Warble immortal notes and Tuscan air? He who of those delights can judge, and spare XXI. [TO CYRIACK SKINNER.] CYRIACK, whose grandsire on the royal bench And what the Swede intend, and what the French. Toward 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 Of which all Europe rings from side to side. This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask XXIII. [ON HIS DECEASED WIFE.] METHOUGHT I saw my late espoused saint 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 rosâ. Rendered almost word for word, without rhyme, according to the Latin measure, as near as the language will permit. WHAT slender youth, bedewed with liquid odours, Pyrrha? For whom bind'st thou In wreaths thy golden hair, Plain in thy neatness? Oh, how oft shall he Who now enjoys thee credulous, all gold; Hopes thee, of flattering gales 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 Qui nunc te fruitur credulus aureá; Faliacis! Miseri quibus Intentata nites. Me tabulâ sacer Suspendisse potenti Vestimenta maris Deo. April, 1648.-J. M. 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, Give ear in time of need, Who leadest like a flock of sheep Thy loved Joseph's seed, 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 Cause thou thy face on us to shine, 4 Lord God of Hosts, how long wilt thou, Thy 2 smoking wrath, and angry brow, 5 Thou feed'st them with the bread of tears; 3 And mak'st them largely drink the tears Wherewith their cheeks are wet. 6 A strife thou mak'st us and a prey To every neighbour foe; 4 Among themselves they laugh, they play, 7 Return us, and thy grace divine, 8 A Vine from Egypt thou hast brought, And drov'st out nations proud and haut, 9 Thou didst prepare for it a place, And filled the land at last. 10 With her green shade that covered all Her boughs as high as cedars tall 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, 13 The tusked boar out of the wood Upturns it by the roots; Wild beasts there browse, and make their food Her grapes and tender shoots. 14 Return now, God of Hosts; look down From Heaven, thy seat divine; 4 Filgnagu. 30 40 50 Behold us, but without a frown, 60 15 Visit this Vine, which thy right hand Hath set, and planted long, And the young branch, that for thyself 16 But now it is consumed with fire, They perish at thy dreadful ire, 17 Upon the Man of thy right hand 70 |