STACK 
 ANNEX 
 
 PR 
 
 3620 
 
 D53 
 
 v.2 

 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES

 
 WORKS 
 
 O F 
 
 Alexander Pope Efq. 
 
 VOLUME II. 
 
 CONT AINI NG HIS 
 
 TRANSLATIONS 
 
 AND 
 
 1 M I T A T I O N S. 
 
 L ONDON 
 
 IY::iteii for H. L i N T o T, J. and R. TON sow, 
 and S. DRAPER. 
 
 MDCCU&
 
 rrs 
 
 ji 3 
 
 v, 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 SECOND VOLUME. 
 
 Page 
 
 SAPPHO to PHAON, an Epiftle from Ovid 3 
 
 ELOISA to ABELARD, an Epiftlc 2$ 
 
 The TETPLE of FAME 45 
 
 JANUARY and MAY, from Chaucer 76 
 
 The WIFE of BATH, from Chaucer 107 
 
 The Firji Book o/'SrATius's THEBAIS 127 
 
 2Tta FABLE 0/" DRYOPE, from Ovid's JMctamsr- 
 phofes 193 
 
 VERTUMNUS and POMONA, frtm Ovid's Meta- 
 morphofes 203 
 
 IMITATIONS 
 
 I. Of CHAUCER 213 
 
 U. Of SPENCER. The ALLEY. 215 
 
 III. Of WALLER. On a Lady Jingltig t bar 
 
 LUTE 218 
 
 On a F A N of the Author's dejlga 9 In vibicbwas 
 
 painted thejlory ofCEPHALUs and PRO- 
 
 CRIS, with the Motto^ AURA VEM 219 
 
 IV. Of COWLET. The GARDEN. 220 
 WEEPING 222 
 
 V. E. of ROCHESTER. On SILENCE 223 
 
 VI. E. of DORSET. ARTEMISIA 226 
 PHRYNE 227 
 
 VII. Of Dr. SWIFT. The Happy Lift f a 
 COUNTRY PARSON 2i8 
 
 G9S74G
 
 SAPPHO 
 
 T O 
 
 P H A O N. 
 
 VOL. II.
 
 SAPPHO 
 
 ECQUID, ut infpedla eft ftudiofae littera dextrae, 
 Protinus eft oculis cognita noftra tuis ? 
 An, nifi legifles audtoris nomina Sapphus, 
 
 Hoc breve nefcires unde movetur opus ? 
 Fofitan et quare raea fmt alterna requiras f 
 
 Carmina, cum lyricis fim magis apta modis. 
 Flendus amor meus eft : elegei'a flebile carmen ; 
 
 Non facit ad lacrymas barbitos ulla meas. 
 Uror, ut, indomitis ignem exercentibus Euris, 
 
 Fertilis accenfis meflibus ardet ager. 10 
 
 Arva Phaon celebrat diverfa Typho'idos Aetnae, 
 
 Me calor Aetnaeo non minor igne coquit. 
 Nee mihi, difpofitis quae jungam carmina nervis, 
 Proveniunt $ vacuae carmina mentis opus.
 
 (3) 
 
 s 
 
 - 
 
 A P P 
 
 T O 
 
 P H A 
 
 H O 
 
 O N. 
 
 SAY, lovely youth, that do'ft my heart command, 
 Can Phaon's eyes forget his Sappho's hand ? 
 Muft then her name the wretched writer prove, 
 To thy remembrance loft, as to.thy love ? 
 Afk not the caufe that I new numbers chufe, 5 
 The Lute neglected, and the Lyric mufe j 
 Love taught my tears in fadder notes to flow, 
 And tun'd my heart to Elegies of woe. 
 I burn, I burn, as when tKro' ripen'd corn 
 By driving winds the fpreading flames are born f IQ 
 Phaon to ./Etna's fcorching fields retires, 
 While I confume with more than ./Etna's fires ! 
 No more my foul a charm in mufic finds j 
 Mufic has charms alone for peaceful minds. 
 
 A 2
 
 4 SAPPHOPHAONI. 
 
 Nee me Pyrrhiades Methymniadefve puellae, 1 3 
 
 Nee me Lefbiadum caetera turba juvant. 
 Vilis Anactorie, vilis mihi Candida Cydno : 
 
 Non oculis grata eft Atthis, ut ante, meis ; 
 Atque aliae centum, quas non fine crimine amavi : 
 
 Improbe, multarum quod fuit, unus liabes. 20 
 Eft in te facies, funt apti lufibus anni. 
 
 O facies oculis infidiofa meis ! 
 Sume fidem et pharetram ; fies manifeflus Apollo : 
 
 Accedant capiti cornua ; Bacchus eris. 
 Et Phoebus Daphnen, et Gnofida Bacchus amavit ; 
 
 Nee norat lyricos ilia, vel ilia modos. 30 
 
 At mihi Pegafides blandiilima carmina diclant ; 
 
 Jam canitur toto nomen in orbe meum. 
 Nee plus Alcaeus, confers patriaeque lyraeque, 
 
 Laudis habet, quamvis grandius ille foneti 
 Si mihi difficilis formam natura negavit ; 35 
 
 Ingento formae damna rependo meae. 
 Sum brevis j at nomen, quod terras impleat omnes, 
 
 Eft mihi j menfuram nominis ipfa faro. 40
 
 SAPPHO TO PHAON. 3 
 
 Soft fcenes of folitude no more can pleafe, 15 
 
 Love enters there, and I'm my own difeafe. 
 
 No more the Lefbian dames my paffion move, 
 
 Once the dear objects of my guilty love j 
 
 All other loves are loft in only thine, 
 
 Ah youth ungrateful to a flame like mine ! 20 
 
 Whom would not all thofe blooming charms furprize, 
 
 Thofe heav'nly looks, and dear deluding eyes ? 
 
 The harp and bow would you like Phoebus bear, 
 
 A brighter Phoebus Phaon might appear ; 
 
 Would you with ivy wreath your flowing hair, 25 
 
 Not Bacchus' felf with Phaon could compare : 
 
 Yet Phoebus lov'd, and Bacchus felt the flame, 
 
 One Daphne warm'd, and one the Cretan dames 
 
 Nymphs that in verfe no more could rival me, 30 
 
 Than ev'n thofe Gods contend in charms with thee. 
 
 The mufes teach me all their fofteft lays, 
 
 And the wide world refounds with Sappho's praife. 
 
 Tho' great Alcseus more fublimely fings, 
 
 And ftrikes with bolder rage the founding firings, 
 
 No lefs renown attends the moving lyre, 36 
 
 Which Venus tunes, and all her loves infpire ; 
 
 To me what nature has in charms deny'd, 
 
 Is well by wit's more lafling flames fupply'd. 
 
 Tho' fhort my ftature, yet my name extends 
 
 To heav'n itfelf, and earth's remoteft ends, 40 
 
 AS
 
 fc SAPPHOPHAONI. 
 
 Candida fi non fum, placuit Cepheia Perfeo 
 
 Andromede, patriae fufca colore fuae : 
 Et variis albae junguntur faepe columbae, 
 
 Et niger a viridi turtur amatur ave. 
 Si, nifi quae facie potent te digna videri, 45 
 
 Nulla futura tua eft j nulla futura tua eft. 
 At me cum legeres, etiam formofa videbar ; 
 
 Unam jurabas ufque decere loqui. 
 Cantabam, memini (meminerunt omnia amantes) 
 
 Ofcula cantanti tu mihi rapta dabas. 50 
 
 Haec quoque laudabas ; omnique a parte placebam, 
 
 Sed tum praecipue, cum fit amoris opus. 
 Tune te plus folito lafcivia noftra juvabat, 60 
 
 Crebraque mobilitas, aptaque verba joco ; 
 Quique, ubi jam amborum fuerat confufa voluptas, 
 
 Plurimus in laflb corpore languor erat. 
 Nunc tibi Sicelides veniunt nova praeda puellae j 
 
 Quid mihi cum Lefbo ? Sicelis efle volo. 
 ,At vos erronem tellure remittite noftrum, 
 
 Nifiades matres, Nifiadefque nurus,
 
 SAPPHOTOPHAON. 7 
 
 Brown as I am, an Ethiopian dame 
 
 Infpir'd young Perfeus with a gen'rous flame ; 
 
 Turtles and doves of differing hues unite, 
 
 And glofTy jet is pair'd with fhining white. 
 
 If to no charms thou wilt thy heart refign, 45 
 
 But fuch as merit, fuch as equal thine, 
 
 By none, alas ! by none thou canft be mov'd, 
 
 Phaon alone by Phaon muft be lov'd ! 
 
 Yet once thy Sappho could thy cares employ, 
 
 Once in her arms you center'd all your joy : 50 
 
 No time the dear remembrance can remove, 
 
 For oh ! how vaft a memory has love ? 
 
 My mufic, then, you could for ever hear, 
 
 And all my words were mufic to your ear. 
 
 You ftopp'd with kifles my enchanting tongue, 55 
 
 And found my kifles fweeter than my fong. 
 
 In all I pleas'd, but moft in what was beft ; 
 
 And the laft joy was dearer than the reft. 
 
 Then with each word, each glance, each motion fir'd, 
 
 You ftill enjoy'd, and yet you ftill defir'd, 60 
 
 'Till all diflblving in the trance we lay, 
 
 And in tumultuous raptures dy'd away. 
 
 The fair Sicilians now thy foul inflame ; 
 
 Why was I born, ye Gods, a Lefbian dame ? 
 
 But ah beware, Sicilian nymphs ! nor boaft 65 
 That wand'ring heart which I fo lately loft ; 
 
 A 4
 
 S SAPPHOPHAONI. 
 
 Neu vos decipiant blandae mendacia linguae : 65 
 
 Quae dicit vobis, dixerat ante mihi. 
 Tu quoque quae montes celebras, Erycina, Sicanos, 
 
 (Nam tua fum) vati confule, diva, tuae. 
 An gravis inceptum peragit fortuna tenorem ? 70 
 
 Et manet in curfu Temper acerba fuo ? 
 Sex mihi natales ierant, cum lecla parentis 
 
 Ante diem lacrymas offa bibere meas. 
 Arfit inops frater, vi&us meretricis amore ; 
 
 Miftaque cum turpi damna pudore tulit. 
 Factus inops agili peragit freta coerula remo : 75 
 
 Quafque male amifit, nunc male quaerit opes : 
 Me quoque, quod monui bene multa fideliter, odit. 
 
 Hoc mihi libertas, hoc pia lingua dedit. 
 Et tanquam defint, quae me fine fine fatigent, 
 
 Accumulat curas filia parva meas. 
 Ultima tu noftris accedis caufa querelis : 
 
 Non agltur vento noftra carina fuo. 80 
 
 Ecce jacent collo fparfi fine lege capilli ; 
 
 Nee premit articulos lucida gemma meos. 
 Vefte tegor vili : nullum eft in crinibus aurum : 
 
 Non Arabo nofter rore capillus olet. 
 Cui colar infelix ? aut cui placuifle laborem ? 
 
 Ille mihi cultus unicus au&or abeft. 
 Molle meum levibus cor eft violabile tells 5 
 
 Et Temper caufa eft, cur ego Temper amem. 9$
 
 SAPPHO TO PHAON. ? 
 
 Nor be with all thofe tempting words abus'd, 
 Thofe tempting words were all to Sappho us'd. 
 And you that rule Sicilia's happy plains, 
 Have pity, Venus, on your Poet's pains ! 70 
 
 Shall fortune ftill in one fad tenor run, 
 And ftill increafe the woes fo foon begun ? 
 Inur'd to forrow from my tender years, 
 My parent's afhes drank my early tears : 
 My brother next, neglecting wealth and fame, 7$ 
 Ignobly burn'd in a deftru&ive flame : 
 An infant daughter late my griefs increas'd, 
 And all a mother's cares diftracl: my breaft. 
 Alas, what more could fate itfelf impofe, 
 But thee, the laft and greateft of my woes ? 80 
 
 No more my robes in waving purple flow, 
 Nor on my hand the fparkling di'monds glowj 
 No more my locks in ringlets curl'd diffufe 
 ' The coftly fweetnefs of Arabian dews, 
 Nor braids of gold the varied trefles bind, 85 
 
 That fly diforder'd with the wanton wind : 
 For whom fhould Sappho ufe fuch arts as thefe ? 
 He's gone, whom only flie defir'd to pleafe ! 
 Cupid's light darts my tender bofom move, 
 Still is there caufe for Sappho ftill to love : 90 
 
 So from my birth the Sifters fix'd my doom, 
 And gave to Venus all my life to come j
 
 io SAPPHO PHAONL 
 
 ** . *** 
 
 Sive ita nafcenti legcm dixere forores, 
 
 Nee data funt vitae fiJa fevera meae ; 
 Sive abeunt ftudia in mores, artefque magiftrae, 
 
 Ingcnium nobis molle Thalia facit. 
 Quid mirum, fi me prlmae lanugints aetas 
 
 Abftulit, atque anni, quos vir amare poteft ? 
 Hunc ne pro Cephalo raperes, Aurora, timebam : 
 
 Et faceres ; fed te prima rapina tenet. 
 Hunc fi confpiciat quae confpicit omnia, Phoebe ; 
 
 Juflus erit fomnos continuare Phaon. 
 Hunc Venus in coelum curru vexiflet eburno ; 
 
 Sed videt et Marti pofle placere fuo. 
 O nee adhuc juvenis, nee jam puer ! utilis aetas ! 
 
 O decus, atque aevi gloria magna tui I 
 Hucades, inquefmus, formofe, relabere noftros : 105 
 
 Non ut ames oro, verum ut amare fmas. 
 Scribimus, et lacrymis oculi rorantur obortis : 
 
 Afpice, quam fit in hoc multa litura loco. 
 Sj tam certus eras hinc ire, modeftius ifles, 1 1 o 
 
 Et modo dixifles : Lefbi puella, vale. 
 Non tecum lacrymas, non ofcula fumma tulifti j 
 
 Denique non timui, quod dolitura fui. 
 Nil de te mecum eft, nifi tantum injuria : nee tu, 
 Admoneat quod te, pignus amantis habes.
 
 SAPPHO TO PHAON. n 
 
 Or, while my Mufe in melting notes complains, 
 
 My yielding heart keeps meafure to my ftrains. 
 
 By charms like thine which all my foul have won, 
 
 Who might not ah ! who would not be undone ? 
 
 For* thofe Aurora Cephalus might fcorn, 
 
 And with frefh blufhes paint the confcious morn. 
 
 For thofe might Cynthia lengthen Phaon's fleep, 
 
 And bid Endymion nightly tend his fheep. IOO 
 
 Venus for thofe had rapt thee to the fkies, 
 
 But Mars on thee might look with Venus' eyes. 
 
 O fcarce a youth, yet fcarce a tender boy ! 
 
 O ufeful time for lovers to employ ! 
 
 Pride of thy age, and glory of thy race, 1 05 
 
 Come to thefe arms, and melt in this embrace ! 
 
 The vows you never will return, receive ; 
 
 And take at leaft the love you will not give. 
 
 See, while I write, my words are loft in tears ! 
 
 The lefs my fenfe, the more my love appears, no 
 
 Sure 'twas not much to bid one kind adieu, 
 
 (At leaft to feign was never hard to you) 
 
 Farewell, my Lefbian love, you might have faid ; 
 
 Or coldly thus, Farewell, oh Leibian maid ! 
 
 No tear did you, no parting kifs receive, 115 
 
 Nor knew I then how much I was to grieve. 
 
 No lover's gift your Sappho could confer, 
 
 And wrongs and woes were all you left with her.
 
 2 SAPPHO PHAONI. 
 
 Non mandata dedi ; neque enim mandata dediflem 
 
 Ulla, nifi ut nolles immemor efle mei. i 29 
 
 Per tibi, qui nunquam longe difcedat, Amorem, 
 
 Perquenovemjuro, numina noftra, Deas; 
 Cum mihi nefcio quis, Fugiunt tua gaudia, dixit : 
 
 Nee me flere diu, nee potuifle loqui j 
 Et lacrymae deerant oculis, et lingua palato : 
 
 Aftri&um gelido frigore pe6lus erat. 
 Poftquam fe dolor invenit ; nee peclora plangi, 
 
 Nee puduit fciflis exululare comis, 
 Non aliter quam fi nati pia mater adempti 
 
 Portet ad extrudlos corpus inane rogos. 
 Gaudet, et e noftro crefcit moerore Gharaxus 1 35 
 
 Frater; et ante oculos itque reditque meos. 
 Utque pudenda mei videatur caufa dolorisj 
 
 Quid dolet haec ? certe filia vivit, ait. 
 Non veniunt in idem pudor atque amor : omne videbat 
 
 Vulgusj eram lacero peclus aperta fmu. 140 
 
 *Tu mihi cura, Phaon ; te fomnia noftra reducunt j 
 
 Somnia formofo caiididiora die.
 
 SAPPHO TO PHAON. 13 
 
 No charge I gave you, and no charge could give, 
 But this, Be mindful of our loves, and live. 120 
 Now by the Nine, thofe pow'rs ador'd by me, 
 And Love, the God that ever waits on thee, 
 When firft I heard (from whom I hardly knew, 
 That you were fled, and all my joys with you, 
 Like fome fad ftatue, fpeechlefs, pale I flood, 125 
 Grief chill'd my breaft, and ftopp'd my freezing blood j 
 No figh to rife, no tear had pow'r to flow, 
 Fix'd in a ftupid lethargy of woe : 
 But when its way th* impetuous pafllon found, 
 I rend my trefles, and my breaft I wound; 130 
 I rave, then weep j I curfe, and then complain j 
 Now fwell to rage, now melt in tears again. 
 Not fiercer pangs diftraft the mournful dame, 
 Whofe firft-born infant feeds the fun'ral flame. 
 My fcornful brother with a fmile appears, 13^ 
 
 Infults my woes, and triumphs in my tears, 
 His hated image ever haunts my eyes, 
 And why this grief ? thy daughter lives, he cries. 
 Stung with my love, and furious with defpair, 
 All torn my garments, and my bofom bare, 140 
 My woes, thy crimes, I to the world proclaim ; 
 Such inconfiftent things are love and fhame ! 
 'Tis thou art all my care and my delight, 
 My daily longing, and my dream by night: 
 3
 
 14 SAPPHO PHAONI. 
 
 Illic te invenio, quanquam regionibus abfis ; 145 
 
 Sed non longa fatis gaudia fomnus habet. 
 Saepe tuos noftra cervice onerare lacertos, 
 
 Saepe tuae videor fuppofuifle meos. 150 
 
 Blandior interdum, verifque fimillima verba 
 
 Eioquor ; et vigilant fenfibus ora meis. 
 Ofcula cognofco ; quae tu committere linguae, 
 ' Aptaque confueras accipere, apta dare. 
 Ulteriora pudet narrare j fed omnia fiunt, 
 
 Et juvat, et fine te non libet efle mihi. 
 At cum fe Titan oftendit, et omnia fecum j 
 
 Tarn cito me fomnos deftituifie queror. 
 Antra nemufque peto, tanquam nemus antraque pro- 
 fint. 1 60 
 
 Confcia deliciis ilia fuere tuis. 
 Illuc mentis inops, ut quam furialis Erichtho 
 
 Impulit, in collo crine jacente feror. 
 Antra vident oculi fcabro pendentia topho, 
 
 Quae mihi Mygdonii marmoris inftar erant. 
 Invenio fylv am, quae faepe cubilia nobis 166 
 
 Praebuit, et multa texit opaca coma. 
 At non invenio dominum fylvaeque, meumquc. 
 Vile folum locus eft : dos erat ille loci.
 
 SAPPHO TO PHA ON. I5 
 
 Oh night more pleafmg than the brighteft day, 145 
 When fancy gives what abfence takes away, 
 And, drefs'd in all its vifionary charms, 
 Reftores my fair deferter to my arms ! 
 Then round your neck in wanton wreaths I twine, 
 Then you, methinks, as fondly circle mine : 1 50 
 A thoufand tender words I hear and fpeak ; 
 A thoufand melting kifles give, and take : 
 Then fiercer joys, I blufh to mention thefe, 
 Yet, while I blum, confefs how much they pleafe. 
 But when, with day, the fweet delufions fly, 155 
 And all things wake to life and'joy, but I, 
 As if once more forfaken, I complain, 
 And clofe my eyes to dream of you again : 
 Then frantic rife, and like forrie Fury rove 
 Thro' lonely plains, and thro' the filent grove, 160 
 As if the filent grove, and lonely plains, 
 That knew my pleafures, could relieve my pains. 
 I view the grotto, once the fcene of love, 
 The rocks around, the hanging roofs above, 
 That charm'd me more s with native mofs o'ergrown, 
 Than Phrygian marble, or the Parian ftone. 166 
 I find the fliades that veil'd our joys before ; 
 But, Phaon gone, thofe fhades delight no more. 
 Here the prefs'd herbs with bending tops betray 
 Where oft entwin'd in am'rous folds we lay j 170 
 i
 
 *6 SAPPHO PHAONI, 
 
 Agnovi preflas noti mihi cefpitis herbas : 170 
 
 De noftro curvum pondere gramen erat. 
 Incubui, tetigique locum qua parte fuifti ; 
 
 Grata prius lacrymas combibit herba meas. 
 Quinetiam rami pofitis lugere videntur 
 
 Frondibus ; et nullae dulce queruntur aves. 
 Sola virum non ulta pie moeftiflima mater 175 
 
 Concinit Ifmarium Daulias ales Ityn. 
 Ales Ityn, Sappho defertos cantat amores : 
 
 Ha&enus, ut media caetera node filent. 
 Eft nitidus, vitroque magis perlucidus omni, 1 8 
 
 Fons facer j hunc multi numen habere putant. 
 Quern fupra ramos expandit aquatica lotos, 
 
 Una nemus ; tenero cefpite terra viret. 
 Hie ego cum laflbs pofuiflem fletibus artus, 185 
 
 Conftitit ante oculos Na'ias una meos. 
 Conftitit, et dixit, " Quoniam non ignibus aequis 
 
 u Ureris, Ambracias terra petenda tibi. 
 " Phoebus ab excelfo, quantum patet, afpicit aequor : 
 
 " A&iacum populi Leucadiumque vocant. 
 Hinc fe Deucalion Pyrrhae fuccenfus amore 
 
 <e Mifit, et illaefo corpore preffit aquas. 195 
 
 " Nee mora : verfus Amor tetigit lentiffima Pyrrhae 
 j Deucalion igne levatus erat.
 
 SAPPHO TO PttAON. 17 
 
 I kifs that earth which once was prefs'd by you, 
 And all with tears the with'ring herbs bedew. 
 For thee the fading trees appear to mourn, 
 And birds defer their fongs till thy return : 
 Night (hades the groves, and all in filence lie, 175 
 All but the mournful Philomel and I : 
 With mournful Philomel I join my ftrain, 
 Of Tereus me, of Phaon I complain. 
 
 A fpring there is, whofe filver waters mow, 
 Clear as a glafs, the mining fands below : 180 
 
 A flow'ry Lotos fpreads its arms above, 
 Shades all the banks, and feems itfelf a grove ; 
 .Eternal greens the mofly margin grace, 
 Watch'd by the fylvan Genius of the place. 
 Here as I lay, and fwell'd with tears the flood, 185 
 Before my fight a wat'ry Virgin flood : 
 She flood and cry'd, " O you that love in vain ! 
 " Fly hence, and feek the fair Leucadian main ; 
 <c There ftands a rock, from whofe impending fteep 
 { Apollo's fane furveys the rolling deep j 190 
 
 *' There injur'd lovers leaping from above, 
 Their flames extinguifh, and forget to love. 
 " Deucalion once with hopelefs fury burn'd, 
 " In vain he lov'd, relentlefs Pyrrha fcorn'd : 194 
 " But when from hence he plung'd into the main, 
 " Deucalion fcorn'd, and Pyrrha lov'd in vain, 
 
 VOL, II. B
 
 iS SAPPHO PHAONI. 
 
 c< Hanc Icgem locus ille tenet, pete protinus altam 
 
 " Leucada - f nee faxo defiluiffe time." 
 Ut monuit j cum voce abiit. Ego frigida furgo : 200 
 
 Nee gravidae lacrymas continuere genae. 
 Ibimus, o Nymphae, monftrataque faxa petetnus. 
 
 Sit procul infano vi&us amore timor. 
 Quicquid erit, melius quam nunc erit : aura, fubitov 
 
 Et mea non magnum corpora pondus habent. 
 Xu quoque, mollis Amor, pennas fuppone cadenti : 
 
 Ne fim Leucadiae mortua crimen aquae. 
 Inde chelyn Phoebo communia munera ponam : 
 
 Et fub ea verfus unus et alter erunt. 
 " Grata lyram pofui tibi, Phoebe, poetria Sappho : 
 
 " Convenit ilia mihi, convenit ilia tibi." 
 Cur tamen Actiacas miferam me mittis ad oras, 
 
 Cum profugum poffis ipfe referre pedem ? 
 Tu mihi Leucadia potes efle falubrior unda : 22O 
 
 Et forma et meritis tu mihi Phoebus eris. 
 An potes, o fcopulis undaque ferocior ilia, 
 
 Si moriar, titulum mortis habere meae ?
 
 SAPPHO TO PHAON. 19 
 
 * Hafte, Sappho, hafte, from high Leucadia throw 
 
 " Thy wretched weight, nor dread the deeps below !" 
 
 She fpoke, and vanifh'd with the voice I rife, 
 
 And filent tears fall trickling from rriy eyes. 26o 
 
 I go, ye Nymphs ! thofe rocks and feas to prove j 
 
 How much I fear, but ah, how much I love ! 
 
 I go, ye Nymphs* where furious loVe infpires 5 
 
 Let female fears fubmit to female fires. 
 
 To rocks and feas I fly from Phaon's hatCj 205 
 
 And hope from feas and rocks a milder fate. 
 
 Ye gentle gales, beneath my body blow, 
 
 And foftly lay me on the waves below ! 
 
 And thou, kind Love, my finking limbs fuftairl, 
 
 Spread thy foft wings, and waft me o'er the main, 
 
 Nor let a Lover's death the guiltlefs flood profane ! 
 
 On Phoebus' ftirine my harp I'll then beftow, 212 
 
 And this Infcription {hall be plac'd below. 
 
 Here the who fung, to him that did infpire, 
 
 c Sappho to Phoebus confecrates her Lyre ; 215 
 
 What fuits with Sappho, Phoebus, fuits with thee j 
 
 The gift, the giver, and the God agree." 
 
 But why, alas, relentlefs youth, ah why 
 To diftant feas muft tender Sappho fly ? 
 Thy charms than thofe may far more pow'rful be, 
 And Phoebus' felf is lefs a God to me. 221 
 
 Ah ! can'ft thou doom me to the rocks an4 fea, 
 O far more faithlefs and more hard than, they I
 
 ao SAPPHO PHAONI. 
 
 At quanto melius jungl mea peftora tecum, 
 
 Quam poterant faxis praecipitanda dari ! 225 
 
 Haec funt ilia, Phaon, quae tu laudare folebas j 
 
 Vifaque funt toties ingeniofa tibi. 
 Nunc vellem facunda forent : dolor artibus obflat j 
 
 Ingeniumque meis fubftitit omne malis. 
 Non mihi refpondent veteres in carmina vires. 230 
 
 Plectra dolore tacent : muta dolore lyra eft. 
 Lefbides aequoreae, nupturaque nuptaque proles; 
 
 Lefbides, Aeolia nomina difta lyra j 
 Lefbides, infamem quae me feciftis amatae ; 
 
 Definite ad citharas turba venire meas. 
 Abftulit omne Phaon, quod vobis ante placebat, 235 
 
 (Me miferam ! dixi quam modo pene, meus !) 
 Efficite utredeat: vates quoque veftra redibit. 
 
 Ingenio vires ille dat, ille rapit. 240 
 
 Ecquid ago precibus ? pe&ufne agrefle movetur ? 
 
 An riget? et Zephyri verba caduca ferunt ? 
 Qiii mea verba ferunt, vellem tua vela referrent. 
 
 Hoc te, fi faperes, lente, decebat opus. 
 Sive redis, puppique tuae votiva parantur 
 
 Munera j quid laceras pc&ora noftra mora ?
 
 SAPPHO TOPHAON. 21 
 
 Ah ! canft thou rather fee this tender breaft 
 Dafh'd on thefe rocks than to thy bofom preft ? 225 
 This breaft which once, in vain ! you lik'd fo well ; 
 Where the Loves play'd, and where the Mufes dwell. 
 Alas ! the Mufes now no more infpire, 
 Untun'd my lute, and filent is my lyre, 
 My languid numbers have forgot to flow, 230 
 
 And fancy finks beneath a weight of woe. 
 Ye Lefbian virgins, and ye Leflbian dames, 
 Themes of my verfe, and objects of my flames, 
 No more your groves with my glad fongs fhall ring, 
 No more thefe hands mail touch the trembling firing : 
 My Phaon's fled, and I thofe arts refign 236 
 
 (Wretch that I am, to call that Phaori mine !) 
 Return, fair youth, return, and bring along 
 Joy to my foul, and vigour to my fong : 
 Abfent from thee, the Poet's flame expires ; 240 
 But ah ! how fiercely burn the Lover's fires ? 
 Gods ! can no pray'rs, no fighs, no numbers move 
 One favage heart, or teach it how to love ? 
 The winds my pray'rs, my fighs, my numbers bear, 
 The flying winds have loft them all in air ! 245 
 Oh when, alas ! mail more aufpicious gales 
 To thefe fond eyes reftore thy welcome fails ? 
 If you return ah why thefe long delays ? 
 Poor Sappho dies while carelefs Phaon (lays. 
 
 B 3
 
 22 SAPPHO PHAONI, 
 
 Solve ratem : Venus orta mari, mare praeftet eunti. 
 
 Aura dabit curfum ; tu modo folve ratem, 
 Ipfe gubernabit refidens in puppe Cupido : 
 
 Ipfe dabit tenera vela legetque manu. 
 6ive juvat longe fugific Pelafgida Sappho ; 
 
 (Non tamen invenies, cur ego digna fuga.) 255 
 [O faltem miferae, Crudelis, epiftola dicat : 
 
 Jt mihi Leucadiae fata petantur aauae.J
 
 SAPPHO TO PHAON. 23 
 
 O launch thy bark, nor fear the wat'ry plain ; 250 
 Venus for thee fhall fmooth her native main, 
 O launch thy bark, fecure of profp'rous gales j 
 Cupid for thee fhall fpread the fwelling fails. 
 If you will fly (yet ah ! what caufe can be, 
 Too cruel youth, that you fhould fly from me ?) 
 If not from Phaon I muft hope for eafe, 256 
 
 Ah let me feek it from the raging feas : 
 To raging feas unpity'd I'll remove, 
 either ceafe to live or ceafe to love ! 
 
 A 4
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 AB E L A R D and Eloifa flouriftied in the twelfth Cen- 
 tury ; they were two of the moft diftinguiflied per- 
 fons of their age in learning and beauty, but for nothing 
 more famous than for their unfortunate paffion. After a 
 long courfe of calamities, they retired each to a feveral 
 Convent, and confecrated the remainder of their days to 
 religion. It was many years after this feparation, that a 
 letter of Abelard's to a Friend, which contained the hiftory 
 of his misfortune, fell into the hands of Eloifa. This 
 awakening all her tendernefs, occafioned thofe celebrated, 
 letters (out of which the following is partly extracted) 
 which give fo lively a picture of the ftruggles of grace and 
 nature, virtue and paflion. P.
 
 A B E L A R D- 
 
 T N thefe deep fblitudes and awful cells, 
 
 * Where heav'nly-penfive contemplation dwells, 
 
 And ever-mufing melancholy reigns ; 
 
 What means this tumult in a Veftal's veins ; 
 
 Why rove my thoughts beyond this laft retreat ? $ 
 
 Why feels my heart its long-forgotten heat ? 
 
 Yet, yet I love ! From Abelard it came, 
 
 And Eloi'fa yet muft kifs the name. 
 
 Dear fatal name ! reft ever unreveaj'd, 
 Nor pafs thefe lips in holy filence feal'd : IO 
 
 Hide it, my heart, within that clofe difguife, 
 Where mix'd with God's, his lov'd Idea lies : 
 O write it not my hand the name appears 
 Already written wafh it out, my tears ! 
 In vain loft Eloi'fa weeps and prays, 15 
 
 Her heart ftill dictates, and her hand obeys. 
 
 Relentlefs walls ! whofe darkfome round contains 
 Repentant fighs, and voluntary pains : 
 Ye rugged rocks ! which holy knees have worn ; 
 Ye grots and caverns fhagg'd with horrid thorn I 20
 
 26 ELOISATOABELARD. 
 
 Shrines ! where their vigils pale-ey'd virgins keep, 
 And pitying faints, whofe ftatues learn to weep ! 
 Tho' cold like you, unmov'd and filent grown, 
 1 have not yet forgot myfelf to ftone. 
 All is not Heav'n's while Abelard has part, 25 
 
 Still rebel nature holds out half my heart j 
 Nor pray'rs nor fafts its ftubborn pulfe reftrain, 
 Nor tears for ages taught to flow in vain. 
 
 Soon as thy letters trembling I unclofe, 
 That well-known name awakens all my woes. 30 
 Oh name for ever fad ! for ever dear ! 
 Still breath'd in fighs, frill ufher'd with a tear. 
 I tremble too, where'er my own I find, 
 Some dire misfortune follows clofe behind. 
 Line after lirie my guihing eyes o'erflow, 3$ 
 
 Lea uiro : a fad variety of woe : 
 Now warm in love, now with'ring in my bloom, 
 Loft in a convent's folitary gloom ! 
 There ftern Religion quench'd th' unwilling flame, 
 There dy'd the beft of paflions, Love and Fame. 40 
 
 Yet write, oh write me all, that I may join 
 Griefs to thy griefs, and echo fighs to thine. 
 Nor foes nor fortune take this pow'r away ; 
 And is my Abelard lefs kind than they ? 
 Tears ftill are mine, and thofe I need not fpare, 45 
 Love but demands what elfe were fhed in pray'r i
 
 ELOISA TO A BE LARD. 27 
 
 No happier talk thefe faded eyes purfue i 
 To read and weep is all they now can do. 
 
 Then (hare thy pain, allow that fad relief; 
 Ah, more than (hare it, give me all thy grief. 50 
 Heav'n firft taught letters for fome wretch's aid, 
 Some banifh'd lover, or fomc captive maid j 
 They live, they fpeak, they breath what love infpires, 
 Warm from the foul, and faithful to its fires, 
 The virgin's wifh without her fears irnpairt, 55 
 
 Excufe the blufh, and pour out all the heart, 
 Speed the foft intercourfe from foul to foul, 
 And waft a figh from Indus to the pole. 
 
 Thou know'ft how guiltlefs firft I met thy flame, 
 When Love approach'd me under Friendfhip's name ; 
 My fancy form'd thee of angelic kind, 61 
 
 Some emanation of th'all-beauteous mind. 
 Thofe fmiling eyes, attemp'ring ev'ry ray, 
 Shone fweetly lambent with celeftial day. 
 Guiltlefs I gaz'd ; heav'n liften'd while you fung j 65 
 And truths divine came mended from that tongue, 
 prom lips like thofe what precept fail to move ? 
 Too foon they taught me 'twas no fin to love : 
 Back thro* the paths of pleafing fenfe I ran, 
 Nor wilh'd an Angel whom I lov'd a Man. 70 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 V E R . 66. And truths dlvim , etc.] He was her Preceptor 
 in Philofophy and Divinity.
 
 28 ELOISA TO ABELARD. 
 Dim and remote the joys of faints I fee ; 
 Nor envy them that heav'n I lofe for thee. 
 
 How oft, when prefs'd to marriage, have I faid, 
 Curfe on all laws but thofe which love has made ? 
 Love, free as air, at fight of human ties, 75 
 
 Spreads his light wings, and in a moment flies. 
 Let wealth, let honour, wait the wedded dame, 
 Auguft her deed, and facrcd be her fame ; 
 Before true paflion all thofe views remove ; 
 Fame, wealth, and honour ! what are you to Love ? 
 The jealous God, when we profane his fares, 81 
 Thofe reftlefs paffions in revenge infpires, 
 And bids them make miftaken mortals groan, 
 Who feek in love for aught but love alone. 
 Should at my feet the world's great matter fall, 85 
 Himfelf, his throne, his world, I'd fcorn 'em all : 
 Not Caefar's emprefs would I deign to prove j 
 No, make me miflrefs to the man I love ; 
 If there be yet another name more free, 
 More fond than miftrefs, make me that to thee ! 90 
 Oh ! happy ftate ! when fouls each other draw, 
 When love is liberty, and nature, law : 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 5. 
 
 Love will not be confin'd by Maifterie : 
 When Maifterie comes, the Lord of Love anon 
 Flutters his wings, and forthwith is he gone. 
 
 Chaucer. P,
 
 ELOISA TO ABELARD. 29 
 
 All then is full, poflefllng, and poflefr, 
 
 No craving void left aking in the breaft : 94 
 
 Ev'n thought meets thought, ere from the lips it part, 
 
 And each warm wifti fprings mutual from the heart. 
 
 This fure is blifs (if blifs on earth there be) 
 
 And once the lot of Abelard and me. 
 
 Alas how chang'd ! what fudden horrors rife ! 
 A naked Lover bound and bleeding lies ! 100 
 
 Where, where was Eloife ? her voice, her hand, 
 Her ponyard had oppos'd the dire command. 
 Barbarian, flay ! that bloody ftroke reftrain j 
 The crime was common, common be the pain. 
 I can no more, by fhame, by rage fupprefs'd, 105 
 Let tears, and burning blufhes fpeak the reft. 
 
 Canft thou forget that fad, that folemn day, 
 When victims at yon altar's foot we lay ? 
 Canft thou forget what tears that moment fell, 
 When, warm in youth, I bade the world farewell ? 
 As with cold lips I kifs'd the facred veil, in 
 
 The flirines all trembled, and the lamps grew pale : 
 Heav'n fcarce believ'd the Conqueft it furvey'd, 
 And Saints with wonder heard the vows I made. 
 Yet then, to thofe dread altars as I drew, 115 
 
 Not on the Crofs my eyes were fix'd, but you : 
 Not grace, or zeal, love only was my call, 
 And if I lofe thy love, I lofe my all.
 
 30 ELOISA TO ABELAR0. 
 
 Come ! with thy looks, thy words, relieve my woe 5 
 
 Thofe {till at lead are left thec to beftow. 120 
 
 Still on that breaft enamour'd let me lie, 
 
 Stiil drink delicious poifim from thy eye, 
 
 Pant on thy lip, and to thy heart be prefs'd j 
 
 Give all thou canft and lot me dream the reft. 
 
 Ah no ! inftrucl me other joys to prize, 1 25 
 
 With other beauties charm my partial eyes, 
 
 Full in my view fet all the bright abocte, 
 
 And make my foul quit Abelard for God. 
 
 Ah think at leaft thy flock deferves thy care, 
 Plants of thy hand, and children of thy pray'r. 130 
 From the falfe world in early youth they fled, 
 By thee to mountains, wilds, and deferts led. 
 You rais'd thefe hallow'd walls j the defert fmil'd, 
 And ParadHe was open'd in the Wild. 
 No weeping orphan faw his father's ftores 135 
 
 Our flirines irradiate, or emblaze the floors j 
 No filver faints, by dying mifers giv'n, 
 Here brib'd the rage of ill-requited heav'n : 
 But fuch plain roofs as Piety could raife, 
 And only vocal with the Maker's praife. 140 
 
 In thefe lone walls (their days eternal bound) 
 Thefe mofs-grown domes with fpiry turrets crown'd, 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VE R. 133. You raii'd tbefe ballovfd waits ;] He found- 
 ed the Monaftery. P.
 
 ELOISATOABELARD. 31 
 
 Where awful arches make a noon-day night, 
 
 And the dim windows fhed a folemn light ; 
 
 Thy eyes diffus'd a reconciling ray, 14$ 
 
 And gleams of glory brighten'd all the day. 
 
 But now no face divine contentment wears, 
 
 'Tis all blank fadnefs, or continual tears. 
 
 See how the force of others pray'rs I try, 
 
 (,O pious fraud of am'rous charity !) 150 
 
 But why fhould I on others pray'rs depend ? 
 
 Comethou, my father, brother, hufband, friend! 
 
 Ah let thy handmaid, fifter, daughter move, 
 
 And all thofe tender names in one, thy love ! 
 
 The darkfome pines that o'er yon rocks reclin'd 155 
 
 Wave high, and murmur to the hollow wind, 
 
 The wand'ring ftreams that (hine between the hills, 
 
 The grots that echo to the tinkling rills, 
 
 The dying gales that pant upon the trees, 
 
 The lakes that quiver to the curling breeze ; 160 
 
 No more thefe fcenes my meditation aid, 
 
 Or lull to reft the vifionary maid. 
 
 But o'er the twilight groves and du(ky caves, 
 
 Long-founding ifles, and intermingled graves, 
 
 Black Melancholy fits, and round her throws 165 
 
 A death-like filence, and a dread repofe : 
 
 Her gloomy prefence faddens all the fcene, 
 
 Shades ev'ry flow'r, and darkens ev'ry green,
 
 32 ELOISATOABELARD. 
 
 Deepens the murmur of the falling floods, 
 
 And breathes a browner horror on the woods. 1 70 
 
 Yet here for ever, ever muft I ftay ; 
 Sad proof how well a lover can obey ! 
 Death, only death, can break the lading chain ; 
 And here, ev'n then, fhall my cold duft remain, 
 Here all its frailties, all its flames refign, 175 
 
 And wait till 'tis no fin to mix with thine. 
 
 Ah wretch ! believ'd the fpoufe of God in vain, 
 Confefs'd within the flave of love and man. 
 Aflifl me, heav'n ! but whence arofe that pray'r ? 
 Sprung it from piety, or from defpair? l80 
 
 Ev'n here, where frozen chaftity retires, 
 Love finds an altar for forbidden fires. 
 I ought to grieve, but cannot what I ought ; 
 I mourn the lover, not lament the fault ; 
 1 view my crime, but kindle at the view, 1 85 
 
 Repent old pleafures, and follicit new ; 
 Now turn'd to heav'n, I weep my paft offence, 
 Now think of thee, and curfe my innocence. 
 Of all affliction taught a lover yet, 
 'Tis fure the hardeft fcience to forget ! 190 
 
 How fhall I lofe the fin, yet keep the fenfe, 
 And love th' offender, yet deteft th' offence ? 
 How the dear object from the crime remove, 
 Or how diftinguiih penitence from love ? 
 3
 
 ELOISA TO ABELARD. 33 
 
 Unequal tafk ! a paffion to refign, 195 
 
 For hearts fo touch'd, fo pierc'd, fo loft as mine. 
 
 Ere fuch a foul regains its peaceful ftate, 
 
 How often muft it love, how often hate ! 
 
 How often hope, defpair, refent, regret, 
 
 Conceal, difdain, do all things but forget. 200 
 
 But let heav'n feize it, all at once 'tis fir'd j 
 
 Not touch'd, but rapt ; nor waken'd, but infpir'd ! 
 
 Oh come ! oh teach me nature to fubdue, 
 
 Renounce my love, my life, myfelf and you. 
 
 Fill my fond heart with God alone, for he 205 
 
 Alone can rival, can fucceed to thee. 
 
 How happy is the blamelefs VeftaPs lot ? 
 The world forgetting, by the world forgot : 
 
 Eternal fun-mine of the fpotlefs mind ! 
 
 Each pray'r accepted, and each wiih refignM j 210 
 
 Labour and reft, that equal periods keep ; 
 
 *' Obedient (lumbers that can wake and weep ;'* 
 
 Defires compos'd, affections ever ev'n ; 
 
 Tears that delight, and fighs that waft to heav'n. 
 
 Grace mines around her with fereneft beams, 215 
 
 And whifp'ring Angels prompt her golden dreams. 
 
 For her th'unfading rofe of Eden blooms, 
 
 And wings of Seraphs (hed divine perfumes, 
 
 NOTES, 
 
 VER. 212. Obedient Cumbers, etc.] Taken from Crafhaw. 
 P. 
 
 VOL. II. C
 
 34 ELOISA TO ABELARD. 
 
 For her the Spoufe prepares the bridal ring, 
 
 For her white virgins Hymenaeals fing, 220 
 
 To founds of heav'nly harps me dies away, 
 
 And melts in vifions of eternal day. 
 
 Far other dreams my erring foul employ, 
 Far other raptures, of unholy joy : 
 When at the clofe of each fad, forrowing day, 225 
 Fancy reftores what vengeance fnatch'd away, 
 Then confcience fleeps, and leaving nature free, 
 All my loofe foul unbounded fprings to thee. 
 
 curft, dear horrors of all-confcious night ! 
 
 How glowing guilt exalts the keen delight ! 230 
 
 Provoking Daemons all reftraint remove, 
 
 And ftir within me ev'ry fource of love. 
 
 J hear thee, view thee, gaze o'er all thy charms, 
 
 And round thy phantom glue my clafping arms. 
 
 1 wake : no more I hear, no more I view, 235 
 The phantom flies me, as unkind as you. 
 
 J call aloud ; it hears not what I fay : 
 I ftretch my empty arms ; it glides away. 
 To dream once more I clofe my willing eyes ; 
 Ye foft illufions, dear deceits, arife ! 240 
 
 Alas, no more ! methinks we wand'ring go 
 Thro' dreary waftes, and weep each other's woe, 
 Where round fome mould'ring tow'r pale ivy creeps, 
 And low-brow'd rocks hang nodding o'er the deeps, 
 I
 
 ELOISA TO ABELARD. 35 
 Sudden you mount, you beckon from the flues ; 245 
 ClouUs interpofe, waves roar, and winds arife. 
 I fliriek, ftart up, the fame fad profpet find, 
 And wake to all the griefs I left behind. 
 
 For thee the fates, feverely kind, ordain 
 A cool fufpenfe from pleafure and from pain ; 250 
 Thy life a long dead calm of fix'd repofe ; 
 No pulfe that riots, and no blood that glows. 
 Still as the fea, ere winds were taught to blow, 
 Or moving fpirit bade the waters flow ; 
 Soft as the {lumbers of a faint forgiv'n, 2 S5 
 
 And mild as op'ning gleams of promis'd heav'n. 
 
 Come, Abelard ! for what haft thou to dread ? 
 The torch of Venus burns not for the dead. 
 Nature ftands check'd ; Religion difapproves ; 
 Ev'n thou art cold yet Elo'ifa loves. 260 
 
 Ah hopelefs, lafting flames ! like thofe that burn 
 To light the dead, and warm th' unfruitful urn. 
 
 What fcenes appear where'er I turn my view ? 
 The dear Ideas, where I fly, purfue, 
 Rife in the grove, before the altar rife, 265 
 
 Stain all my foul, and wanton in my eyes. 
 I wade the Matin lamp in fighs for thee, 
 Thy image fteals between my God and me, 
 Thy voice I feem in ev'ry hymn to hear, 
 With ev'ry bead I drop too foft a tear. 270 
 
 G2
 
 36 E LOIS A TO ABELARD. 
 
 When from the cenfer clouds of fragrance roll, 
 
 And fwelling organs lift the rifing foul, 
 
 One thought of thee puts all the pomp to flight, 
 
 Priefts, tapers, temples, fwim before my fight : 
 
 In feas of flame my plunging foul is drown'd, 275 
 
 While Altars blaze, and Angels tremble round. 
 
 While proftrate here in humble grief I lie, 
 Kind, virtuous drops juft gath'ring in my eye, 
 While praying, trembling, in the duft I roll, 
 And dawning grace is op'ning on my foul : 280 
 Come, if thou dar'ft, all charming as thou art ! 
 Oppofe thyfelf to heav'n ; difpute my heart ; 
 Come, with one glance of thofe deluding eyes 
 Blot out each bright Idea of the fkies j 
 Take back that grace, thofe forrows, and thofe tears ; 
 Take back my fruitlefs penitence and pray'rs ; 286 
 Snatch me, juft mounting, from the bleft abode ; 
 Aflift the fiends, and tear me from my God ! 
 
 No, fly me, fly me, far as Pole from Pole ; 
 Rife Alps between us ! and whole oceans roll ! 290 
 Ah, come not, write not, think not once of me, 
 Nor (hare one pang of all I felt for thee. 
 Thy oaths I quit, thy memory refign ; 
 Forget, renounce me, hate whate'er was mine. 
 Fair eyes, and tempting looks (which yet I view !) 
 JLong lov'd, ador'd ideas, all adieu ! 296
 
 ELOISA TO ABELARD. 37 
 O Grace ferene ! oh virtue heav'nly fair ! 
 Divine oblivion of low-thoughted care ! 
 Frefh blooming hope, gay daughter of the fky ! 
 And Faith, our early immortality ! 300 
 
 Enter, each mild, each amicable gueft j 
 Receive, and wrap me in eternal reft ! 
 
 See in her cell fad Eloifa fpread, 
 Propt on fome tomb, a neighbour of the dead. 
 In each low wind methinks a Spirit calls, 305 
 
 And more than Echoes talk along the walls. 
 Here, as I watch'd the dying lamps around, 
 From yonder flirine I heard a hollow found. 
 " Come, fifter, come ! (it faid, or feem'd to fay) 
 " Thy place is here, fad fifter, come away ! 310 
 " Once like thyfelf, I trembled, wept, and pray'd, 
 " Love's victim then, tho' now a fainted maid : 
 " But all is calm in this eternal fleep ; 
 <c Here grief forgets to groan, and love to weep, 
 < Ev'n fuperftition lofes every fear: 315 
 
 '* For God, not man, abfolves our frailties here." 
 
 I come, I come ! prepare your rofeate bow'rs, 
 Celeftial palms, and ever-blooming flow'rs. 
 Thither, where finners may have reft, I go, 
 Where flames refin'd in breafts feraphic glow : 320 
 Thou, Abelard ! the laft fad office pay, 
 And fmooth my paflage to the realms of day ;
 
 38 ELOISA TO ABELARD. 
 
 See my lips tremble, and my eye-balls roll, 
 
 Suck my laft breath, and catch my flying foul ! 
 
 Ah no in facred veftments may'ft thou ftand, 325 
 
 The hallow'd taper trembling in thy hand, 
 
 Prefent the Crofs before my lifted eye, 
 
 Teach me at once, and learn of me to die. 
 
 Ah then, thy once-lov'd Eloifa fee ! 
 
 It will be then no crime to gaze on me. 330 
 
 See from my cheek the tranfient rofes fly ! 
 
 See the laft fparkle languifh in my eye ! 
 
 'Till ev'ry motion, pulfe, and breath be o'er ; 
 
 And ev'n my Abelard be lov'd no more. 
 
 O Death all-eloquent ! you only prove 335 
 
 What duft we doat on, when 'tis man we love. 
 
 Then too, when fate fhall thy fair frame deftroy, 
 (That caufe of all my guilt, and all my joy) 
 In trance extatic may thy pangs be drown'd, 
 Bright clouds defcend, and Angels watch thee round, 
 From op'ning fkies may flreaming glories mine, 341 
 And Saints embrace thee with a love like mine. 
 
 May one kind grave unite each haplefs name, 
 And graft my love immortal on thy fame ! 
 
 NOT E s. 
 
 VER. 343. May one kind grave, etc.'] Abelard and Eloifa 
 were interred in the fame grave, or in monuments adjoin- 
 ing, in the Monaftery of the Paraclete : he died in the 
 year 1142, fhe in 1163. P.
 
 ELOlSA TO ABELARt). 39 
 Then, ages hence, when all my woes are o'er, 345 
 When this rebellious heart fhall beat no more ; 
 If ever chance two wand'ring lovers brings 
 To Paraclete's white walls and filver fprings, 
 O'er the pale marble fhall they join their heads, 
 And drink the falling tears each other fheds ; 350 
 Then fadly fay, with mutual pity mov'd, 
 " Oh may we never love as thefe have, lov'd !" 
 From the full choir when loud Hofannas rife, 
 And fwell the pomp of dreadful facrifice, 
 Amid that fcene if fome relenting eye 355 
 
 Glance on the ftone where our cold relicks lie, 
 Devotion's felf fhall fteal a thought from heav'n, 
 One human tear fhall drop, and be? forgiv'n. 
 And fure if fate fome future bard fhall join 
 In fad fimilitude of griefs to mine, 360 
 
 Cpndemn'd whole years in abfence to deplore, 
 And image charms he muft behold no more j 
 Such if there be, who loves fo long, fo well ; 
 Let him our fad, our tender ftory tell ; 
 The well-fung woes will footh my penfive ghoft j 365 
 He beft can paint 'em who fhall feel 'em moft.
 
 TRANSLATIONS 
 
 AND 
 
 IMITATIONS.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 TH E following Tranflations were fele&ed from many 
 others done by the Author in his Youth ; for the 
 molt part indeed but a fort of Exercifes, w&le he was 
 improving himfelf in the Languages, and carried by his 
 early Bent to Poetry to perform them rather in Verfe than 
 Profe. Mr. Dryden's Fables came out about that time, 
 which occafioned the Tranflations from Chaucer. They 
 were firft feparately printed in Mifcellanies by J. Tonfon 
 and B. Lintot, and aftenvards collected in the Quarto 
 Edition of 1717. The Imitations of Englijb Authors, 
 which are added at the end, were done as early, fome of 
 them at fourteen or fifteen years old ; but having alfo got 
 into Mifcellanies, we have put them here together to com- 
 plete this Juvenile Volume. P.
 
 THE 
 
 TEMPLE 
 
 O F 
 
 FAME- 
 
 Written in the Year MDCCXI.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 THE hint of the following piece was taken from 
 Chaucer's Houfe of Fame. The defign is in a 
 manner entirely altered, the defcriptions and moft of the 
 particular thoughts my own : yet I could not fuffer it to be 
 printed without this acknowledgment. The reader who 
 would compare this with Chaucer, may begin with his 
 third Book of Fame, there being nothing in the two firfl 
 books that anfwers to their title : wherever any hint is 
 taken from him, the paffage itfelf is fet down in the mar- 
 ginal notes. P.
 
 flale-V.
 
 ( 45) 
 THE 
 
 TEMPLE 
 
 O F 
 
 F A M E-;^ 
 
 IN that foft feafon, when defcending fiiow'rs 
 Call forth the greens, and wake the riling flow*rs j 
 When op'ning buds falute the welcome day, 
 And earth relenting feels the genial ray ; 
 As balmy fleep had charm'd my cares to reft, $ 
 
 And love itfelf was banifh'd from my breaft, 
 (What time the morn myfterious vifions brings, 
 While purer (lumbers fpread their golden wings) 
 A train of phantoms in wild order rofe, 
 Andjoin'd, this intellectual fcene compofe. ,10 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VE R. i . In that foft feafon, etcJ] This Poem is introduced 
 in the manner of the Provencial Poets, whofe works were 
 for the moft part Vifions, or pieces of imagination, and 
 conftantly defcriptive. From thefe, Petrarch and Chaucer 
 frequently borrow the idea of their poems. See the Trionfi 
 of the former, and the Dream, Flower and the Leaf, etc. of 
 the latter. The Author of this therefore chofe the fame 
 fort of Exordium. P.
 
 46 T H E T E M P L E 
 
 I flood, methought, betwixt earth, fcas, and flcies ; 
 The whole creation open to my eyes : 
 In air felf-balanc'd hung the globe below, 
 Where mountains rife and circling oceans flow ; 
 Here naked rocks, and empty waftes were feen, 15 
 There tow'ry cities, and the forefts green : 
 Here failing fhips delight the wand'ring eyes : 
 There trees, and intermingled temples rife ; 
 Now a clear fun the fliining fcene difplays, 
 The tranfient landfcape now in clouds decays. 23 
 
 O'er the wide Profpecr. as I gaz'd around, 
 Sudden I heard a wild promifcuous found, 
 Like broken thunders that at diilance roar, 
 Or billows murm'ring on the hollow fhore : 
 Then gazing up, a glorious pile beheld, 25 
 
 Whofe tow'ring fummit ambient clouds conceal'd. 
 High on a rock of Ice the ftruclure lay, 
 Steep its afccnt, and flipp'ry was the way j 
 
 I M ITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 1 1 . etc ] Thefe verfes are hinted from the follow- 
 ing of Chaucer, Book ii. 
 
 Tho* beheld I fields and plains, 
 
 Now hills, and now mountains, 
 
 Now valeis, and now foreftes, 
 
 And now unneth great beftes, 
 
 Now rivers, now citees, 
 
 Now towns, now great trees, 
 
 Now fhippes fayling in the fees. P. 
 VER. 27. High on a rock of Ice y etc.] Chaucer's third 
 book ofFamf. 
 
 It flood upon fo high a rock, 
 
 Higher flandeth none in Spayne
 
 O F IF A M E. 47 
 
 The wond'rous rock like Parian marble fhonz, 
 And fecm'd, to diftant fight, of folid ftone. 30 
 
 Infer iptions here of various Names I view'd, 
 The greater part by hoftile time fubdu'd ; 
 Yet wide was fpread their fame in ages paft, 
 And Poets once had promis'd they fhould laft. 
 Some frefh engrav'd appear'd of Wits renown' d ; 35 
 I look'd again, nor could their trace be found. 
 Critics I faw, that other names deface, 
 And fix their own, with labour, in their place : 
 Their own, like others, foon their place refign'd, 
 Or difappear'd, and left the firft behind. 40 
 
 IM ITATIONS. 
 
 What manner ftone this rock was, 
 For it was like a lymed glafs, 
 But that it fhone full more clere j 
 But of what congeled matere 
 It was, I nifte redily j 
 But at the laft efpied I, 
 And found that it was every dele, 
 A rock of ife, and not of ftele. 
 VER. 31. Infcriptions here, etc.] 
 Tho faw I all the hill y-grave 
 With famous folkes names fele. 
 That had been in much wele 
 And her fames wide y-blow ; 
 But well unneth might I know. 
 Any letters for to rede 
 Their names by, for out of drede 
 They weren almoft off-thawen fo, 
 That of the letters one or two 
 Were molte away of every name, 
 So unfamous was woxe her fame ; 
 But men faid, what may ever laft. P.
 
 48 THETEMPLE 
 
 Nor was the work impair'd by ftorms alone, 
 
 But felt th' approaches of too warm a fun ; 
 
 For Fame, impatient of extremes, decays 
 
 Not more by Envy than excefs of Praife. 
 
 Yet part no injuries of heav'n could feel, 45 
 
 Like cryftal faithful to the graving fteel : 
 
 The rock's high fummit, in the temple's fhade, 
 
 Nor heat could melt, nor beating ftorm invade. 
 
 Their names infcrib'd unnumber'd ages paft 
 
 From time's firft birth, with time itfelf mall laft ; 50 
 
 Thefe ever new, nor fubjel to decays, 
 
 Spread, and grow brighter with the length of days. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VER. 41. Ntir was the wiork impair' 1 d, etc.] 
 
 T ho gan I in myne harte cart, 
 
 That they were moke away for heate, 
 
 And not away with ftormes beate. 
 VER. 45. Yet part no injuries, etcJ] 
 
 For on that other fide I fey 
 
 Of that hill which northward ley, 
 
 How it was written full of names 
 
 Of folke, that had afore great fames, 
 
 Of old time, and yet they were 
 
 As frefh as men had written hem there 
 
 The felf day, or that houre 
 
 That I on hem gan to poure : 
 
 But well I wifte what it made ; 
 
 It was conferved with the fhade 
 
 (All the writing that I fye) 
 
 Of the caftle that ftoode on high, 
 
 And ftood eke in fo cold a place, 
 
 That heate might it not deface. P.
 
 O F F A M E. 49 
 
 So Zembla's rocks (the beauteous work of froft) 
 Hife white in air, and glitter o'er the coailj 
 Pale funs, unfelt, at diftance roll away, 55 
 
 And on th' impaffive ice the light'nings play j 
 Eternal fnows the growing mafs fupply, 
 Till the bright mountains prop th' incumbent fky : 
 As Atlas fix'd, each hoary pile appears, 
 The gather' d winter of a thoufand years. 60 
 
 On this foundation Fame's high temple {lands j 
 Stupendous pile J not rear'd by mortal hands. 
 Whate'er proud Rome or artful Greece beheld, 
 Or elder Babylon, its frame excell'd. 
 Four faces had the dome, and ev'ry face 65 
 
 Of various ftructure, but of equal grace : 
 Four brazen gates, on columns lifted high, 
 Salute the difFrent quarters of the fky. 
 Here fabled Chiefs in darker ages born, 
 Or Worthies old, whom arms or arts adorn, 70 
 Who cities rais'd, or tam'd a monftrous race ; 
 The walls in venerable order grace : 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VER. 65. Four faces had the dome, etc^\ The Temple is 
 defcribed to be fquare, the four fronts with open gates 
 facing the different quarters of the world, as an intimation 
 that all nations of the earth may alike be received into it. 
 The weftcrn front is of Grecian architecture : the Doric 
 order was peculiarly facred to Heroes and Worthies. 
 Thofe whole ftatues are after mentioned, were the firft 
 . names of old Greece in arms and arts. P. 
 VOL. II. D
 
 50 THETEMPLE 
 
 Heroes in animated marble frown, 
 And Legiflators feem to think in ftone. 
 
 Weftward, a fumptuous frontifpice appear'd, 75 
 On Doric pillars of white marble rear'd, 
 Crown'd with an architrave of antique mold, 
 And fculpture rifmg on the roughen'd gold. 
 In fhaggy fpoils here Thefeus was beheld, 
 And Perfeus dreadful with Minerva's fhield : 80 
 
 There great Alcides {looping with his toil, 
 Refts on his club, and holds th' Hefperian fpoil. 
 Here Orpheus fmgs ; trees moving to the found 
 Start from their roots, and form a ftiade around : 
 Amphion tl\ere the loud creating lyre 85 
 
 Strikes, and beholds a fudden Thebes afpire ! 
 Cithaeron's echoes anfwer to his call, 
 And half the mountain rolls into a wall : 
 There might you fee the lengthening fpires afcend, 
 The domes fwell up, the wid'ning arches bend, 90 
 The growing tow'rs, like exhalations rife, 
 And the huge columns heave into'the fkies. 
 
 The Eaftern front was glorious to behold, 
 With di'mond flaming, and Barbaric gold. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VER. 81. There great Alcides, etc.] This figure of Her- 
 cules is drawn with an eye to the pofition of the famous 
 ftatue of Farnefe. P.
 
 O F F A M E. 5* 
 
 There Ninus fhone, who fpread th 3 Aflyrian fame, 95 
 
 And the great founder of the Perfian name : 
 
 There in long robes the royal Magi ftand, 
 
 Grave Zdroafter waves the circling wand, 
 
 The fage Chaldaeans rob'd in white appear'd, 
 
 And Brachmans, deep in defert woods rever'd. 100 
 
 Thefe ftop'd the moon, and call'd th' unbody'd {hades 
 
 To midnight banquets in the glimrn'ring glades j 
 
 Made vifionary fabricks round them rife, 
 
 And airy fpe&res Ikim before their eyes j 
 
 Of Talifmans and Sigils knew the pow'r, 105 
 
 And careful watch'd the Planetary hour. 
 
 Superior, and alone, Confucius flood, 
 
 Who taught that ufeful fcience, to be good, 
 
 But on the South, a long rhajeftic race 
 Of ./Egypt's Priefts the gilded niches grace, no 
 
 m Who meafur'd earth, defcrib'd the fiarry fpheres, 
 And trac'd the long records of lunar years; 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VE R. 96, And the great founder of the Perjian name :] 
 Cyrus was the beginning of the Perfian, as Ninus was of 
 the Aflyrian Monarchy The Magi and Chaldaeans (the 
 chief of whom was Zoroafter) employed their ftudies upon 
 magic and aftrology, which was in a mariner almoft all the 
 learning of the ancient Afian people. We have fcarce any 
 account of a moral philofopher except Confucius, the great 
 law-giver of the Chinefe, who lived about two thousand 
 years ago. P. 
 
 V B R . no. JEgypfs priejti, etc.} The learning of the old 
 Egyptian Priefts confiited for the moft part in geometry 
 
 D 2
 
 S* THE TEMPLE 
 
 High on his car Sefoftris ftruck my view, 
 Whom fcepter d flaves in golden harnefs drew t 
 His hands a bow and pointed javelin hold ; 
 His giant limbs are arm'd in fcales of gold. 
 Between the ftatues Obelilks were plac'd, 
 And the learn'd walls with Hieroglyphics grac'd. 
 
 Of Gothic ftru&ure was the Northern fide, 
 O'erwrought with ornaments of barb'rous pride. 120 
 There huge Colofles rofe, with trophies crown'd, 
 And Runic characters were grav'd around. 
 There fate Zamolxis with erected eyes, 
 And Odin here in mimic trances dies. 
 
 
 
 There on rude iron columns, fmear'd with blood, 125 
 The horrid forms of Scythian heroes ftood, 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 and aftronomy : they alfo preferved the Hiftory of their 
 nation. Their greateft Hero upon record is Sefoftris, whofe 
 acYions and conquefts may be feen at large in Diodorus, etc. 
 He is faid to have caufed the Kings he vanquifhed to draw 
 him in his Chariot. The pofture of his ftatue, in thefe 
 verfes, is correfpondent to the defcription which Herodotus 
 gives of one of them remaining in his own time. P. 
 
 VER. 119. Of Gothic Jlrufture wa s the Northern Jide,'} 
 The Architecture is agreeable to that part of the world. 
 The learning of the northern nations lay more obfcure than 
 that of the reft ; Zamolxis was the difciple of Pythagoras, 
 who taught the immortality of the foul to the Scythians. 
 Odin, or Woden, was the great legiflator and hero of the 
 Goths. They tell us of him, that, being fubjed to fits, he 
 perfuaded his followers, that during thofe trances he re- 
 ceived infpirations, from whence he dictated his laws : he 
 is faid to have been the inventor of the Runic characters. P.
 
 O F F A M E. 53 
 
 Druids and Bards (their once loud harps unftrung) 
 
 And youths that dy'd to be by Poets fung. 
 
 Thefe and a- thoufand more of doubtful fame, 
 
 To whom old fables gave a lafting name, 1 30 
 
 ranks adorn'd the Temple's outward face ; 
 "he wall in luftre and effe& like Glafs, 
 r hich o'er each objecT: cafting various dyes, 
 Enlarges fome, and others multiplies : 
 
 void of emblem was the myftic wall, 135 
 
 "or thus romantic Fame increafes all. 
 The Temple (hakes, the founding gates unfoldj 
 r ide vaults appear, and roofs of fretted gold ; 
 Lais'd on a thoufand pillars, wreath'd around 
 r ith laurel-foliage, and with eagles crown'd : 140 
 Of bright, tranfparent beryl were the walls, 
 The freezes gold, and gold the capitals : 
 As heav'n with ftars, the roof with jewels glows, 
 And ever-living lamps depend in rows. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VER. 1 27. Druids and Bards t etc."} Thefe were the priefts 
 and poets of thofe people, fo celebrated for their favage 
 virtue. Thofe heroic barbarians accounted it a dishonour 
 to die in their beds, and ruftied on to certain death in the 
 profpeft of an after-life, and for the glory of a fong from 
 their bards in praife of their aftions. P-. 
 IMITATIONS. 
 V K R . 132. The nuall in lujlre, etc.'] 
 Jt fhone lighter than a glafs, 
 And made well more than it was* 
 As kind of thing Fame is.
 
 54 THE TEMPLE 
 
 Full in the paflage of .each fpacious gate, 145 
 
 The fage Hiftorians in white garments wait ; 
 
 Grav'd o'er their feats the form of Time was found, 
 
 His fcythe revers'd, and both his pinions bound. 
 
 Within ftood Heroes, who thro' loud alarms 
 
 In bloody fields purfu'd renown in arms. 150 
 
 High on a throne with trophies charg'd, I view'd. 
 
 The Youth that all things but himfelf fubdu'd ; 
 
 His feet on fceptres and tiara's trod. 
 
 And his horn'd head bely'd the Libyan God. 
 
 There Casfar, grac'd with both Minerva's ftione ; 1 55 
 
 Caefar, the world's great mafter, and his own j 
 
 Unmov'd, fuperior ftill in ev'ry ftate, 
 
 And fcarce detefted in his Country's fate. 
 
 But chief were thofe, who not for empire fought, 
 
 But with their toils their people's fafety bought: 1 60 
 
 High o'er the reft Epaminondas ftood j 
 
 Timoleon, glorious in his brother's blood j 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VE R . 152. The Youth that all things but bimfelf fuldu* d \\ 
 Alexander the Great : the Tiara was the crown peculiar to 
 the Afian Princes : his defire to be thought the fon of Ju- 
 piter Ammon, caufed him to wear the horns of that God, 
 and to reprefent the fame upon his coins ; which was con- 
 tinued by feveral of his fucceflbrs. P. 
 
 VER. 162. Timoleon , glorious in his brother's blood ';] 
 Timoleon had faved the life of his brother Timophanes in 
 the battle between the Argives and Corinthians ; but after- 
 wards killed him when he affecled the tyranny, preferring 
 his duty to his country to all the obligations of blood. P.
 
 O F F A M E. 55 
 
 Bold Scipio, faviour of the Roman ftate ; 
 Great in his triumphs, in retirement great ; 
 And wife Aurelius, in whofe well-taught mind 165 
 With boundlefs pow'r unbounded virtue join'd, 
 His own ftri<St judge, and patron of mankind. 
 
 Much-fufFYmg heroes next their honours claim, 
 Thofe of lefs noify, and lefs guilty fame, 
 Fair Virtue's filent train : fupreme of thefe i/o 
 
 Here ever mines the godlike Socrates : 
 He whom ungrateful Athens could expell, 
 At alt times juft, but when he fign'd the Shell : 
 Here his abode the martyr'd Phocion claims, 
 With Agis, not the laft of Spartan names : 1 75 
 
 Unconquer'd Cato mews the wound he tore, 
 And Brutus his ill Genius meets no more. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VER. 172. He <vahom ungrateful Athens, etc .] Ariftides, 
 who for his great integrity was diftinguiflied by the appella- 
 tion of the Juft. When his countrymen would have banifhed 
 him by the Oftracifm, where it was the cuftom for every 
 man to fign the name of the perfon he voted to exile in an 
 Oyfter-fhell ; a peafant, who could not write, came to Ari- 
 ilides to do it for him, who readily figned his own name. P. 
 
 VE R . I 78. But in the centre nf the halloed choir, etc.] In 
 the midft of the temple, neareft the throne of Fame, are 
 placed the greateft names in learning of all antiquity. 
 Thefe are defcribed in fuch attitudes as exprefs their diffe- 
 rent characters : the columns on which they are raifed are 
 adorned with fculptures, taken from the moft ftriking fub- 
 jefts of their works ; which fculpture bears a refemblance, 
 in its manner and character, to the manner and character 
 pf their writings. P. 
 
 D 4
 
 5 5 THE TEMPLE 
 
 But in the centre of the hallow'd choir, 
 Six pompous columns o'er the reft afpire ; 
 Around the fhrine itfelf of Fame they ftand, 180 
 Hold the chief honours, and the fane command. 
 High on the firft, the mighty Homer ftione ; 
 Eternal Adamant compos'd his throne j 
 Father of verfe ! in holy fillets dreft, 
 His filver beard wav'd gently o'er his breaft ; l8? 
 Tho' blind, a boldnefs in his looks appears ; 
 In years he feem'd, but not impair'd by years. 
 The wars of Troy were round the Pillar feen : 
 Here fierce Tydides wounds the Cyprian Queen ; 
 Here Hector glorious from Patroclus' fall, 
 Here dragg'd in triumph round the Trojan wall : 
 Motion and life did ev'ry part infpire, 
 Bold was the work, and prov'd the matter's fire ^ 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VER. 179- Six pompous columns, etc.~\ 
 From the dees many a pillere, 
 Of metal that (hone not full clere, etc. 
 Upon a pillere faw I ftonde 
 That was of lede and iron, fine, 
 Him of the feft Saturnine, 
 The Ebraicke Jofephus the old, etc. 
 
 Upon an iron piller ftrong, 
 That painted was all endlong, 
 With tigers' blood in every place, 
 The Tholofan that hight Stace, 
 That bare of Thebes up the name, etc. R. 
 
 VER.182.] 
 
 Full wonder hye on a pillere 
 Of iron, he the great Omer, 
 A nd witfa him Dares and Titus, etc. P.
 
 OF FAME 
 
 A. ftrong exprefllon moft he feem'd t* affect, 
 And here and there difclos'd a brave neglect. 
 
 A golden column next in rank appear' d, 
 On which a fhrine of pureft gold was rear'd ; 
 FiniuVd the whole, and labour'd ev'ry part, 
 With patient touches of unweary'd art : 
 The Mantua'n there in fober triumph fate, 200 
 
 Compos'd his pofture, and his look fedate ; 
 Qn Homer ftill he fix'd a rev'rend eye, 
 Great without pride, in modefl majefty. 
 In living fculpture on the fides were fpread 
 The Latian Wars, and haughty Turnus dead ; 
 
 IM I TAT IONS. 
 
 YER. 196, etc.] 
 
 There faw I ftand on a pillere 
 That was of tinned iron cleere, 
 The Latin Poet Virgyle, 
 That hath bore up of a great while" 
 The fame of pius ^Eneas : 
 
 And next him on a pillere was 
 Of copper, Venus' clerk Ovide, 
 That hath fowen wondrous wide 
 The great God of Love's fame 
 
 Tho faw I on a pillere by 
 Of iron wrought fully fternly, 
 The great Poet Dan Lucan, 
 That on his moulders bore up then 
 A$ hye as that I might fee, 
 The fame of J ulius and Pompee. 
 
 And next him on a pillere itodc 
 Of fulphur, like as he were wode, 
 Dan Claudian, fothe for to tell, 
 That bare up all the fame of hell> etc. P
 
 5 8 THE TEMPLE 
 
 Eliza ftretch'd upon the fun'ral pyre, 
 
 .ffinea.s bending with his aged fire : 
 
 Troy flam'd in burning gold, and o'er the throne 
 
 ARMS AND THE MAN in golden cyphers fhone. 
 
 Four fwans fuftain a car of filver bright, 210 
 With heads advanc'd, and pinions ftretch'd for flight : 
 Here, like fome furious prophet, Pindar rode, 
 And feem'd to labour with th'infpiring God. 
 Acrofs the harp a carelefs hand he flings, 
 And boldly finks into the founding firings. 215 
 
 The figur'd games of Greece the column grace, 
 Neptune and Jove furvey the rapid race. 
 The youths hang o'er their chariots as they run j 
 The fiery fteeds feem darting from the ftone ; 
 The champions in dHtorted poftures threat j 220 
 And all appear'd irregularly great. 
 
 Here happy Horace tun'd th'Aufonian lyre 
 To fweeter founds, and temper'd Pindar's fire : 
 Plcas'd with Alcams' manly rage t* infufe 
 The fofter fpirit of the Sapphic Mufe. 225 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VER. zio. Four fivans fuftain, etc."] Pindar being feated 
 in a chariot, alludes to the chariot- races he celebrated in 
 the Grecian games. The fwans are emblems of Poetry, 
 their foaring poilure intimates the fublimity and aclivity 
 of his genius. Neptune prefided over the Iflhmian, and 
 Jupiter over the Olympian games. 
 
 I M i T A r i o K s. 
 
 VEI^. 2:4.. Pleaid i>:itb Alc^ciis' 1 manly rage ? infufe 
 The fofter fpirit of the Sapphic Mufe.] This expreffes the
 
 O F F A M . 59 
 
 The polifh'd pillar diff'rent fculptures grace ; 
 
 A work outlafting monumental brafs. 
 
 Here fmiling Loves and Bacchanals appear, 
 
 The Julian ftar, and great Auguflus here. 
 
 The Doves that round the infant poet fpread 230 
 
 Myrtles and bays, hung hov'ring o'er his head, 
 
 Here in a flirine that caft a daaling light, 
 Sate fix'd in thought the mighty Stagirite ; 
 His facred head a radiant Zodiac crown'd, 
 And various Animals his fides furround ; 235 
 
 I M 1 TAT IONS. 
 
 mix'd the character of the odes of Horace : the fecond of 
 thefe verfes alludes to that line of his, 
 
 Spiritum Graise tenuem camcenae. 
 As another which follows, to 
 
 Exegi monumentum aere perennius. 
 
 The adlion of the Doves hints at a paflage in the fourth 
 ode of his third book. 
 
 Me fabolofe Vulture in Appulo 
 Altricis extra limen Apulia?, 
 Ludo fatigatumque fomno, 
 
 Fronde nova puerum palumbes 
 Texere ; mirum quod foret omnibus 
 Ut tuto ab atris cor pore viperis 
 
 Dormirem et urlis ; ut premerer facra 
 
 Lauroque collataque myrto, 
 Non fine Diis animofus mfans. 
 Which may be thus englifhed j 
 
 While yet a child, I chanc'd to ftray, 
 And in a defert fleeping lay ; 
 The favage race withdrew, nor dar'd 
 To touch the Mufes 1 future bard j 
 But Cytherca's gentle dove 
 
 Myrtles and Bays around me fpread, 
 And crown'd your infant Poet's head, 
 Sacred to Mufic and to Love. P.
 
 60 THE TEMPLE 
 
 His piercing eyes, erec~l, appear to view < 
 
 Superior worlds, and look all Nature through, 
 
 With equal rays immortal Tully fhone, 
 The Roman Roftra deck'd the Conful's throne : 
 Gathering his flowing robe, he feem'd to ftand 240 
 In at to fpeak, and graceful ftretch'd his hand. 
 Behind, Rome's Genius waits with Civic crowns, 
 And the great Father of his country owns. 
 
 Thefe mafly columns in a circle rife, 
 O'er which a pompous dome invades the fkies : 245 
 Scarce to the top I ftretch'd my aking fight, 
 So large it fpread," and fwell'd to fuch a height. 
 Full in the midft proud Fame's imperial feat 
 With jewels blaz'd, magnificently great j 
 The vivid em'ralds there revive the eye, 250 
 
 The flaming rubies fhew their fanguine dye, 
 Bright azure rays from lively fapphires ftream, 
 And lucid amber cafts a golden gleam. 
 With various- colour'd light the pavement fhone, 
 And all on fire appear'd the glowing throne ; 255 
 The dome's high arch reflects the mingled blaze,. 
 And forms a rainbow of alternate rays. 
 When on the Goddefs firft I caft my fight, 
 Scarce feem'd her ftature of a cubit's height i 
 
 IM i TAT IONS. 
 
 VER. 259. Scarce feem'd her Jlature, etc.] 
 
 Methought that fhe was fo lite, 
 
 That the length of a cubite 
 
 Was longer than flic feemed be ; 
 
 But thus foone in a while fhe,
 
 O F F A M E. 61 
 
 But fwell'd to larger fize, the more I gaz'd, 260 
 Till to the roof her tow'ring front me rais'd. 
 With her, the Temple ev'ry moment grew, 
 And ampler Vifta's open'd to my view : 
 Upward the columns moot, the roofs afcend, 
 And arches widen, and long iles extend* 265 
 
 Such was her form as ancient bards have told, 
 Wings raife her arms, and wings her feet infold ; 
 A thoufand bufy tongues the Goddefs bears, 
 And thoufand open eyes, and thoufand lift'ning ears. 
 Beneath, in order rang'd, the tuneful Nine 270 
 (Her virgin handmaids) ftill attend the fhrine : 
 With eyes on Fame for ever fix'd, they fing ; 
 For Fame they raife the voice, and tune the firing ; 
 With time's firft birth began the heav'nly lays, 
 And laft, eternal, thro' the length of days, 275 
 
 Around thefe wonders as I caft a look, 
 The trumpet founded, and the temple (hook, 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 Her felf tho wonderly ftraight, 
 That with her feet {he the earth reight, 
 And with her head (he touchyd heaver. P. 
 VlR. 270. Beneath, in order rang'd, etc .] 
 J heard about her throne y-fung 
 That all the palays walls rung 
 So fung the mighty Mufe, Ihe 
 That cleped is Calliope, 
 And her feven fitters eke P. 
 . 276. Around tbefe ivonders, etc.~\ 
 I heard a noife approchen blive, 
 That far'd as bees done in a hive,
 
 6l THETfeMl^LE 
 
 And all the nations, fummon'd at the call, 
 From different quarters fill the crouded hall : 279! 
 Of various tongues the mingled founds were heard ; 
 In various garbs promifcuous throngs appear'd ; 
 Thick as the bees, that with the fpring renew 
 Their flow'ry toils, and fip the fragrant dew, 
 When the wing'd colonies firft tempt the fky, 
 O'er dufky fields and fhaded waters fly, 285 
 
 Or fettling, feize the fvveets the bloflbms yield, 
 And a low murmur runs along the field. 
 Millions of fuppliant crouds the fhrine attend, 
 And all degrees before the Goddefs bend j 
 The poor, the rich, the valiant, and the fage, 290 
 And hearting youth, and narrative old-age. 
 Their pleas were diff'rent, their requeft the faineic 
 For good and bad alike are fond of Fame. 
 Some fhe difgrac'd, and fome with honours crown 'd ; 
 Unlike fuccefies equal merits found. 293 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 Againft her time of out flying ; 
 Right fuch a manere murmuring, 
 For all the world it feemed me. 
 Tho gan I look about and fee 
 That there came entring into th' hall, 
 A right great company withal ; 
 And that of fundry regions, 
 Of all kind of conditions, etc. P. 
 ViR. 294. Same Jhe difgrac'd, etc] 
 
 And fome of them (he granted fone,
 
 O F F A M E. 63 
 
 Thus her bl ind fitter, fickle Fortune, reigns, 
 And, undifcerning, fcatters crowns and chains. 
 
 Firft at the (brine the Learned world appear, 
 And to the Goddefs thus prefer their pray'r. 299 
 Long have we fought t' inftrucl and pleafe mankind, 
 With ftudies pale, with midnight vigils blind ; 
 But thank'd by few, rewarded yet by none, 
 We here appeal to thy fuperior throne : 
 On wit and learning the juft prize beftow, 
 For Fame is all we muft expect below. 305 
 
 The Goddefs heard, and bade the Mufes raife 
 The golden Trumpet of eternal Praife : 
 From pole to pole the winds diffufe the found, 
 That fills the circuit of the world around ; 
 Not all at once, as thunder breaks the cloud ; 310 
 The notes at firft were rather fweet than loud : 
 By juft degrees they ev'ry moment rife, 
 Fill the wide earth, and gain upon the fkies. 
 At ev'ry breath were balmy odours filed, 
 Which ftill grew fweeter as they wider fpread ; 315 
 Lefs fragrant fcents th'unfolding rofe exhales, 
 Or fpices breathing in Arabian gales. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 And fome {he warned well and fair, 
 And fome me granted the contrair 
 Right as her filler dame Fortune 
 Is wont to ferve in commune. P.
 
 6 4 THETEMPL 
 
 Next thefe the good and juft, an awful train, 
 Thus on their knees addrefs the facred fane. 
 Since living virtue is with envy curs'd, 32$ 
 
 And the beft men are treated like the worft, 
 Do thou, juft Goddefs, call our merits forth, 
 And give each deed th' exact intiinfic worth. 
 Not with bare juftice mall your aft be crown'd 
 (Said Fame) but high above defert renown'd : 325 
 Let fuller notes th' applauding world amaze, 
 And the loud clarion labour in your praife. 
 
 This band difm'uVd, behold another croud 
 Prefer'd the fame requeft, and lowly bow'd 3 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 . 3 1 8. the good and juft t etc.] 
 Tho came the third companye, 
 And gan up to the dees to hye, 
 And down on knees they fell anone, 
 And faiden : We been everichone 
 Folke that ban full trudy 
 Deferved Fame right-fully, 
 And prayen you it might be knowe 
 Right as it is, and forth blowe. 
 
 I grant, quoth fhe, for now we lift 
 That your good works fhall be wilt. 
 And yet ye fliall have better loos, 
 Right in defpite of all your foos, 
 Than worthy is, and that anone. 
 Let now (quoth fhe) thy trump gone 1 
 .And ccrtes all the breath that went 
 Out of his trump's mouth fmel'd 
 As men a pot of baume held 
 Among 'a bafiiet full of r6Yes P.
 
 6 F F A M E. 6^ 
 
 conftant tenour of whofe well-fpent days 330 
 No lefs deferv'd a juft return of praife. 
 But ftrait the direful Trump of Slander founds j 
 Thro' the big dome the doubling thunder bounds ; 
 Loud as the burft of cannon rends the flues, 
 The dire report thro' ev'ry region flies, 335 
 
 In ev'ry ear inceflant rumours rung, 
 And gathering fcandals grew on ev'ry tongue. 
 From the black trumpet's rufty concave broke 
 Sulphureous flames, and clouds of rolling fmoke : 
 The pois'rious vapour blots the purple Ikies, 340 
 And withers all before it as it flies. 
 
 A troop came next, who crowns and armour wore, 
 And proud defiance in their looks they bore : 
 
 IMITATI o N s. 
 
 VER. 328, 338. behold another croud t etc. -From the 
 black trumpet' 1 1 rujly, etc.] 
 
 Therewithal there came anone 
 
 Another huge companye^ 
 
 Of good folke 
 
 What did this Eolus, but he 
 
 Tooke out his trump of brafs* 
 
 That fouler than the devil was : 
 
 And gan this trump for to blowe, 
 
 As all the world fliould overthrow^. 
 
 Throughout every regione 
 
 Went this foul trumpet's foune, 
 
 Swift as a pellet out of a gunne, 
 
 When fire is in the powder runne. 
 
 And fuch a fmoke gan out weade, 
 
 Out of the foul trumpet's ende etc, 
 VOL, II 4 F,
 
 66 THE TEMPLE 
 
 For thee (they cry'd) amidft alarms and ftrife, 
 We fail'd in tempefts down the ftream of life ; 345 
 .For thee whole nations fill'd with flames and blood, 
 And fwam to empire thro the purple flood. 
 Thofe ills we dar'd, thy ihfpiration own, 
 What virtue feem'd, was done for thee alone. 
 Ambitious fools ! (the Queen reply'd, and frown'd) 
 Be all your a&s in dark oblivion drown'd ; 
 There fleep forgot, with mighty tyrants gone, 
 Your ftatues mould er'd, and your names unknown ! 
 A fudden cloud ftraight fnatch'd them from my fight, 
 And each majeftic phantom funk in night. 355 
 
 Then came the fmalleft tribe I yet had feen ; 
 Plain was their drefs, and modeft was their mien. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 356. Then came th< fmalleft, etc.] 
 I faw anone the fifth route, 
 That to this lady gan loute, 
 And dowrv on knee* anone to falf, 
 And to her they befoughten all, 
 To hiden their good v/orks eke. 
 And faid, they yeve not a leke 
 For no fame ne fuch renowne ; 
 For they for contemplacyoune, 
 And Goddes love had it wrought, 
 Ne of fame would they ought. 
 
 What, quoth fhe, and be ye wood ? 
 And ween ye for to do good, 
 And for to have it of no fame ? 
 Have ye defpite to have my name ? 
 Nay ye mail lien everichone : 
 Blowe thy trump, and that anone 
 (Quoth me) thou Eolus, I hote, 
 And ring theft folkes workes by rote. ,
 
 O F F A M E. -67 
 
 Great idol of .mankind ! we neither claim 
 The praife of merit, nor afpire to fame ! 
 But fafe in deferts from th' applaufe of men, 360 
 Would die unheard of, as we liv'd unfeen, 
 'Tis all we beg thee, to conceal from fight 
 Thofe a&s of goodnefs, which themfelves requite. 
 O let us ftill the fecret joy partake, 
 To follow virtue ev'n for virtue's fake. 365 
 
 And live there men, who flight immortal facie ? 
 Who then with incenfe fhall adore our name ? 
 JBt, mortals ! know, 'tis ftill our greateft pride 
 To blaze thofe virtues, which the good would hide. 
 Rife ! Mufes, rife ! add all your tuneful breath, 370 
 Thefe muft not fleep in darknefs and in death. 
 She faid : in air the trembling mufic floats, 
 And on the winds triumphant fwell the notes ; 
 So foft, tho' high, fo loud, and yet fo clear, 
 Ev'n M'ning Angels lean'd from heav'n to hear : 375 
 To faTtheft flioxes th' Ambrofial fpirit flies, 
 Sweet to the world, and grateful to the fkies. 
 
 Next thefe a youthful train their vows exprefs'd, 
 With feathers crownM, with gay embroid'ry drefs'd : 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 That all the world may of it heare ; 
 And he gan blow their loofs fo cleare, 
 In his golden clarioune, 
 Through the World went the foune, 
 All fo kindly, and eke fo foft, 
 That their fame was blown aloft. P. 
 VER. 378. Next tbefe a youthful train,etc.'} TheReader 
 
 E i
 
 68 THETEMPLE 
 
 Hither, they cry'd, direct your eyes, and fee 380 
 The men of pleafure, drefs, and gallantry } 
 Ours is the place at banquets, balls, and plays, 
 Sprightly our nights, polite are all our days ; 
 Courts we frequent, where 'tis our pleafmg care 
 To pay due vifits, and addrefs the fair : 385 
 
 In fact, 'tis true, no nymph we could perfuade, 
 But ftill in fancy vanquifh'd ev'ry maid ; 
 Of unknown Duchefles leud tales we tell, 
 Yet, would the world believe us, all were well. 
 The joy let others have, and we the name 390 
 And what we want in pleafure grant in fame. 
 
 The Queen aflents, the trumpet rends the fkies, 
 And at each blaft a Lady's honour dies. 
 
 Pleas'd with the flrange fuccefs, vaft numbers preft 
 Around the fhrine, and made the fame requeft : 
 What you ({he cry'd) unlearn'd in arts to pleafe, 
 Slaves to yourfelves, and ev'n fatigu'd with eafe, 
 Who lofe a length of undeferving days, 
 Would you ufurp the lover's dear-bought praife ? 
 To jlift contempt, ye vain pretend, rs, fall, 400 
 
 The people's fable, and the fcorn of all. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 Jni^ht compare thefe twenty-eight lines following, which 
 contain the fame matter, with eighty-four of Chaucer, 
 beginning thus : 
 
 Tho came the fixth companye, 
 
 And gan fade to Fame cry, etc. 
 being too prolix to be here inferted. P.
 
 
 O F F A M E. 6 9 
 
 Straight the black clarion fends a horrid found, 
 Loud laughs burft out, and bitter feoffs fly round, 
 Whifpers are heard, with taunts reviling loud, 
 And fcornful hifies run thro' all the croud. ,4.05 
 
 Laft, thofe who boaft of mighty mifchiefs done, 
 Enflave their country, or ufurp a throne ; 
 Or who their glory's dire foundation lay'd 
 On Sov'reigns ruin'd, or on friends betray'd ; 
 Calm, thinking villains, whom no faith could fix, 410 
 Of crooked counfels and dark politics ; 
 Of thefe a gloomy tribe furround the throne, 
 And beg to make th' immortal treafons known. 
 The trumpet roars, long flaky flames expire, 
 With fparks, that feem'd to fet the world on fire. 415 
 At the dread found,' pale mortals flood aghaft, 
 And ftartled nature trembled with the Waft. 
 
 This having heard and feen, fome pow'r unknown 
 Strait chang'd the fcene, and fnatch'd me from the 
 
 throne. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 406. <z/?, tbofe who loaji of mighty, ttc.] 
 
 Tho came another companye, 
 
 That had y-done the treachery, etc. P. 
 VER. 418. This having heard and feen, etc.] The Scene 
 tiere changes from the temple of Fame to that of Rumour, 
 which is almoft entirely Chaucer's. The partico.ars fol- 
 low. 
 
 Tho faw ftonde in a valey, 
 
 Under the caftle faft by 
 
 A ho ufe, that Domus Dedali
 
 70 THE TEMPLE 
 
 Before my view appear'U a ftru6lure fair, 420 
 
 Its fite uncertain, if in earth or air j 
 
 With rapid motion turn'd the manfion round ; 
 
 With ceafelefs noife the ringing walls refound ; 
 
 Not lefs in number were the fpacious doors, 
 
 Than leaves on trees, or fands upon the fhores ; 425 
 
 Which ftill unfolded ftand, by night, by day, 
 
 Pervious to winds, and open ev'ry way. 
 
 As flames by nature to the fkies afcend, 
 
 As weighty bodies to the centre tend, 
 
 IM I TAT IONS. 
 
 That Labyrinthus cleped is, 
 
 Nas made fo wonderly, I vvis, 
 
 Ne half fo queintly y-wrought , 
 
 And evermo as fwift as thought, 
 
 This queint houfe about went, 
 
 That never more ic ilill ftent 
 
 And eke this houfe hath of entrees 
 
 As many as leaves are on trees, 
 
 In fummer, when they ben grene ; 
 
 And in the roof yet men may iene 
 
 A thoufand hoels and well mo, 
 
 To letten the foune out go ; 
 
 And by day in every tide 
 
 Ben ail the doors open wide, 
 
 And by night each one unfhet j 
 
 No porter is there one to let, 
 
 No manner ty dings in to pace : 
 
 Ne never reft is in that place. P. 
 
 VER. 428. Ai flames by nature to the, eff."] This thought 
 :s transferred hither out of the third book of Fame, where 
 it takes up no lefs lhan one hundred and twenty verfes, be- 
 ginning thus, 
 
 Geffray, thou wottejl well this, etc. P,
 
 O F F A M E. 71 
 
 As to the fea returning rivers roll, 430 
 
 And the touch'd needle trembles to the pole ; 
 
 Hither, as to their proper place, ajrife 
 
 All various founds from earth, and feas, and /kies, 
 
 Or fpoke aloud, or whifper'd in the ear ; 
 
 Nor ever filence, reft, or peace is here. 435 
 
 As on the fmooth expanfe of cryftal lakes 
 
 The finking ftone at firft a circle makes ; 
 
 The trembling furface by the motion ftir'd, 
 
 Spreads in a fecond circle, then a third ; 
 
 Wide, and more wide, the floating rings advance, 440 
 
 Fill all the wat'ry plain, and to the margin dance : 
 
 Thus ev'ry voice and found, when firft they break, 
 
 On neighb'ring air a foft impreflion make j 
 
 Another ambient circle then they move ; 
 
 That, in its turn, impels the next above j 445 
 
 Thro' undulating air the founds are fent, 
 
 And fpread o'er all the fluid element. 
 
 There various news I heard of love and ftrife, 
 Of peace and war, health, fickneis, death, and life, 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 448. There various neivs I beard t etc!\ 
 ^ Of werres, of peace, of marriages, 
 
 Of reft, of labour, of voyages, 
 
 Of abode, of dethe, and of life, 
 
 Of love and hate, accord and ftrife, 
 
 Of lofs, of lore, and of winnings, 
 
 Qfhele, officknefs, and leffings, 
 
 4
 
 72 THETEMPLE 
 
 Df lofs and gain, of famine and of ftore, 450 
 
 Of dorms at fea, and travels on the fhore, 
 
 Of prodigies, and portents feen in air, 
 
 Of fires and plagues, and ftars with blazing hair, 
 
 Of turns of fortune, changes in the ftate, 
 
 The falls of iav'rites, projects of the great, 455 
 
 Of old m5fmana2;ements, taxations new : 
 
 o * 
 
 All neither wholly falfe, nor wholly true. 
 
 Abovej, below, without, within, around, 
 Confus'd, unnumber'd multitudes are found, 
 
 I M I TAT I O N S, 
 
 Of divers tranfmutations 
 
 Of eftates and eke of regions, 
 
 Of truft, ofdrede, ofjealoufy, 
 
 Of wit, of winning, and of folly, 
 
 Of good, or bad government, 
 
 Of fire, and of divers accident. P. 
 
 .$8. Above, below, without, within, etc.] 
 
 Hut fuch a grete Congregation 
 
 Of folke as 1 faw roame about, 
 
 Some within, and fome without, 
 
 Was never feen, ne ihall be eft 
 
 And every wight that I faw there 
 Rowned everich in others ear 
 A new tyding privily, 
 Or elfe he told it openly 
 Kight thus, and laid, Knowft not thon 
 That is betide to night now ? 
 No, quoth he, tell rue what ? 
 And then he told him this and that, etc. 
 
 Thus north and fouth 
 
 Went" every tiding fro mouth to mouth, 
 
 And that encreafing evermo, 
 
 As fire is wont to quicktn r.nd gq 
 
 From a fparkle fp.-or,^ j.miJ>, 
 
 'I' ill ail toe citct Lrcni up it.
 
 O F F A M E. 73 
 
 Who pafs, repafs, advance, and glide away ; 460 
 Hofts rais'd by fear, and phantoms of a day : 
 Aftrologers, that, future fates forefhew, 
 Projectors, quacks, and lawyers not a few ; 
 And priefts, and party-zealots, num'rous bands 
 With home-born lyes, or tales from foreign lands ; 
 Each talk'd aloud, or in fome fecret place, 466 
 
 And wild impatience ftar'd in ev'ry face. 
 The flying rumours gather'd as they roll'd, 
 Scarce any tale was fooner heard than told ; 
 And all who told it added fomething new, 470 
 And all who heard it, made enlargements too, 
 In ev'ry ear it fpread, on ev'ry tongue it grew. 
 Thus flying eaft and weft, and north and fouth, 
 News travel'd with increafe from mouth to mouth. 
 So from a fpark, that kindled firft by chance, 475 
 With gathering force the quick'ning flame.-, advance ; 
 Till to the clouds their curling heads afpire* 
 And tow'rs and temples fink in floods of fire. 
 
 When thus ripe lyes are to perfection fprung, 
 Full grown, and fit to grace a mortal tongue, 480 
 Thro' thoufand vents, impatient, forth they flow, 
 And rum in millions on the world below. 
 Fame fits aloft, and points them out their courfe, 
 Their date determines, and prefcribes their force : 
 Some to remain, and fome to perifh foon ; 485 
 
 Qi wane and wax alternate like the moon. 
 
 5
 
 74 THETEMPLE 
 
 Around, a thoufand winged wonders fly, 
 
 Born by the trumpet's blaft, and fcatter'd thro' the fky. 
 
 There, at one pafiage, oft you might furvey, 
 A lie and truth contending for the way ; 490 
 
 And long 'twas doubtful, both fo clofely pent, 
 Which hrft fhould iflue thro' the narrow vent : 
 At laft agreed, together out they fly, 
 Infeparable now, the truth and lye ; 
 The ftricl; companions are for ever join'd, 495 
 
 And this or that unmix'd, no mortal e'er fhall find. 
 
 While thus I flood, intent to fee and hear, 
 One came, methought, and whifper'd in my ear : 
 What could thus high thy rafh ambition raife ? 
 Art thoti, fond youth, a candidate for praife ? 500 
 
 'Tis true, faid I, not void of hopes I came, 
 For who fo fond as youthful bards of Fame ? 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VER.497- While thus I flood, etc.] The hint is taken 
 from a paffage in another part of the third book, but here 
 more naturally made the conclufion, with the addition of a. 
 Moral to the whole. In Chaucer he only anfwers " he 
 came to fee the place ;" and the book ends abruptly, with 
 his being furprized at the fight of a Man of great Authority ^ 
 and awaking in a fright. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS, 
 
 VER. 489. There, at one pajf&ge, etc.] 
 And fometime I faw there at once, 
 A lefing and a fad footh faw 
 That gonnen at adventure draw 
 Out of a window forth to pace 
 And no man, be he ever fo wrothe, 
 Shall have one of thtfe fvvo, but bothe, etc. Pt
 
 O F F A M E. 75 
 
 But few, alas ! the cafual bleffing boaft, 
 So hard to gain, fo eafy to be loft. 
 How vain that fecond life in others breath, 505 
 Th' eftate which wits inherit after death ! 
 Eafe, health, and life, for this they rnuft refign, 
 (Unfure the tenure, but how vaft the fine !) 
 The great man's curfe, without the gains, endure, 
 Be envy 'd, wretch'd, and be flatter'd, poor j 510 
 All lucklefs wits their enemies profeft, 
 And all fuccefsful, jealous friends at beft. 
 Nor Fame I flight, nor for her favours call ; 
 She comes unloek'd for, if (he comes at all. 
 Put if the purchafe coft fo dear a price, 515 
 
 As foothing Folly, or exalting Vice : 
 Oh ! if the Mufe muft flatter lawlefs fway, 
 And follow ftill where fortune leads the way ; 
 Or if no bafis bear my rifmg name, 
 But the fall'n ruins of another's fame ; 520 
 
 Then teach me, heav'n ! to fcorn the guilty bays, 
 Drive from my breaft that wretched luft of praife, 
 Unblemifli'd let me live, or die unknown ; 
 Ph grant an honeft fame, or grant me none !
 
 ( 76) 
 
 January and May : 
 
 O R T H E 
 
 MERCHANT'S TALE. 
 
 FROM 
 
 CHAUCER. 
 
 THERE liv'd in Lombardy, as authors write, 
 In days of old, a wife and worthy knight j 
 Of gentle manners, as of gen'rous race, 
 Bleft with much fenfe, more riches, and fome grace. 
 Yet led aftray by Venus' foft delights, 5 
 
 He fcarce could rule fome idle appeties : 
 For long ago, let Priefts fay what they cou'd, 
 Weak finful laymen were but flefh and blood. 
 But in due time, when fixty years were o'er, 
 He vow'd to lead this vitious life no more ; 10 
 
 "Whether pure holinefs infpir'd his mind, 
 Or dotage turn'd his brain, is hard to find ; 
 But his high courage prick'd him forth to wed, 
 And try the pleafures of a lawful bed. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 1 A N v A R Y A N n M A Y . ] This Tranflation was done at 
 fiucen or feveritcen years of Age. P.
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. "77 
 
 'This was his nightly dream, his daily care, 15 
 
 And to the heav'nly pow'rs his conftant pray'r, 
 Once, ere he dy'd, to tafte the blifsful life 
 Of a kind hufband and a loving wife. 
 
 Thefe thoughts he fortify'd with reafons flill, 
 (For none want reafons to confirm their will.) 20 
 Grave authors fay, and witty poets fing, 
 That honeft wedlock is a glorious thing : 
 But depth of judgment moft in him appears, 
 Who wifely weds in his maturer years. 
 Then let him chufe a damfel young and fair, 25 
 To blefs his age, and bring a worthy heir j 
 To footh his cares, and free from noife and ftrife, 
 Conduct him gently to the verge of life. 
 Let fmful batchelors their woes deplore, 
 Full well they merit all they feel, and more : 30 
 Unaw'd by precepts, human or divine, 
 Like birds and beafts, prcmifcuoufly they join : 
 Nor know to make the prefent bleffing laft, 
 To hope the future, or efteem the paft : 
 But vainly boaft the joys they never try'd, 35 
 
 And find divulg'd the fecrets they would hide. 
 The marry 'd man may bear his yoke with eafe, 
 Secure at once himfelf and heav'n to pleafe j 
 And pafs his inofFenfive hours away, 
 In blifs all night, and innocence all day : 40 
 
 Tho' fortune change, his conftant fpoufe remains, 
 Augments his joys, or mitigates his pains.
 
 ;8 JANUARY AND MAY. 
 
 But what fo pure, which envious tongues will fpare f 
 Some wicked wits have libell'd all the fair. 
 With matchlefs impudence they flyle a wife 45 
 The dear-bought curfe, and lawful plague of life j 
 A bofom-ferpent, a domeftic evil, 
 A night-invafion, and a mid-day-devil. 
 Let not the wife thefe fland'rous words regard, 
 But curfe the bones of ev'ry lying bard. 50 
 
 All other goods by fortune's hand are giv'n, 
 A wife is the peculiar gift of heav'n. 
 Vain fortune's favours, never at a ftay, 
 Like empty fhadows, pafs, and glide away j 
 One folid comfort, our eternal wife, 55 
 
 Abundantly fupplies us all our life : 
 This blefling lafts (if thofe who try, fay true) 
 As long as heart can wifh and longer too. 
 
 Our grandfire Adam, ere of Eve poflefs'd, 
 Alone, and ev'n in Paradife unblefs'd, 60 
 
 With mournful looks the blifsful fcenes furvey'd, 
 And wander'd in the folitary fhade. 
 The Maker faw, took pity, and beftow'd 
 Woman, the laft, the beft referv'd of God. 
 
 A wife ! ah gentle deities, can he 65 
 
 That has a wife, e'er feel adverfity ? 
 Would men but follow what the fex advife, 
 All things would profper, all the world grow wife. 
 ' Twas by Rebecca's aid that Jacob won 
 His father's bldling from an elder fun : 70 

 
 JANUARY AND MAY. 79 
 
 Abufive Nabal ow'd his forfeit life 
 
 To the wife conduct of a prudent wife : 
 
 Heroic Judith, as old Hebrews fhow, 
 
 Preferv'd the Jews, and flew th' Aflyrian foe : 
 
 At Hefter's fuit, the perfecuting fword 75 
 
 Was fheath'd, and Ifrael liv'd to blefs the Lord. 
 
 Thefe weighty motives, January the fage 
 Maturely ponder'd in his riper age j 
 And charm'd with virtuous joys, and fober life, 
 Would try that chriftian comfort, call'd a wife. 80 
 His friends were fummon'd on a point fo nice, 
 To pafs their judgment, and to give advice ; 
 But fix'd before, and well refolv'd was he j 
 (As men that afk advice are wont to be.) 
 
 My friends, he cry'd (and caft a mournful look 85 
 Around the room, and figh'd before he fpoke :) 
 Beneath the weight of threefcore years I bend, 
 And, worn with cares, am haft'ning to my end ; 
 How I have liv'd, alas ! you know too well, 
 In worldly follies, which I blufli to tell ; go 
 
 But gracious heav'n has ope'd my eyes at laft, 
 With due regret I view my vices paft, 
 And, as the precept of the Church decrees, 
 Will take a wife, and live in holy eafe. 
 But fmce by counfel all things (hould be done, 95 
 And many heads are wifer ftill than one ; 
 Chufe you for me, who bell {hall be content 
 When my defire's approv'd by your confent.
 
 80 JANUARY AND MAY. 
 
 One caution yet is needful to be told, 
 To guide your choice j this wife muft not be old : io0 
 There goes a faying, and 'twas fhrewdly faid, 
 Old fifh at table, but young flefh in bed. 
 My foul abhors the taftelefs, dry embrace 
 Of a ftale virgin with a winter face : 
 In that cold feafon Love but treats his gueft io5 
 
 With bean-ftraw, and tough forage at the beft. 
 No crafty widows {hall approach my bed $ 
 Thofe ar& too wife for batchelors to wed ; 
 As fubtle clerks by many fchools are made, 
 Twice marry'd dames are miftrefles o' th' trade : no 
 But young and tender virgins, rul'd with eafe, 
 We form like wax, and mould them as we pleafe. 
 
 Conceive me, Sirs, nor take my fenfe amifs j 
 'Tis what concers my foul's eternal blifs j 
 Since if I fcund no pleafure in my fpoufe, 115 
 As flefh is frail, and who (God help me) knows r 
 Then mould I live in leud adultery, 
 And fink downright to Satan when I die. 
 Or were I curs'd with an unfruitful bed, 
 The righteous end were loft, for which I wed j 120 
 To raife up feed to blefs the pow'rs above, 
 And not for pleafure only, or for love. 
 Think not I doat ; 'tis time to take a wife, 
 When vig'rous blood forbids a charter life : 
 Thofe that are bleft with ftore of grace divine, 1 15 
 May live like faints, by heav'n's confent, and mine ;
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. Si 
 
 And fince I fpeak of wedlock, let me fay, 
 (As, thank my ftars in modeft truth I may) 
 My limbs are ative, ftill I'm found at heart, 
 And a new vigour fprings in ev'ry part. 130 
 
 Think not my virtue loft, tho' time has fhed 
 Thefe rev'rend honours on my hoary head : 
 Thus trees are crown'd with blofibms white as mow, 
 The vital fap then rifing from below. 
 Old as I am, my lufty limbs appear 135 
 
 Like winter greens, that flourim all the year. 
 Now, Sirs, you know to what I ftand inclin'd. 
 Let ev'ry friend with freedom fpeak his mind. 
 
 He faid i the reft in difFrent parts divide } 
 The knotty point was urg'd on either fide : 140 
 
 Marriage, the theme on which they all declaim'd, 
 Some prais'd with wit, and fome with reafon blam'd. 
 Till, what with proofs, objections, and replies, 
 Each wond'rous pofitive, and wond'rous wife, 
 There fell between his brothers a debate, 14.5 
 
 Placebo this was call'd, and Juftin that. 
 
 Firft to the Knight Placebo thus begun, 
 (Mild were his looks, and pleafmg was his tone) 
 Such prudence, Sir, in all your words appears, 
 As plainly proves, experience dwells with years ! 
 Yet you purfue fage Solomon's advice, I f I 
 
 To work by counfel when affairs are nice : 
 
 VOL. II. F
 
 82 JANUARY AND M A Y. 
 But, with the wifeman's leave, I muft proteft, 
 So may my foul arrive at eafe and reft 
 As ftill I hold your old advice the beft. 155 
 
 Sir, I have liv'd a Courtier all my days, 
 And ftudy'd men, their manners, and their ways j 
 And have obferv'd this ufeful maxim ftill, 
 To let my betters always have their will. 
 Nay, if my lord affirm'd that black was white, 160 
 My word was this, Your honour's in the right. 
 Th' affuming Wit, who deems himfelf fo wife, 
 As his miftaken patron to advife, 
 Let him not dare to vent his dang'rous thought, 
 A noble fool was never in a fault. 165 
 
 This, Sir, affe&s not you, whofe ev'ry word 
 Is weigh'd with judgment, and befits a Lord : 
 Your will is mine ; and is (I will maintain) 
 Pleafing to God, and fhould be fo to Man j 
 At leaft, your courage all the world muft praife, 170 
 Who dare to wed in your declining days. 
 Indulge the vigour of your mounting blood, 
 And let grey fools be indolently good. 
 Who, paft all pleafure, damn the joys of fenfc, 
 With rev'rend dulnefs and grave impotence. 175 
 
 Juftin, who filent fate, and heard the man, 
 Thus, with a Philofophic frown, began. 
 
 A heathen author, of the firft degree, 
 (Who, tho' not Faith, had Senfe as well as we)
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. 83 
 
 Bids us be certain our concerns to truft 180 
 
 To thofe of gen'rous principles, and juft. 
 
 The venture's greater, I'll prefume to fay, 
 
 To give your perfon, than your goods away : 
 
 And therefore, Sir, as you regard your reft, 
 
 Firft learn your Lady's qualities at leaft : 185 
 
 Whether (he's chafte or rampant, proud or civil ; 
 
 Meek as a faint, or haughty as the devil j 
 
 Whether an eafy, fond, familiar fool, 
 
 Or fuch a wit as no man e'er can rule. 
 
 'Tis true, perfection none muft hope to find 190 
 
 In all this world, much lefs in woman-kind j 
 
 But if her virtues prove the larger fhare, 
 
 Blefs the kind fates, and think your fortune rare. 
 
 Ah, gentle Sir, take warning of a friend, 
 
 Who knows too well the ftate you thus commend ; 
 
 And fpight of all his praifes muft declare, 196 
 
 All he can find is bondage, coft, and care. 
 
 Heav'n knows, I Ihed full many a private tear, 
 
 And figh in filence, left the world fhould hear : 
 
 While all my friends applaud my blifsful life, 20O 
 
 And fwear no mortal's happier in a wife ; 
 
 Demure and chafte as any veftal Nun, 
 
 The meekeft creature that beholds the fun ! 
 
 But, by th' immortal pow'rs, I feel the pain, 
 
 And he that fmarts has reafon to complain. 20* 
 
 F 2
 
 S 4 JANUARY AND MAY. 
 
 Do what you lift, for me ; you muft be fage, 
 
 And cautious fure ; for wifdom is in Age : 
 
 But at thefe years, to venture on the fair ! 
 
 By him, who made the ocean, earth, and air, 
 
 To pleafe a wife, when her occafions call, 2IO 
 
 Would bufy the moft vig'rous of us all. 
 
 And truft me, Sir, the chafteft you can chufe 
 
 Will aflc obfervance, and exal her dues. 
 
 If what I fpeak my noble Lord offend, 
 
 My tedious fermon here is at an end. 215 
 
 'Tis well, 'tis wond'rous well, the Knight replies, 
 Moft worthy kinfman, faith you're mighty wife ! 
 We, Sirs, are fools ; and muft refign the caufe 
 To heath'nifh authors, proverbs, and old faws. 
 He fpoke with fcorn, and turn'd another way : 220 
 What does my friend, my dear Placebo fay ? 
 
 I fay, quoth he, by heav'n the man's to blame, 
 To {lander wives, and wedlock's holy name. 
 
 At this the council rofe, without delay ; 
 Each, in his own opinion, went his way; 22,5 
 With full confent, that, all difputes appeas'd, 
 The knight mould marry, when and where hepleas'd. 
 
 Who now but January exults with joy ? 
 The charms of wedlock all his foul employ : 
 Each nymph by turns his wav'ring mind pofleft, 230 
 And reign'd the fhort-liv'd tyrant of his breaft ; 
 Whilft fancy pi&ur'd ev'ry lively part, 
 And each bright image wander'd g'er his heart.
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. 85 
 Thus, in fome public Forum fix'd on high, 
 A Mirrour fhows the figures moving by ; 235 
 
 Still one by one, in fwift fucceflion, pafs 
 The gliding fhadows o'er the polilh'd glafs, 
 This Lady's charms the niceft could not blame, 
 But vile fufpicions had afpers'd her fame ; 
 That was with fenfe, but not with virtue, blefl : 240 
 And one had grace, that wanted all the reft. 
 Thus doubting long what nymph he mould obey, 
 He fix'd at laft upon the youthful May. 
 Her faults he knew not, Love is always blind, 
 But ev'ry charm revolv'd within his mind : 24.5 
 Her tender age, "her form divinely fair, 
 Her eafy motion, her attractive air, 
 Her fweet behaviour, her enchanting face, 
 Her moving foftnefs, and majeftic grace. 
 
 Much in his prudence did our Knight rejoice, 250 
 And thought no mortal could difpute his choice : 
 Once more in hafte he fummon'd ev'ry friend, 
 And told them all, their pains were at an end. 
 Heav'n, that (faid he) infpir'd me firft to wed, 
 Provides a confort worthy of my bed : 255 
 
 Let none oppofe th' election, fmce on this 
 Depends my quiet, and my future blifs. 
 
 A dame there is, the darling of my eyes, 
 Young, beauteous, artlefs, innocent, and wife ;
 
 B6 JANUARY AND MAY. 
 
 Chafte, tho' not rich ; and tho' not nobly born, 260 
 
 Of honeft parents, and may ferve my turn. 
 
 Her will I wed, if gracious heav'n fo pleafe ; 
 
 To pafs my age in fandtity and eafe : 
 
 And thank the pow'rs, I may poflefs alone 
 
 The lovely prize, and lhare my blifs with none ! 265 
 
 If you, my friends, this virgin can procure, 
 
 My joys are full, my happinefs is fure. 
 
 One only doubt remains : Full oft I've heard, 
 By cafuifts grave, and deep divines averr'd ; 
 That 'tis too much for human race to know 270 
 The blifs of heav'n above, and earth below. 
 Now fliould the nuptial pleafures prove fo great, 
 To match the bleffings of the future ftate, 
 Thofe endlefs joys were ill exchang'd for thefe ; 
 Then clear this doubt, and fet my mind at eafe. 275 
 This Juftin heard, nor could his fpleen controul, 
 Touch'd to the quick, and tickled at the foul. 
 Sir Knight, he cry'd, if this be all you dread, 
 Heav'n put it paft your doubt, whene'er you wed ; 
 And to my fervent pray'rs fo far confent, 2 8 O 
 
 That ere the rites are o'er, you may repent f 
 Good heav'n, no doubt, the nuptial flatc approves 
 Since it chaftifes ftill what beft it loves. 
 
 Then be not, Sir, abandon'd to defpair ; -) 
 
 Seek, and perhaps you'll find among the fair, 285 
 One, that may do your bufinefs to a hair ; C
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. 87 
 Not ev'n in wifli, your happinefs delay, 
 But prove the fcourge to lam you on your way : 
 Then to the fkies your mounting foul (hall go, 
 Swift as an arrow foaring from the bow ! 290 
 
 Provided ftill, you moderate your joy, 
 Nor in your pleafures all your might employ, 
 Let reafon's rule your ftrong defires abate, 
 Nor pleafe too lavifhly your gentle mate. 
 Old wives there are, of judgment jrtoft acute, 295 
 Who folve thefe queftions beyond all difpute ; 
 Confult with thofe, and be of better chear : 
 Marry, do penance, and difmifs your fear. 
 
 So faid, they rofe, nor more the work delay'd ; 
 The match was offered, the propofals made. 300 
 The parents, you may think, would foon comply ; 
 The Old have int'reft ever in their eye. 
 Nor was it hard to move the Lady's mind ; 
 When fortune favours, ftill the Fair are kind. 
 
 I pafs each previous fettlement and deed, 305 
 Too long for me to write, or you to read ; 
 Nor will with quaint impertinence difplay 
 The pomp, the pageantry, the proud array. 
 The time approach'd, to Church the parties went, 
 At once with carnal and devout intent : 310 
 
 Forth came the Prieft, and bade th' obedient wife' 
 J^ike Sarah or Rebecca lead her life.
 
 88 JANUARY AND MAY, 
 Then pray'd the pow'rs the fruitful bed to blefs, 
 And made all fure enough with holinefs. 
 
 And now the palace-gates are open'd wide, 315") 
 The guefts appear in order, fide by fide, > 
 
 And plac'd in ftate, the bridegroom and the bride. 3 
 The breathing flute's foft notes are heard around, 
 And the fhrill trumpets mix their filver found ; 
 The vaulted roofs with echoing mufic ring, 3 20 
 
 Thefe touch the vocal flops, and thofe the trembling 
 
 firing. 
 
 Not thus Amphion tun'd the warbling lyre, 
 Nor Joab the founding clarion could infpire, 
 Nor fierce Theodamas, whofe fprightly ftrain 
 Could fwell the foul to rage, and fire the martial train. 
 
 Bacchus himfelf, the nuptial feaft to grace, 326 
 (So Poets fing) was prefent on the place : 
 And lovely Venus, Goddefs of delight, T 
 
 Shook high her flaming torch in open fight, > 
 
 And danc'd around, and fmil'd on evVy knight : 330 3 
 Pleas'd her beft fervant would his courage try, 
 No lefs in wedlock, than in liberty. 
 Full many an age old Hymen had not fpy'd 
 So kind a bridegroom, or fo bright a bride. 
 Yc bards ! renown 'd among the tuneful throng 335 
 For gentle lays, and joyous nuptial fong ; 
 Think not your fofteft numbers can difplay 
 The matchJefs glories of this blifsful day :
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. 89 
 The joys are fuch, as far tranfcend your rage, 
 When tender youth has wedded ftooping age. 340 
 
 The beauteous dame fate fmiling at the board, 
 And darted am'rous glances at her Lord. 
 Not Heller's felf, whofe charms the Hebrews fing, 
 E'er look'4 fo lovely on her Perfian King : 
 Bright as the rifing fun, in fummer's day, 345 
 
 And frefh and blooming as the month of May ! 
 The joyful Knight furvey'd her by his fide, 
 Nor env'd Paris with the Spartan bride : 
 Still as his mind revolv'd with vaft delight 
 Th' entrancing raptures of th' approaching night, 350 
 Reftlefs he fate, invoking ev'ry pow'r 
 To fpeed his blifs, and hafte the happy hour. 
 Mean time the vig'rous dancers beat the ground, 
 And fongs were fung, and flowing bowls went round. 
 With od'rous fpices they perfum'd the place, 355 
 And mirth and pleafure {hone in ev'ry face. 
 
 Damian alone, of all the menial train, 
 Sad in the midft of triumph, ftgh'd for pain ; 
 Damian alone, the Knight's obfequious fquire, 
 Confum'd at heart, and fed a fecret fire. 360 
 
 His lovely miftrefs all his foul poflefs'd, 
 He look'd, he languifh'd, and could take no reft : 
 His tafk perform'd, he fadly went his way, 
 Fell on his bed, and loath'd the light of day. 
 There let him lie ', till his relenting dame 365 
 
 Weep in her turn, and wafte in equal flame.
 
 9 o JANUARY AND MAY. 
 
 The weary fun, as learned Poets write, 
 Forfooth th' Horizon, and roll'd down the light ; 
 While glitt'ring ftars his abfent beams fupply, 
 And night's dark mantle overfpread the fky. 370 
 Then rofe the guefts ; and as the time required, 
 Each paid his thanks, and decently retir'd. 
 
 The foe once gone, our Knight prepar'd t' undrefsj 
 So keen he was, and eager to poflefs : 
 But firft thought fit th' affiftance to receive, 375 
 Which grave Phyficians fcruple not to give ; 
 Satyrion near, with hot Eringo's ftood, 
 Cantharides, to fire the lazy blood, 
 Whofe ufe old Bards defcribe in lufcious rhymes, 
 And Critics learn'd explain to modern times. 380 
 
 By this thefheets were fpread, the bride undrefs'd, 
 The room was fprinkled, and the bed was blefs'd. 
 What next enfu'd befeems not me to fay ; 
 *Tis fung, he labour'd till the dawning day, 
 Then brifkly fprung from bed, with heart fo light, 
 As all were nothing he had done by night; 386' 
 And fipp'd his cordial as he fate upright. 
 He kifs'd his balmy fpoufe with wanton play, 
 And feebly fung a lufty roundelay : 
 Then on the couch his weary limbs he caft j 390 
 For ev'ry labour muft have reft at laft. 
 
 But anxious cares the penfive Squire opprefs'd, 
 Sleep fled his eyes, and peace forfook his breaft j
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. 91 
 
 The raging flames that in his bofom dwell, 
 
 He wanted art to hide, and means to tell. 395 
 
 Yet hoping time th' occafion might betray, 
 
 Compos'd a fonnet to the lovely May ; 
 
 Which writ and folded with the niceft art, 
 
 He wrapp'd in filk, and laid upon his heart. 
 
 When now the fourth revolving day was run, 400 
 ('Twas June, and Cancer had receiv'd the Sun) 
 Forth from her chamber came the beauteous bride 5 
 The good old Knight mov'd flowly by her fide. 
 High mafs was fung ; they feafted in the hall ; 
 The fervants round flood ready at their call. 405 
 The Squire alone was abfent from the board, 
 And much his ficknefs griev'd his worthy lord, 
 Who pray'd his fpoufe, attended with her train, 
 To vifit Damian, and divert his pain. 
 Th' obliging dames obey'd with one confentj 410 
 They left the hall, and to his lodging went. 
 The female tribe furround him as he lay, 
 And clofe befide him fat the gentle May : 
 Where, as me try'd his pulfe, he foftly drew 
 A heaving figh, and caft a mournful view ! 415 
 Then gave his bill, and brib'4 the pow'rs divine, 
 With fecret vows, to favour his defign. 
 
 Who ftudies now but difcontented May ? 
 On her foft couch uneafily flie lay : 
 The lumpifh hufband fnor'd away the night, 420 
 coughs awak'd him near the morning light,
 
 $2 JANUARY AND MAY. 
 
 What then he did, I'll not prefume to tell, 
 
 Nor if me thought herfelf in heav'n or hell : 
 
 Honeft and dull in nuptial bed they lay, 
 
 Till the bell toll'd, and all arofe to pray. 425 
 
 Were it by forceful deftiny decreed, 
 Or did from chance, or nature's pow'r proceed ; 
 Or that fome ftar, with afpecl kind to love, 
 Shed its felecleft influence from above ; 
 Whatever was the caufe, the tender dame 430 
 Felt the firft motions of an infant flame ; 
 Receiv'd th' impreffions of the love-fick Squire, 
 And wafted in the foft infectious fire. 
 Ye fair, draw near, let May's example move 
 Your gentle minds to pity thofe who love ! 435 
 Had fome fierce tyrant in her ftead been found, 
 The poor adorer fure had hang'd, or drown'd : 
 But (he, your fex's mirrour, free from pride, 
 Was much too meek to prove a homicide. 
 
 But to my tale : Some fages have defin'd 440 
 Pleafure the fov'reign blifs of human-kind : 
 Our knight (who ftudy'd much, we may fuppofe) 
 Deriv'd his high philofophy from thofe ; 
 For, like a Prince, he bore the vaft expence 
 Of lavifh pomp, and proud magnificence : 445 
 
 His houfe was ftately, his retinue gay, 
 Large was his train, and gorgeous his array. 
 His fpacious garden made to yield to none, 
 Was compafs'd round with walls of folid ftone 5 
 
 2
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. 93 
 
 Priapus could not half defcribe the grace 450 
 
 (Tho' God of gardens) of this charming place : 
 A place to tire the rambling wits of France 
 In long defcriptions, and exceed Romance : 
 Enough to fhame the gentleft bard that fmgs 
 Of painted meadows, and of purling fprings. 455 
 Full in the centre of the flow'ry ground, O 
 
 A cryftal fountain fpread its ftreams around, > 
 
 The fruitful banks with verdant laurels crown'd : 3 
 About this fpring (if ancient fame fay true) 
 The dapper Elves their moon-light fports purfue : 
 Their pigmy king, and little fairy queen, 461 
 
 In circling dances gambol'd on the green, 
 While tuneful fprites a merry concert made, 
 And airy mufic warbled thro' the fhade,, 
 
 Hither the noble knight would oft repair, 46 g 
 (His fcene of pleafure, and peculiar care) 
 For this he held it dear, and always bore 
 The filver key that lock'd the garden door. 
 To this fweet place in fummer's fultry heat, 
 He us'd from noife and bus'nefs to retreat j 470 
 And here in dalliance fpend the live-long day, 
 Solus cum fola, with his fprightly May. 
 For whate'er work was undifcharg'd a-bed, 
 The duteous knight in this fair garden fped. 
 But ah ! what mortal lives of blifs fecure, 
 How ihort a fpace our worldly joys endure ? 
 O fortune, fair, like all thy treach'rous kind, 
 Eut faithleft ftill, and wav'ring as the wind !
 
 94 JANUARY AND MAY. 
 O painted monfter, form'd mankind to cheat, 
 With pleafmg poifon, and with foft deceit ! 480 
 This rich, this am'rous, venerable -knight, 
 Amidft his eafe, his folace, and delight, 
 Struck blind by thee, reiigns his days to grief, 
 And calls on death, the wretch's laft relief. 
 
 The rage of jealoufy then feiz'd his mind, 485 
 For much he fear'd the faith of woman-kind. 
 His wife not fuffer'd from his fide to ftray, "} 
 
 Was captive kept, he watch'd her night and day, > 
 Abridg'd her pleafures and confin'd her fway. ^ 
 Full oft in tears did haplefs May complain, 490 
 
 And figh'd full oft ; but figh'd and wept in vain ; 
 She look'd on Damian with a lover's eye ; 
 For oh, 'twas fixt j me muft pofTefs or die ! 
 Nor lefs impatience vex'd her am'rous Squire, 
 Wild with delay, and burning with defire. 495 
 
 Watch'd as me was, yet could he not refrain 
 By fecret writing to difclofe his pain : 
 The dame by figns reveal'd her kind intent, 
 Till both were confcious what each other meant. 
 
 Ah, gentle knight, what would thy eyes avail, 500 
 Tho* they could fee as far as mips can fail ? 
 'Tis better, fure, when blind, deceiv'd to be, 
 Than be deluded when a man can fee ! 
 
 Argus himfelf, fo cautious and fo wife, 
 Was over- watch'd, for all his hundred eyes : 505
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. 95 
 
 So many an honeft hufband may, 'tis known, 
 Who, wifely, never thinks the cafe his own. 
 
 The dame at laft, by diligence and care, 
 Procur'd the key her knight was wont to bear j 
 She took the wards in wax before the fire, 510 
 
 And gave th' impreffion to the trufty Squire. 
 By means of this, fome wonder fhall appear, 
 Which, in due place and feafon, you may hear. 
 
 Well fung fweet Ovid, in the days of yore, 
 What flight is that, which love will not explore ? 515 
 And Pyramus and Thifbe plainly fhow 
 The feats true lovers, when they lift, can do : 
 Tho' watch'd and captive, yet in fpite of all, 
 They found the art of kiffing thro' a wall. 
 
 But now no longer from our tale to ftray ; 520 ' 
 It happ'd, that once upon a fummer's day, 
 Our rev'rend Knight was urg'd to am'rous play : 
 He rais'd his fpoufe ere Matin-bell was rung, 
 And thus his morning canticle he fung. 
 
 Awake, my love, difclofe thy radiant eyes ; 525 
 Arife, my wife, my beauteous lady, rife ! 
 Hear how the doves with penfive notes complain, 
 And in foft murmurs tell the trees their pain ; 
 The winter's paft j the clouds and tempeft fly ; 
 The fun adorns the fields, and brightens all the fky. 
 Fair without fpot, whofe ev'ry charming part 531 
 My bofbm wounds, and captivates my heart j
 
 96 JANUARY AND MAY, 
 Come, and in mutual pleasures let's engage, 
 Joy of my life, and comfort of my age. 
 
 This heard, to Damian ftrait a fign {he made, 535 
 To hafte before ; the gentle Squire obey'd : 
 Secret, and undefcry'd he took his way, 
 And ambufh'd clofe behind an arbour lay. 
 
 It was not long ere January came, 
 And hand in hand with him his lovely dame ; 540 
 Blind as he was, not doubting all was fure, 
 He turn'd the key, and made the gate fccure. 
 
 Here let us walk, he faid, obferv'd by none, 
 Confcious of pleafures to the world unknown : 
 So may my foul have joy, as thou, my wife, 54.5 
 Art far the deareft folace of my life ; 
 And rather would I chufe, by heav'n above, 
 To die this inftant, than to lofe thy love. 
 Reflect what truth was in my paffion (hewn, 
 When unendow'd, I took thee for my own, '550' 
 And fought no treafure but thy heart alone. 
 Old as I am, and now depriv'd of fight, 
 Whilft thou art faithful to thy own true Knight, 
 Nor age, nor blindnefs rob me of delight. 
 Each other lofs with patience I can bear, 555 
 
 The lofs of thee is what I only fear. 
 
 Confider then, my lady and my wife, 
 The folid comforts of a virtuous life. 
 As firft, the love of Chrift himfelf you gain ; 
 Next, your own honour undefil'd maintain i 569
 
 JANUARY AND MAY, 97 
 And laftly, that which fure your mind muft move, 
 My whole eftate fhall gratify your love : 
 Make your own terms, and ere to-morrow's fun 
 Difplays his light, by heav'n it fhall be done. 
 I feal the contract with a holy kifs, 565 
 
 And will perform, by this my dear, and this 
 Have comfort, fpoufe, nor think thy Lord unkind ; 
 'Tis love, not jealoufy, that fires my mind. 
 For when thy charms my fober thoughts engage, 
 And join'd to them my own unequal age, 570 
 
 From thy dear fide I have no pow'r to part, 
 Such fecret tranfports warm my melting heart. 
 For who that once pofleft thofe heav'nly charms, 
 Could live one moment abfent from thy arms ? 574 
 
 He ceas'd, and May with modeft grace reply'd ; 
 (Weak was her voice, as while (he fpoke (he cry'd :) 
 Heav'n knows ! (with that a tender figh (he drew) 
 I have a foul to fave as well as you ; 
 And, what no lefs you to my charge commend, 
 My deareft honour, will to death defend, 580 
 
 To you in holy Church I gave my hand, 
 And join'd my heart in wedlock's facred band : 
 Yet after this, if you diftruft my care, 
 Then hear, my Lord, and witnefs what I fwear : 
 
 Firft may the yawning earth her bofom rend, 585 
 And let me hence to hell alive defcend j 
 VOL. II. G
 
 $3 JANUARY AND MAY, 
 
 Or die the death I dread no lefs than hell, 
 
 Sew'd in a fack, and plung'd into a well : 
 
 Ere I my fame by one lewd a& difgrace, 
 
 Or once renounce the honour of my race. 
 
 For know, Sir Knight, of gentle blood I came, 
 
 I loath a whore, and ftartle at the name. 
 
 But jealous men on their own crimes reflec"r, 
 
 And learn from thence their ladies to fufpect : 
 
 Elfe why thefe needlefs cautions, Sir, to me ? 595 
 
 Thefe doubts and fears of female conftancy ! 
 
 This chime ftill rings in ev'ry lady's ear, 
 
 The only ftrain a wife muft hope to hear. 
 
 Thus while me fj oke a fidelong glance me caft, 
 Where Damian kneeling, worfhip'd as me paft. 60*. 
 She faw him watch the motions of her eye, 
 And fmgled out a pear-tree planted nigh : 
 Twas charg'd with fruit that made a goodly fhowj 
 And hung with dangling pears was ev'ry bough. 
 Thither th'obfequious Squire addrefs'd his pace, 605 
 And climbing, in the fummit took his place ; 
 The Knight and Lady walk'd beneath in view, 
 Where let us leave them, and our tale purfue. 
 
 'Tvras now the feafon whan the glorious fun 
 His heav'nly progrefs thro' the Twins had run ; 610 
 And Jove, exalted, his mild influence yields, 
 To glad the glebe, and paint the flow'ry fields^ 
 Clear was the day, and Phcebus rifing bright, 
 Had ilrcak'd the azure firmament with light j 614
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. $ 
 He pierc'd the glitt'ring clouds with golden ftreams, 
 And warm'd the womb of earth with genial beams. 
 
 It fo befel, in that fair morning-tide, 
 The Fairies fported on the garden fide, 
 And in the midft their Monarch and his bride. 
 So featly tripp'd the light-foot ladies round, 620 
 The knights fo nimbly o'er the green fword bound, ( 
 That fcarce they bent the flow'rs, or touch'd thej 
 
 ground. 
 
 The dances ended, all the fairy tram 
 For pinks and daifies fearch'd the flow'ry plain ; 
 While on a bank reclin'd of rifing green, 62$ 
 
 Thus, with a frown a the King befpoke his Queen. 
 
 'Tis too apparent, argue what you can, 
 The treachery you women ufe to man : 
 A thoufand authors have this truth made out, 
 And fad experience leaves no room for doubt. 63$ 
 
 Heav'n reft thy fpirit, nobk Solomon, 
 A wifer monarch never faw the fun ; 
 All wealth, all honours, the fupreme degree 
 Of earthly blifs, was well beftow'd on thee ! 
 For fagely haft thou {aid : Of all mankind, 63 j 
 One only juft, and righteous, hope to find : 
 But mould ft thou fearch the fpacious world around, 
 Yet one good woman is not to be found. 
 
 Thus fays the King who knew your wickedaefc ; 
 The fon of Sirach teftifies no lefs. 
 
 G 2
 
 ioo JANUARY AND MAY. 
 
 So may fome wildfire on your bodies fall, 64+ 
 
 Or fome devouring plague confume you all ; 
 
 As well you view the leacher in the tree, 
 
 And well this honourable Knight you fee : 
 
 But fince he's blind and old (a helplefs cafe) 
 
 His Squire fhall cuckold him before your face. 645 
 
 Now by my own dread majefty I fwear, 
 And by this awful fceptre which I bear, 
 No impious wretch fhall 'fcape unpunifli'd long, 
 That in my prefence offers fuch a wrong. 
 I will this inftant undeceive the Knight, 65 
 
 And, in the very a& reftore his fight : 
 And fet the (trumpet here in open view, 
 A warning to thefe Ladies, and to you, 
 And all the faithlefs fex, for ever to be true. 
 
 And will you fo, reply'd the Queen, indeed ? 655 
 Now, by my mother's foul it is decreed, S- 
 
 She fhall not want an anfwer at her need. 3 
 
 For her, and for her daughters, I'll engage, 
 And all the fex in each fucceeding age ; 
 Art fhall be theirs to varnifh an offence, 660 
 
 And fortify their crimes with confidence. 
 Nay, were they taken in a ftricl: embrace, 
 Seen with both eyes, and pinion'd on the place j 
 All they fhall need is to proteft and fwear. 
 JJreathe a foft figh, and drop a tender tear ; 665 
 Till their wife hufbands, gull'd by arts like thefe. 
 Grow gentle, tractable, and tame as geefe.
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. tof 
 
 XVhat tho' this fland'rous JeW, this Solomon, 
 Call'd women fools, and knew full many a one ; 
 The wifer wits of later times declare, 670 
 
 How conftant, chafte, and virtuous women are : 
 Witnefs the martyrs, who refign'd their breath, 
 Serene in torments, unconcern'd in death ; 
 And witnefs next what Roman authors tell, 
 How Arria, Portia, and Lucretia fell. 675 
 
 But fince the facred leaves to all are free, 
 And men interpret texts, why fhould not we ? 
 By this no more was meant, than to have fliown, ~J 
 That fov'reign goodnefs dwells in him alone p 
 Who only Is, and is but only One. 680 j 
 
 But grant the worft ; (hall women then be weigh'd 
 By ev'ry word that Solomon has faid ? 
 What tho' this King (as ancient ftory boafts) 
 Built a fair temple to the Lord of Hofts ; 
 He ceas'd at laft his Maker to adore, 68$ 
 
 And did as much for Idol gods, or more* 
 Beware what lavifh praifes you confer 
 On a rank leacher and idolater ; 
 Whofe reign indulgent God, fays Holy Writ, 
 Did but for David's righteous fake permit j 69$ 
 David, the monarch after heav'n's own mind, 
 Who lov'd our fex, and honour'd all our kind. 
 
 Well, I'm a Woman, and as fuch muft fpeak ; 
 Silence would fwell me, and my heart would break.
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. 
 
 Know then, I fcorn your dull authorities, 69$ 
 
 Your idle wits, and all their learned lyes. 
 By heav'n, thofe authors are our fex's foes, 
 Whom, in our right, I muft and will oppofe. 
 
 Nay (quoth the King) dear Madam, be not wroth ! 
 I yield it up ; but fince I gave my oath, 700 
 
 That this much-injur'd Knight again fhould fee j 
 It muft be done I am a King, faid he, 
 And one, whofe faith has ever facred been. 
 
 And fo has mine (fhe faid) I am a Queen : 
 Her anfwer fhe fhall have, I undertake j 705 
 
 And thus an end of all difpute I make. 
 Try when you lift ; and you fhall find, my Lord, 
 It is not in our fex to break our word. 
 
 We leave them here in this heroic ftrain, 
 And to the Knight our ftory turns again ; 710 
 
 Who in the garden, with his lovely May, 
 Sung merrier than the Cuckow or the Jay : 
 This was his fong j " Oh kind and conftant be, 
 *' Conftant and kind I'll ever prove to thee." 
 
 Thus fmging as he went, at laft he drew 715 
 By eafy fteps, to where the Pear-tree grew : 
 The longing dame look'd up, and fpy'd her Love 
 Full fairly perch'd among the boughs above. 
 She flopp'd, and fighing ; Oh good Gods, fhe cry'd> 
 What pangs, what fudden fhoots diftend my fide ? 
 O for that tempting fruit, fo frefh, fo green j 72* 
 "Help for the love ef heav-'n's immortal Queea f
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. 103 
 
 Help, deareft lord, and fave at once the life 
 Of thy poor infant, and thy longing wife ! 
 
 Sore figh'd the Knight to hear his Lady's cry, 725 
 But could not climb, and had no fervant nigh : 
 Old as he was, and void of eye-fight too. 
 What could, alas ! a helplefs hufband do ? 
 And muft I languifti then, fhe faid, and die, 
 Yet view the lovely fruit before my eye ? 
 At leaft, kind Sir, for charity's fweet fake, 
 Vouchfafe the trunk between your arms to take j 
 Then from your back I might afcend the tree ; 
 Do you but ftoop, and leave the reft to me. 
 
 With all my foul, he thus reply'd again, 
 I'd fpend my deareft blood to eafe thy pain. 
 With that, his back againft the trunk he bent, 
 She feiz'd a twig, and up the tree fhe went. 
 
 Now prove your patience, gentle Ladies all ! 
 Nor let on me your heavy anger fall : 740 
 
 'Tis truth I tell, tho' not in phrafe refin'd ; 
 Tho' blunt my tale, yet honeft is my mind. 
 . What feats th lady in the tree might do, 
 I pafs, as gambols never known to youj 
 But fure it was a merrier fit, fhe fwore, 74.^ 
 
 Than in her life fhe ever felt before. 
 
 In that nice moment, lo ! the wond'ring knight 
 Look'd out, and ftood rcftor'd to fudden fight, 
 
 G 4
 
 104- JANUARY AND MAY. 
 
 Strait on the tree his eager eyes he bent, 
 
 As one whofe thoughts were on his fpoufe intent ; 
 
 But when he faw his bofom-wife fo drefs'd, 751 
 
 His rage was fuch as cannot be exprefs'd : 
 
 Not frantic mothers when their infants die, 
 
 With louder clamours rend the vaulted fky : 
 
 He cry'd, he roar'd, he ftorm'd, he tore his hair ; 
 
 Death ! hell ! and furies ! what doft thou do there ? 
 
 What ails my Lord ? the trembling dame reply'd ; 
 I thought your patience had been better try'd : 
 Is this your love, ungrateful and unkind, 
 This my reward for having cur'd the blind ? 760 
 Why was I taught to make my hufband fee, 
 By ftruggling with a Man upon a Tree ? 
 Did I for this the pow'r of magic prove ? 
 Unhappy wife, whofe crime was too much love ! 
 
 If this be ftruggling, by this holy light, 765 
 
 'Tis ftruggling with a vengeance (quoth the Knight) 
 So heav'n preferve the fight it has reftor'd, 
 As with thefe eyes I plainly faw thee whor'd ; 
 Whor'd by my flave perfidious wretch ! may hell 
 As furely feize thee, as I faw too well. 7 70 
 
 Guard me, good angels ! cry'd the gentle May, 
 Pray heav'n, this magic work the proper way ! 
 Alas, my love ! 'tis certain, could you fee, 
 You ne'er had us'd thefe killing words to me : 
 So help me, fates, as 'tis no perfect fight, 775 
 
 But fome faint glimm'ring of a doubtful light.
 
 JANUARY AND MAY. 105 
 
 What I have faid (quoth he) I muft maintain, 
 For by th' immortal pow'rs it fccm'd too plain 
 
 By all thofe pow'rs, fome frenzy feiz'd your mind, ~J 
 (Reply'd the dame) are thefe the thanks I find ? > 
 Wretch that I am, that e'er I was fo kind ! 7813 
 She faid ; a rifing figh exprefs'd her woe, 
 The ready tears apace began to flow, 
 And as they fell fhe wip'd from either eye 
 The drops (for women, when they lift, can cry.) 785 
 
 The Knight was touch'd j and in his looks appear'ti 
 Signs of remorfe, while thus his fpoufe he chear'd : 
 Madam, 'tis palt, and my ihort anger o'er ! 
 Come down, and vex your tender heart no more : 
 Excufe me, dear, if aught amifs was faid, 790 
 
 For, on my foul, amends fliall foon be made : 
 I^et my repentance your forgivenefs draw, 
 By heav'n, I fwore but what I thought I faw. 
 
 Ah my lov'd lord ! 'twas much unkind (fhe cry'd) 
 On bare fufpicion thus to treat your bride. 795 
 
 But till your fight's eftablifti'd, for a while, 
 Imperfect objects may your fenfe beguile. 
 Thus when from fleep we firft our eyes difplay, ^ 
 The balls are wounded with the piercing ray, S 
 And dufky vapours rife, and intercept the day. 800 3 
 So juft recov'ring from the fhades of night, 
 Your fwimming eyes are drunk with fudden light, 
 Strange phantoms dance around, and fkim beforej 
 your fight :
 
 o6 JANUARY AND MAV. 
 
 Then, Sir, be cautious, nor too rafhly deem ; 
 Heav'n knows how feldom things are what they feem ! 
 Confult you reafon, and you foon mall find 806 
 
 *Twas you were jealous, not your wife unkind : 
 Jove ne'er fpoke oracle more true than this, 
 None judge fo wrong as thofe who think amifs. 
 
 With that me leap'd into her Lord's embrace, 8 1* 
 With well-diflembled virtue in her face. 
 He hus;2:'d her clofe, and kifs'd her o'er and o'er, 
 
 C2O * 
 
 DHturb d with doubts and jealoufies no more : 
 Both, pleas'd and blefs'd, renew'd their mutual vows, 
 A fruitful wife, and a believing fpoufe. 815 
 
 Thus ends our tale, whofe moral next to make, 
 Let all wife hufbands hence example take ; 
 And pray, to crown the pleafure of their lives, 
 To be fo well deluded by their wives.
 
 f/t , '( >/'f '/////// ///>''< , I. 'r// /'< ft/i t- 
 
 V
 
 THE 
 
 WIFE of BATH. 
 
 HER 
 
 PROLOGUE. 
 
 - 
 
 FROM 
 
 CHAUCER. 
 
 BEHOLD the woes of matrimonial life, 
 And hear with rev'rence an experienc'd wife ! 
 To dear-bought wifdom give the credit due, 
 And think, for once, a woman tells you true, 
 In all thefe trials I have borne a part, $ 
 
 I was myfelf the fcourge that caas'd the fmart ; 
 For, fmce fifteen, in triumph have I led 
 Five captive hulbands from the church to bed. 
 
 Chrift faw a wedding once, the Scripture fays, 
 And faw but one, 'tis thought, in all his days j 10 
 Whence fome infer, whofe confcience is too nice, 
 No pious Chriftian ought to marry twice. 
 
 But let them read, and folve me, if they can, 
 The words addrefs'd to the Samaritan : 
 Fives times in lawful wedlock fhe was join'd j i<j 
 And fure the certain ftint was ne'er defin'd. 
 5
 
 io8 THE WIFE OF BATH. 
 
 Encreafe and multiply, was heav'n's command, 
 And that's a text I clearly underftand. 
 This too, " Let men their fires and mothers leave, 
 *' And to their dearer wives for ever cleave." 20 
 More wives than one by Solomon were try'd, 
 Or elfe the wifeft of mankind's bely'd. 
 I've had myfelf full many a merry fit ; 
 And truft in heav'n I may have many yet. 
 For when my tranfitory fpoufe, unkind, 
 Shall die, and leave his woeful wife behind, 
 I'll take the next good Chriftian I can find. 
 
 Paul, knowing one could never ferve our turn, 
 Declar'd 'twas better far to wed than burn. 
 There's danger in aflembling fire and tow j 3% 
 
 I grant 'em that, and what it means you know. 
 The fame Apoftle too has elfewhere own'd, 
 No precept for Virginity he found : 
 'Tis but a counfel and we women ftill 
 Take which we like, the counfel, or our will. 35 
 
 I envy not their blifs, if he or (he 
 Think fit to live in perfect chaftity ; 
 Pure let them be, and free from taint or vice $ 
 I, for a few flight fpots, am not fo nice. 
 Heav'n calls us different ways, on thefe biftows 40 
 One proper gift, another grants to thofe : 
 Not ev'ry man's oblig'd to fell his ftore, 
 And give up all his fubftance to the poor 5
 
 THE WIFE OF BATH. 109 
 Such as are perfect, may, I can't deny j 
 But, by your leaves, Divines, fo am not I. 45 
 
 Full many a Saint, fince firft the world began, 
 Liv'd an unfpotted maid, in fpite of man : 
 Let fuch (a God's name) with fine wheat be fed, 
 And let us honeft wives eat barley bread. 
 For me, I'll keep the poft affign'd by heav'n 50 
 And ufe the copious talent it has giv'n : 
 Let my good fpoufe pay tribute, do me right, 
 And keep an equal reck'ning ev'ry night : 
 His proper body is not his, but mine ; 
 For fo faid Paul, and Paul's a found divine. 55 
 
 Know then, of thofe five hufbands I have had, 
 Three were juft tolerable, two were bad. 
 The three were old, but rich and fond befide, 
 And toil'd moft piteoufly to pleafe their bride : 
 But fince their wealth (the beft they had) was mine, 
 The reft, without much lofs, I could refign. 61 
 Sure to be lov'd, I took no pains to pleafe, 
 Yet had more Pleafure far than they had Eafe. 
 
 Prefents flow'd in apace : with fhow'rs of gold, 
 They made their court, like Jupiter of old. . 6<$ 
 If I but fmil'd, a fudden youth they found, 
 And a new palfy feiz'd them when I frown'd. 
 
 Ye fov' reign wives ! give ear, and underfland, 
 Thus fhall ye fpeak, and exercife command. 
 For never was it giv'n to mortal man, 79 
 
 To lye fo boldly as we women can ;
 
 no THE WIFE OF BATH. 
 
 Forfwear the fact, tho' Teen with both his eyes, . . .;* 
 And call your maids to witnefs how he lies. 
 
 Hark, old Sir Paul ; ('twas thus I us'd to fay) 
 Whence is our neighbour's wife fo rich and gay ? 75 
 Treated, carefs'd, where'er (he's pleas'd to roam * 
 I fit in tatters, and immur'd at home. 
 Why to her houfe doft thou fo oft repair ? 
 Art thou fo am'rous ? and is fhe fo fair ? 
 If I but fee a coufm or a friend, 8<j 
 
 Lord ! how you fwell, and rage like any fiend ! 
 But you reel home, a drunken beaftly bear, 
 Then preach till midnight in your eafy chair ; 
 Cry, wives are falfe, and ev'ry woman evil, 
 And give up all that's female to the devil. 85 
 
 If poor (you fay) fhe drains her hufband's purfe ; 
 If rich, fhe keeps her prieft, or fomething worfe - y 
 If highly born, intolerably vain, 
 Vapours and pride by turn poflefs her brain, 
 Now gayly mad, now fourly fplenetic, 90 
 
 Freakifh when well, and fretful when {he's fick. 
 If fair, then chafte {he cannot long abide, 
 By preffing youth attack'd on ev'ry fide : 
 If foul, her wealth the lufly lover lures, 
 Or elfe her wit fome fool-gallant procures, 95 
 
 Or elfe {be dances with becoming grace, 
 Or {hape excufes the defers of face. 
 There fwims no ^oofe fo grey, but foon or late, 
 She finds fome honeft gander for her mate.
 
 THE WIFE OF BATH, in 
 
 Horfes (thou fay'ft) and afles, men may try, 100 
 And ring fufpe&ed veflels ere they buy : 
 But wives, a random choice, untry'd they take, 
 They dream in courtfhip, but in wedlock wake : 
 Then, not till then, the veil's remov'd away, 
 And all the woman glares in open day. 105 
 
 You tell me, to preferve your wife's good grace, 
 Your eyes muft always languifh on my face, 
 Your tongue with conftant flatt'ries feed my ear, 
 And tag each fentence with, My life ! my dear ! 
 If by ftrange chance, a modeft blufh be rais'd, no 
 Be fure my fine complexion muft be prais'd. 
 My garments always muft be new and gay, 
 And feafts ftill kept upon my wedding-day. 
 Then muft my nurfe be pleas'd, and fav'rite maid ; 
 And endlefs treats, and endlefs vifits paid, 115 
 
 To a long train of kindred, friends, allies ; 
 All this thou fay'ft, and all thou fay'ft are lyes. 
 
 On Jenkin too you caft a fquinting eye : 
 What ! can your 'prentice raife your jealoufy ? 
 Frefh are his ruddy cheeks, his forehead fair, 120 
 And like the burnifli'd gold his curling hair. 
 But clear thy wrinkled brow, and quit thy forrow, 
 j'd fcorn your 'prentice, ftiould you die to-morrow. 
 
 Why are thy chefts all lock'd ? on what defign ? 
 Are not thy worldly goods and treafure mine ? 125 
 Sir, I'm no fool : nor fhall you, by St. John, 
 Have goods and body to yourfelf alone.
 
 ii2 THE WIFE OF BATH. 
 
 One you fhall quit, in fpite of both your eyes 
 I heed not, I, the bolts, the locks, the fpies. 
 If you had wit, you'd fay, * Go where you will, 
 " Dear fpoufe, I credit not the tales they tell : i?j 
 *' Take all the freedoms of a married life ; 
 ** I know thee for a virtuous, faithful wife.'* 
 
 Lord ! when you have enough, what need you care 
 How merrily foever others fare ? 1 35 
 
 Tho" all the day I give and take delight, 
 Doubt not, fufficient will be left at night. 
 Tis but a juft and rational defire, 
 To light a taper at a neighbour's fire. 
 
 There's danger too, you think, in rich array, 140 
 And none can long be modeft that are gay : 
 The Cat, if you but finge her tabby fkin, 
 The chimney keeps, and fits content within j 
 But once grown fleek, will from her corner run, 
 Sport with her tail, and wanton in the fun j 145 
 She licks her fair round face, and frifks abroad, 
 To fhow her furr, and to be catterwaw'd. 
 
 Lo thus, my frienda, I wrought to my defires 
 Thefe three right ancient venerable fires. 
 I told 'em, Thus you fay, and thus you do, 150 
 And told 'em falie, but Jenkin fwore 'twas true. 
 I, like a dog, could bite as well as whine, 
 And firft complain'd, whene'er the guilt was mine. 
 I rax'd them oft with wenching and amours, 1 54. 
 VV lieu tueir weak lv-gs f^rcc dvagg'ti 'cm out of doori j
 
 THE WIFE OF BATH, nj 
 
 And fwore the rambles that I took by night, 
 Were all to fpy what damfels they bedight. 
 That colour brought me many hours of mirth ; 
 For all this wit is giv'n us from our birth. 
 Heav'n gave to woman the peculiar grace j6p 
 
 To fpin, to weep, and cully human race. 
 By this nice conduit, and this prudent courfe, 
 By murm'ring, wheedling, ftratagem, and force, 
 I ftill prevail'd, and would be in the right, 
 Or, curtain-ledlures made a reftlefs night. l6<f 
 
 If once my hufband's arm was o'er my fide, 
 What ! fo familiar with your fpoufe ? I cry'd : 
 I levied firft a tax upon his need ; 
 Then let him 'twas a nicety indeed ! 
 Let all mankind this certain maxim hold, j*rq 
 
 Marry who will, our fex is to be fold. 
 With empty hands no taflels you can lure, 
 But fulfom love for gain we can endure ; 
 For gold we love the impotent and old, 174. 
 
 And heave, and pant, and kifs, and cling, for gold. 
 Yet with embraces, curfes oft I mixt, 
 Then kifs'd again, and chid and rail'd betwixt. 
 Well, I may make my will in peace, and die, 
 For not one word in man's arrears am I. 
 To drop a dear difpute I was unable, 180 
 
 Ev'n tho' the Pope himfelf had fat at table, 
 VOL. II. H
 
 U4 THE WIFE OF BATH. 
 
 But when my point was gainM, then thus I fpoke, 
 " Billy, my dear, how fheepifhly you look ? 
 *' Approach, my fpoufe, and let me kifs thy cheek ; 
 " Thou moul'dft be always thus, refign'd and meek ! 
 , <e Of Job's great patience fince fo oft you preach, 
 " Well fhould you pra&ife, who fo well can teach. 
 " 'Tis difficult to do, I muft allow, 
 " But I, my deareft, will inftruft you how. 
 " Great is the blefling of a prudent wife, 190 
 
 " Who puts a period to domeftic ftrife. 
 " One of us two muft rule, and one obey ; p 
 
 " And fmce in man right reafon bears the fway, > 
 " Let that frail thing, weak woman, have her way . j 
 f c The wives of all my family have rul'd 10,5 
 
 * e Their tender hufbands, and their paffions cool'd. 
 " Fye, 'tis unmanly thus to figh and groan ; 
 What ! would you have me to yourfelf alone ? 
 " Why take me, Love ! take all and ev'ry part ! 
 " Here's your revenge ! you love it at your heart. 200 
 " Would I vouchfafe to fell what nature gave, 
 " You little think what cuftom I could have. 
 " But fee ! I'm all your own nay hold for fhame ! 
 * c What means my dear indeed you are to blame.'' 
 Thus with my firft three Lords I paft my life ; 205 
 A very woman, and a very wife. 
 What fums from thefe old fpoufes I could raife, 
 Procur'd young hufbands in my riper days.
 
 THE WIFE OF BATH, 115 
 
 Tho' paft my bloom, not yet decay'd was I, 
 
 Wanton and wild, and chatter'd like a pye. 210 
 
 In country dances ftill I bore the bell^ 
 
 And lung as fweet as ev'ning Philomel. 
 
 To clear my quail-pipe, and refrefh my foul, 
 
 Full oft I drain'd the fpicy nut-brown bowl ; 
 
 Richlufcious wines, that youthful blood improve, 215 
 
 And warm the fwelling veins to feats of love : 
 
 For 'tis as fure, as cold ingenders hail, 
 
 A liqu'rifti mouth muft have a lech'rous tail ; 
 
 Wine lets no lover unrewarded go, 
 
 As all true gamefters by experience know. 220 
 
 But oh, good Gods ! whene'er a thought I caft 
 
 On all the joys of youth and beauty paft, 
 
 To find in pleafures I have had my part, 
 
 Still warms me to the bottom of my heart. 
 
 This wicked world was once my dear delight j 225 
 
 Now all my conquefts, all my charms good night ! 
 
 The flour confum'd, the beft that now I can, 
 
 Is e'en to make my market of the bran. 
 
 My fourth dear fpoufe was not exceeding true ; 
 He kept, 'twas thought, a private mifs or two : 230 
 But all that fcore I paid as how ? you'll fay, 
 Not with my body, in a filthy way : 
 But I fo drefs'd, and danc'd, and drank, and din'd ; 
 And view'd a friend, with eyes fo very kind, 
 
 ii 2
 
 ii6 THE WIFE OF BATH. 
 
 As flung his heart, and made his marrow fry, 
 
 With burning rage, and frantick jealoufy. 
 
 His fou], I hope, enjoys eternal glory, 
 
 For here on earth I was his purgatory. 
 
 Oft, when his fhoe the moft feverely wrung, 
 
 He put on carelefs airs, and fat and fung. 240 
 
 How fore I gall'd him, only heav'n could know, 
 
 And he that felt, and I that caus'd the woe. 
 
 He dy'd, when laft from pilgrimage I came, 
 
 With other gofiips, from Jerufalem ; 
 
 And now lies buried underneath a Rood, 245 
 
 Fair to be feen, and rear'd of honeft weod. 
 
 A tomb indeed, with fewer fculptures grac'd, 
 
 Than that Maufclus' pious widow plac'd, 
 
 Or where infhrin'd the great Darius lay j 
 
 But coft on graves is merely thrown away. 250 
 
 The pit fill'd up, with turf we cover' d o'er ; 
 
 So blefs the good man's foul, I fay no more. 
 
 Now for my fifth lov'd Lord, the laft and beft ; 
 (Kind heav'n afford him everlafting reft) 
 Full hearty was his love, and I can mew, 25-5 
 
 The tokens on my ribs in black and blue ; 
 Yet, with a knack, my heart he could have won, 
 While, yet the fmart was mooting in the bone. 
 How quaint an appetite in women reigns ! 
 Free gifts we fcorn, and love what cofts us pains ; 26c 
 Let men avoid us, and on them we leap ; 
 A glutted market makes provifion cheap. 
 
 5
 
 THE WIFE OF BATH. 
 
 In pure good will I took this jovial fpark, 
 Of Oxford he, a moft egregious clerk. 
 He boarded with a widow in the town, 265 
 
 A trufty goflip, one dame Alifon. 
 Full well the fecrets of my foul flie knew, 
 Better than e'er our parifli Prieft could do. 
 To her I told whatever could befall : 
 Had but my hufband pifs'd againft a wall, 270 
 
 Or done a thing that might have coft his life, 
 She and my niece and one more worthy wife, 
 Had known it all : what moft he would conceal, 
 To thefe I made no fcruple to reveal. 
 Oft has he blufh'd from ear to ear for fliame, 275 
 That e'er he told a fecret to his dame. 
 
 It fo befel, in holy time of Lent* 
 That oft a day I to this goffip went ; 
 (My hufband, thank my ftars, was out of town) 
 From houfe to houfe we rambled up and down, 280 
 This clerk, myfelf, and my good neighbour Alfe, 
 To fee, be feen, to tell, and gather tales, 
 Vifits to ev'ry Church we daily paid, 
 And march'd in ev'ry holy Mafquerade, 
 The Stations duly, and the Vigils kept ; 285 
 
 Not much we fafted, but fcarce ever flept. 
 At Sermons too I (hone in fcarlet gay. 
 The wafting moth ne'er fpoil'd my beft array 
 The caufe was this, I wore it ev'ry day. 
 
 H 3
 
 lit} THE WIFE OF BATH. 
 
 'Twas when frefh May her early bloflbms yields, 
 
 This Clerk and I were walking in the fields. 291 
 
 We grew fo intimate, I can't tell how, 
 
 I pawn'd my honour, and engag'd my vow, 
 
 If e'er I laid my hufband in his urn, 
 
 That he, and only he, Ihould ferve my turn. 295 
 
 We frrait {truck hands, the bargin was agreed j 
 
 I ftill have fhifts againft a time of need : 
 
 The moufe that always trufts to one poor hole, 
 
 Can never be a moufe of any foul. 
 
 I vow r d, I fcarce could fleep fincc firft I knew him, 
 And durft be fworn he had bewitch'd me to him ; 
 If ,e'er I flept, I dream'd of him alone, 
 And dreams foretel, as learned men have mown. 
 All this I faid j but dreams, Sirs, I had none : 
 I follow'd but my crafty Crony's lore, 305 
 
 Who bid me tell this lye and twenty more. 
 
 Thus day by day, and month by month we pail ; 
 It pleas'd the Lord to take my fpoufe at laft. 
 I tore my gown, I foil'd my locks with duft, 
 And beat my breafts, as wretched widows muft. 310 
 Before my face my handkerchief I fpread, 
 To hide the flood of tears I did not fhed. 
 The good man's coffin to the Church was born ; 
 Around, the neighbours, and my clerk too, mourn. 
 But as he march'd, good Gods ! he fhow'd a pair 315 
 Of legs and feet, fo clean, fo ftrong, fo fair !
 
 THE WIFE OF BATH. 119 
 Of twenty winters age he feem'd to be ; 
 I (to fay truth) was twenty more than he j 
 But vig'rous ftill, a lively buxom dame ; 
 And had a wond'rous gift to quench a flame. 320 
 A Conj'rer once, that deeply could divine, 
 Aflur'd me, Mars in Taurus was my fign. 
 As the ftars order'd, fuch my life has been : 
 Alas, alas, that ever love was fin ! 
 Fair Venus gave me fire, and fprightly grace, 325 
 And Mars aflurance, and a dauntlefs face. 
 By virtue of this pow'rful conftellation, 
 I follow'd always my own inclination. 
 
 . But to my tale : A month fcarce pafs'd away, 
 With dance and fong we kept the nuptial day. 330 
 All I poflefs'd I gave to his command, 
 My goods and chattels, money, houfe, and land : 
 But oft repented, and repent it ftill ; 
 He prov'd a rebel to my fov'reign will : 
 Nay once by heav'n he ftruck me on the face ; 335 
 Hear but the fact, and judge yourfelves the cafel 
 
 Stubborn as any Lionefs was I ; 
 And knew full wejl to raife my voice on high j 
 As true a rambler as I was before, 
 And would be fo, in fpite of all he fwore. '340 
 He, againft this right fagely would advife, 
 And old examples fet before my eyes, 
 
 H 4
 
 i20 THE WIFE OF BATH. 
 
 Tell how the Roman matrons led their life, 
 
 Of Gracchus' mother, and Duilius' wife ; 
 
 And chofe the fermon, as befeem'd his wit, 345 
 
 With fome grav r e fentence out of Holy Writ. 
 
 Oft would he fay, who builds his houfe on fands, 
 
 Pricks his blind horfe acrofs the fallow lands, 
 
 Or let his wife abroad with pilgrims roam, 
 
 Deferves a fool's-cap and long ears at home. 350 
 
 All this avail'd not ; for whoe'er he be 
 
 That tells my faults, I hate him mortally : 
 
 And fo do numbers more, I'll boldly fay, 
 
 Men, women, clergy, regular, and lay. 
 
 My fpoufe who was, you know, to learning bred.) 
 A certain treatife oft at ev'ning read, 356 
 
 Where divers Authors (whom the dev'l confound 
 For all their lyes) were in one volume bound. 
 Valerius, whole ; and of St. Jerome, part ; 
 Chryfippus and Tertullian, Ovid's Art, 260 
 
 Solomon's proverbs, Elo'ifa's love: ; 
 And many more than fure the Church approves. 
 More legends were there here, of wicked wives, 
 Than good, in all the Bible and Saints-lives. 
 Who drew the Lion vanquifli'd ? 'Twas a Man. 365 
 But could we women write as fcholars can, 
 Men (hould {land mark'd with far more vvickcdnefs 
 Than all the fons of Adam could redrefs. 
 Love feltlcm haunts the breaft where learning lies, 
 And Venuii fets eie Mercury can rife. 370
 
 THE WIFE OF BATH. 121 
 
 Thofe play the fcholars who can't play the men, 
 And ufe that weapon which they have, their pen ; 
 When old, and paft the relifh of delight, 
 Then down they fit, and in their dotage write, 
 That not one woman keeps her marriage vow. 375 
 (This by the way, but to my purpofe now.) 
 
 It chanc'd my hufband, on a winter's night, 
 Read in this book, aloud, with ftrange delight, 
 How the firft female (as the Scriptures fhow) 
 Brought her own fpoufe and all his race to woe. 38 
 How Samfon fell ; and he whom Dejanire 
 Wrap'd in th' envenom'd fhirt, and fet on fire. 
 How curs'd Eryphile her lord betray'd, 
 And the dire ambum Clytaemneftra laid. 
 But what moft pleas'd him was the Cretan dame, 
 And hufband-bull oh monftrous ! fie for fliame ! 
 
 He had by heart, the whole detail of woe 
 Xantippe made her good man undergo ; 
 How oft me fcolded in a day, he knew, 
 How many pifs-pots on the fage fhe threw ; 390 
 Who took it patiently, and wip'd his head ; 
 Rain follows thunder, that was all he faid. 
 
 He read, how Arius to his friend complain'd, 
 A fatal Tree was growing in his land, 
 On which three wives fucceffively had twin'd 39$ 
 A fliding noofe, and waver'd in the wind. 
 Where grows this plant (reply'd the friend) oh where ? 
 For better fruit did never orchard bear.
 
 j22 THE WIFE OF BATH, 
 
 Give me fome flip of this moft bli&ful tree, 
 
 And in my garden planted fhall it be. 400 
 
 Then how two wives their lord's destruction prove 
 Thro' hatred one, and one thro' too much love ; 
 That for her hufband mix'd a pois'nous draught, 
 And this for luft an atn'rous philtre bought : 
 The nimble juice foon feiz'd his giddy head, 405 
 Frantic at night, and in the morning dead. , 
 
 How fome with fwords their fleeping lords have flain^ 
 And fome have hammer'd nails into their brain, 
 And fome have drench'd them with a deadly potion > 
 All this he read, and read with great devotion. 410 
 
 Long time I heard, and fwell'd, and blufh'd, and 
 
 frown'd j 
 
 But when no end of thefe vile tales I found, 
 When ftill he read, and laugh'd, and read a^ain, 
 And half the night was thus confum'd in vain ; 
 Provok'd to vengeance, three large leaves I tore 415 
 And with one buffet fell'd him on the floor. 
 With that my hufband in a fury rofe. 
 And down he fettled me with hearty blows. 
 I groan'd, and lay extended on my fide ; 
 Oh ! thou haft flain me for my wealth (I cry'd) 420 
 Yet I forgive thee take my laft embrace 
 He wept, kind foul ! and ftoop'd to kifs my face j 
 I took him fuch a box as turn'd him blue, 
 Then figh'd and cry'd, Adieu, my dear, adieu !
 
 123 
 
 425 
 
 I condefcended to be pleas'd at laft. 
 
 Soon as he faid, My miftrefs and my wife, 
 Do what you lift, the term of all your life : 
 I took to heart the merits of the caufe, 
 And ftood content to rule by wholefome laws j 430 
 Receiv'd the reins of abfolute command, O 
 
 With all the government of houfe and land, V 
 And empire o'er his tongue, and o'er his hand, j 
 As for the volume that revil'd the dames, 
 Twas torn to fragments, and condemn'd to flames, 435 
 
 Now heav'n on all my hufbands gone,, beftow 
 Pleafures above, for tortures felt below : 
 That reft they wilh'd for, grant them in the grave, 
 And blefs thofe fouls my conduct help'd to fave !
 
 THEBAISof STATIUS. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 OEDIPUS King of Thebes having by miflake 
 flain his father Laius, and marry'd his mother Jo- 
 cafta ; put out his own eyes, and refign'd the realm to his 
 fons, Eteocles and Polynices. Being neglefted by them, 
 he makes his prayer to the Fury Tifiphone, to fow debate 
 betwixt the brothers. They agree at laft to reign fmgly, 
 each a year by turns, and the firfl lot is obtained by Eteo- 
 cles. Jupiter, in a council of the Gods, declares his refo- 
 lution of punifhing the Thebans, and Argives alfo, by 
 means of a marriage betwixt Polynices and one of the 
 daughters of Adraftus King of Argos. Juno oppofes, but 
 to no effect ; and Mercury is fent on a meflage to the 
 fhades, to the ghoft of Laius, who is to appear to Eteocles, 
 and provoke him to break the agreement. Polynices in 
 the mean time departs from Thebes by night, is overtaken, 
 by a florin, and arrives at Argos , where he meets with 
 Tydeus, who had fled from Calydon, having kill'd his bro- 
 ther. Adraftus entertains them, having receiv'd an oracle 
 from Apollo that his daughters mould be marry'd to a 
 Boar and a Lion, which he underftands to be meant of 
 thefe flrangejs by whom the hides of thofe beafts were 
 worn, and who a/riv'd at the time when he kept an annual 
 feaft in honour of that God. The rife of this iojemnity he 
 relates to his guefts, the loves of Phcebus and Pfarhathe, 
 and the flory of Chorcebus. He enquires, and is made 
 acquainted with their defcent and quality : The facrifice is 
 renew'd, and the book concludes with a Hymn to Apollo, 
 The TranJJator hopes he needs nat apokgixe for his Ckcia; 
 of this piece, vcbict) 'was made alt/iojl in his Childhood. Bkt 
 finding the Vcrfivn better than he expefled, he gave it Jotr.9 
 Gqrretticn a few years
 
 P. S T A T I I 
 THEBAIDOS 
 
 LIBER PRIMUS. 
 
 FRaternas acies, alternaque regna profanis 
 Deccrtata odiis, fontefque evolvere Thebas, 
 Pierius menti calor incidit. Unde jubetis 
 Ire, Deae ? gentifne canam primordia dirae ? 
 Sidonios raptus, et inexorabile pa&um 
 Legis Agenoreae ? fcrutantemque aequora Cadmum ? 
 Longa retro feries, trepidum fi Martis operti 
 Agricolam infandis condentem praelia fulcis 10 
 
 Expediam, penitufque fequar quo carmine muris 
 Juflerit Amphion Tyrios accedere montes : 
 Unde graves irae cognata in moenia Baccho, 
 Quod faevae Junonis opus ; cui fumpferit arcum 
 Infelix Athamas, cur non expaverit ingens 
 Ionium, focio cafura Palaemone mater.
 
 IT H E B A I S 
 S T A T I U S. 
 
 BOOK the FIRST. 
 
 Tranflated in the Year M DCC in. 
 
 FRaternal rage, the guilty Thebes alarms, 
 Th' alternate reign deftroy'd by impious arms, 
 Demand our fong ; a facred fury fires 
 My ravifh'd breaft, and all the Mufe infpires- 
 O Goddefs, fay, fhall I deduce my rhimes 5 
 
 From the dire nation in its early times, 
 Europa's rape, Agenor's ftern decree, 
 - And Cadmus fearching round the fpacious fea ? 
 How with the ferpent's teeth he fow'd the foil, 
 And reap'd an Iron harveft of his toil ? 10 
 
 Or how from joining ftones the city fprung, 
 While to his harp divine Amphion fung ? 
 Or {hall I Juno's hate to Thebes refound, 
 Whofe fatal rage th' unhappy Monarch found f 
 The fire againft the fon his arrows drew, 15 
 
 O'er the wide fields the furious mother flew, 
 And while her arms a fecond hope contain, 
 Sprung from the rocks and plung'd into the main. 
 
 i
 
 128 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I. 
 
 Atque adeo jam nunc gemitus, et profpera Cadmi 
 PraeteriiiTe finam : limes mihi carminis efto 20 
 
 Oedipodae confufa domus : quando Itala nortdum 
 Signa, nee Ar6toos aufim fperare triumphos, 
 Bifque jugo Rhenum, bis adadtum legibus lihrum, 
 Et conjurato deje&os vertice Dacos : 
 Aut defenfa prius vix pubefcentibus annis 
 Bella Jovis. Tuque o Latiae decus addite famae, 
 Quern nova maturi fubeuntem exorfa parentis 
 Aeternum fibi Roma cupit : licet ar&ior omnes 
 Limes agat ftellas, et te plaga lucida coeli 
 Plei'adum, Boreaeque, et hiulci fulminis expers 35 
 Soilicitet ; licet ignipedum frenator equorum 
 Ipfe tuis alte radiantem crinibus arcum 
 Imprimat, aut magni cedat tibi Jupiter aequa 
 Parte poli ; maneas hominum contentus habenis, 
 Undarum terraeque potens, et fidera dones.
 
 Book I. THEBAIS OF STATIUS, 129 
 
 But wave whate'er to Cadmus may belong, 
 And fix, O Mufe ! the barrier of thy fong 2O 
 
 At Oedipus from his difafters trace 
 The long confufions of his guilty race : 
 Nor yet attempt to ftretch thy bolder wing, 
 And mighty Caefar's conqu'ring eagles fing ; 
 How twice he tam'd proud liter's rapid flood, 25 
 While Dacian mountains ftream'd with barb'roua 
 
 blood; 
 
 Twice taught the Rhine beneath his laws to roll, 
 And ftretch'd his empire to the frozen Pole, 
 Or long before, with early valour ftrove, 
 In youthful arms t'afiert the caufe of Jove. 30 
 
 And Thou, great Heir of all thy father's fame, 
 Encreafe of glory to the Latian name ! 
 Oh blefs thy Rome with an eternal reign, 
 Nor let defiring worlds entreat in vain* 
 What tho' the ftars contract their heav'nly fpace, 35 
 And croud their (hining ranks to yield thee place ; 
 Tho' all the fkies, ambitious of thy fway, 
 Confpire to court thee from our world away ; 
 Tho' Phcebus longs to mix his rays with thinej 
 And in thy glories more ferenely fhine j 40 
 
 Tho' Jove himfelf no lefs content would be, 
 To part his throne and fhare his heav'n with thee ; 
 Yet ftay, great Cadar ! and vouchfafe to reign 
 O'er the wide earth, and o'er the wat'ry main ; 
 VOL. II. I
 
 130 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I. 
 
 Tempus erit, cum Pierio tua fortior oeftro 
 Fa&a canam : nunc tendo chelyn. fatis arma referre 
 Aonia, et geminis fceptrum exitiale tyrannis, 
 Nee furiis poft fata modum, flammafque rebelles 
 Seditione rogi, tumulifque carentia regum 
 Funera, et egeftas alternis mortibus urbes ; 55 
 
 Caerula cum rubuit Lernaeo fanguine Dirce, 
 Et Thetis arentes afluetum ftringere ripas, 
 Horruit ingenti venientem Ifmenon acervo. 
 
 Quern prius heroum Clio dabis ? immodicum irae 
 Tydea ? laurigeri fubitos an vatis hiatus ? 
 Urget et hoftilem propellens caedibus amnem 
 Turbidus Hippomedon, plorandaque bella protervi 
 Arcades, atque alio Capaneus horrore canendus. 
 
 Impia jam merita fcrutatus Jumina dextra 
 Merferat aeterna damnatum node pudorem 
 Oedipodes, longaque animam fub morte tenebat.. 

 
 BookL THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 131 
 Refign to Jove his empire of the fkies, 45 
 
 And people heav'n with Roman deities. 
 
 The time will come, when a diviner flame 
 Shall warm my breaft to fing of Caefar's fame : 
 Mean while permit, that my preluding Mufe 
 In Theban wars an humbler theme may chufe : 50 
 Of furious hate furviving death, (he fmgs, 
 A fatal throne to two contending Kings, 
 And fun'ral flames, that parting wide in air 
 Exprefs the difcord of the fouls they bear : 
 Of towns difpeopled, and the wand'ring ghofts 55 
 Of Kings unbury'd in the wafted coafts ; 
 When Dirce's fountain blum'd with Grecian blood, 
 And Thetis, near ICrnenos' fwelling flood, 
 With dread beheld the rolling furges fweep, 
 In heaps, his flaughter'd fons into the deep. 60 
 
 What Hero, Clio ! wilt thou firft relate ? 
 The rage of Tydeus, or the Prophet's fate ? 
 Or how with hills of flain on ev'ry fide, 
 Hippomedon repell'd the hoftile tyde ? 
 Or how the Youth with ev'ry grace adorn'd, 6^ 
 Untimely fell, to be for ever mourn'd ? 
 Then to fierce Capaneus thy verfe extend, 
 And fing with horror his prodigious end. 
 
 Now wretched Oedipus, depriv'd of fight, 
 Led a long death in everlafting night -, ro 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VE R. 65. Or how the Tcutfj] Parthenopxus. P, 
 
 I 2
 
 132 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. I. 
 
 Ilium indulgentem tenebris, imaeque receflu 
 Sedis, inafpelos coclo radiifque penates 
 Servantem, tamen afliduis circumvolat alls 
 Saeva dies animi, fcelerumque in pe&ore Dirae. 75 
 Tune vacuos orbes, crudum ac miferabile vitae 
 Supplicium, oftentat coelo manibufque cruentis 
 Pulfat inane folum, faevaque ita voce precatur : 80 
 Dl fontes animas, anguftaque Tartara poenis 
 Qui regitis, tuque umbrifero Styx livida fundo, 
 Quam video, multumque mihi confueta vocari 
 Annue Tifiphone, perverfaque vota fecunda, 85 
 Si bene quid merui, ii me de matre cadentem 
 Fovifti gremio, et trajecftum vulnere plantas 
 Firmafti ; fi ftagna peti Cyrrhaea bicorni ^ 90 
 
 Interfufa jugo, poflem cum degere falfo 
 Contentus Polybo, trifidaeque in Phocidos arce 
 Longaevum implicui regem, fecuique trementis 
 Ora fenis, dum quaero patrem : fi Sphinges iniquae 
 Callidus ambages, te praemonftrante, refolvi , 
 Si dulces Furias, et lainentabile matris 95
 
 Book I. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 133 
 
 But while he dwells where not a cheerful ray. 
 Can pierce the darknefs, and abhors the day j 
 The clear reflecting mind prefents his fin 
 In frightful views, and makes it day within j 
 Returning thoughts in endlefs circles roll, 75 
 
 And thoufand furies haunt his guilty foul, 
 The wretch then lifted to th' unpitying Ikies 
 Thofe empty orbs from whence he tore his eyes, 
 Whofe wounds, yet frefh, with bloody hands he 
 
 ftrook, 
 While from his bread thefe dreadful accents broke. 
 
 Ye Gods, that o'er the gloomy regions reign, 
 Where guilty fpirits feel eternal pain j 
 Thou, fable Styx ! whofe livid ftreams are roll'd 
 Thro' dreary coafts, which I tho' blind behold : 
 Tifiphone, that oft haft heard my pray'r, 85 
 
 Affift, if Oedipus deferve thy care ! 
 If you receiv'd me from Jocafta's womb, 
 And nurs'd the hope of mifchiefs yet to come : 
 If leaving Polybus, I took my way 
 To Cyrrha's temple, on that fatal day, go 
 
 When by the fon the trembling father dy'd, 
 Where the three roads the Phocian fields divide : 
 If I the Sphynx's riddles durft explain, 
 Taught by thyfelf to win the promis'd reign : 
 If wretched I, by baleful Furies led, 95 
 
 With monftrous mixture ftain'd my mother's bed,
 
 134 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. I. 
 
 Connubium gavifus ini j no&emque nefandam 
 Saepe tuli, natofque tibi (fcis ipfa) paravi j 
 Mox avidus poenae digitis caedentibus ultro 
 Incubui, miferaque oculos in matre reliqui : 100 
 
 Exaudi, fi digna precor, quaeque ipfa furenti 
 Subjiceres : orbum vifu regnifque parentenv 
 Non regere, aut ditis mocrentem fledlere adorti 
 Quos genui, quocunque toro : quin ecce fuperbi 
 (Pro dolor) et noftro jamdudum funere reges, 
 Infultant tenebris, gemitufque odere paternos. 
 Hifne etiam funeftus ego ? et videt ifta deorum 
 Ignavus genitor ? tu faltem debita vindex no 
 
 Hue ades, et totos in poenam ordire nepotes. 
 Indue quod madidum tabo diadema cruentis 
 Unguibus arripui, votifque inftin&a paternis 
 I media in fratres, generis confortia ferro 115 
 
 Difliliant : da Tartarei regina barathri 
 Quod cupiam vidifle nefas. nee tarda fequetur 
 Mens juvenum ; modo digna veni, mea pignora nofces.
 
 Book I. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 135 
 
 For hell and thee begot an impious brood, 
 And with full luft thofe horrid joys renew'd ; 
 Then felf-condemn'd to fhades of endlefs night, 
 Forc'd from thefe orbs the bleeding balls of fight ; 100 
 Oh hear, and aid the vengeance I require, 
 If worthy thee, and what thou might' ft infpire ! 
 My fons their old, unhappy fire defpife, 
 Spoil'd of his kingdom, and depriv'd of eyes ; 
 Guidelefs I wander, unregarded mourn, 105 
 
 While thefe exalt their fceptres o'er my urn j 
 Thefe fons, ye Gods ! who with flagitious pride, 
 Infult my darknefs, and my groans deride. 
 Art thou a Father, unregarding Jove ! 
 And fleeps thy thunder in the realms above ? no 
 Thou Fury, then, /bme Lifting curfe entail, 
 Which o'er their children's children fhall prevail : 
 Place on their heads that crown diftain'd with gore, 
 Which thefe dire hands from my flain father tore j 
 Go, and a parent's heavy curfes bear ; 
 Break all the bonds of nature, and prepare 
 Their kindred fouls to mutual hate and war. 
 Give them to dare, what I might wifti to fee 
 Blind as I am, fome glorious villany ! 
 Soon {halt thou find, If thou but arm their hands, 
 Their ready guilt preventing thy commands : 
 Could'ft thou fome great, proportion'd mifchief frame, 
 They'd prove the father from whofe loins they came
 
 136 S TAT 1 1 THE B A ID OS LIB. I. 
 
 Talia ja<tanti crudelis Diva feveros 
 Advertit vultus ; inamoenum forte fedebat 
 Cocyton juxta, refolutaque vertice crines, 
 Lambere fulfureas permiferat anguibus undas. 
 Ilicet igne Jovis, lapfifque citatior aftris 
 Triftibus exiliit ripis. difcedit inane 130 
 
 Vulgus, et occurfus dominae pavet ; ilia per umbras 
 Et caligantes animarum examine campos, 
 Taenariae limen petit irremeable portae. 
 Senfit adefle dies ; piceo nox obvia nimbo 135 
 
 Lucentes turbavit equos. procul arduus Atlas 
 Horruit, et dubia coelum cervjce remifit. 
 Arripit extemplo Maleae de vajle refurger^s 140 
 
 Notum iter ad Thebas : neqije enim velocior ullas 
 Itque reditque vias, cognataque Tartara mavult. 
 Centum iili flantes umbrabant ora ceraftae, 
 Turba minor did capitis : fedet intus abactis 
 Ferrea lux oculis ; qualis per nubila Phoebes
 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 137 
 
 The fury heard, while on Cocytus' brink 
 Her fnakes unty'd, fulphureous waters drink ; 125 
 But at the fummons, roll'd her eyes around, 
 And fnatch'd the ftarting ferpents from the ground. 
 Not half fo fwiftly moots along in air, 
 The gliding light'ning, or defcending ftar. 
 Thro* crouds of airy {hades me wing'd her flight, 1 30 
 And dark dominions of the filent night ; 
 Swift as fhe pafs'd, the flitting ghoft withdrew, 
 And the pale fpe&res trembled at her view : 
 To th' iron gates of Tenarus fhe flies, 
 There fpreads her dufky pinions to the fkies. 135 
 The day beheld, and fick'ning at the fight, 
 Veil'd her fair glories in the (hades of nio;ht. 
 
 O D * ^ 
 
 Affrighted Atlas, on the diftant more, 
 
 Trembled, and (hook the heav'ns and gods he bore. 
 
 J^ow from beneath Malea's airy height 140 
 
 Aloft fhe fprung, and fteer'd to Thebes her flight } 
 
 With eager fpeed the well-known journey took, 
 
 Nor here regrets the hell me late forfook. 
 
 A hundred fnakes her gloomy vifage made, 
 
 A hundred ferpents guard her horrid head, 145 
 
 In her funk eye-balls dreadful meteors glow : 
 
 Such rays from Phoebe's blood/ circle flow, 
 
 When lab'ring with ftrong charms, fhe (hoots from 
 
 high 
 ^ fiery gleam, and reddens all the fky. 
 
 3
 
 138 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I. 
 Atracea rubct arte labor : fuffufa veneno 150 
 
 Tenditur, ac fanie glifcit cutis : igneus atro 
 Ore vapor, quo longa fitis, morbique famefque, 
 Et populis mors una venit. riget horrida tergo 
 Palla, et coerulei redeunt in pedore nodi. 
 Atropos hos, atque ipfa novat Proferpina cultus. 155 
 Turn geminas quatit ilia manus : haec igne rogali 
 Fulgurat, haec vivo manus aera verberat hydro. 
 Ut ftetit, abrupta qua plurimus arce Cithaeron 
 Occurrit coelo, fera fibila crine virenti 
 Congeminat, fignum terris, unde omnis Achaci 
 Ora maris late, Pelopeiaque regna refultant. 
 Audiit et medius cocli Parnaflus, et afper 165 
 
 Eurotas, dubiamque jugo fragor impulit Oeten 
 In latus, et geminis vix flu&ibus obftitit Ifthmos. 
 Jpfa fuum genitrix, curvo delphine vagantem 
 Arripuit frenis, gremioque Palaemona preflit. 
 Atque ea Cadmaeo praeceps ubi limine priraum 170 
 Confthit, afiuetaque infecit nube penates, 
 Protinus attoniti fratrum fub pe&ore motus, 
 Gentilefque animos fubiit furor, aegraque laetis 
 Invidia, atque parens odii metus : inde regendi 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VER. 173.] Gentilifque animos ful/it furor, feems a.bet- 
 ter readiag than Gentilefque. P. 

 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 139 
 
 Blood ftain'd her cheeks, and from her mouth there 
 came 1 50 
 
 Blue {learning poifons, and length of flame. 
 From ev'ry blaft of her contagious breath, 
 Famine and drought proceed, and plagues, and death. 
 A robe obfcene was o'er her fhoulders thrown, 
 A drefs by Fates and Furies worn alone. 155 
 
 She tofs'd her meagre arms j her better hand 
 In waving circles whirl'd a fun'ral brand : 
 A ferpent from her left was feen to rear 
 His flaming creft, and lam the yielding air. 
 
 But when the Fury took her ftand on high, 160 
 Where vaft Cithaeron's top falutes the fky, 
 A hifs from all the fnaky tire went round : 
 The dreadful fignal all the rocks rebound, 
 And thro' th' Achaian cities fend the found. 
 GEte, with high ParnafTus, heard the voice j 
 Eurota's banks remurmur'd to the noife ; 
 Again Leucothoe (hook at thefe alarms, 
 And prefs'd Palaemon clofer in her arms. 
 Headlong from thence the glowing Fury fprings, 
 And o'er the Theban palace fpreads her wings, 170 
 Once more invades the guilty dome, and fhrouds 
 Its bright pavilions in a veil of clouds. 
 Strait with the rage of all their race poflefs'd, ' "} 
 Stung to the foul, the brothers ftart from reft, S. 
 And all their Furies wake within their breaft, 1 75 \
 
 I 4 o STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. I. 
 
 Saevus amor : ruptaeque vices, jurifque fecundi 
 Ambitus impatiens, et fummo dulcius unum 
 Stare loco, fociifque comes difcordia regnis. 180 
 Sic ubi dele&os per torva armenta juvencos 
 Agricola impofito fociare affeclat aratro : 
 Uli indignantes quis nondum vomere multo 
 Ardua nodofos cervix defcendit in armos, 
 In diverfa trahunt, atque aequis vincula laxant 
 Viribus, ct vario confundunt limite fulcos : 
 Haud fecus indomitos praeceps difcordia fratres 190 
 Afperat. alterni placuit fub legibus anni 
 Exilio mutare ducem. fie jure maligno 
 Fortunarn tranfire jubent, ut fceptra tenentem 
 Foedere praecipiti femper novus angeret heres. 
 Haec inter fratres pietas erat : haec mora pugnae 
 Sola, nee in regem perduratura fecundum. 
 
 Et nondum craflb laquearia fulva metallo, 20C 
 Montibus aut alte Graiis effulta nifebant 
 Atria, congeftos fatis explicitura clientes.
 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 141 
 
 Their tortur'd minds repining Envy tears, 
 
 And Hate, engender^ by fufpicious fears ; 
 
 And facred Thirft of fway ; and all the ties 
 
 Of Nature broke j and royal Perjuries : 
 
 And impotent Defire to reign alone, 183 
 
 That fcorns the dull reverfion of a throne ; 
 
 Each would the fweets of fov'reign rule devour, 
 
 While Difcord waits upon divided pow'r. 
 
 As ftubborn fleers by brawny plowmen broke, 
 And join'd reluctant to the galling yoke, 185 
 
 Alike difdain with fervile necks to bear 
 Th' unwonted weight, or drag the crooked fhare, 
 But rend the reins, and bound a different way, 
 And all the furrows in confufion lay : 
 .Such was the difcord of the royal pair, 
 Whom fury drove precipitate to war. 
 In vain the chiefs contriv'd a fpecious way, 
 To govern Thebes by their alternate fway : 
 Unjuft decree ! while this enjoys the ftate, 
 That mourns in exile his unequal fate, 
 And the fliort monarch of a hafty year 
 Forfees with anguifh his returning heir. 
 Thus did the league their impious arms refrain, 
 But fcarce fubfifted to the fecofcd reign. 
 
 Yet then, no proud afpiring piles were rais'd, 20O 
 No fretted roofs with polifti'd metals blaz'd ; 
 No labour'd columns in long order plac'd, 
 No Grecian ftone the pompous arches grac'd ;
 
 142 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.L 
 
 Non impacatis regum advigilantia fomnis 205 
 
 Pila, nee alterna ferri ftatione gementes 
 Excubiae, nee cura mero committere gemmas, 
 Atque aurum violare cibis. fed nuda poteftas 
 Armavit fratres : pugna eft de paupere regno. 
 Dumque uter anguftae fquallentia jugera Dirces 
 Verteret, aut Tyrii folio non altus ovaret 
 Exulis, ambigitur j periit jus, fafque, bonumque, 
 Et vitae, mortifque pudor. Quo tenditis iras, aic 
 Ah miferi ? quid fi peteretur crimine tanto 
 Limes uterque poll, quern Sol emiflus Eoo 
 Cardine, quern porta vergens profpeftat Ibera ? 
 Quafque procul terras obliquo fidere tangit 
 Avius, aut Borea gelidas, madidive tepentes 215 
 Igne Noti ? quid fi Tyriae Phrygiaeve fub unum 
 Conve&entur opS ? loca dira, arcefque nefandae 
 Suffecere odio, furtifque immanibus emptum eft 
 Oedipodae fedifle loco. Jam forte carebat 
 Dilatus Polynicis honos. quis turn tibi, faeve, 220 
 Quis fuit ille dies ? vacua cum folus in aula 
 Refpiceres jus omne tuum, cuntofque minores, 
 Et nufquam par ftare caput ? Jam murmura ferpunt 
 Plebjs Echioniae, tacitumque a principe vulgus 
 Diffidet, et (qui mos populis) venturus amatur. 
 Atque aliquis, cui mens humili laefifle veneno
 
 Book I. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 143 
 
 No nightly bands in glitt'ring armour wait 
 Before the fleeplefs Tyrant's guarded gate ; 
 No chargers then were wrought in burnifh'd 
 Nor filver vafes took the forming mold ; 
 Nor gems on bowls embofs'd were feen to fhine, 
 Blaze on the brims, and fparkle in the wine 
 Say, wretched rivals ! what provokes your rage ? 210 
 Say, to what end your impious arms engage ? 
 Not all bright Phcebus views in early morn, 
 Or when his ev'ning beams the weft adorn, 
 When the fouth glows with his meridian ray, 
 And the cold north receives a fainter day ; 2 15 
 
 For crimes like thefe, not all thofe realms fuffice, 
 Were all thofe realms the guilty victor's prize I 
 
 But fortune now (the lots of empire thrown) 
 Decrees to proud Eteocles the crown : 
 What joys, oh Tyrant ! fwell'd thy foul that day, 220 
 When all were flaves thou could'fl around furvey, 
 Pleas'd to behold unbounded pow'r thy own, 
 And fmgly fill a fear'd and envy'd throne ! 
 
 But the vile Vulgar, ever difcontent, 
 Their growing fears in fecret murmurs vent ; 225 
 Still prone to change, tho' ftill the flaves of ftate, 
 And fure the monarch whom they have, to hate ; 
 New lords they madly make, then tamely bear, 
 And foftly curfe the Tyrants whom they fear. 
 And one of thofe who groan beneath the fway 230 
 Of Kings impos'd, and grudgingly cfoey,
 
 144 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. I, 
 
 Summa, nee impofitos unquam cervice volenti 
 Ferre duces : Hancne Ogygiis, ait, afpera rebus 235 
 Fata tulere vicem ? toties mutare timendos, 
 Alternoque jugo dubitantia fubdere colla ! 
 Partiti verfant populorum fata, manuque 
 Fortunam fecere levem. fempern* viciflim 
 Exulibus fervire dabor ? tibi, fumme deorum, 
 Terrarumque fator, fociis hanc addere mentem. 
 Sedit ? an inde vetus Thebis extenditur omen, 
 Ex quo Sidonii nequicquam blanda juvenci 
 Pondera, Carpathio juffus fale quaerere Cadmus 
 Exul Hyanteos invenit regna per agros : 250 
 
 Fraternafque acies foetae telluris hiatu, 
 Augurium, feros dimifit adufque nepotes ? 
 Cernis ut eretum torva fub fronte m'metur 
 Saevior affurgens dempto conforte poteftas ?- 
 Quas gerit ore minas ? quanto premit omnia faftu ? 
 Hicne unquam privatus erit ? tamen ille precanti
 
 Book I. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 145 
 (Whom envy to the great and vulgar fpight 
 Whith fcandal arm'dj th* ignoble mind's delight,) 
 Exclaim'd O Thebes ! for thee what fates remain, 
 What woes attend this inaufpicious reign ? 
 Muft we, alas ! our doubtful necks prepare, 
 Each haughty matter's yoke by turns to bear, 
 And ftill to change whom chansfd we ftill muft fear ? 
 
 O O 
 
 Thefe now controul a wretched people's fate, 
 Thefe can divide, and thefe reverfe the ftate : 240 
 Ev'n Fortune rules no more : O fervile land, 
 Where exil'd tyrants ftill by turns command ! 
 Thou fire of Gods and men, imperial Jove ! 
 Is this th' eternal doom decreed above ? 
 On thy own offspring haft thou fix'd this fate, 245 
 From the firft birth of our unhappy ftate ; 
 When baniuYd Cadmus, wand'ring o'er the main, 
 For loft Europa fearch'd the world in vain, 
 And fated in Boeotian fields to found 
 A rifing empire on a foreign ground, 250 
 
 Firft rais'd our walls on that ill-orrten'd plain, 
 Where earth-born brothers were by brothers flain ? 
 What lofty looks th' unrival'd monarch bears ! 
 How all the tyrant in his face appears ! 
 What fullen fury clouds his fcornful brow ! 255 
 
 Gods ! how his eyes with threatning ardour glow ! 
 Can this imperious lord forget to reign, 
 Quit all his ftate, defcend, and ferve again ? 
 VOL, II. K
 
 146 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I. 
 
 Mitis, et affatu bonus et patientior aequi. 260 
 
 Quid mirum ? non folus erat. nos vilis in omnes 
 Prompta manus cafus domino cuicunque parati. 
 Qualiter hinc gelidus Boreas, hinc nubifer Eurus 265 
 Vela trahunt, nutat mediae fortuna carinae. 
 Heu dubio fufpenfa metu, tolerandaque nullis 
 Afpera fors populis ! hie imperat : ille minatur. 270 
 
 At Jovis imperiis rapidi fuper atria coeli 
 Ledlus concilio divum convenerat ordo 
 Jnteriore polo, fpatiis hinc omnia juxta, 
 Primaeque occiduaeque domus, efFufa fub omni 
 Terra atque unda die. mediis fefe arduus infert 280 
 Ipfe deis, placido quatiens tamen omnia vultu, 
 Stellantique locat folio, nee protinus aufi 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VER. 281.] placido quatiens tamen omnia vu/tu t is the 
 common reading ; I believe it mould be nutit, with re- 
 ference to the word quatiens. P.
 
 Book I. THEfeAlS OF STATIUS. 147 
 
 Yet, who, before, more popularly bow'd ? 
 
 Who more propitious to the fuppliant croud ? 260 
 
 Patient of right, familiar in the throne ? 
 
 What wonder then ? he was not then alone. 
 
 O wretched we, a vile, fubmiflive train, 
 
 Fortune's tame fools, and flaves in ev'ry reign ! 
 
 As when two winds with rival force contend, 265 
 This way and that, the wav'ring fails they bend, 
 While freezing Boreas^ and black Eurus blow, 
 Now here, now there, the reeling veflel throw : 
 Thus on each fide, alas ! our tott'ring ftate 
 Feels all the fury of refiftlefs fate, 270 
 
 And doubtful ftill, and ftill diftrated ftands, 
 While that Prince threatens, and while this commands. 
 
 And now th' almighty Father of the Gods 
 Convenes a council in the bleft abodes : 
 Far in the bright recefies of the fkies, 275 
 
 High o'er the rolling heav'ns, a manfion lies, 
 Whence, far below, the Gods at once furvey ^ 
 The realms cfrifing and declining day, V> 
 
 And all th' extended fpace of earth, and air, and fea. 3 
 Full in the midft, and on a (tarry Throne, 280 
 
 The Majefly of heav'n fuperior fhone ; 
 Serene he look'd, and gave an aweful nod, 
 And all the trembling fpheres confefs'd the God. 
 At Jove's aflent, the deities around 
 In folemn (late the confiftory crown'd. 215 
 
 K 2
 
 14-8 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I. 
 
 Coelicolae, veniam donee pater ipfe fedendi 
 Tranquilla jubet efle manu. mox turba vagorum 
 Semideum, et fummis cognati nubibus Amnes, 
 Et comprefTa metu fervantes murmura Venti, 
 Aurea tedla replent j mixta convexa deorum 
 Majeftate tremunt : radiant majore fereno 
 Culmina, et arcano florentes lumine poftes. 295 
 Poftquam jufla quies, filuitque exterritus orbis, 
 Incipit ex alto : (grave et immutabile fan&is 
 Pondus adeii verbis, et vocem fata fequuntur) 
 Terrarum deli&a, nee exuperabile diris 
 Tngenium mortale queror. quonam ufque nocentum 
 Exigar in poenas ? taedet faevire corufco 
 Fulmine ; jampridem Cyclopum operofa fatifcunt 
 Brachia, et Aeoliis defunt incudibus ignes. 
 Atque ideo tuleram falfo redlore folutos 
 Solis equos, coelumque rotis errantibus uri, 
 Et Phactontaea mundum fquallere favilla.
 
 Book I. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 149 
 
 Next a long order of inferior pow'rs 
 
 Afcend from hills, and plains, and fhady bow'rs ; 
 
 Thofe from whofe urns the rolling rivers flow ; 
 
 And thofe that give the wandering winds to blow : 
 
 Here all their rage, and ev'n their murmurs ceafe,29o 
 
 And facred filence reigns, and univerfal peace. 
 
 A fhining fynod of majeftic Gods 
 
 Gilds with new luftre the divine abodes ; 
 
 Heav'n feems improv'd with a fuperior ray, 
 
 And the bright arch refle&s a double day. 295 
 
 The Monarch then his folemn filence broke, 
 
 The full creation liften'd while he fpoke, 
 
 Each facred accent bears eternal weight, 
 
 iJ * 
 
 And each irrevocable word is Fate. 
 
 How long fhall man the wrath of heav'n defy, 300 
 And force unwilling vengeance from the iky ! 
 Oh race confed'rate into crimes, that prove 
 Triumphant o'er th' eluded rage of Jove ! 
 This weary'd arm can fcarce the bolt fuftain, 
 And unregarded thunder rolls in vain : 305 
 
 Th' o'erlabour'd Cyclops from his talk retires j 
 Th' ^olian forge exhaufted of its fires. 
 For this, I fuffer'd Phoebus' fteeds to ftray, 
 And the mad ruler to mifguide the day. 
 When the wide earth to heaps of afhes turn'd, 310 
 And heav'n itfelf the wand'rin chariot burn'd.
 
 *50 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. I. 
 
 Nil adlum eft : neque tu valida quod cufpide late 
 Ire per illicitum pelago, germane, dedifti. 
 Nunc geminas punire domos, quis fanguinis autor 
 Ipfe ego, defcendo. Perfeos alter in Argos 
 Scinditur, Aonias fluit hie ab origine Thebas. 
 Mens cunclis impofta manet. Quis funera Cadmi 
 Nefciat ? et toties excitam a fedibus imis 321 
 
 Eumenidum bellafle aciem ? mala gaudia matrum, 
 Errorefque feros nemorum, et reticenda deorum 
 Crimina ? vix lucis fpatio, vix,no6Hs aba&ae 325 
 Enumerare queam mores, gentemque profanam. 
 Scandere quin etiam thalamos hie impius haeres 
 Patris, et immeritae gremium inceftare,parentis 
 Appetiit, proprios monftro revolutus in ortus. 
 Hie tamen Superis aeterna piacula folvit, 
 Projecitque diem : nee jam amplius aethere noflro 
 Vefcitur: at nati (facinus fine more !) cadentes 335 
 Calcavere oculos. jam jam rata vota tulifti, 
 pire fenex j meruere tune, meruere tenebiae
 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 151 
 
 For this, my brother of the wat'ry reign 
 Releas'd th' impetuous flukes of the main : 
 But flames confurrfd, and billows rag'd in vain. 
 Two races now, ally'd to Jove, offend ; 315 
 
 To punifh thefe, fee Jove himfelf defccnd. 
 The Theban Kings their line from Cadmus trace, 
 From godlike Perfeus thofe of Argive race. 
 Unhappy Cadmus' fate who does not know, 
 And the long feries of fucceeding woe ? 320 
 
 How oft the Furies, from the deeps of night, 
 Arofe, and mix'd with men in mortal fight : 
 Th' exulting mother, ftain'd with filial blood j 
 The favage hunter and the haunted wood ? 
 The direful banquet why fhould I proclaim, 325 
 And crimes that grieve the trembling Gods to name ? 
 Ere I recount the fins of thefe profane, 
 The fun would fink into the weftern main, 
 And rifing gild the radiant eaft again. 
 Have we not feen (the blood of Laius fhed) 330 
 The murd'ring fon afcend his parent's bed, 
 Thro' violated nature force his way, 
 And ftain the facred womb where once he lay ? 
 Yet now in darknefs and defpair he groans, 
 And for the crimes of guilty fate atones j 335 
 
 His fons with fcorn their eyelefs father view, 
 Infult his wounds, and make them bleed anew. 
 
 K 4
 
 i 5 2 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I. 
 
 Ultorem fperare Jovcm. nova fontibus arma 
 Injiciam regnis, totumque a ftirpe revellam 340 
 Exitiale genus, belli mihi femina funto 
 Adraftus focer, et fuperis adjuncla finiftris 
 Connubia. Hanc etiam poenis inceflere gentem 
 Decretum : neque enim arcano de pe6tore fallax 
 Tantalus, et faevae periit injuria menfae. 
 
 Sic pater omnipotens. Aft illi faucia di&is, 
 Flammato veiTans inopinum corde dolorem, 
 Talia Juno refert : Mene, o juftiflime divum, 
 Me bello certare jubes ? fcis Temper ut arccs 350 
 Cyclopum, magnique Phoroneos inclyta fama 
 Sceptra viris, opibufque juvem ; licet improbus illic 
 Cuflodem Phariae, fomno letoque juvencae 355 
 Extinguas, feptis et turribus aureus intres. 
 Mentitis ignofco toris : illam odimus urbem, 
 Quam vuku confeflus adis : ubi confcia magni 360 
 Signa tori, tonitrus agis, et mea fulmina torques. 
 Facia luant Thebae ; cur hoAes eligis Argos ?
 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 153 
 
 Thy curfe, oh Oedipus, juft heav'n alarms, 
 And fets th* avenging thunderer in arms. 
 I from the root thy guilty race will tear, 340 
 
 And give the nations to the waftc of war. 
 Adraftus foon, with Gods averfe, fhall join 
 In dire alliance with the Theban line ; 
 Hence ftrife (hall rife, and mortal war fucceed ; 
 The guilty realms of Tantalus fhall bleed ; 345 
 
 Fix'd is their doom ; this all-remembring breaft 
 Yet harbours vengeance for the tyrant's feaft. 
 He faid ; and thus the Queen of heav'n return M ; 
 (With fudden Grief her lab'ring bofom burn'd) 
 Muft I, whofe cares Phoroneus' tow'rs defend, 350 
 Muft I, oh Jove, in bloody wars contend ? 
 Thou know'ft thofe regions my protection claim, 
 Glorious in arms, in riches, and in fame ; 
 Tho' there the fair ./Egyptian heifjr fed, 
 And there deluded Argus flept, and bled ; 35$ 
 
 Tho' there the brazen tow'r was florin' d of old, 
 When Jove dcfcended in almighty gold. 
 Yet I can pardon thofe obfcurer rapes, 
 Thofe bamful crimes difgub'd in borrow'd {napes ; 
 But Thebes, where fhining in celeftial charms 360 
 Thou cam'ft triumi hant to a mortal's arms, 
 When all my glories o'er her limbs were fpread, 
 And blazing light 'uings danc'd around her bed ; 
 Curs' d Thebes the vengeance it deferves, may prove 
 A.h why fhould Argos feel the rage of Jove ?
 
 154 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I. 
 
 Quin age, fi tanta eft thalami difcordia fanli, 
 Et Samon, et veteres armis exfcinde Mycenas. 
 Verte folo Sparten. cur ufquam fanguine fefto 
 Conjugis ara tuae, cumulo cur thuris Eoi 
 Laeta calet ? melius votis Mareotica fumat 
 Coptos, et aerifoni lugentia flumina Nili. 
 Quod fi prifca luunt autorum crimina gentes, 
 Subvenitque tuis fera haec fententia curis ; 380 
 
 Percenfere aevi fenium, quo tempore tandem 
 Terrarum furias abolere, et fecula retro 
 Emendare fat eft ? jamdudurn ab fedibus illis 
 Incipe, flu&ivaga qua praeterlabitur unda 385 
 
 Sicanos longe relegens Alpheus amores. 
 Arcades hie tua (nee pudor eft) delubra nefaftis 
 Impofuere locis : illic Mavortius axis 
 Oenomai, Geticoque pecus flabulare fub Aemo 
 Dignius : abruptis etiamnum inhumata procorum 
 Relliquiis trunca era rigent. tamcn hie tibi tempi! 
 Gratus honos. placet Ida nocens, mentitaque manes
 
 Book I. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 155 
 
 Yet fince thou wilt thy fifter-queen controul, 
 Since (till the luft of difcord fires thy foul, 
 Go, rafe my Samos, let Mycene fall, 
 And level with the dint the Spartan wall ; 
 No more let mortals Juno's pow'r invoke, 370 J 
 Her fanes no more with eaflern incenfe fmoke, > 
 Nor victims fink beneath the facred ftroke j X 
 
 But to your Ifis all my rites transfer, 
 Let altars blaze and temples fmoke for her ; 
 For her, thro' ./Egypt's fruitful clime renown'd, 375 
 Let weeping Nilus hear the timbrel found. 
 But if thou muft reform the ftubborn times, 
 Avenging on the fons the father's crimes, 
 And from the long records of diftant age 
 Derive incitements to renew thy rage ; 380 
 
 Say, from what period then has Jove defign'd 
 To date his vengeance ; to what bounds confin'd ? 
 Begin from thence, where firft Alpheus hides ~\. 
 His wand'ring ftream, and thro' the briny tides ^. 
 Unmix'd to his Sicilian river glides. 385 \ 
 
 Thy own Arcadians there the thunder claim, 
 Whofe impious rites difgrace thy mighty mime $ 
 Who raife thy temples where the chanot flood 
 Of fierce Oenomaus, defil'd with blood; 
 Where once his fteeds their favage banquet found, 
 And human bones yet whiten all the ground. 
 Say, can thofe honours pleafe j and can' ft thou love 
 Prefumptuous Crete that boa its the tomb of Jove ! 
 
 5
 
 j 5 6 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. I. 
 
 Creta tuos. me Tantaieis confifterc te&is, 
 Quae tandem invidia eft ? belli deile6te tumultus, 
 Et generis miferefce tui. font impia late 
 Regna tibi, melius generos paflura nocentes. 
 
 Finierat inifcens prccibus convicia Juno, 400 
 At non ille gravis, didHs, quanquam afpera, motus 
 Reddidit haec : Equidem baud rebar te mente fecunda 
 Laturam, quodcunque tuos (licet aequus) in Argos 
 Confulerem, neque me (detur fi copia) fallit 
 Multa fuper Thebis Bacchum, aufuramque Dionem 
 Dicere, fed noftri reverentia ponderis obftat. 
 Horrendos etenim latices, Stygia aequora fratris 
 Obteftor, manfurum et non revocabile verum, 
 Nil fore quo didis fledar. quare impiger ales 415 
 Portantes praecede Notos Cyllenia proles :
 
 Book!. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 157 
 
 And fhall not Tantalus's kingdoms (hare 
 Thy wife and fitter's tutelary care ? 395 
 
 Reverfe, O Jove, thy too fevere decree, 
 Nor doom to war a race deriv'd from thee ; 
 On impious realms and barb'rous Kings impofe 
 Thy plagues, and curfe 'em with iuch fons as thofe. 
 Thus, in reproach and pray'r, the Queen ex- 
 prefs'd 400 
 
 The rage and grief contending in her breaft ; 
 Unmov'd remain'd the ruler of the fky, 
 And from his throne return'd this ftern reply. 
 'Twas thus I deem'd thy haughty foul would bear 
 The dire, tho' juft, revenge which I prepare 405 
 Againft a nation thy peculiar care : 
 No lefs Dione might for Thebes contend, 
 Nor Bacchus lefs his native town defend, 
 Yet thefe in filence fee the fates fulfil 
 Their work, and rev'rence our fuperior will. 410 
 For by the black infernal Styx I fwear, 
 (That dreadful oath which binds the Thunderer) 
 'Tis fix'd } th' irrevocable doom of Jove ; 
 No force can bend me, no perfuafion move. 
 Hafte then, Cyllenius, thro' the liquid air; 415 
 Go mount the winds, and to the {hades repair j 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 VE R. 399. nvitbfuch Sons as theft,] Eteodes and Poly. 
 P.
 
 i 5 8 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. I, 
 
 Ae'ra per liquidum, regnifque illapfus opacis 
 Die patruo, Superas fenior fe tollat ad auras 
 Lai'us, extinlum nati quern vulnere, nondum 
 Ulterior Lethes accepit ripa profundi 42* 
 
 Lege Erebi : ferat haec diro mea jufla nepoti : 
 Germanum exilio fretum, Argolicifque tumentem 
 Hofpitiis, quod fponte cupit, procul impius aula 
 Arceat, alternum regni inficmtus honorem : 
 Hinc caufae irarum : certo reliqua ordine ducam. 
 
 Paret Atlantiades di&is genitoris, et inde 
 Summa pedum propere plantaribus illigat alis, 43* 
 Obnubitque comas, et temperat aftra, galero. 
 Turn dextrae virgam inferuit, qua pellere dulces 
 Aut fuadere iterum fomnos, qua nigra fubire 435 
 Tartara, et exangues animare afTuevarat umbras. 
 Defiluit ; tenuique cxceptus inhorruit aura. 
 Nee mora, fublimes raptim per inane volatus 44* 
 Carpit, et ingenti defignat nubila gyro. 
 
 Interea patriis olim vagus exul ab oris 
 Oedipodionides furto deferta pererrat
 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 
 
 Bid hell's black monarch my commands obey, 
 And give up Laius to the realms of day, 
 Whofe ghoft yet fliiv'ring on Cocytus' fand, 
 Expects its pafTage to the further ftrand : 42* 
 
 Let the pale fire revifit Thebes, and bear 
 Thefe pleafmg orders to the tyrant's ear ; 
 That, from his exil'd brother, fwell'd with pride 
 Of foreign forces, and his Argive bride, 
 Almighty Jove commands him to detain 425 
 
 The promis'd empire, and alternate reign : 
 Be this the caufe of more than mortal hate : 
 The reft, fucceeding times fhall ripen into Fate. 
 
 The God obeys, and to his feet applies 
 Thofe golden wings that cut the yielding ildes. 430 
 His ample hat his beamy locks o'erfpread, 
 And veil'd the ftarry glories of his head. 
 He feiz'd the wand that caufes flecp to fly, 
 Or, in foft {lumbers feals the wakeful eye ; 
 That drives the dead to dark Tartarean coafts, 
 Or back to life compels the wand' ring ghofts. 
 Thus, thro' the parting clouds, the fon of May 
 Wings on the whittling winds his rapid way ; 
 Now fmoothly fleers thro' air his equal flight, 
 Now fprings aloft, and tovv'rs th' ethereal height ; 440 
 Then wheeling down the fteep of heav'n he fiies, 
 And draws a radiant circle o'er the ikies. 
 
 Mean time the banifh'd Polynices roves 
 (His Thebes abandon'd; thro' th' Aonian groves,
 
 160 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.!. 
 
 Aoniae. jam jamque animis male debita regna 455 
 Concipit, et longum fignis cun&antibus annum 
 Stare gemit. tenet una dies no&efque recurfans 
 Cura virum, fl quando humilem decedere regno 
 Germanum, et femet Thebis, opibufque potitum, 
 Cerneret, hac aevum cupiat pro luce pacifci. 
 Nunc queritur ceu tarda fugae difpendia : fed mox 
 Attollit flatus duels, et fediffe fuperbum 
 Dejeclo fe fratre putat. fpes anxia mciitem 455 
 
 Extrahit, et longo confumit gaudia voto. 
 Tune fedet Inachias urbcs, Danaeiaque arva, 
 Et caligantes abrupto fole Mycenas, 
 Ferre iter impavidum. feu praevia ducit Erynnis, 
 Scu fors iila viae, five h-ac immota vocabat 
 Atropos. Ogygiis ululata furoribus antra 
 Deferit, et pingues Bacchaeo fanguine colles. 465 
 Inde plagam, qua molle fedens in plana Cithaeron 
 Porrigitur, lafTumque inclinat ad aequora montem, 
 Praeterit. -hinc arcle fcopulofo in limite pendens, 
 LifaiViCs Sv.y:-one petras, Scyllaeaque rura
 
 Book!. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 161 
 
 While future realms his wand'ring thoughts delight^ 
 
 His daily vifion and his dream by night ; 446 
 
 Forbidden Thebes appears before his eye, 
 
 From whence he fees his abfent brother fly, 
 
 With tranfport views the airy rule his own, 
 
 And fwells on an imaginary throne. 450 
 
 Fain would he caft a tedious age away, 
 
 And live out all in one triumphant day. 
 
 He chides the lazy progrefs of the fun, 
 
 And bids the year with fwifter motion run. 
 
 With anxious hopes his craving mind is toft, 455 
 
 And all his joys in length of wiflies loft. 
 
 The hero then refolves his courfe to bend 
 Where ancient Danaus' fruitful fields extend, 
 And fam'd Mycene's lofty tow'rs afcend, 
 (Where late the fun did Atreus' crimes deteft, 
 And difappear'd in horror of the feaft.) 
 And now by chance, by fate, or furies led, 
 From Bacchus' confecrated caves he fled, 
 Where the (brill cries of frantic matrons found, 
 And Pentheus' blood enrich'd the rifmg ground. 465 
 Then fees Cithseron tow'ring o'er the plain, 
 And thence declining gently to the main. 
 Next to the bounds of Nifus' realm repairs, 
 Where treach'rous Scylla cut the purple hairs : 
 The hanging cliffs of Scyron's rock explores, 470 
 And hears the murmurs of the different ftiores ; 
 
 VOL. II. L
 
 s6a STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I. 
 
 Purpureo regnata feni, mitemque Corinthon 
 Linquit, et in mediis audit duo littora campis. 
 
 Jamque per emeriti furgens confinia Phoebi 472 
 Titanis, late mundo fubve<5ta filenti 
 Rorifera o-eHdurn tenaaverat ae'ra biga. 
 
 O O 
 
 Jam pecudes volucrefque tacent j jam fomnus avarrs 
 Inferpit curis, pronufque per ae'ra nutat, 480 
 
 Grata laboratae referens oblivia vitae. 
 Sed nee puniceo rediturum nubila coelo 
 Promifere jubar, nee rarefcentibus umbris 
 Longa repercuflb nituere crepufcula Phoebo. 
 Denfior a terris, et nulli pervia flammae 486 
 
 Subtexit nox atra polos, jam clauflra rigentis 
 Aeoliae percufla fonant, venturaque rauco 
 Ore minatur hiems, venti tranfverfa freinentes 
 Coftfliguntj axemque emoto cardine vellunt, 490 
 Dum coelum fibi quifque rapit. fed plurimus Aufter 
 Inglomerat noftem, et tenebrofa volumina torquet, 
 Defunditque imbres, ficco quos afper hiatu 
 Perfolidat Boreas, nee non abrupta tremifcunt 
 Fulgura, et attritus fubita face rumpitur aether. 
 Jam Nemea, jam Taenareis contermina lucis
 
 feookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 163 
 
 PafTes the ftrait that parts the foaming feas, 
 And ftately Corinth's pleafing fite furveys. 
 
 J Twas now the time when Phoebus yields to night, 
 And rifmg Cynthia fhcds her filver light, 475 
 
 Wide o'er the world in folerrm pomp (he drew, 
 Her airy chariot hung with pearly dew ; 
 All birds and beafts lie hufh'd ; fleep fteals away 
 The wild defires of men, and toils of dayj 
 And brings, defcending thro' the filent air, 480 
 A fweet forgetfulnefs of human care. 
 Yet no red clouds, with golden borders gay 
 Promife the fkies the bright return of day j 
 No faint reflections of the diftant light 
 Streak with long gleams the fcatt'ring fhades of night } 
 From the damp earth impervious vapours rife, 486 
 Encreafe the darknefs, and involve the fkies. 
 At once the rufhing winds with roaring found 
 Burft from th' -/Eolian caves, and rend the ground, 
 With equal rage their airy quarel try, 40,0 
 
 And win by turns the kingdom of the fky : 
 But with a thicker night black Aufter fhrouds 
 The heav'ns, and drives on heaps the rolling clouds, 
 From whofe dark womb a rattling tempeft pours, 
 Which the cold north congeals to haily fhow'rs. 495 
 From pole to pole the thunder roars aloud, 
 And broken light'nings fkfh from ev'ry cloud. 
 
 L 2
 
 i<?4 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. I. 
 
 Arcadiae capita alta madent : ruit agmine facto 
 Inachus, et gelidas furgens Erafinus ad Arclos. 
 Pulverulenta prius, calcandaque flumina nullae 
 Aggeribus tenuere morac, ftagnoque refufa eft 
 Funditus, et veteri fpumavit Lerna veneno. 
 Frangitur omne nemus ; rapiunt antiqua procellae 
 Brachia fylvarum, nullifque afpe&a per aevum 
 Solibus umbrofi patuere aeftiva Lycaei. 
 Ille tamen modo faxa jugis fugientia ruptis 510 
 
 Miratur, modo nubigcnas c montibus amnes 
 Aure pavens, paffimque infano turbine raptas 
 Paftorum pecorumque domos. non fegnius amens, 
 Incertufque viae, per nigra filentia, vaftum 
 Haurit iter : pulfat metus undique, et undique frater. 
 Ac velut hiberno deprenfus navita ponto, 520 
 Cui neque temo piger, neque amico fidere monftrat 
 Luna vias, medio coeli pelagique tumultu 
 Stat rationis inops : jam jamque aut faxa mah'gnis
 
 Book I. THEBAISOFSTATIUS. 165 
 
 Now fmoaks withfhow'rs the mifty mountain-ground, 
 
 And floated fields lie undiftinguifh'd round. 
 
 Th' Inachian ftreams with headlong fury run, 500 
 
 And Erafmus rolls a deluge on : 
 
 The foaming Lerna fwells above its bounds, 
 
 And fpreads its ancient poifons o'er the grounds : 
 
 Where late was duft, now rapid torrents play, 
 
 Rufh thro' the mounds, and bear the damnis away . 
 
 Old limbs of trees from crackling forefts torn, 506 
 
 Are whirl'd in air, and on the winds are born : 
 
 The ftorm the dark Lycaean groves difplay'd, 
 
 And firft to light expos'd the facred fliade. 
 
 Th' intrepid Theban hears the burfting fky, 510 
 
 Sees yawing rocks in mafly fragments fly, 
 
 And views aftonifh'd, from the hills afar, , 
 
 The floods defcending, and the wat'ry war, 
 
 That, driv'n by ftorms and pouring o'er the plain, 
 
 Swept herds, and hinds, and houfes to the main. 515 
 
 Thro' the brown horrors of the night he fled, 
 
 Nor knows, amaz'd, what doubtful path to tread j 
 
 His brother's image to his mind appears, 
 
 Inflames his heart with rage, and wings his feet with 
 
 fears. 
 
 So fares a Sailor on the ftormy main, 520 
 
 When clouds conceal Bootes' golden wain, 
 When not a ftar its friendly luftre keeps, 
 Nor trembling Cynthia glimmers on the deeps ;
 
 \66 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I, 
 
 a 
 
 Expe&at fubmerfa vadis, aut vertice acuto 
 Spumantes fcopulos ere&ae incurrere prorae : 
 Tails opaca legens nemorum Cadmeius hero3 ] 
 Accelerat, vafto metuenda umbone ferarum 
 Excutiens ftabula, et prono virgulta refringit 
 Pe&ore : dat ftimulos animo vis moefta timoris. 
 Donee ab Inachiis vita caligine te&is 530 
 
 Emicuit lucem devexa in moenia fundens 
 Lariffaeus apex, illo fpe concitus omni 
 Evolat. hinc celfae Junonia templa Profymnae 
 Laevus habet, hinc Herculeo fignata vapore 53$ 
 Lernaei ftagna atra vadi. tandemque reclufis 
 Infertur portis. a&utum regia cernit 
 Veftibula. hie artus imbri, ventoque rigentes 
 Projicit, ignotaeque acclinis poftibus aulae 
 Invitat tenues ad dura cubilia fomnos. 
 
 Rex ibi tranquillae medio de limite vitae 
 In fenium vergens populos Adraftus habebat, 540 
 Dives avis, et utroque Jovem de fanguine ducens. 
 Hie fexus melioris inops, fed prole virebat 
 Foeminea, gemino natarum pignore fultus. 
 Cui Phoebus generos (monflxum exitiabile diclu ', 
 Mox adaperta fides) aevo ducente canebat 
 Setigerumque fuem, et fulvum adventare leonem. 
 Jiaec volyens, non, ipfe pater, non dodle futuri 550
 
 Book I. THEBAISOFS TAT I U S. 1-5-7 
 He dreads the rocks, and fhoals, and Teas, and fkics, 
 While thunder roars, and lightening round him flies. 
 
 Thus flrove the chief, on ev'ry fide diftrefs'd, 526 
 Thus flill his courage, with his toils increas'd ; 
 With his broad fhield oppos'd, he forc'd his way 
 Tho' thickeft woods, and rous'd the beafls of prey. 
 Till he beheld, where from Larifla's height c;o 
 
 O J -> 
 
 The fhelving walls reflecl: a glancing light : 
 Thither with hafte the Theban hero flies - 3 T 
 
 On this fide Lerna's pois'nous water lies, V. 
 
 On that Profymna's grove and temple rife : \ 
 
 He pafs'd the gates which then unguarded lay, 535 
 And to the regal palace bent his way j 
 On the cold marble, fpent with toil, he lies, 
 And waits till pleafing {lumbers feal his eyes, 
 
 Adraftus here his happy people fways, 
 Bleft with calm peace in his declining days. 540 
 By both his parents of defcent divine, 
 Great Jove and Phoebus grac'd his noble line : 
 Heav'n had not crown'd .his wishes with fc fan, 
 But two fair daughters heir'd his flate and throne. 
 To him Apollo (wond'rous to relate ! 545 
 
 But who can pierce into the depths of fate r) 
 Had fung " ExpecT: thy fons on Argos' fhore, 
 '* A yellow lion and a briftly boar." 
 This long revolv'd in his paternal breafl-, 
 Sate heavy on his heart, and broke his reft ; 550 
 
 L4
 
 j<J8 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. I. 
 
 Amphiarae, vides ; etenim vetat autor Apollo. 
 Tantum in corde fedens aegrefcit cura parentis. 
 
 Ecce autem antiquam fato Calydona relinqucns 555 
 Olenius Tydeus (fraterni fanguinis ilium 
 Confcius horror agit) eadem fub nofte fopora 
 Luftra terit, fimilefque Notos dequeftus ct imbres, 
 Infufam tergo glaciem, et liquentia nimbis 
 Qra, comafque gerens, fubit uno tegmine, cujus 560 
 Fufus humo gelida, partem prior hofpes habebat. 
 
 Hie primum luftrare oculis, cultufque virorum 
 Telaque magna vacat, tergo videt hujus inanem 
 Impexis utrinque jubis horrere leonem, 
 Illius in fpeciem, quern per Theumefia Tempe 
 Amphitryoniades fradtum juvenilibus armis 5 70 
 
 Ante Cleonaei veftitur praelia monftri. 
 Terribiles contra fetis, ac dente recurvo 
 Tydea per latos humeros ambire laborant 
 Exuviae, Calydonis honos. ftupet omine tanto 575 
 Pefixus fenior, divina oracula Phoebi 
 Agnofcens, monitufque datos vocalibus antris,
 
 Book I. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 169 
 
 This, great Amphiaraus, lay hid from thee, 
 Tho' fldll'd in fate, and dark futurity. 
 The father's care and prophet's art were vain, 
 For thus did the predicting God ordain. 
 
 Lo haplefs Tydeus, whofe ill-fated hand 555 
 
 Had flain his brother, leaves his native land, 
 And feiz'd with horror in the fliades of night, 
 Thro' the thick deferts headlong urg'd his flight : 
 Now by the fury of the tempeft driv'n, 
 He feeks a fhelter from th' inclement heav'n, 563 
 'Till, led by fate, the Theban's fteps he treads, 
 And to fair Argos' open court fucceeds. 
 
 When thus the chiefs from different lands refort 
 T* Adraftus' realms, and hofpi table court j 
 The King furveys his guefts with curious eyes, 56^ 
 And views their arms and habit with furprize. 
 A lion's yellow (kin the Theban wears, 
 Horrid his mane, and rough with curling hairs ; 
 Such once employ'd Alcides' youthful toils, 
 Ere yet adorn'd with Nemea's dreadful fpoils* 570 
 A boar's ftiff hide, of Calydonian breed, 
 Oenides' manly fhoulders overfpread. 
 Oblique his tufks, erecl: his briftles flood, 
 Alive, the pride and terror of the wood. 
 
 Struck with the fight, and fix'd in deep amaze, 575 
 The King th' accomplifh'd Oracle furveys, 
 Reveres Apollo's vocal caves, and 'owns 
 The guiding Godhead, and his future fons. 
 I
 
 t;o STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I. 
 Obtutu gelida ora premit, laetufqua per artus 
 Horror lit. fenfit manifefto numine du&os 580 
 
 Affore, quos nexis ambagibus augur Apollo 
 Portend! generos, vultu fallente ferarum, 
 Ediderat. tune fie tendens ad fidera palmas : 
 Nox, quae terrarum coelique amplexa labores 
 Ignea multivago tranfmittis fidera lapfu, 
 Indulgens reparare animum, dum proximus aegris 
 Infundat Titan agiles animantibus ortus, 
 Tu mihi perplexis quaefitam erroribus ulr.ro 
 Advehis alma fidem, veterifque exordia fati 
 Detegis. afiiftas operi, tuaque omina firmes ! 
 Semper honoratam dimenfis orbibus anni 
 Te domus ifta colet : nigri tibi, Diva, litabunt 
 Elefta cervice greges, luftraliaque exta 
 Ladle novo perfufus edet Vulcanius ignis. 595 
 
 Salve, prifca fides tripodum, obfcurique receflus j 
 Deprendi, Fortuna, deos. fie fatus j et ambos 
 Innectens manibus, teta ulterioris ad aulae 
 Progreditur. canis etiamnum altaribus ignes, 600 
 Sopitum cinerem, et t^pidi libamina facri 
 Servabant ; adolere focos, epulafque recentes 
 Inftaurare jubet. didtis parere miniftri 605 
 
 Certatim accelerant, vario ftrepit ida tumultu
 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 171 
 
 O'er all his bofom fecret tranfports reign, 
 And a glad horror ftioots thro' ev'ry vein. 580 
 
 To heav'n he lifts his hands, ere&s his fight, 
 And thus invokes the filent Queen of night. 
 
 Goddefs of {hades, beneath whofe gloomy reign 
 Yon' fpangled arch glows with the ftarry train : 
 You who the cares of heav'n and earth allay, 585 
 'Till nature quicken'd by th' infpiring ray 
 Wakes to new vigour with the rifmg day. 
 Oh thou who freeft me from my doubtful ftate, 
 Long loft and wilder'd in the maze of Fate ! 
 Be prefent ftill, oh Goddefs ! in our aid ; 590 
 
 Proceed, and firm thofe omens thou haft made. 
 We to thy name our annual rites will pay, 
 And on thy altars facrifices lay ; 
 The fable flock (hall fall beneath the ftroke, 
 And fill thy temples with a grateful fmoke. 595 
 Hail, faithful Tripos ! hail, ye dark abodes 
 Of aweful Phoebus : I confefs the Gods ! 
 
 Thus, feiz'd with facred fear, the monarch pray'd j 
 Then to his inner court the guefts convey'd j 
 Where yet thin fumes from dying fparks arife, 600 
 And duft yet white upon each altar lies, 
 The relicks of a former facrifice. 
 The King once more the folemn rites requires, 
 And bids renew the feafts, and wake the fires. 
 His train obey, while all the courts around 605 
 
 With noify care and various tumult found.
 
 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. I. 
 
 Regia : pars oftro tenues, auroquc fonantes 
 
 Emunire toros, altofque infcrre tapetas ; 
 
 Pars teretes levare manu, ac difponere menfas : 
 
 Aft alii tenebras et opacam vincere no&em, 610 
 
 Aggreffi, tendunt auratis vincula lychnis. 
 
 His labor inferto torrere exanguia ferro 
 
 Vifcera caefarum pecudutn : his, cumulare caniftris 
 
 Perdomitam faxo Cererem. laetatur Adraftus 
 
 Obfequio fervere domum. jamque ipfe fuperbis 
 
 Fulgebat ftratis, folioque effultus eburno. 
 
 Parte alia juvenes ficcati vulnera lymphis 615 
 
 Difcumbunt : fimul ora notis foedata tuentur, 
 
 Inque vicem ignofcunt. tune rex longaevus Aceften 
 
 (Natarum haec altrix, eadem et fidiflima cuftos 620 
 
 Le&a facrum juftae Veneri occultare pudorem) 
 
 Imperat acciri, tacitaque immurmurat aure. 
 
 Nee mora praeceptis ; cum protinus utraque virgo 
 
 Arcano egreflae thalamo (mirabile vifu) 
 
 Pallados armilbnae, pharetrataeque ora Dianae 625 
 
 Aequa ferunt, terrore minus, nova deinde pudori 
 
 Vifa virum facies : pariter, pallorque, ruborque 
 
 Purpureas haufere genas : oculique verentes 
 
 Ad fandtum recliere patrem. Poftquam ordine menfae 
 
 Vic^a fames, fignis perfeclam auroque nitentem 
 
 Jafides pateram famulos ex more popofcit,
 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 173 
 
 Embroider'd purple clothes the golden beds ; 
 
 This flave the floor, and that the table fpreads ; 
 
 A third difpels the darknefs of the night, 
 
 And fills depending lamps with beams of light j 610 
 
 Here loaves in canifters are pil'd on high, 
 
 And there in flames the flaughter'd victims fly. 
 
 Sublime in regal ftate Adraftus fhone, 
 
 Stretch'd on rich carpets on his iv'ry throne ; 
 
 A lofty couch receives each princely gueft ; 615 
 
 Around, at aweful diftance, wait the reft. 
 
 And now the king, his royal feaft to grace, 
 Aceftis calls, the guardian ef his race, 
 Who firft their youth in arts of virtue train'd, 
 And their ripe years in modeft grace maintain'd. 620 
 Then foftly whifper'd in her faithful ear, 
 And bade his daughters at the rites appear. 
 When from the clofe apartments of the night, 
 The royal Nymphs approach divinely bright ; 
 Such was Diana's, fuch Minerva's face ; 625 
 
 Nor fhine their beauties with fuperior grace, 
 But that in thefe a milder charm endears, 
 And Ief3 of terror in their looks appears. 
 As on the heroes firft they caft their eyes, 
 O'er their fair cheeks the glowing blufhes rife, 630 
 Their downcaft looks a decent fhame confefs'd, 
 Then on their father's rev'rend features reft. 
 
 The banquet done, the monarch gives the fign 
 To fill the goblet high with fparkling wine,
 
 i;4 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. I. 
 
 Qua Danaus libare dels feniorque Phoroneus 635 
 AfTueti. tenet haec operum caelata figuras : 
 Aureus anguicomam praefe&o Gorgona collo 
 Ales habet. jam jamque vagas (ita vifus) in auras 
 Exilit : ilia graves oculos, languentiaque ora 
 Pene movet, vivoque etiam pallefcit in auro. 
 Hinc Phrygius fulvis venator tollitur alis : 640 
 
 Gargara defidunt furgenti, et Troja recedit. 
 Stant moefti comites, fruftraque fonantia laxant 
 Ora canes, umbramque petunt, et nubila latrant. 645 
 Hanc undante mero fundens, vocat ordine cun&os 
 Coelicolas : Phoebum ante alios, Phoebum omnis ad 
 
 aras 
 
 Laude ciet comitum, famulumque, evincla pudica 
 Fronde, manus : cui fefta dies, largoque refe&i 
 Thure, vaporatis lucent altaribus ignes. 655 
 
 Forfitan, o juvenes, quae fmt ea facra, quibufque 
 Praecipuum caufis Phoebi obteftemur honorem, 
 Rex ait, exquirunt animi. non infcia fuafit 
 Relligio : magnis exercita cladibus olim 660
 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 175 
 
 Which Danaus us'd in facred rites of old, 635 
 
 With fculpture grac'd, and rough with rifing gold. 
 Here to the clouds victorious Perfeus flies, ^ 
 
 Medufa feems to move her languid eyes, V- 
 
 And ev'n in gold, turns paler as (he dies. j 
 
 There from the chace Jove's tow'ring eagle bears, 
 On golden wings, the Phrygian to the ftars : 
 Still as he rifes in th' etherial height, 
 His native mountains leflen to his fight 5 
 While all his fad companions upward gaze, 
 Fix'd on the glorious fcene in wild amaze ; 645 
 And the fwift hounds, affrighted as he flies, 
 Run to the made, and bark againft the fides. 
 
 This golden bowl with gen'rous juice was crown' d a 
 The firft libations fprinkled on the ground, 
 By turns on each celeftial pow'r they call ; 6fo 
 
 With Phoebus' name refounds the vaulted hall. 
 The courtly train, the ftrangers, and the reft, 
 Crown'd with chafte laurel, and with garlands drefs'd, 
 While with rich gums the fuming altars blaze, 
 Salute the God in num'rous hymns of praife. 655 
 
 Then thus the King : Perhaps, my noble guefts, 
 Thefe honour'd altars, and thefe annual feafts 
 To bright Apollo's aweful name defign'd, 
 Unknown, with wonder may perplex your mind. 
 Great was the caufe ; our old folemnities 660 
 
 From no blind zeal or fond tradition rife ;
 
 176 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. 1. 
 
 Plebs Argiva litant : animos advertite, pandam : 
 Poftquam coerulei finuofa volumina monftri, 
 Terrigenam Pythona, deus feptem orbibus atris 
 Amplexum Delphos, fquamifque annofa terentem 
 Robora ; Caftaliis dum fontibus ore trifulco 
 Fufus hiat, nigro fitiens alimenta veneno, 
 Perculit, abfumptis numerofa in vulnera telis, 
 Cyrrhaeique dedit centum per jugera campi 
 Vix tandem explicitum, nova delude piacula caedi 
 Perquirens, noftri tedla baud opulenta Crotopi 
 Attigit. huic primis, et pubem ineuntibus annis, 670 
 Mira decore pio, fervabat nata penates 
 Intemerata toris. felix, fi Delia nunquam 
 Furta, nee occultum Phoebo fociaflet amorem. 
 Namque ut pafla deum Nemeaei ad fluminis undam 1 
 Bis quinos plena cum fronte refumeret orbes 
 Cynthia, fidereum Latonae foeta nepotem 
 Edidit : ac poenae metuens (neque enim ilia coa&is 
 Donaflet thalamis veniam pater) avia rura 
 Eligit : ac natum fepta inter ovilia furtim 
 Montivago pecoris cuftodi mandat alendum. 
 
 Non tibi digna, puer, generis cunabula tanti 689 
 Gramineos dedit herba toros, et vimine querno
 
 Book I. THEBAIS OFSTATlbS. 
 
 But fav'd froni death, our Argives yearly pay 
 Thefe grateful honours to the God of Day. 
 
 When by a thoufand darts the Python flain 
 With orbs unroll'd lay covering all the plain, 665 
 (Transfix'd as o'er Caftalia's ftreams he hung, 
 And fuck'd new poifons with his triple tongue) 
 To Argos' realms the vilor god reforts, 
 And enters old Crotopus' humble courts. 
 This rural prince one only daughter bleft, 670 
 
 That all the charms of blooming youth poflefs'd ; 
 Fair was her face, and fpotlefs was her mind, 
 Where filial love with virgin fweetnefs join'd. 
 Happy ! and happy ftill (he might have prov'd^ 
 Were fhe lefs beautiful, or lefs belov'd } 67 
 
 But Phoebus lov'd, and on the flow'ry fide 
 Of Nemea's ftream, the yielding fair enjoy'd : 
 Now, ere ten moons their orb with light adorn^ 
 Th* illuftrious offspring of the God was born^ 
 The Nymph, her father's anger to evade, 686 
 Retires from Argos to the fylvan {hade j 
 To woods and wilds the pleafing burden bears, 
 And trufts her infant to a fhepherd's cares. 
 
 How mean a fate, unhappy child ! is thine } 
 Ah how unworthy thofe of race divine ? 685 
 
 On flow'ry herbs in fome green covert laid* 
 His bed the ground, his canopy the (hade* 
 VOL. II. M
 
 178 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I. 
 
 Texta domus : claufa arbutei Tub cortice libri 
 Membra tepent, fuadetque leve, cava fiftula fomnos> 
 Et pecori commune folum. fed fata nee ilium 
 Conceflere larem : viridi nam cefpite terrae 
 Projectum temere, et patulo coelum ore trahentem 
 Dira canum rabies morfu depafta cruento 695 
 
 Disjicit. hie vero attonitas ut nuntius aures 
 Matris adit, pulfi ex animo genitorque, pudorque, 
 Et metus. ipfa ultro faevis plangoribus amens 
 Tedta replet, vacuumque ferens velamine pedlus 700 
 Occurrit confefla patri. nee motus, at atro 
 Imperat, infandum ! cupientem occumbere leto. 
 
 Sero memor thalami, moeflae folatia morti, 
 Phoebe, paras, monftrum infandis Acheronte fub imo 
 Conceptum Eumenidum thalamis, cui virginis ora, 
 Pe&oraque, aeternum ftridens a vertice furgit 
 Et ferrugineam frontem difcriminat anguis : 
 Haec tarn dira lues nodlurno fquallida paflu 
 Jllabi thalamis, animafque a ftirpe receutes 
 Abripere altricum gremiis, morfuque cruento 
 Devefci et multum patrio pinguofccre lu&u. 

 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 179 
 
 He mixes with the bleating lambs his cries, 
 
 While the rude fvvain his rural mufic tries 
 
 To call foft flumbers on his infant eyes. 690.' 
 
 Yet ev'n in thofe obfcure abodes to live, 
 
 Was more, alas ! than cruel fate would give, 
 
 For on the grafly verdure as he lay, 
 
 And breath'd the fremnefs of the early day, 
 
 Devouring dogs the helplefs infant tore, 695 
 
 Fed on his trembling limbs, and lapp'd the gore. 
 
 Th' aftonifh'd mother, when the rumour came, 
 
 Forgets her father, and negleds her fame, 
 
 With loud complaints me fills the yielding air, 
 
 And beats her breaft, and rends her flowing hair ', 700 
 
 Then wild with anguifh to her fire fhe flies : 
 
 Demands the fentence, and contented dies. 
 
 But touched with forrow for the dead too late, 
 The raging God prepares t' avenge her fate. 
 He fends a monfler, horrible and fell, 705 
 
 Begot by furies in the depths of hell. 
 The pert a virgin's face and bofom bears ; 
 High on a crown a rifing fnake appears, 
 Guards her black front, and hifles in her hairs : 
 About the realm {he walks her dreadful round, 710 
 When night with fable wings o'erfpreads the ground, 
 Devours young babes before their parents eyes, 
 And feeds and thrives on public miferies. 
 
 M 2
 
 i8o STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. I. 
 
 Haud tulit armorum praeftans animique Choroe- 
 bus; 71$ 
 
 Seque ultro le&is juvenum, qui robore primi 
 Famam pofthabita faciles extendere vita, 
 Obtulit. ilia novas ibat populata penates 
 Portarum in bivio. lateri duo corpora parvum 720 
 Dependent, et jam unca manus vitalibus haeret, 
 Ferratique ungues tenero fub corde tepefcunt. 
 Obvius huic latus omne virum ftipante corona, 
 It juvenis, ferrumque ingens fub pe&ore diro 725 
 Condidit j atque imas animae mucrone corufco 
 Scrutatus latebras, tandem fua monftra profundo 
 Reddit habere Jovi. juvat ire, et vifere juxta 
 Liventes in morte oculos, uterique nefandam 
 Proluviem, et craflb fquallentia pec"k>ra tabo, 
 Qua noftrae cecidere animae. ftupet Inacha pubes, 
 Magnaque poft lachrymas etiamnum gaudia pallent. 
 Hi trabibus duris, folatia vana dolori, 
 Proterere examines artus, afprofque molares 
 Deculcare genis ; nequit iram explore poteftas. 
 lllam et no&urno circum ftridore volantes 735 
 
 Impaftae fugiftis aves, rabidamque canum vim, 
 Oraque ficca ferunt trepidorum inhiaiTe luporam. 
 
 Saevior in miferos fatis ultricis ademptae 
 Delius infurgit, fummaque biverticis umbra 749 
 Parnaffi refidens, arcu crudelis iniquo 
 Peftifera arma jacit, campofque, et eelfa Cjxlopwm
 
 Book I. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. i$i 
 
 But gen'rous rage the bold Choroebus warms, 
 Choroebus, fam'd for virtue, as for arms; 715 
 
 Some few like him, infpir'd with martial flame, 
 Thought a fhort life well loft for endlefs fame. 
 Thefe, where two ways in equal parts divide, *^ 
 The direful monfter from afar defcry'd ; V* 
 
 Two bleeding babes depending at her fide; 720 j 
 Whofe panting vitals, warm with life, fhe draws, 
 And in their hearts embrues her cruel claws. 
 The youths furround her with extended fpears j 
 But brave Choroebus in the front appears, 
 Deep in her breaft he plung'd his fhining fword, 725 
 And hell's dire monfter back to hell reftor*d. 
 Th' Inachians view the flain with vaft furprize, 
 Her twifting volumes and her rolling eyes, 
 Her fpotted breaft, and gaping womb embru'd 
 With livid poifon, and our childrens blood. 730 
 The croud in ftupid wonder fix'd appear, 
 Pale ev'n in joy, nor yet forget to fear. 
 Some with vaft beams the fqualid corpfe engage, 
 And weary all the wild efforts of rage. 
 The birds obfcene, that nightly flock'd to tafte, 735 
 With hollow fcpeeches fled the dire repaft ; 
 And rav/nous dogs, allur'd by fcented blood, 
 And ftarving wolves, ran howling to the wood. 
 
 But fir'd with rage, from cleft Parnaffus' brow 
 Avenging Phoebus bent his deadly bow, 740^ 
 
 And hiffing flew the feather'd fates below : 
 
 M 7
 
 182 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I. 
 
 Te&a fuperjefto nebularum incendit ami&u. 
 Labuntur dulces animae : Mors fila fororum 
 Enie mstit, captamque tenens fert manibus urbem. 
 
 Quaerenti quac caufa duel, quis ab aetherelaevus 
 Ignis, et in totum regnaret Sirius annum, 
 Idem autor Paean rurfus jubet ire cruento 
 Infcrias monftro juvenes, qui caede potiti. 750 
 
 Fortunate animi, longumque in faecula digne 
 Promeriture diem ! non jtu pia degener arma 
 Occulis, aut certae trepidas occurrere morti. 
 Cominus ora ferens, Cyrrhaei in limine tempi i 755 
 Conftkit, et facras ita vocibus afperat iras : 
 
 Non miiTus, Thymbraee, tuos fupplexve penates 
 Advenio : mea me pietas, et confcia virtus 
 Has egere vias. ego fum qui caede fubcgi, 
 Phoebe, tuum mortale nefas ; quern nubibus atris 
 Et fquallente die, nigra quern tabe finiftri 
 Quaeris, inique, poli. quod fi monftra efFera magni 
 Cara adeo Superis, jafturaque vilior orbis, 766 
 
 Mors hominum, et faevo tanta inclementia coelo eft i
 
 Book I. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 183 
 
 A night of fultry clouds involv'd around 
 The tow'rs, the fields, and the devoted ground : 
 And now a thoufand lives together fled, ^ 
 
 Death with his fcythe cut off the fatal thread, 745 > 
 And a whole province in his triumph led. ^ 
 
 But Phoebus, afk'd why noxious fires appear, 
 And raging Sirius blafts the fickly year ; 
 Demands their lives by whom his monfter fell, 
 And dooms a dreadful facrifice to hell. 750 
 
 Blefs'd be thy duft, and let eternal fame 
 Attend thy Manes, and preferve thy name. 
 Undaunted hero ! who divinely brave, 
 In fuch a caufe difdain'd thy life to fave ; 
 But view'd the flirine with a fuperior look, 755 
 And its upbraided Godhead thus befpoke : 
 
 With piety, the foul's fecureft guard, 
 And confcious virtue, ftill its own reward, 
 Willing I come, unknowing how to fear ; 
 Nor (halt thou, Phcebus, find a fuppliant here. 760 
 Thy monfter's death to me was ow'd alone, 
 And 'tis a deed too glorious to difown. 
 Behold him here, for whom, fo many days, 
 Impervious clouds conceal'd thy fullen rays > 
 For whom, as Man no longer claim'd thy care, 765 
 Such numbers fell by peftilential air ! 
 But if th' abandon'd race of human kind 
 From Gods abgve no more compaffion find ; 
 
 M 4
 
 184 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I. 
 
 Quid meruere Argi ? me, me, divum, optime, folum 
 Objecifle caput fatis praeftabit, an illud 
 Lene magis cordi, quod defolata domorum 
 Te&a vides ? ignique datis cultoribus omnis 
 Lucet ager ? fed quid fando tua tela manufque 
 Demoror ? expe&ant metres, fupremaque fundunt 
 Vota mihi. fatis eft : merui, ne parcere velles. 
 Proinde move pharetras, arcufque intende fonoros, 
 Jnfignemque animam leto demitte : fed Ulum 
 Pallidus Inachiis qui defuper imminet Argis, 
 pum morior, depelle globum. Fors aequa merentes 
 Refpicit. ardentem, tenuit reverentia caedis 780 
 Latoiden, triftemque viro fummiflus honoreni 
 Largitur vitae. noftro mala nubila coelq 
 DifFugiunt. at tu ftupefa&i a limine Phoebi 
 Exoratus abis. hide haec ftata facra quotannis 
 Solemnes recolunt epulae, Phoebeiaque placat 
 Templa novatus honos : has forte invifiti aras. 
 Vps quae progenies ? quanquam Calydonius Oeneus 
 Et Parthapniae (dudum fi certus ad aures 
 Clamor iit) tibi jura dormls ; tu pande quis Argos 
 Advenias ? quando haec variis fermonibus hora eft.
 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 185 
 
 If fuch inclemency in heav'n can dwell, ^ 
 
 Yet why muft unoffending Argos feel 77S> 
 
 The vengeance due to this unlucky fteel ? ^ 
 
 On me, on me, let all thy fury fall, 
 
 Nor err from me, fince I defcrve it all : 
 
 Unlefs our defert cities pleafe thy fight, 
 
 Or fun'ral flames reflect a grateful light. 775 
 
 Difcharge thy (hafts, this ready bofom rend, 
 
 And to the ftiades a ghoft triumphant fend ; 
 
 But for my Country let my fate atone, 
 
 Be mine the vengeance, as the crime my own* 
 
 Merit diftrefs'd, impartial heav'n relieves : 780 
 Unwelcome life relenting Phoebus gives ; 
 For not the vengeful pow'r, that glow'd with rage, 
 With fuch amazing virtue durft engage. 
 The clouds difpers'd, Apollo's wrath expir'd, 
 And from the wond'ring God th' unwilling youth re- 
 tir'd. 78$ 
 
 Thence we thefe altars in his temple raife, 
 And offer annual honours, feafts, and praife ; 
 Thefe folemn feafts propitious Phoebus pleafe : 
 Thefe honours,ftill renew'd, his antient wrath appeafe. 
 But fay, illuftrious gueft (adjoin'd the King) 790 
 What name you bear, from what high race you fpring ? 
 The noble Tydeus ftands confefs'd, and known 
 Our neighbour Prince, and heir of Calydon. 
 Relate your fortunes, while the friendly night 
 And filent hours to various talk invite. 79}
 
 186 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB. I. 
 
 Dejecit moeftos extemplo Ifmenius hcros 
 In terram vultus, taciteque ad Tydea laefum 
 Obliquare oculos. turn longa filcntia movit : 
 Non fuper hos divum tibi fum quaercndus honores 
 Unde genus, quae terra mihi : quis defluat ordo 
 Sanguinis antiqui, piget inter facra fateri. 
 Sed fi praecipitant miferum cognofcere curae, 
 Cadmus origo patrum, tellus Mavortia Thebae, 
 Et genetrix Jocafta mihi. turn motus Adraftus 
 Hofpitiis (agnovit enim) quid nota recondis ? 
 Scimus, ait; nee lie averfum fama Mycenis 810 
 Volvit iter. regnum, et furias, cculofque pudentes 
 Novit, et Arcloi's fi quis de folibus horret, 
 Quique bibit Gangen, aut nigrum occafibus intrat 
 Oceanum, et fi quos incerto littore Syrtes 815 
 
 Deftituunt, ne perge queri, cafufque priorum 
 Annumerare tibi. noftro quoque fanguine multum 
 Erravit pietas. nee culpa nepotibus obftat. 820 

 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 187 
 
 The Theban bends on earth his gloomy eyes, 
 Confus'd, and fadly thus at length replies : 
 Before thefe altars how fhall I proclaim 
 (Oh gen'rous prince) my nation, or my name, 
 Or thro' what veins our ancient blood has roll'd ? 800 
 Let the fad tale for ever reft untold ! 
 Yet if propitious to a wretch unknown, 
 You feek to fhare in forrows not your own ; 
 Know then from Cadmus I derive my race, 
 Jocafta's fon, and Thebes my native place. Soj 
 To whom the King (who felt his gen'rous breaft 
 Touch'd with concern for his unhappy gueft) 
 Replies : Ah why forbears the fon to name 
 His wretched father known too well by fame ? 
 Fame, that delights around the world to ftray, 8iO 
 Scorns not to take our Argos in her way. 
 Ev'n thofe who dwell where funs at diftance roll, 
 In northern wilds, and freeze beneath the pole ; 
 And thofe who tread the burning Libyan lands, 
 The faithlefs Syrtes and the moving fands j 815; 
 
 Who view the weftern fea's extremeft bounds, 
 Or drink of Ganges in their eaftern grounds ; 
 All thefe the woes of Oedipus have known, 
 Your fates, your furies, and your haunted town. 
 If on the fons the parents crimes defcend, 820 
 
 What Prince from thofe his lineage can defend ?
 
 i88 STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.!, 
 
 Tu modo diffimilis rebus mereare fecundis 
 Excufare tuos. fed jam temone fupino 
 Languet Hyperboreae glacialis portitor urfae. 825 
 Fundite vina focis, fervatoremquc parentum 
 Latoiden votis iterumque iterumquc canamus. 
 
 Phoebe parens, feu te Lyciae Pataraea nivofis 
 Exercent dumcta jugis, feu rore pudico 830 
 
 Caftaliae flavos amor eft tibi mergere crines j 
 Seu Trojam Thymbraeus habes, ubi fama volentem 
 Ingratis Phrygios humeris fubiifle molares : 
 Seu juvat Aegaeum feriens Latonius umbra 
 Cynthus, et affiduam pelago non quaerere Delon : 
 Tela tibi, longeque feros lentandus in hoftes 
 Arcus, et aetherii dono ceffere parentes 
 Aeternum florere genas. tu do<Slus iniquas. 
 Parcarum praenofle minas, fatumque quod ultra eft* 
 Et fummo placitura Jovi. quis letifer annus, 840 
 Bella quibus populis, mutent quae fceptra cometae, 
 Tu Phryga fubmittis citharae. tu matris honori 
 Terrigenam Tityon Stygiis extendis arenis. 
 -T viridis Python, Thebanaque mater,
 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS, 189 
 
 Be this thy comfort, that 'tis thine t'efface 
 
 With virtuous ats thy anceftors difgrace, 
 
 And be thyfelf the honour of thy race. 
 
 But fee ! the ftars begin to fteal away, 825 
 
 And fliine more faintly at approaching day ; 
 
 Now pour the wine ; and in your tuneful lays 
 
 Once more refound the great Apollo's praife. 
 
 Oh father Phoebus ! whether Lycia's coaft 829 
 And fnowy mountains, thy bright prefence boaft i 
 Whether to fweet Caftalia thou repair, 
 And bathe in filver dews thy yellow hair ; 
 Or pleas'd to find fair Delos float no more, 
 Delight in Cynthus, and the fhady fhore j 
 Or chufe thy feat in Ilion's proud abodes, 835 
 
 The mining ftru&ures rais'd by lab'ring Gods : 
 By thee the bow and mortal fhafts are born ; 
 Eternal charms thy blooming youth adorn : 
 Skill'd in the laws of fecret fate above, 
 And the dark counfels of almighty Jove, 84.0 
 
 J Tis thine the feeds of future war to know, 
 The change of Sceptres, and impending woe ; 
 When direful meteors fpread thro' glowing air 
 Long trails of light, and {hake their blazing hair. 
 Thy rage the-Phrygian felt, who durft afpire l^f 
 T* excel the mufic of thy heav'nly lyre ; 
 Thy fhafts aveng'd lewd Tityus' guilty flame, 
 TV immortal victim of my mother's fame \
 
 igo STATII THEBAIDOS LIB.I. 
 
 Horruit in pharetris. ultrix tibi torva Megaera 850 
 Jejunum Phl^ryam fubter cava faxa jacentem 
 Aeterno premit accubitu, dapibufque profanis 
 Inftimulat : fed mifta famem faftidia vincunt. 
 Adfis o, memor hofiitii, Junoniaque arva 855 
 
 Dexter ames ; feu te rofeum Titana vocari 
 Gentis Achaemeniae ritu, feu praeftat Ofirin 
 Frugiferum, feu Perfei fub rupibus antri 
 Indignata iequi torquentem cornua Mitram. 
 

 
 Bookl. THEBAIS OF STATIUS. 191 
 
 Thy hand flew Python, and the dame who loft 
 Her num'rous offspring for a fatal boaft. 850 
 
 In Phlegyas' doom thy juft revenge appears, 
 Condemn'd to furies and eternal fears ; 
 He views his food, but dreads, with lifted eye, 
 The mouldring rock that trembles from on high. 
 
 Propitious hear our pray'r, O Pow'r divine ! 855 
 And on thy hofpitable Argos fhine, 
 Whether the ftyle of Titan pleafe thee more, 
 Whofe purple rays th' Achaemenes adore j 
 Or great Ofiris, who firft taught the fwain 
 In Pharian fields to fow the golden grain j 860 
 
 Or Mitra, to whofe beams the Perfian bows, 
 And pays, in hollow rocks, his awful vows ; 
 Mitra, whofe head the blaze of light adorns, 
 Who grafps the ftruggling heifer's lunar horns.
 
 D R Y O P E 
 
 I N 
 
 A R B O R E M. 
 
 DI X I T : et, admonitu veteris commota mi- 
 niftrae, 
 
 Ingemuit ; quam fie nurus eft adfata dolentem : 
 Te tamen, o genitrix, alienae fanguine veftro 
 Rapta movet facies. quid fi tibi mira fororis 
 Fata meae rcferam ? quamquam lacrymaeque dolor- 
 
 que 
 
 Impediunt, prohibentque loqui. fuit unlca matri 
 (Me pater ex alia genuit) notiflima forma lo 
 
 Oechalidum Dryope : quam virginitate carentem, 
 Vimque Dei paflam, Dclphos Delonque tenentis, 
 Excipit Andraemon ; et habetur conjuge felix. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 DRYOPE.] Upon occafion of thedeath of Hercules, his 
 Mother Alcmena recounts her misfortunes to Jolc, who 
 wfwers with a relation of thofc of her own family, in par-
 
 ( 193 ) 
 THE 
 
 F A B *L E 
 
 O F 
 
 D R Y O P E. 
 
 From the NINTH BOOK of 
 OVID's METAMORPHOSES. 
 
 H E faid, and for her loft Galanthis fighs, 
 When the fair Confort of her fon replies. 
 Since you a fervant's ravifh'd form bemoan, 
 And kindly figh for forrows not your own $ 
 Let me (if tears and grief permit) relate e 
 
 A nearer woe, a fitter's ftranger fate. 
 No nymph of all CEchalia could compare 
 For beauteous form with Dryope the fair, 
 Her tender mother's only hope and pride, 
 (Myfelf the offspring of a fecond bride.) IQ 
 
 This Nymph comprefs'd by him who rules the day, 
 Whom Delphi and the Delian ifle obey, 
 Andraemon lov'd j and blefs'd in all thofe charms 
 That pleas'd a God, fucceeded to her arm*. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 ticular the Transformation of her filler Dryope, which u 
 the fubjeft of the enfuing Fable. P. 
 VOL. II. N
 
 194 DRYOPE IN ARBOREM. 
 Eft lacus, acclivi devexo margine formam 15 
 
 Littoris efficiens : fummum myrteta coronant. 
 Venerat hue Dryope fatorum nefcia ; quoque 
 Indignere magis, Nymphis latura coronas. 
 Inque finu puerum, qui nondum impleverat annum, 
 pulce ferebat onus ; tepidique ope lactis alebat. 20 
 Haud procul a ftagno, Tyrios imitata colores, 
 In fpem baccarum florebat aqtiatica lotos. 
 Carpferat hinc Dryope, quos oblectamina nato 25 
 Porrigeret flores : et idem fatura videbar ; 
 Namque aderam. vidi guttas e flore cruentas 
 Decidere ; et tremulo ramos horrore moveri. 30 
 Scilicet, ut referunt tardi nunc denique agreftes, 
 Lotis in hanc Nymphe, fugiens obfcoena Priapi, 
 Contulerat verfos, ferrato nomine, vultus. 
 
 Nefcierat foror boc ; quae cum perterrita retro 35 
 Ire, et adoratis vellet difcedere Nymphis, 
 Jrlacferunt radice pedes. convellere pugnat : 40
 
 FABLE OF DRYOPE. 195 
 
 A lake there was, with {helving banks around, 15 
 Whofe verdant fummit fragrant myrtles crown'd. 
 Thefe (hades, unknowing of the fates, {he fought, 
 And to the Naiads flow'ry garlands brought ; 
 Her fmiling babe (a pleafmg charge) fhe preffc 
 Within her arms, and nourifh'd at her breaft. 20 
 Not diftant far, a watry Lotos grows, 
 The fpring was new, and all the verdant bought 
 Adorn'd with bloflbms, promis'd fruits that vie 
 In glowing colours with the Tyrian die : 
 Of thefe fhe crop'd to pleafe her infant fon, 25 
 
 And I myfelf the fame rafh act had done : 
 But lo ! I faw (as near her fide I flood) 
 The violated bloflbms drop with blood ; 
 Upon the tree I caft a frightful look ; 
 The trembling tree with fudden horror (hook. 30 
 Lotis the nymph (if rural tales be true) 
 As from Priapus' lawlefs luft fhe flew, 
 Forfook her form j and fixing here became 
 A flow'ry plant, which {till preferves her name. 
 
 This change unknown, aftonifh'd at the fight 35 
 My trembling fifter ftrove to urge her flight : 
 And firft the pardon of the nymphs implor'd, 
 And thofe offended fylvan pow'rs ador'd : 
 But when fhe backward would have fled", fhe found 
 Her ftifFning feet were rooted in the ground : 40 
 
 N 2
 
 196 DRYOPE IN ARBOREM, 
 Nee quidquam, nifi fumma, movet. fuccrefcit ab imo, 
 Totaquc paulatim lentus premit inguina cortex. 
 Ut vidit, conata manu laniare capillos, 
 Fronde manum implevit : frondes caput omne tene- 
 bant. 4^ 
 
 At puer AmphifTos (namque hoc avus Eurytus illi 
 Addiderat nomeri) materna rigefcere fentit 
 Ubera : nee fequitur ducentem lacteus humor. 50 
 Spetatrix aderam fati crudelis ; opemque 
 Non poteram tibi ferre, foror : quantumque valebam, 
 Crefcentem truncum ramofque amplexa, morabar : 
 Et (fateor) volui fub eodem cortice condi. 
 Ecce vir Andraemon, genitorque miferrimus, adfunt ; 
 Et quaerunt Dryopen : Dryopen quaerentibus illis 
 Oftendi loton. tepido dant ofcula ligno : 60 
 
 Adfufique fuae radicibus arboris haerent. 
 Nil nifi jam faciem, quod non foret arbor, habebas, 
 Cara foror. lacrymae verfo de corpora fa&is 
 Irrorant foliis : ac, dum licet, oraque praeftant 65 
 Yocis her, tales effundit in aera queftus :
 
 FABLE OF DRYOPE. 197 
 In vain to free her faften'd feet fhe ftrove, 
 And as me flruggles, only moves above ; 
 She feels th' encroaching bark around her grow 
 By quick degrees, and cover all below : . 
 Surpriz'd at this, her trembling hand (he heaves 45 
 To rend her hair ; her hand is fill'd with leaves : 
 Where late was hair ; the fhooting leaves are feen 
 To rife, and {hade her with a fuddcn green. 
 The child Amphiflus, to her bofom preft, 
 Perceiv'd a colder and a harder breaft, 50 
 
 And found the fprings, that ne'er till then deny'd 
 Their milky moifture, on a fudden dry'd. 
 I faw, unhappy ! what I now relate, 
 And flood the helplefs witnefs of thy fate, 
 Embrac'd thy boughs, thy rifing bark delay'd, 55 
 There wifh'd to grow, and mingle made with made. 
 
 Behold Andraemon and th' unhappy fire 
 Appear, and for their Dryope enquire j 
 A fpringing tree for Dryope they find, 
 And print warm kifles on the panting rind. 60 
 
 Proftrate, with tears their kindred plant bedew, 
 And clofe embrace as to the roots they grew. 
 The face was all that now remain'd of thee, 
 No more, a woman, nor yet quite a tree ; 
 Thy branches hung with humid pearls appear, 6| 
 From ev'ry leaf diftils a trickling tear, 
 
 N 3
 
 ig8 DRYOPE IN ARBOREM. 
 
 Si qua fides miferis, hoc me per numina juro 
 
 Non meruifle nefas. patior fine crimine poenam. ~9 
 
 Viximtis innocuae : fi mentior, arida perdam, 
 
 Qiias habeo, frondes j et caefa fccuribus urar. 75 
 
 Hunc tamen infantem maternis demite ramis, 
 
 Et date nutrici ; noftraque fub arbore faepe 
 
 Lac facitote bibat ; noftraque fub arbore ludat. 
 
 Cumque loqui potcrit, matrern facitote (iilutet, 8a 
 
 Et triftis dicat, Latet hoc fub ftipite mater. 
 
 Stagna tamen timeat ; nee carpat ab arbore flores ; 
 
 Et friftjces omnes corpus putet efTe Dearum. 
 
 Care, vale, conjux, et tu germana, paterque ! 
 
 Quis fi qua eft pietas, ab acutae vulnere falcis 3 90 
 
 A pecoris morfu frondes defendite noflras. 
 
 Et quoniam mihi fas ad vos incumbere non eft,
 
 FABLEOFDRYOPE. i 99 
 
 And ftrait a voice, while yet a voice remains, 
 Thus thro' the trembling boughs in fighs complains ; 
 
 If to the wretched any faith be giv'n, . 
 I fwear by all th' unpitying pow'rs of heav'n, 70 
 No wilful crime this heavy vengeance bred j 
 In mutual innocence our lives we led : 
 If this be falfe, let the'fe new greens decay, 
 Let founding axes lop my limbs away, 
 And crackling flames on all my honours prey. 75 
 But from my branching arms this infant bear, 
 Let fome kind nurfe fupply a mother's care : 
 And to his mother let him oft be led, 
 Sport in her fliades, and in her (hades be fed ; 
 Teach him, when firft his infant voice fhall frame 80 
 Imperfect words, and lifp his mother's name, 
 To hail this tree j and fay with weeping eyes. 
 Within this plant my haplefs parent lies : 
 And when in youth he feeks the fhady woods, 
 Oh, let him fly the cryftal lakes and floods, 85 
 Nor touch the fatal flowers ; but, warn'd by me, 
 Believe a Goddefs fhrin'd in ev'ry tree. 
 My fire, my fifter, and my fpoufe farewel ! 
 If in your breafts or love, or pity dwell, 
 Protect your plant, nor let my branches feel 90 
 
 The browzing cattle or the piercing fteel. 
 Farewel ! and fmce I cannot bend to join 
 My lips to yours, advance at leaft to mine. 
 
 N 4
 
 200 DRYOPE IN ARBOREM. 
 Erigitc hue artus, et ad ofcula noflra venite, 95 
 Dum tangi poflunt, parvumque attollite natum. 
 Plura loqui nequeo. nam jam per Candida mollis 
 Colla liber ferpit ; fummoque cacumine condor. 
 Ex oculis removete manus. fine munere veftro 
 Contegat induclus morientia lumina cortex. 
 Defierant fimul ora loqui, fimul efle : diuque 103 
 Corpora mutato rami caluere recentes.
 
 FABLE OF DRY OPE. 201 
 
 My fon, thy mother's parting kifs receive, 
 While yet thy mother has a kifs to give. 95 
 
 I can no more ; the creeping rind invades 
 My clofing lips, and hides my head in fhades : 
 Remove your hands, the bark mail foon fuffice 
 Without their aid to feal thefe dying eyes. 
 
 She ceas'd at once to fpeak, and ceas'd to be ; 1C* 
 And all the nymph was loft within the tree ; 
 Yet latent life thro' her new branches reign'd, 
 And long the plant a human heat retain'd.
 
 202 ) 
 
 E T 
 
 POMONA. 
 
 E G E fub hoc Pomona fuit : qua nulla Latinas 
 
 Inter Hamadryadas coluit folertius hortos, 
 Nee fuit arborei ftudiofior altera foetus : 
 Unde tenet nomen. non fylvas ilia, nee amnes ; 5 
 Rus amat, et ramos felicia poma ferentes. 
 Nee jaculo gravis eft, fed adunca dextera falce : 10 
 Qua modo luxuriem premit, ct fpatiantia paflim 
 Brachia compcfcit ; fiiTa modo cortice virgam 
 Inferit j et fuccos alicno praeftat alumno, 
 Nee patitur fentire fitim : bibulaeque recurvas 15 
 Radicis fibras labentibus irrigat undis. 
 Hie amor, hoc ftudiuin : Vencris quoque nulla cupido.
 
 VERTUMNUS 
 
 AND 
 
 ;, POMONA. 
 
 From the FOURTEENTH BOOK of 
 OVID's METAMORPHOSES. 
 
 TH E fair Pomona flourifh'd in his reign ; 
 Of all the Virgins of the fylvan train, 
 None taught the trees a nobler race to bear, 
 Or more improv'd the vegetable care. 
 To her the fhady grove, the flow'ry field^ f 
 
 The ftreams and fountains, no delights could yield j 
 'Twas all her joy the ripening fruits to tend, 
 And fee the boughs with happy burthens bend. 
 The hook fhe bore inftead of Cynthia's fpear, 
 To lop the growth of the luxuriant year, 10 
 
 To decent form the lawlefs fhoots to bring, 
 And teach th' obedient branches where to fpring. 
 Now the cleft rind inferted graffs receives, 
 And yields an offspring more than nature gives j 
 Now fliding ftreams the thirfty plants renew, 1$ 
 And feed their fibres with reviving dew. 
 
 Thefe cares alone her virgin breaft employ, 
 Averfe from Venus and the nuptial joy.
 
 204 VERTUMNUS ET POMONA. 
 
 Vim tamen agreftum metuens, pomaria claudit 
 Intus, et accdTus prohibet refugitque virilcs. 20 
 
 Quid non et Satyri, faltatibus apta juventu^, 
 Fecere, et pinu praecincli cornua Panes, 
 Sylvanufque fuis Temper juvenilior annis, 
 Quique Deus fures, vel falce, vel inguine terret, 
 Ut poterentur ea ? fed enim fuperabat amando 25 
 Hos quoque Vertumnus : ncque erat felicior illis. 
 O quoties habitu durl meflbris ariftas 
 Cdrbe tulit, verique fuit meflbris imago ! 
 Tempora faepe gcrens foeno religata recenti, 
 Dcfelum poterat gramen verfafle videri. 
 Saepe manu ftimulos rigida portabat ; ut ilium 35 
 Jurares feflbs modo disjunxille juvencos. 
 Falce data frondator erat, vitifque putator : 
 Induerat fcalas, ledurum poma putares : 
 Miles erat gladio, pifcator arundine fumta. 
 Denique per multas aditum fibi faepe figuras 
 Repperit, ut caperet fpedatae gaudia formae.
 
 VERTUMNUS AND POMONA. 205 
 
 Her private orchards, wall'd on ev'ry fide, 
 
 To lawlefs fylvans all accefs deny'd. 2O 
 
 How oft the Satyrs and the wanton Fawns, 
 
 Who haunt the forefts, or frequent the lawns, 
 
 The God whofe enfign fcares the bird of prey, 
 
 And old Silenus, youthful in decay, 
 
 Employ'd their wiles, and unavailing care, 25 
 
 To pafs the fences, and furprize the fair ? 
 
 Like thefe, Vertumnus own'd his faithful flame, 
 
 Like thefe, rejected by the fcornful dame. 
 
 To gain her fight a thoufand forms he wears : 
 
 And firft a reaper from the field appears, 30 
 
 Sweating he walks, while loads of golden grain 
 
 O'ercharge the fhoulders of the feeming fwain. 
 
 Oft o'er his back a crooked fcythe is laid, 
 
 And wreaths of hay his fun-burnt temples fhade : - 
 
 Oft in his harden'd hand a goad he bears, 35 
 
 Like one who late unyok'd the fweating fleers. 
 
 Sometimes his pruning-hook corrects the vines, 
 
 And the loofe ftraglers to their ranks confines. 
 
 Now gath'ring what the bounteous year allows, 
 
 He pulls ripe apples from the bending boughs. 40 
 
 A foldier now, he with his fword appears ; 
 
 A fiftier next, his trembling angle bears ', 
 
 Each fhape he varies, and each art he tries, 
 
 On her bright charms to feaft his longing eyes.
 
 106 VERTUMNUS ET POMONA. 
 Ille etiam picta redimitus tempora mitra, 45 
 
 lanitens baculo, pofitis ad tempora canis, 
 Adfimulavit anum : cultofque intravit in hortoa ; 
 Pomaque mirata eft : Tantoque potentior, inquit. 
 Paucaque laudatac dedit ofcula j qualia nunquam 
 Vera dediflet anus : glebaque incurva refedit, 
 Sufpiciens pandos autumni pondere ramos. 
 Ulmus crat contra, fpatiofa tumentibus uvis : 6 
 Quam focia poftquam pariter cum vite probavit j 
 At fi ftaret, ait, coelebs, fine palmite truncus, 
 Nil praeter frondes, quare peteretur, haberet. 
 Haec quoque, quae jun<5la vitis requiefcit in ulmo, 
 Si non nupta foret, terrae adclinata jaceret. 
 Tu tamen exemplo non tangeris arboris hujus ; 
 Concubitufque fugis j nee te conjungere curas. 
 Atque utinam velles ! Helene non pluribus eiTet 
 Sollicitata procis : nee quae Lapitheia movit 
 Proelia, nee conjux timidis audacis Ulyflei,
 
 VERTUMNCJS AND POMONA. 207 
 A female form at laft Vertumnus wears, 45 ? 
 With all the marks of rev'rend age appears, % 
 
 His temples thinly fpread with filver hairs ; j 
 
 Prop'd on his ftaff, and {looping as he goes, 
 A painted mitre fhades his furrow'd brows. 
 The god in this decrepit form array'd, 5-0' 
 
 The gardens enter'd, and the fruit furvey'd ; 
 And^ 1 Happy you ! (he thus addrefs'd the maid) 
 " Whofe charms as far all other nymphs out-fliine, 
 te As other gardens are excell'd by thine ! 
 Then kifs'd the fair ; (his kifles warmer grow 55 
 Than fuch as women on their fex beftow.) 
 Then plac'd befide her on the flow'ry ground, 
 Beheld the trees with autumn's bounty crown'd. 
 An Elm was near, to whofe embraces led, 
 The curling vine her fwelling clufters fpread : 69 
 He view'd her twining branches with delight, 
 And prais'd the beauty of the pleafing fight. 
 
 Yet this tall elm, but for his vine (he faid) 
 Had flood neglected, and a barren {hade j 
 And this fair vine, but that her arms furround 65 
 Her majry'd elm, had crept along the ground. 
 Ah beauteous maid, let this example move 
 Your mind, averfe from all the joys of love. 
 Deign to be lov'd, and ev'ry heart fubdue ! 
 What nymph could e'er attract fuch crouds as you ? 
 Not me whofe beauty urg'd the Centaur's arms, 7 1 
 Ulyfles' Queen, nor Helen's fatal charms,
 
 2o8 VERTUMNUS ET POMONA. 
 Nunc quoquc, cum fugias averferifque petcntes, 
 Mille proct cupiiuit ; et femideique deique, 75 
 
 Et quaecunque tenent Albanos numina montes. 
 Sed tu, fi fapies, fi te bene.jungere, anumque 
 Hanc audirc voles, (quac te plus omnibus illis, 8a 
 Plus quam credis, amo) vulgares rejice taedas : 
 Vertumnumque tori focium tibi felige : pro quo 
 Me quoque pignus habe. neque enim fibi notior ills 
 
 eft, 
 
 Quam mihi, nee toto paflim vagus errat in orbe. 
 Haec loca fola colit ; nee, uti pars magna procorum, 
 Quam modo vidit, amat. tu primus et ultimus illi 
 Ardor cris ; folique fuos tibi devovet annos. 
 Adde, quod eft juvenis : quod naturale decoris go 
 Munus habet ; formafque apte fingetur in omnes : 
 Et, quod erit juflus (jubeas licet omnia) fiet. 
 Quid, quod amatis idem ? quod, quae tibi poma co- 
 
 luntur, 
 
 Primus habet ; laefaque tenet tua munera dextra ? 
 Sed neque jam foetus defiderat arbore demtos, 
 Nee, quas hortus alit, cum fuscis mitibus herbas >
 
 VERTUMNUS AND POMONA. 209 
 Ev'n now, when filent fcorn is all they gain, 
 A thoufand court you, tho' they court in vain, 
 A thoufand fylvans, demigods, and gods, 75 
 
 That haunt our mountains and our Alban woods. 
 But if you'll profper, mark what I advife, 
 Whom age, and long experience render wife, 
 And one whofe tender care is far above 
 All that thefe lovers ever felt of love, 80 
 
 (Far more than e'er can by yourfelf be gueft) 
 Fix on Vertumnus, and reject the reft. 
 For his firm faith I dare engage my own j 
 Scarce to himfelf, hi mfelf is better known. 
 To diftant lands Vertumnus never roves j 85 
 
 Like you, contented with his native groves ; 
 Nor at firft fight, like moft, admires the fair; 
 For you he lives ; and you alone fliall (hare 
 His laft ajFe&ion, as his early care. 
 Befides, he's lovely far above the reft, 
 With youth immortal, and with beauty bleft. 
 Add, that he varies ev'ry {hape with eafe, 
 And tries all forms that may Pomona pleafe. 
 But what fliould moft excite a mutual flame, 
 Your rural cares, and pleafures are the fame : 95 
 To him your orchards early fruits are due, 
 (A pleafing off'ring when 'tis made by you) 
 He values thefe ; but yet (alas) complains, 
 That ftill the beft and deareft gift remains. 
 U. O
 
 iio VERTUMNUS ET POMONA. 
 
 Nee quidquam, nifi te. miferere ardentis : et ipfum, 
 Qui petit, ore meo praefentem crede precari, 
 
 Sic tibi nee vernum nafcentia frigus adurat 
 Poma j nee excutiant rapid! fiorentia venti. no 
 Haec ubi nequicquam formas Deus aptus in om- 
 
 nes, 
 
 Edidit ; in juvenem rediit : et anilia demit 
 Inftrumenta fibi : talifque adparuit illi, 
 Quails ubi oppofitas nitidiflima folis imago 115 
 
 Evicit nubes, nullaque obftante reluxit. 
 Vimque parat : fed vi non eft opus ; inque figura 
 Capta Dei Nympha eft, et mutua vulnera fentit,
 
 VERTUMNUS AND POMONA. 211 
 
 Not the fair fruit that on yon' branches glows 100 
 With that ripe red th' autumnal fun beftows $ 
 Nor tafteful herbs that in thefe gardens rife, 
 Which the kind foil with milky fap fupplies j 
 You, only you, can move the God's deiire : 
 Oh crown fo conftant and fo pure a fire ! 105 
 
 Let foft companion touch your gentle mind ; 
 Think, 'tis Vertumnus begs you to be kind ; 
 So may no froft, when early buds appear, 
 Deftroy the promife of the youthful year ; 
 Nor winds, when firft your florid orchard blows, 1 10 
 Shake the light bloflbms from their blafted boughs ! 
 
 This when the various God had urg'd in vain, 
 He ftrait afTum'd his native form again 5 
 Such, and fo bright an afpecl: now he bears, 
 As when thro' clouds th' emerging fun appears, 115 
 And thence exerting his refulgent ray, 
 Difpels the darknefs, and reveals the day. 
 Force he prepar'd, but check'd the rafh defign j 
 For when, appearing in a form divine, 
 The Nymph furveys him, and beholds the grace 120 
 Of charming features, and a youthful face ! 
 In her foft breaft confenting paflions move, 
 And the warm maid confefs'd a mutual love. 
 
 O
 
 ( 213 ) 
 
 IMITATIONS 
 
 O F 
 
 ENGLISH POETS. 
 
 Done by the AUTHOR in his Youth. 
 
 I. 
 CHAUCER. 
 
 WOMEN ben full of Ragerie, 
 Yet fwinken nat fans fecrefie. 
 Thilke moral fhall ye underftond, 
 From Schoole-boy's Tale of fayre Irelond : 
 Which to the Fennes hath him betake, 5 
 
 To filch the gray Ducke fro the Lake. 
 Right then, there paflen by the Way 
 His Aunt, and eke her Daughters tway. 
 Ducke in his Trowfes hath he hent, 
 Not to be fpied of Ladies gent. IQ 
 
 * But ho ! our Nephew, (crieth one) 
 " Ho ! quoth another, Cozen John j 
 And ftoppen, and lough, and callen out, 
 Thii filly Clerk full law doth lout : 
 
 3
 
 214 I M I T A T I O N S O F 
 
 They afken that, and talken this, 15 
 
 <c Lo here is Coz, and here is Mifs. 
 
 But, as he glozeth with Speeches foote, 
 
 The Ducke fore tickleth his Erfe roote : 
 
 Fore-piece and buttons all-to-breft, 
 
 Forth thruft a white neck, and red creft. 20 
 
 Te-he, cry'd Ladies ; Clerke nought fpake : 
 
 Mifs ftar'd ; and gray Ducke crieth Quaake. 
 
 ce O Moder, Moder, (quoth the daughter) 
 
 " Be thilke fame thing Maids longer a'ter ? 
 
 " Bette is to pyne on coals and chalke, 2J 
 
 * Then truft on Mon, whofe yerde can talke.
 
 ENGLISH POETS, 215 
 
 IL 
 S P E N C R. 
 
 The ALLEY. 
 
 
 
 I. 
 
 IN ev'ry Town, where Thamis rolls his Tyde, 
 A narrow Pafs there is, with Houfes low j 
 Where ever and anon, the Stream is ey'd, 
 And many a Boat foft fliding to and fro. 
 There oft are heard the notes of Infant Woe, 5 
 The fhort thick Sob, loud Scream, and fhriller Squall : 
 How can ye, Mothers, vex your Children fo ? 
 Some play, fome eat, fome cack againft the wall, 
 And as they crouchen low, for bread and butter call. 
 
 II. 
 
 And on the broken pavement, here and there, 10 
 Doth many a ftinking fprat and herring lie ; 
 A brandy and tobacco (hop is near s 
 And hens, and dogs, and hogs are feeding by j 
 And here a failor's jacket hangs to dry. 
 At ev'ry door are fun-burnt matrons feen, 15 
 
 Mending old nets to catch the fcaly fry ; 
 Now fmging (brill, and fcolding eft between j 
 Scolds anfwer foul-mouth'd fcolds \ bad neighbour- 
 hood I ween.
 
 216- IMITATIONS OF 
 
 III. 
 
 The fnappifh cur, (the paflengers annoy) 
 Clofe at my heel with yelping treble flies ; 2O 
 
 The whimp'ring girl, and hoarfer-fcreaming boy, 
 Join to the yelping treble,' ftirilling cries j 
 The fcolding Quean to louder notes doth rife, 
 And her full pipes thofe fhrilling cries confound ; 
 To her full pipes the grunting hog replies j 
 The grunting hogs alarm the neighbours round, 
 And curs, girls, boys, and fcolds, in the deep bafe 
 
 are drovra'd. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Hard by a Sty, beneath a roof of thatch, 
 Dwelt Obloquy, who in her early days 
 Bafkets of fifh at Billinfgate did watch, 30 
 
 Cod, whiting, oyfter, mackrel, fprat, or plaice : 
 There learn'd (he fpeech from tongues that never 
 
 ceafe. 
 
 Slander befide her, like a Mag-pie, chatters, 
 With Envy, (fpitting Cat) dread foe to peace ; 
 Like a curs'd Cur, Malice before her clatters, 35 
 And vexing ev'ry wight, tears clothes and all to tatters. 
 
 V. 
 
 Her dugs were mark'd by ev'ry Collier's hand, 
 Her mouth was black as bull-dogs at the flail : 
 She fcratched, bit, and" fpar'd ne lace ne band, 
 And bitch and rogue her anfwer was to all j 40 
 Nay, e'en the parts of fhame by name would call :
 
 ENGLISH POETS. 217 
 
 Yea, when (he patted by or lane or nook, 
 
 Would greet the man who turn'd him to the Wall s 
 
 And by his hand obfcene the porter took, 
 
 Nor ever did afkance like modeft Virgin look. 45 
 
 VI. 
 
 Such place hath Deptford, navy -building town, 
 Woolwich and Wapping, fmelling ftrong of pitch 5 
 Such Lambeth, envy of each band and gown, 
 And Twick'nam fuch, which fairer fcenes enrich, 
 Grots, ftatues, urns, and Jo n's Dog and Bitch, 
 Ne village is without, on either fide, 
 All up the filver Thames, or all adown ; 
 Ne Richmond's felf, from whofe tall front are ey'd 
 Vales, fpires, meandring ftreams, and Windfor's 
 tow'ry pride.
 
 IMITATIONS OF 
 
 III. 
 WALLER. 
 
 Of a LADY linging to her LUTE. 
 
 FAIR Charmer, ceafc, nor make your voice's prize 
 A heart refign'd the conqueft of your eyes : 
 Well might, alas ! that threatned veffel fail, 
 Which wind* and lightning both at once aflail. 
 We were too bleft with thefe inchanting lays, 5 
 Which muft be heavenly when an Angel plays : 
 But killing charms your lover's death contrive, 
 Left heav'nly mufic fhould be heard alive. 
 Orpheus could charm the trees, but thus a tree, 
 Taught by your hand, can charm no lefs than he : 10 
 A poet made the filent wood purfue, 
 This vocal wood had drawn the Poet too.
 
 ENGLISH POETS. 219 
 
 On a F A N of the Author's defign, in 
 which was painted the ftory of CE- 
 PHALUS and PROCRIS, with the Motto, 
 AURA VENI. 
 
 O M E, gentle Air ! th' jEolian fhepherd faid, 
 While Procris panted in the fecret {hade j 
 Come, gentle Air, the fairer Delia cries, 
 While at her feet her fwain expiring lies. 
 Lo the glad gales o'er all her beauties ftray, 
 Breathe on her lips, and in her bofom play ! 
 In Delia's hand this toy is fatal found, 
 Nor could that fabled dart more furely wound : 
 Both gifts deftru&ive to the givers prove ; 
 Alike both lovers fall by thofe they love. 
 Yet guiltlefs too this bright deftroyer lives, 
 At random wounds, nor knows the wound fhe gives : 
 She views the ftory with attentive eyes, 
 And pities Procris, while her lover dies.
 
 220 IMITATIONS OF 
 
 IV. 
 C O W L E Y. 
 
 "" The GARDEN. 
 
 FAIN would my Mufe the flow'ry Treafures fin*, 
 And humble glories of the youthful Spring ; 
 Where opening Rofes breathing fweets diffufe, 
 And foft Carnations fhow'r their balmy dews j 
 Where Lilies fmile in virgin robes of white, 5 
 
 The thin Undrefs of fuperficial Light, 
 And vary'd Tulips mow fo dazling gay, 
 Bluftiing in bright diverfities of day. 
 Each painted flouret in the lake below 
 Surveys its beauties, whence its beauties grow ; 19 
 And pale Narciffus on the bank, in vain 
 Transformed, gazes on himfelf again. 
 Here aged trees Cathedral Walks compofe, 
 And mount the Hill in venerable rows : 
 There the green Infants in their beds are laid, 1 5 
 The Garden's Hope, and its expected fhade. 
 Here Orange-trees with blooms and pendants fhine, 
 And vernal honours to their autumn join j 
 Exceed their promife in the ripen'd ftore, 
 Yet in the rifing bloflbm promife more. 2 
 
 There in bright drops the cryftal Fountains play, 
 By Laurels (hielded from the piercing day : 
 
 3
 
 ENGLISH POETS. 221 
 
 Where Dahpne, now a tree as once a maid, 
 Still from Apollo vindicates her {hade, 
 Still turns her beauties from th' invading beam, 25 
 Nor feeks iti vain for fuccour to the Stream. 
 The flream at once preferves her virgin leaves, 
 At once a {belter from her boughs receives, 
 Where Summer's beauty midfr. of Winter ftays, 
 And Winter's Coolnefs fpite of Summer's rays. 30
 
 222 IMITATIONS OF 
 
 WEEPING. 
 
 WHILE Celia's Tears make forrow bright, 
 Proud Grief fits fwelling in her eyes ; 
 The Sun, next thofe the faireft light, 
 Thus from the Ocean firft did rife : 
 And thus thro' Mifts we fee the Sun, 3$ 
 
 Which elfe we durft not gaze upon. 
 
 Thefe filver drops, like morning dew, 
 
 Foietd the fervour of the day : 
 So from one Cloud foit fhow'rs we view, 
 
 And blafting lightnings burft away. 40 
 
 The Stars that fall from Celia's eye, 
 Declare our Doom in drawing nigh. 
 
 The Baby in that funny fphere 
 
 So like a Phaeton appears, 
 That Heav'n, the threaten'd World to fpare, 45 
 
 Thought fit to drown him in her tears : 
 
 O 
 
 Elfe might th' ambitious Nymph afpire, 
 To fet, like him, Heav'n too on fire.
 
 ENGLISH POETS. 223 
 
 V. 
 E. of R O C H E S T E R. 
 
 On S I L E N C E. 
 I; 
 
 SILENCE! coeval with Eternity ; 
 Thou wert, ere Nature's felf began to be, 
 'Twas one vaft Nothing, all, and all flept faft in thee. 
 
 II. 
 
 Thine was the fway, ere heav'n was form'd, or earth* 
 
 Ere fruitful Thought conceiv'd creation's birth, 5 
 
 Or midwife Word gave aid, and fpoke the infant forth. 
 
 in. 
 
 Then various elements, againft thee join'd, 
 In one more various animal combin'd, 
 
 And fram'd the ciam'rous race of bufy Human-kind. 
 
 IV. 
 
 The tongue mov'd gently firft, and fpeech was low, 
 'Till wrangling Science taught it noife and fhow, 1 1 
 
 And wicked Wit arofe, thy moft abufive foe. 
 
 V. 
 
 But rebel Wit deferts thee oft' in vain ; 
 Loft in the maze of words he turns again, 
 And feeks a furer ft ate, and courts thy gentle reign. 15 
 
 3
 
 IMITATIONS OF 
 
 VI. 
 
 Afflicted Senfe thou kindly doft fet free, 
 
 Opprefs'd with argumental tyranny, 
 And routed Reafon finds a fafe retreat in thce. 
 VII. 
 
 With thec in private modeft Dulnefs lies, 
 
 And in thy bofom lurks in Thought's difguife ; 20 
 Thou varnifher of Fools, and cheat of all the Wife ! 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Yet thy indulgence is by both confeft ; 
 Folly by thee lies fleeping in the breafr, 
 And 'tis in thee at laft that Wifdom feeks for red. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Silence the knave's repute, the whore's good name, 
 The only honour of the wifhing dame ; a6 
 
 Thy very want of tongue makes thee a kind of Fame. 
 
 X. 
 But could'ft thou feize fome tongues that row are 
 
 free, 
 
 How Church and State fhould be oblig'd to thee ? 
 At Senate. and at Bar,how welcome would'ft thou be ? 
 
 XI. 
 
 Yet fpeech ev'n there, fubmiflively withdraws, 
 From rights of fubjects, and the poor man's caufe ' 
 Thenpompoxis Silence reigns,and Hills the noify La\vj.
 
 ENGLISH POETS. 225 
 
 XII. 
 
 Paft fervices of friends, good deeds of foes, 
 What Fav'rites gain, and what the Nation owes, 
 Fly the forgetful world, and in thy arms repofe. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 The country wit, religion of the town. 
 The courtier's learning, policy o* th gown, 
 Are beft by thee exprefs'd j and fliine in thee alone. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 The parfon's cant, the lawyer's fophiftry, 
 Lord's quibble, critic's jeft ; all end in thee, 
 All reft in peace at laft, and fleep eternally. 
 
 VOL. II.
 
 226 IMITATIONS OF 
 
 VI. 
 E. of D O R S E T. 
 
 v A R T E M I S I A. 
 
 O' Artemifia talks, by fits, 
 Of councils, claffics, fathers, wits ; 
 Reads Malbranche, Boyle, and Locke : 
 Yet in fome things methinks fhe fails, 
 'Twere well if fhe would pare her nails, 5 
 
 And wear a cleaner fmock. 
 
 Haughty and huge as High-Dutch bride, 
 Such naftinefs, and fo much pride 
 
 Are oddly join'd by fate : 
 
 On her large fquab you find her fpread, 10 
 
 Like a fat corpfe upon a bed, 
 
 That lies and (links in ftate. 
 
 She wears no colours (fign of grace) 
 On any part except her face ; 
 
 All white and black befide : 15 
 
 Dauntlefs her look, her gefture proud, 
 Her voice theatrically loud, 
 
 And mafculine her ftride. 
 
 So have I feen, in black and white 
 
 A prating thing, a Magpye hight, 20 
 
 Majeftically fklk ; 
 A ftately, worthlefs animal, 
 That plies the tongue, and wags the tail, 
 
 All flutter, pride, and talk.
 
 ENGLISH POETS. 227 
 
 P H R Y N E. 
 
 PHRYNE had talents for mankind, 
 Open fhe was, and unconfm'd, 
 
 Like fome free port of trade : 
 Merchants unloaded here their freight, 
 And Agents from each foreign ftate, 5 
 
 Here firft their entry made. 
 Her learning and good breeding fuch, 
 Whether th' Italian or the Dutch, 
 
 Spaniards or French came to her : 
 To all obliging (he'd appear : 10 
 
 'Twas Si Signior, 'twas Taw Mynheer, 
 
 'Twas $";'/ vous plaift^ Monfieur. 
 
 Obfcure by birth, renown'd by crimes, 
 Still changing names, religions, climes, 
 
 At length fhe turns a Bride : 1 5 
 
 In di'monds, pearls, and rich brocades, 
 She fhines the firft of batter'd jades, 
 
 And flutters in her pride. 
 
 So have I known thofe Infers fair 
 
 (Which curious Germans hold fo rare) 23 
 
 Still vary fhapes and dyes ; 
 Still gain new titles with new forms j 
 Fit ft grubs obfcene, then wriggling' worms, 
 
 Then painted butterflies.
 
 
 22 8 IMITATIONS, etc. 
 
 VII. 
 
 DR. S W I F T. 
 The Happy Life of a COUNTRY PARSON. 
 
 PArfon, thefe things in thy pofleffing 
 Are better than the Bifhop's blefling. 
 A Wife that makes conferves ; a Steed 
 That carries double when there's need ; 
 Oaober ftore, and beft Virginia, 5 
 
 Tythe-Pig, and mortuary Guinea ; 
 Gazettes fent gratis down, and franlc'd, 
 for which thy Patron's weekly thank'd ; 
 A large Concordance, bound long fmce ; 
 Sermons to Charles the Firft, when Prince ; 10 
 
 A Chronicle of ancient (landing j 
 A Chryfoftom to fmooth thy band in ; 
 The Polyglott three parts, my text, 
 Howbcit, likewife now to my next : 
 Lo here the Septuagint, and Paul, 15 
 
 To fum the whole, the clofe of all. 
 He that has thefe, may pafs his life, 
 
 Drink with the 'Squire, and kifs his wife ; 
 
 On Sundays preach, and eat his fill ; 
 
 And faft on Fridays if he will ; * 
 
 Toaft Church and Queen, explain the News, 
 
 Talk with Church- Wardens about Pews, 
 
 Pray heartily for fome new Gift, 
 
 And {hake his head at Dottcr S-t
 
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