Hethatdaresthis,nothingtohim’sunfit,Butproudo’th’topoffortuneswheelmaysit。
ADM。T。CICERONEM。
CATULEP。50。
DisertissimeRomulinepotum,Quotsunt,quotquefuere,MarceTulli,Quotquepostalioseruntinannos,GratiastibimaximasCatullusAgit,pessimusomniumpoeta:
Tantopessimusomniumpoeta,Quantotuoptimusomniumpatronus。
TOMARCUST。CICERO。
INANENGLISHPENTASTICK。
Tullytothee,Rome’seloquentsoleheir,Thebestofallthatare,shallbe,andwere,Itheworstpoetsendmybestthanksandpray’r:
Ev’nbyhowmuchtheworstofpoetsI,Bysomuchyouthebestofpatronesbe。
ADJUVENCIUM。CAT。EP。49。
Mellitosoculostuos,Juvenci,Siquismesinatusquebasiare,Usqueadmilliabasiemtrecenta;
Necunquamvideatsaturfuturus:
Nonsidensioraridisaristis,Sitnostraesegesosculationis。
TOJUVENCIUS。
Juvencius,thyfairsweeteyesIftomyfillthatImaykisse,ThreehundredthousandtimesI’dekisse,Norfutureageshouldcloythisblisse;
No,notifthickerthanripeearsTheharvestofourkissesbears。
DEPUEROETPRAECONE。CATUL。
Cumpuerobellopraeconemquividetesse,Quidcredat,nisisevenderediscupere?
CATUL。
Withafairboyacryerwebehold,Whatshouldwethink,buthewouldnotbesold?
Lovelacehasmadenonsenseofthispassage。Weoughttoreadrather,"butthathewouldbesold!"
PORTIILICINII。
SiPhoebisorores,mandotibi,Delia,causam,Scilicet,utfratriquaepetoverbaferas:
MarmoreSicaniostruxitibi,Delphice,templum,Etlevibuscalamiscandidaverbadedi。
Nunc,sinosaudis,atqueesdivinusApollo,Dicmihi,quinummosnonhabetundepetat。
ENGLISHED。
IfyouarePhoebussister,Delia,pray,ThismyrequestuntotheSunconvay:
ODelphickgod,Ibuiltthymarblefane,Andsungthypraiseswithagentlecane,
Now,ifthouartdivineApollo,tell,Wherehe,whosepurseisempty,maygofill。
Reedorpipe。
SENECAEEXCLEANTHE。
Ducme,ParenscelsiqueDominatorpoli,Quocunqueplacuit,nullaparendimoraest;
Adsumimpiger;facnolle,comitaborgemens,Malusquepatiarfacere,quodlicuitbono。
DucuntvolentemFata,nolentemtrahunt。
ENGLISHED。
ParentandPrinceofHeav’n,Olead,Ipray,Whereereyouplease,Ifollowandobey。
ActiveIgo,sighing,ifyougainsay,Andsufferbadwhattothegoodwaslaw。
Fatesleadthewilling,butunwillingdraw。
QUINTICATULI。
ConstiteramexorientemAuroramfortesalutans,CumsubitoalaevaRosciusexoritur。
Pacemihiliceat,coelestes,dicerevestra。
Mortalisvisupulchrioressedeo。
Blanditurpuerosatyrusvultuquemanuque;
Nolentisimilisretrahitorapuer:
Quemnoncommoveat,quamvisdemarmore?funditPeneprecessatyrus,penepuerlachrymas。
ENGLISHED。
AsonceIbadgoodmorningtotheday,O’th’suddenRosciusbreaksinabrightray:
Godswithyourfavour,I’vepresum’dtoseeAmortalfairerthenadeitie。
Withlooksandhandsasatyrecourtstheboy,Whodrawsbackhisunwillingcheekascoy。
Althoughofmarblehewn,whommovenotthey?
Theboyev’nseemstoweep,thesatyre,pray。
FLORIDI。DEEBRIOSO。
PhoebusmeinsomnisvetuitpotareLyaeum,Pareopraeceptis:tuncbibocumvigilo。
OFADRUNKARD。
Phoebusasleepforbadmewinetotake:
Iyield;andnowamonlydrunkawake。
DEASINOQUIDENTIBUSAENEIDEMCONSUMPSIT。
Carminisiliacilibrosconsumpsitasellus;
HocfatumTroiaeest:autequus,autasinus。
THEASSEEATINGTHEAENEIDS。
AwretchedassetheAeneidsdiddestroy:
AhorseorasseisstillthefateofTroy。
AUSONIUSLIB。EPIG。
TrinariiquodamcurrenteminlittorisoraAntecanesleporemcaeruleusrapuit;
Atlepus:inmeomnisterraepelagiquerapinaest,Forsitanetcoeli,sicanisastratenet。
ENGLISHED。
OntheSicilianstrandaharewellwroughtBeforethehoundswasbyadog—fishcaught;
Quothshe:allrapeofseaandearth’sonme,Perhapsofheav’n,ifthereadog—starbe。
Qu。acontractionofAIT。
AUSONIUSLIB。EPIG。
Polla,potenta,tribon,baculus,scyphus:arctasupellexHaecfuerantCinici,sedputathancnimiam:
Namquecavismanibuscernenspotarebubulcum,Cur,scyphe,te,dixit,gustosupervacuum?
ENGLISHED。
TheCynicksnarrowhoushouldstuffeofcrutch,Astoolanddish,waslumberthoughttoomuch:
Forwhilstahinddrinksouton’spalmso’th’strandHeflingshisdish:cries:I’veoneinmyhand!
AUSONIUSLIB。I。EPIG。
Thesauroinventoquiliminamortisinibat,Liquitovanslaqueum,quoperituruserat;
Atqui,quodterraeabdiderat,nonrepperitaurum,Quemlaqueuminvenitnexuit,etperiit。
ENGLISHED。
Atreasurefoundone,entringatdeath’sgate,Triumphingleavesthatcord,wasmeanthisfate;
Buthethegoldmissing,whichhedidhide,Thehalterwhichhefoundheknit:sody’d。
ALACHABOT。
Objectadorableetcharmant!
Messouspirsetmespleurstesmoignentmontorment;
Maismonrespectm’empechedeparler。
Ahquepeinedissimuler!
Etquejesouffredemartyre,D’aimeretden’oserledire!
TOTHESAMEAYREINENGLISH,THUS,Objectadorableofcharms!
Mysighsandtearsmaytestifiemyharms;
Butmyrespectforbidsmetoreveal。
Ah,whatapain’tistoconceal!
AndhowIsufferworsethenhell,Tolove,andnottodaretotell!
OriginalhasMESRESPECTS。
THEOPHILEBEINGDENY’DHISADDRESSESTOKINGJAMES,TURNEDTHEAFFRONTTOHISOWNGLORYINTHISEPIGRAM。
SiJaques,leRoyduscavior,Netrouuebondemevoir,Voilalacauseinfallible!
Car,ravydemonescrit,Ilcreut,quej’estoistoutespritEtparconsequentinvisible。
LINEALLYTRANSLATEDOUTOFTHEFRENCH。
IfJames,thekingofwit,Toseemethoughtnotfit,Surethisthecausehathbeen,That,ravish’dwithmymerit,HethoughtIwasallspirit,Andsonottobeseen。
AUSONIUS。
Vane,quidaffectasfaciemmihiponere,pictor,Ignotamqueoculissolicitaremanu?
Aerisetventisumfilia,materinanisIndicii,vocemquesinementegero。
Auribusinvestrishabitopenetrabilisecho;
Simihivissimilempingere,pingesonos。
INENGLISH。
Vainpainter,whydoststrivemyfacetodrawWithbusyhands?agoddesseeyesneresaw。
Daughterofairandwind,IdorejoyceInemptyshouts;(withoutamind)avoice。
WithinyourearsshrillechoIrebound,And,ifyou’lpaintmelike,thenpaintasound。
AUSON[IUS]。
Toxicazelotypodedituxormaechamarito,Necsatisadmortemcrediditessedatum;
Miscuitargentilethaliaponderavivi,Utceleretcertamvisgeminatanecem。
Ergo,intersesedumnoxiapoculacertant,Cessitlethalisnoxasaltuiferi。
Protinusinvacuosalvipetiererecessus,Lubricadejectisquaevianotacibis。
QuampiacuraDeumprodestcrudelioruxor。
Sic,cumfatavolunt,binavenenajuvant。
INENGLISH。
HerjealoushusbandanadultressegaveColdpoysons,to[o]weakshethoughtfor’sgrave;
AfataldoseofquicksilverthensheMinglestohasthisdoubledestinie;
Nowwhilstwithinthemselvestheyareatstrife,Thedeadlypotionyieldstothatoflife,Andstraightfromth’hollowstomackbothretreatToth’slipperypipesknowntodigestedmeat。
Strangecareo’th’godsthemurth’ressedothavail!
So,whenfatesplease,ev’ndoublepoysonsheal。
AUSONIUSEPIG。
Emptisquodlibristibibibliothecarefertaest,Doctumetgrammaticumte,philomuse,putas。
Quinetiamcytharas,chordasetbarbitaconde:
Mercatorhodie,crascitharoedus,eris。
INENGLISH。
Becausewithboughtbooks,sir,yourstudy’sfraught,Alearnedgrammarianyouwouldfainbethought;
Naythen,buylutesandstrings;soyoumayplayThemerchantnow,thefidler,thenextday。
AVIENIV。C。ADAMICOS。
Ruremorans,quidagam,respondi,paucarogatus:
Mane,deumexorofamulos,postarvaqueviso,Partitusquemeisjustosindicolabores;
Indelego,Phoebumquecio,Musamquelacesso;
Tuncoleocorpusfingo,molliquepalaestraStringolibensanimo,gaudensqueacfoenoreliberPrandeo,poto,cano,ludo,lavo,caeno,quiesco。
ENGLISHED。
Ask’dinthecountrywhatIdid,Isaid:
Iviewmymenandmeads,firsthavingpray’d;
Theneachofminehathhisjusttaskoutlay’d;
Iread,Apollocourt,IrousemyMuse;
ThenIanoyntme,andstriptwillinglooseMyselfonasoftplat,fromus’ryblest;
Idine,drink,sing,play,bath,Isup,Irest。
RufusFestusAvienus,theLatinpoet。
ADFABULLUM。CATUL。LIB。I。EP。13。
Caenabisbene,miFabulle,apudmePaucis,sidiitibifavent,diebus;
SitecumattulerisbonamatquemagnamCaenam,nonsinecandidapuella,Etvino,etsale,etomnibuscachinnis。
Haecsi,inquam,attuleris,Fabullenoster,Caenabisbene:namtuiCatulliPlenussacculusestaranearum。
Sed,contra,accipiesmerosamores,Seuquodsuaviuselegantiusveest:
Namunguentumdabo,quodmeaepuellaeDonaruntVeneresCupidinesque;
Quodtucumolfacies,deosrogabis,Totumtefaciant,Fabulle,nasum。
ENGLISHED。
Fabullus,IwilltreatyouhandsomelyShortly,ifthekindgodswillfavourthee。
Ifthoudostbringwiththeeadel’catemesse,Anolioorso,aprettylass,Briskwine,sharptales,allsortsofdrollery,Theseifthoubringst(Isay)alongwiththee,Youshallfeedhighly,friend:for,know,theebbsOfmylankpursearefullofspiderswebs;
Butthenagainyoushallreceiveclearlove,Orwhatmoregratefulormoresweetmayprove:
ForwithanointmentIwillfavourtheeMyVenus’sandCupidsgavetome,Ofwhichoncesmelt,thegodsthouwiltimplore,Fabullus,thatthey’dmaketheenoseallore。
MART。LIB。I。EPI。14。
CastasuogladiumcumtraderetArriaPaeto,Quemdevisceribustraxeratipsasuis;
Siquafides,vulnusquodfecinondolet,inquit:
Sedquodtufacies,hocmihi,Paete,dolet。
ENGLISHED。
WhenbravechastArriatoherPoetusgaveTheswordfromherownbreastdidbleedingwave:
Iftherebefaith,thiswoundsmartsnot,saidshe;
Butwhatyou’lmake,ah,thatwillmurderme。
MART。EPI。XLIII。LIB。I。
ConjugisaudissetfatumcumPortiaBruti,Etsubstractasibiquaereretarmadolor,Nondumscitis,ait,mortemnonpossenegari,Credideramsatishocvosdocuissepatrem。
Dixit,etardentesavidobibitorefavillas。
Inunc,etferrumturbamolestanega。
INENGLISH。
WhenPortiaherdearlord’ssadfatedidhear,Andnoblegriefsoughtarmswerehidfromher:
Knowyounotyetnohinderanceofdeathis,Cato,Ithought,enoughhadtaughtyouthis,Sosaid,herthirstylipsdrinkflamingcoales:
Gonow,denymesteel,officiousfools!
MART。EP。XV。LIB。6。
DumPhaetonteaformicavagaturinumbra,Implicuittenuemsuccinaguttaferam,Dignumtantorumpretiumtulitillalaborum:
Credibileestipsamsicvoluissemori。
ENGLISHED。
Whilstinanamber—shadetheantdothfeast,Agummydropensnaresthesmallwild—beast,Afullrewardofallhertoylshathshe;
’Tistobethoughtshewouldherselfsodie。
MAR。LIB。IV。EP。33。
Etlatetetlucet,PhaetontideconditaguttaUtvideaturapisnectareclausasuo。
Sicmodo,quaefueratvitacontemptamanente,Funeribusfactaestjampreciosasuis。
INENGLISH。
Bothlurksandshines,hidinanambertear,Thebee,inherownnectarprisoner;
Soshe,whoinherlifetimewascontemn’d,Ev’ninherveryfuneralsisgemm’d。
MART。LIB。VIII。EP。19。
PaupervideriCinnavult,etestpauper。
INENGLISH。
Cinnaseemspoorinshow,Andheisso。
AveryinadequatetranslationofVIDERIVULT。
OUTOFTHEANTHOLOGIE。
INANENGLISHDISTICK。
Afool,muchbitbyfleas,putoutthelight;
Youshallnotseemenow(quothhe);goodnight。
ThisisfromLucian。
INRUFUM。CATUL。EP。64。
Noliadmirari,quaretibifoeminanulla,Rufe,velittenerumsupposuissefemur;
Nonullamraraelabefactesmunerevestis,Autpellucidulisdeliciislapidis。
Laedittequaedammalafabula,quatibiferturVallesubalarumtruxhabitarecaper。
Huncmetuuntomnes,nequemirum:nammalavaldeestBestia,necquicumbelapuellacubet。
Quareautcrudelemnasoruminterficepestem,Autadmiraridesine,curfugiant。
TORUFUS。
Thatnofairwomanwill,wondernotwhy,Clap(Rufus)underthinehertenderthigh;
Notasilkgownshalloncemeltoneofthem,Northedelightsofatransparentgemme。
Ascurvystorykillsthee,whichdothtell,Thatinthinearmpitsafiercegoatdothdwell。
Himtheyallfearfullofanuglystench:
Nor’s’tfitheshouldlyewithahandsomewench;
Whereforethisnosescursedplaguefirstcrush,Orceasetowonder,whytheyflyyouthus。
AnarchaicformofQUOCUM。
OriginalhasSTINCH。
CATUL。EP。71。
DEINCONSTANTIAFOEMINEIAMORIS。
Nullisedicitmuliermeanuberevelle,Quammihi:non,siJupiteripsepetat;
Dicit;sedmuliercupidoquoddicitamanti,Inventoetrapidascribereoportetaqua。
FEMALEINCONSTANCY。
Mymistressesayesshe’llmarrynonebutme;
No,notifJovehimselfasuitorbe。
Shesayesso;butwhatwomensaytokindLovers,wewriteinrapidstreamsandwind。
ADLESBIAM,CAT。EP。73。
Dicebasquondam,solumtonosseCatullum,Lesbia,necpraemevelletenereJovem;
Dilexitumte,nontantumutvulgusamicam,Sedpaterutgnatosdiligitetgeneros。
Nunctecognovi,quareetimpensiusuror,Multomitamenesvilioretlevior。
Quipotisestinquis,quodamanteminjuriatalisCogatamaremagis,sedbenevelleminus?
Odietamo;quareidfaciam,fortasserequiris;
Nescio;sedfierisentio,etexcrucior。
ENGLISHED。
Thatmealoneyoulov’d,youoncedidsay,NorshouldItothekingofgodsgiveway。
ThenIlov’dtheenotasacommondear,Butasafatherdothhischildrenchear。
NowtheeIknow,morebitterlyIsmart;
Yetthoutomemorelightandcheaperart。
Whatpow’risthis?thatsuchawrongshouldpressMetolovemore,yetwishtheewellmuchlesse。
Ihateandlove;would’stthouthereasonknow?
Iknownot;butIburn,andfeelitso。
INLESBIAMCAT。EP。76。
Hucestmensdeductatua,meaLesbia,culpa,Atqueitaseofficioperdiditipsasuo。
Utjamnecbenevellequeamtibi,sioptimasias:
Necdesistereamare,omniasifacias。
ENGLISHED。
Bythyfaultismymindbroughttothatpass,Thatititsofficequiteforgottenhas:
Forbe’estthoubest,Icannotwishtheewell,Andbe’estthouworst,thenImustlovetheestill。
ADQUINTIUM。CAT。EP。83。
Quinti,sitibivisoculosdebereCatullum,Autaliudsiquidcariusestoculis,Eripereeinoli,multoquodcariusilliEstoculis,seuquidcariusestoculis。
TOQUINTIUS。
Quintius,ifyou’lendearCatulluseyes,Orwhathedearerthenhiseyesdothprize,Ravishnotwhatisdearerthenhiseyes,Orwhathedearerthenhiseyesdothprize。
DEQUINTIAETLESBIA。EP。87。
Quintiaformosaestmultis,mihicandida,longa,Rectaest;haecegosicsingulaconfiteor:
Totailludformosanego:nammultavenustas;
Nullaintammagnoestcorporemicasalis。
Lesbiaformosaestquae,cumpulcherrimatotaest,Tumomnibusunaomneissurripuitveneres。
ENGLISHED。
Quintiaishandsome,fair,tall,straight:alltheseVeryparticularsIgrantwithease:
Butsheallore’snothandsome;here’sherfault:
Inallthatbulkthere’snotonecorneofsalt,WhilstLesbia,fairandhandsometooallore,Allgracesandallwitfromallhathbore。
DESUOINLESBIAMAMORE。EP。88。
NullapotestmuliertantumsedicereamatamVere,quantumameLesbiaamatameaest;
Nullafidesullofuitunquamfaederetanta,Quantainamoresuoexparterepertameaest。
ENGLISHED。
Noonecanboastherselfsomuchbelov’d,TruelyasLesbiamyaffectionsprov’d;
Nofaithwaserewithsuchafirmknotbound,AsinmyloveonmypartIhavefound。
ADSYLONEM。EP。104。
Autsodesmihireddedecemsestertia,Sylo,Deindoestoquamvissaevusetindomitus;
Autsitenummidelectant,desine,quaeso,Lenoesse,atqueidemsaevusetindomitus。
ENGLISHED。
Sylo,praypaymemytensesterces,Thenrantandroarasmuchasyoushallplease;
Orifthatmonytakes[you,]pray,giveoreTobeapimp,orelsetorantandroar。
OriginalhasTAKES,butawordiswantingtocompletethemetre,andperhapsthepoetwroteTAKESYOU,i。e。captivatesyou。
ELEGIES
SACRED
TotheMemoryoftheAUTHOR:
ByseveralofhisFriends。
CollectedandPublishedBY
D。P。L。
NUNQUAMEGOTEVITAFRATERAMBILIOR
ADSPICIAMPOSTHAC;ATCERTESEMPERAMABO。
Catullus。
LONDON,Printed1660。
ELEGIES。
TOTHEMEMORYOFMYWORTHYFRIEND
COLL。RICHARDLOVELACE。
Topaymylovetothee,andpayitso,Ashonestmenshouldwhattheyjustlyowe,Weretowritebetterofthylife,thencanTheassured’stpenofthemostworthyman。
Suchwasthycomposition,suchthymind,Improv’dfromvertue,andfromvicerefin’d;
Thyyouthanabstractoftheworld’sbestparts,Invr’dtoarmsandexercis’dtoarts,Which,withthevigourofaman,becameThineandthycountriespiramidsoffame。
TwogloriouslightstoguideourhopefulyouthIntothepathsofhonourandoftruth。
Theseparts(sorarelymet)madeupinthee,Whatmanshouldinhisfullperfectionbe:
SosweetatemperintoeverysenceAndeachaffectionbreath’daninfluence,Assmooth’dthemtoacalme,whichstillwithstoodTherufflingpassionsofuntamedblood,Withoutawrinckleinthyface,toshowThystablebreastcouldadisturbanceknow。
Infortunehumble,constantinmischance;
Expertinboth,andbothserv’dtoadvanceThynamebyvarioustriallsofthyspirit,Andgivethetestimonyofthymerit。
Valianttoenvyofthebravestmen,Andlearnedtoanundisputedpen;
Goodasthebestinbothandgreat,butyetNodangerouscouragenoroffensivewit。
Theseeverserv’dtheonefortodefend,Theother,noblytoadvancethyfriend,UnderwhichtitleIhavefoundmynameFix’dinthelivingchronicleoffameTotimessucceeding:yetIhencemustgo,Displeas’dIcannotcelebratetheeso。
Butwhatrespect,acknowledgementandlove,Whatthesetogether,whenimprov’d,improve:
Callitbyanyname(soitexpressOughtlikeatributetothyworthyness,Andmaymyboundengratitudebecome)
LOVELACE,Iofferatthyhonour’dtomb。
AndthoughthyvertuesmanyfriendshavebredTolovetheeliveing,andlamenttheedead,Incharactersfarbettercouch’dthenthese,Minewillnotblottthyfame,northeirsencrease。
’Twasbythineowngreatmeritsrais’dsohigh,That,maugretimeandfate,itshallnotdye。
Sicflevit。
CharlesCotton。
Theselinesmaybefound,withsomeverbalvariations,inthepoemsofCharlesCotton,1689,p。481—2—3。
ThisreadingisadoptedfromCotton’sPoems,1689,p。482。
InLUCASTAwereadNODISTURBANCE。
UPONTHEPOSTHUMEANDPRECIOUSPOEMS
OFTHENOBLYEXTRACTEDGENTLEMANMR。R。L。
Theroseandotherfragrantflowerssmellbest,Whentheyarepluck’dandworninhandorbrest,Sothisfairflow’rofvertue,thisrarebudOfwit,smellsnowasfreshaswhenhestood;
AndinthesePosthume—Poemsletsusknow,HeonthebanksofHelicondidgrow。
ThebeautyofhissouldidcorrespondWithhissweetout—side:nay,itwentbeyond。
Lovelace,theminionoftheThespiandames,Apollo’sdarling,bornwithEntheanflames,Whichinhisnumberswaveandshinesoclear,Assparksrefractedfromrichgemmesappear;
Suchflamesthatmayinspire,andatomscast,Tomakenewpoetsnotlikehiminhast。
Jam。Howell。
Theselines,originallyprintedasabove,wereincludedbyPayneFisherinhiscollectionofHowell’sPoems,1663,8vo。,wheretheymaybefoundatp。126。Fisheralteredthesuperscriptioninhisill—editedbookto"UponthePosthume—POEMS
ofMr。Lovelace。"
WITH——Howell’sPoems。
THATHEUPON——ibid。
IFNOTGOBEYOND——ibid。
Fr。MIGNON,darling。
SoinHowell’sPoems。LUCASTAhasIN。
"SuchsparksthatwiththeiratomsmayinspireThereaderwithapurePOETICKfire。"
Howell’sPOEMS。
ANELEGIE,SACREDTOTHEMEMORYOFMYLATEHONOUREDFRIEND,COLLONELLRICHARDLOVELACE。
Pardon(blestshade),thatIthuscrowdtobe’Mongthosethatsinuntothymemory,AndthatIthinkunvalu’dreliquesspread,Andamthefirstthatpillagesthedead;
Sincewhowouldbethymournerasbefits,Butanofficioussacriledgecommits。
Howmytearsstrivetodotheefairerright,Andfromthecharactersdividemysight。
Untillit(dimmer)anewtorrentswells,Andwhatobscur’dit,fallsmyspectaclesLettheluxuriousfloodsimpulsiverise,Astheywouldnotbewept,butweeptheeyes,Thewhileearthmelts,andweaboveitlyeButtheweakbubblesofmortalitie;
UntilourgriefsaredrawnupbytheSun,Andthat(too)droptheexhalation。
Howinthydustwehumblenowourpride,Andbringtheeawholepeoplemortifi’d!
Forwhoexpectsnotdeath,nowthouartgone,Showshislowfolly,notreligion。
CanthepoetickheavenstillholdonThegoldendance,whenthefirstmover’sgon?
Andthesnatch’dfires(whichcircularlyhurl’d)
Intheirstrongraptureglimmertotheworld,AndnotstupendiouslyratherriseThetapersuntothesesolemnities?
Canthechordsmoveintune,whenthoudostdye,Atoncetheiruniversalharmony?
ButwhereApollo’sharp(withmurmur)laid,Hadtothestonesamelodyconvey’d,Theybysomepebblesummon’dwouldreplyInloudresultstoeverybattery;
Thusdowecomeuntothymarbleroom,Toecchofromthemusickofthytombe。
Maywedarespeaktheedead,thatwouldestbeInthyremoveonlynotsuchaswe?
Nowonder,theadvanceisfromushid;
Earthcouldnotlifttheehigherthenitdid!
Andthou,thatdidstgrowupsoevernigh,Artbutnowgonetoimmortality!
Soneartowherethouart,thouheredidstdwell,Thechangetotheeislessperceptible。
Thybutunably—comprehendingclay,Towhatcouldnotbecircumscrib’d,gaveway,Andthemorespacioustennanttoreturn,Crack’d(inthetworestrain’destate)itsurn。
Thatisbutlefttoasuccessivetrust;
Thesoul’sfirstburiedinhisbodiesdust。
Thoumorethyself,nowthouartlessconfin’d,Artnotconcern’dinwhatisleftbehind;
Whilewesustainthelossethatthouartgone,Un—essenc’dintheseparation;
Andhethatweepsthyfunerall,inoneIspioustothewiddow’dnation。
Andunderwhat(now)covertmustIsing,Secureasifbeneathacherub’swing;
Whenthouhasttanethyflighthence,andartnighInplacetosomerelatedhierarchie,WhereabrightwreathofgloriesdothbutsetUponthyheadanequalcoronet;
Andthou,aboveourhumbleconversegon,Canstbutbereach’dbycontemplation。
Ourlutes(asthinewastouch’d)werevocallby,Andthencereceiv’dthesoulbysympathy,Thatdidabovethethredsinspiringcreep,Andwithsoftwhispersbroketheam’roussleep;
Whichnownomore(mov’dwiththesweetsurprise)
Awakeintodeliciousrapsodies;
Butwiththeirsilentmistressdocomply,Andfastinundisturbedslumberslye。
HowfromthyfirstascentthoudidstdisperseAblushingwarmththroughouttheuniverse,WhilenearthemornsLucasta’sfiresdidglow,Andtotheearthapurerdawndidthrow。
WeeversawtheeintherolloffameAdvancingthyalreadydeathlessname;
Andthoughitcouldbutbeaboveitsfate,Thouwould’st,however,super—errogate。
NowasinVenice,whenthewantonStateBeforeaSpaniardspreadtheircrowdedplate,HemadeitthesagebusinessofhiseyeTofindtherootofthewildtreasury;
Solearn’tfromthatexchequerbutthemoreToratehismastersvegetableore。
ThuswhentheGreekandLatinmuseweread,Asbutthecoldinscriptionsofthedead,Wetoadvantagethenadmiredthee,Whodid’stliveonstillwiththypoesie;
AndinourproudenjoymentsneverknewTheendoftheunrulywealththatgrew。
Butnowwehavethelastdearingotsgain’d,Andthefreevein(howeverrich)isdrein’d;
Thoughwhatthouhastbequeathedus,nospaceOfthisworldsspanoftimeshallereembrace。
ButaswhosometimesknewnottoconcludeUponthewatersstrangevicissitude,Didtotheoceanhimselfcommit,Thatitmightcomprehendwhatcouldnotit,Soweinourendeavoursmustout—doneBeswallowedupwithinthyHelicon。
Thou,whoartlaydupinthypreciouscave,Andfromthehollowspacesofthygrave,Westillmaymournintune,butmustaloneHereafterhopetoquaveroutagrone;
NomorethechirpingsonnetswithshrillnotesMusthenceforthvolleyfromourtreblethrotes;
Buteachsadaccentmustbehumour’dwellTothedeepsolemnorganofthycell。
Whyshouldsomerudehandcarvethysacredstone,Andthereinciseacheapinscription?
WhenwecanshedthetributeofourtearsSolong,tilltherelentingmarblewears;
Whichshallsuchorderintheircadencekeep,Thattheyanativeepitaphshallweep;
Untilleachletterspeltdistinctlylyes,Cutbythemystickdroppingsofoureyes。
El。Revett。
OriginalhasTHEBUT。
OriginalhasOW。
Ihavealreadypointedout,thattheauthorofthesetrulywretchedlineswasprobablythesameperson,onwhoseMORALANDDIVINEPOEMSLovelacehassomeversesintheLUCASTA。
ThepoemsofE。R。appeartobelost,which,unlesstheywerefarsuperiortothepresentspecimen,cannotberegardedasagreatcalamity。
ANELEGIE。
Methinks,whenkings,prophets,andpoetsdye,Weshouldnotbidmenweep,noraskthemwhy,ButthegreatlossshouldbyinstinctimpairThenations,likeapestilentialayr,AndinamomentmenshouldfeelthecrampOfgrief,likepersonspoyson’dwithadamp。
Allthingsinnatureshouldtheirdeathdeplore,Andthesunlooklesslovelythanbefore;
Thefixedstarsshouldchangetheirconstantspaces,Andcometscastabroadtheirflagrantfaces。
YetstillweseeprincesandpoetsfallWithouttheirproperpompoffunerall;
Menlookabout,asiftheynerehadknownThepoetslawrellortheprincescrown;
Lovelacehathlongbeendead,andhecanbeOblig’dtonomanforanelegie。
Areyouallturn’dtosilence,ordidheRetaintheonlysapofpoesie,Thatkeptallbranchesliving?musthisfallSetaneternalperioduponall?
Sowhenaspring—tidedothbegintofly
Fromthegreenshoar,eachneighbouringcreekgrowsdry。
ButwhydoIsopettishlydetractAnagethatissoperfect,soexact?
Inallthingsexcellent,itisafameOrglorytodeceasedLovelacename:
Forheisweakinwit,whodothdepraveAnothersworthtomakehisownseembrave;
Andthiswasnothisaim:norisitmine。
Inowconceivethescopeoftheirdesigne,WhichiswithoneconsenttobringandburnContributaryincenceonhisurn,Whereeachmansloveandfancyshallbetry’d,AswhengreatJohnsonorbraveShakespeardyed。
Witsmustunite:forignorance,wesee,Hathgotagreattrainofartillerie:
YetneithershallnorcanitblastthefameAndhonourofdeceasedLovelacename,WhoseownLUCASTAcansupporthiscreditAmongstallsuchwhoknowinglyhavereadit;
ButwhothatpraisecanbydesertdiscusseDuetothosepoemsthatareposthumous?
Andifthelastconceptionsarethebest,Thosebydegreesdomuchtranscendtherest;
Sofull,sofluent,thattheyrichlysuteWithOrpheuslire,orwithAnacreonslute,Andheshallmelthiswing,thatshallaspireToreachafancyoroneaccenthigher。
HollandandFrancehaveknownhisnoblerparts,Andfoundhimexcellentinarmsandarts。
Tosumupall,fewmenoffamebutknow,HewasTAMMARTI,QUAMMERCURIO。
Burning。
OriginalhasWE。
Afineimage!
ThemottooriginallyemployedbyGeorgeGascoigne,who,likeLovelace,wieldedboththeswordandthepen。
TOHIS
NOBLEFRIENDCAPT。DUDLEYLOVELACE
UPONHISEDITIONOFHISBROTHERSPOEMS。
Thypioushand,plantingfraternalbayes,Deservingisofmostegregiouspraise;
Since’tistheorgandothtousconveyFromadescendedsunsobrightaray。
ClearspirithowmuchweareboundtotheeForthissogreataliberalitie,ThetruerworthofwhichbymuchexceedsThewesternwealth,whichsuchcontentionbreeds!
LiketheInfusing—God,fromthewell—headOfpoesieyouhavebesprinkledOurbrowswithholydrops,theverylast,WhichfromyourBrother’shappypenwerecast:
Yetasthelast,thebest;suchmatchlesseskillFromhisdivinealembickdiddistill。
Yourhonour’dBrotherintheElyzianshadeWilljoytoknowhimselfalaureatmadeByyourreligiouscare,andthathisurnDothhimonearthimmortallifereturn。
YourselfyouhaveagoodphysicianshownTohismuchgrievedfriendsandtoyourown,Ingivingthiselixir’dmedecine,Forgreatestgriefasoveraignanodine。
Sir,fromyourBrothery’haveconvey’dusbliss;
Now,sinceyourgeniussoconcurswithhis,Letyourownquillournextenjoymentsframe;
Allmustberich,that’sgrac’dwithLovelacename。
SymonOgnellM。D。Coningbrens。
ThispersonisnotmentionedinMunk’sRolloftheRoyalCollegeofPhysicians,1861。
ONTHE
TRULYHONOURABLECOLL。RICHARDLOVELACE,OCCASIONEDBYTHEPUBLICATIONOFHISPOSTHUME—POEMS。
ELEGIE。
GreatsonofMars,andofMinervatoo!
WithwhatoblationsmustwecometowooThysacredsoultolookdownfromabove,Andseehowmuchthymemorywelove,Whosehappypensopleasedamorousears,And,liftingbrightLUCASTAtothesphears,Herinthestar—bespangledorbdidsetAbovefairAriadnescoronet,Leavingapatterntosucceedingwits,BywhichtosingforththeirPythonickfits。
Shallwebringtearsandsighs?no,nothenweShouldbutbemoneourselvesforloosingthee,Orelsethyhappinessseemtodeny,Ortorepineatthyfelicity。
Then,whilstwechantoutthineimmortalpraise,Ourofferingsshallbeonelysprigsofbays;
Andifourtearswillneedstheirbrinksout—fly,We’lweepthemforthintoanelegy,Totelltheworld,howdeepfateswoundedwit,WhenAtroposthelovelyLovelacehit!
Howth’activefire,whichcloath’dthygen’rousmind,Consum’dthewater,andtheearthcalcin’dUntillastrongerheatbydeathwasgiven,Whichsublimatedthypoorsoultoheaven。
Thouknew’strightwelltoguidethewarlikesteed,Andyetcould’stcourttheMuseswithfullspeedAndsuchsuccess,thattheinspiringNineHavefill’dtheirThespianfountainsowithbrine。
Henceforthwecanexpectnolyricklay,Butbitingsatyresthroughtheworldmuststray。
BellonajoynswithfairEratotoo,AndwiththeDestiniesdokeepadoe,Whomthusshequeries:couldnotyouawhileReprievehislife,untilanotherfileOfpoemssuchasthesehadbeendrawnup?
Thefatesreply’dthatthouwerttakenup,Asacrificeuntothedeities;
Sincethingsmostperfectpleasetheirholyeyes,AndthatnoothervictimcouldbefoundWithsomuchlearningandtruevirtuecrown’d。
Sinceitisso,inpeaceforeverrest;
TisveryjustthatGodshouldhavethebest。
Sym。OgnellM。D。Coningbrens。
ONMYBROTHER。
LovelaceisdeadthenlettheworldreturnToitsfirstchaos,mufledinitsurn;
Thestarsandelementstogetherlye,Drench’dinperpetualobscurity,Andthewholemachineinconfusionbe,Asimmethodickasananarchie。
Maythegreateyeofdayweepouthislight,PaleCynthialeavetheregimentofnight,Thegalaxia,allinsablesdight,Sendforthnocorruscationstooursight,TheSister—GracesandthesacredNine,Statu’dwithgrief,attenduponhisshrine,Whoseworth,whoseloss,shouldwebuttrulyrate,’TwouldpuzzleourarithmetictostateTh’accomptofvertu’ssotranscendenthigh,Numberandvaluereachinfinity。
DidIpronouncehimdeadno,nohelives,AndfromhisaromatiquecellhegivesSpice—breathedfumes,whoseodoriferousscent(Inzephre—galeswhichnevercanbespent)
Dothspreaditselfabroad,andmuchout—viesTheeasternbirdinherself—sacrifice;
OrFatherPhoebus,whototh’worldderivesSuchvariousandsuchmultiformedlives,TooknoticethatbraveLovelacedidinspireTheuniversewithhisPrometheanfire,Andsnatchthimhence,beforehisthreadwasspun,En’vingthathereshouldbeanotherSun。T。L。
ThomasLovelace,oneofthepoet’sbrothers。
ONTHEDEATHOFMYDEARBROTHER。
EPITAPH。
Tread(reader)gently,gentlyoreThehappydustbeneaththisfloor:
ForinthisnarrowvaultissetAnalablastercabinet,Whereinbothartsandarmswereput,LikeHomersIliadsinanut,TillDeathwithslowandeasiepaceSnatchtthebrightjewellfromthecase;
Andnow,transform’d,hedothariseAconstellationintheskies,Teachingtheblindedworldtheway,Throughnight,tostartleintoday:
Andshipwracktshades,withsteadyhand,Hesteersuntoth’Elizianland。
DudleyPosthumus—Lovelace。
第7章