Apollo saw, and could not keep from tears. Now all seem'd ready to be overthrown; His strength was wither'd, ev'ry hope was flown. Shouted for joy, and fill'd the air with cries; 605 Instant he sent the Queen to shades below, And of her spoils made a triumphant show. But in return, and in his mid career, Fell his brave Knight, beneath the Monarch's spear. 610 But still fought on with courage and with care. He had but two poor common men to show, The thoughts of ruin made 'em dare their best To save their King, so fatally distress'd. 615 But the sad hour required not such an aid; And Hermes breath'd revenge where'er he stray'd. Fierce comes the sable Queen with fatal threat, Rush'd here and there, nor rested till she slew 620 625 No safety's left, no gleams of hope remain; Yet did he not as vanquish'd quit the plain, 629 But tried to shut himself between the foe, Unhurt through swords and spears he hoped to go, Until no room was left to shun the fatal blow. For if none threaten'd his immediate fate, And his next move must ruin all his state, 634 All their past toil and labour is in vain, Vain all the bloody carnage of the plain, Neither would triumph then, the laurel neither gain. 640 Then when he saw him take the farthest line, At length in vengeance her keen sword she draws, 645 649 And all the Gods around approved it with applause. 656 660 665 Soon after this, the heavenly victor brought The Game on earth, and first th' Italians taught. For (as they say) fair Scacchis he espied Feeding her cygnets in the silver tide, (Scacchis, the loveliest Seriad of the place) 670 And as she stray'd, took her to his embrace. Then, to reward her for her virtue lost, Gave her the men and chequer'd board, emboss'd 675 And taught her how the game was to be play'd. TRANSLATIONS. [Under this head some editors of Goldsmith's Poems give a number of small pieces extracted from the prose works. Most of these, however, are really not translations by Goldsmith, as will be seen by reference to (for instance) those in the Belles Lettres' essays (v. i.), which are translations by Francis and others. Of the few that remain, we give the following from works by Goldsmith not included in the present edition.-ED.] Addison, in some beautiful Latin lines inserted in the 'Spectator,' is entirely of opinion that birds observe a strict chastity of manners, and never admit the caresses of a different tribe.1 CHASTE are their instincts, faithful is their fire, bird pursues His well acquainted tints, and kindred hues. Hence through their tribes no mix'd, polluted flame, 1 'Spectator,' No. 412.-ED. FROM THE SAME. [V. iii., p. 6—Of the Salmon.] Of all the fish that graze beneath the flood, OVID. FROM THE COMIC ROMANCE' OF SCARRON.1 THUS when soft love subdues the heart With smiling hopes, and chilling fears, The soul rejects the aid of art, And speaks in moments more than years. SOME OTHER PIECES OF POETRY by Goldsmith will be found in his prose works as follows: IN THE CITIZEN OF THE WORLD' [1760-2]. On Seeing Mrs. * * Perform, &c. Letter LXXXV. See v. iii. On the Death of the Right Hon. * * Letter CVI. See v. iii. 1 The Comic Romance of Monsieur Scarron, translated by Oliver Goldsmith :' London, W. Griffin, 2 vols. 12mo, 1776. This was put forth two years after Goldsmith's death as being mainly by him; and it is generally admitted that the poet had at least undertaken to furnish such a translation. But most of the poetical pieces in these two volumes have been traced to a previous translation, and the work generally is now classed with those bearing Goldsmith's name which are denominated "doubtful"-though the above four lines are viewed by Mr. Bolton Corney and others as being certainly from Goldsmith's hand.-ED. Epigram to the Gentlemen Reflected on in the 'Rosciad.' Letter CXIII. See v. iii. To G. C. and R. L. Letter CXIII. See v. iii. Translation of a South American Ode. IN THE GOOD-NATURED MAN' [1768]. IN SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER' [1773]. Song: Let Schoolmasters puzzle their Brain. Epilogue; spoken by Mrs. Bulkley in the character of Miss Hardcastle. |