herbs and humane Bones I saw Canidia here her feet were bare Black were her Robes and loose her flaky Hair With her fierce Sagana went stalking round Their hideous howlings shook the trembling ground A paleness casting horror round the place Sat dead and terrible on eithers Face Their impious trunks upon the Earth they cast And dug it with their Nails in frantick haste A coleblack Lamb then with their Teeth they tore And in the pit they pour'd the reeking gore By this they force the tortur'd Ghosts from Hell And answers to their wilde demands compel Two Images they brought of Wax and Wool The Waxen was a little puling fool A chidden Image ready still to skip When'ere the woollen one but snapt his whip On Hecate allou'd this beldam calls Tisiphone as lou'd the other bawls A thousand Serpents hiss'd upon the ground And Hell-hounds compas'd all the Gardens round Behind the Tombs to shun the horrid sight The Moon skulk'd down or out of shame or fright May every Crow and Cuckow if I lye Aim at my Crown as often as they flye And never miss a dabbe tho n'ere so high May villain Iulius and his raskal crew Use me with jnst such Ceremony too But how much time and patience wou'd it cost To tell the Gabblings of each Hag and Ghost Or how the Earth the ugly Beldame scrapes And hides the Beards of Wolves Teeth of Snakes While on the Fire the waxen Image fries Vext to the Heart to see their Sorceries My Ears torn with their bellowing Sprights my Guts My Figtree Bowels wambled at the Sluts Mad for revenge I gather'd all my Wind And bounc'd like fifty bladders from behind Scar'd with the noise they seudd away to Town While Sagana's false hair comes dropping down Canidia tumbles o're for want of breath And scatters from her Jaws her set of Teeth I almost burst to see their labours crost Their Bones their Herbs and all their Devils lost OVID. Amorum Lib. 2. El. 4. That he loves Women of all sorts and sizes ALL blots I cannot from my manners wipe Nor say I walk uprightly when I slip Press'd with my faults I to confession fall In pain and mad till I lay open all I sin and I repent rub off the score And then like wild I dip agen for more I cannot rule my self like Pinnace tost In Storms the Rudder gone and Compass lost No certain shape or features stint my mind I still for love a thousand reasons find Here one commends my verse in equity If I please her she surely pleases me But if malicious witty things she said I think how she wou'd repartee in bed If artless she my Heart on Nature doats If learn'd I long to be conferring notes If no great sense or parts the Damsel show Still I conclude she wants it not below Do looks demure the inward spark conceal She deals by Great that can dissemble well Or is she Free and forward to engage I hate fatigue I am not for a siege The meek and mild my sure affections keep Yet love a shrew because she is no Sheep Does she look pale I fancy whence it came Is she a Rose Assure am I a flame That living Snow my passion strangely warms And straight I wish her melting in mine Arms. The tall appears Heroick to the Eye Yet n'er so small she were enough for me If little then I think how quick she moves If large who wou'd not roul in what he loves Lean Skeleton my fancy never snubs But is she plump