ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

A war ensues, the Cretans own their cause,
Stiff to defend their hospitable laws:
Both parties lose by turns, and neither wins,
Till peace, propounded by a truce, begins.
The kindred of the slain forgive the deed,
But a short exile must for show precede:
The term expired, from Candia they remove,
And happy each at home enjoys his love.

635

640

TRANSLATIONS OF LATIN HYMNS

AND

MINOR MISCELLANIES.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE.

The first translated hymn, the “Veni, Creator Spiritus,” has been from the first in collections of Dryden's Poems: it was printed in Tonson's folio edition of 1701. The translations of the "Te Deum" and the " Hymn for St. John's Eve" were first published by Sir Walter Scott, who had no doubt of their authenticity. Scott received them from Captain MacDonogh of the Inverness militia: they had been the property of Mr. Charles Butler, who has mentioned them in his "Tour through Italy: on Mr. Butler's death they passed into the hands of Dr. Alban, from whom Captain MacDonogh acquired them. Scott, in publishing them, says: "I think most of my readers will join with me in opinion that both their beauties and their faults are such as ascertain their authenticity."

[ocr errors]

Four small pieces ascribed to Dryden in the "State Poems" (vol. i. pp. 215 and 216, and vol. iii. p. 132), on Hyde, Earl of Rochester's dismissal from the Treasury in 1687, on King James II. after the Revolution of 1688, on the Duke of Buckingham, and on the Duchess of Portsmouth, are probably none of them his. A longer piece, called “Tarquin and Tullia,” in the third volume of the “ State Poems,” also ascribed to Dryden, is clearly not authentic; and the same may be said of “Suum Cuique." The two last-named poems are Satires on William and Mary and their Government. All these spurious pieces are printed in Scott's edition of Dryden's works, being treated by him as doubtful, if not spurious. They all appeared in a collection of Dryden's poems for the first time in the edition of the British Poets, for which Johnson made his celebrated Lives.

VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS.

TRANSLATED IN PARAPHRASE.

CREATOR Spirit, by whose aid
The world's foundations first were laid,
Come, visit every pious mind;
Come, pour thy joys on human kind ;
From sin and sorrow set us free,
And make thy temples worthy thee.
O source of uncreated light,
The Father's promised Paraclete !*
Thrice holy fount, thrice holy fire,
Our hearts with heavenly love inspire;
Come, and thy sacred unction bring

To sanctify us, while we sing.

Plenteous of grace, descend from high,

Rich in thy sevenfold energy!

Thou strength of his Almighty hand,

Whose power does heaven and earth command.

5

ΤΟ

15

[blocks in formation]

Refine and purge our earthy parts;

20

But, oh, inflame and fire our hearts!
Our frailties help, our vice control,
Submit the senses to the soul;
And when rebellious they are grown,
Then lay thy hand, and hold them down.
Chase from our minds the infernal foe,
And Peace, the fruit of Love, bestow;
And lest our feet should step astray,
Protect and guide us in the way.

Make us eternal truths receive,
And practise all that we believe :
Give us thy self, that we may see
The Father and the Son by thee.

Immortal honour, endless fame,
Attend the Almighty Father's name :
The Saviour Son be glorified,

[blocks in formation]

Who for lost man's redemption died :
And equal adoration be,

Eternal Paraclete, to thee.

* There is a pronunciation in Scotland of glebe as glibe, which may help to explain this rhyme of light and Paraclete. See rhyme of decrees with ratifies and relies in "The Hind and the Panther," part 2, line 82.

TE DEUM.

THEE, Sovereign God, our grateful accents praise ;
We own thee Lord, and bless thy wondrous ways;
To thee, Eternal Father, earth's whole frame
With loudest trumpets sounds immortal fame.
Lord God of Hosts! for thee the heavenly powers
With sounding anthems fill the vaulted towers.
Thy Cherubims thrice Holy, Holy, Holy cry;
Thrice Holy, all the Seraphims reply,

And thrice returning echoes endless songs supply.
Both heaven and earth thy majesty display;
They owe their beauty to thy glorious ray.
Thy praises fill the loud apostles' quire :
The train of prophets in the song conspire.
Legions of Martyrs in the chorus shine,
And vocal blood with vocal music join.*
By these thy church, inspired by heavenly art,
Around the world maintains a second part,
And tunes her sweetest notes, O God, to thee,
The Father of unbounded majesty;
The Son, adored co-partner of thy seat,
And equal everlasting Paraclete.

Thou King of Glory, Christ, of the Most High
Thou co-eternal filial Deity;

Thou who, to save the world's impending doom,
Vouchsafedst to dwell within a Virgin's womb;
Old tyrant Death disarmed, before thee flew
The bolts of heaven, and back the foldings drew,
To give access, and make thy faithful way;
From God's right hand thy filial beams display.
Thou art to judge the living and the dead;

Then spare those souls for whom thy veins have bled.

O take us up amongst thy blessed above,

To share with them thy everlasting love.
Preserve, O Lord! thy people, and enhance

For ever raise their hearts, and rule their ways,

Thy blessing on thine own inheritance.

Each day we bless thee, and proclaim thy praise;
No age shall fail to celebrate thy name,
No hour neglect thy everlasting fame.

[blocks in formation]

Preserve our souls, O Lord, this day from ill;
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy still:
As we have hoped, do thou reward our pain;
We've hoped in thee, let not our hope be vain.

40

Scott points out this line as peculiarly characteristic of Dryden. "Vocal blood" occurs in "The Hind and the Panther," part 1, line 15.

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »