Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire From the hard season gaining? On smoother, till Favonius reinspire The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire The lily and rose, that neither sowed nor spun. What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice, Of Attic taste, with wine, whence we may rise To hear the lute well touched, or artful voice Warble immortal notes and Tuscan air? He who of those delights can judge, and spare XXI. [TO CYRIACK SKINNER.] CYRIACK, whose grandsire on the royal bench Toward solid good what leads the nearest way; For other things mild Heaven a time ordains, And disapproves that care, though wise in show, That with superfluous burden loads the day, And, when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains. XXII. [TO THE SAME.] CYRIACK, this three years' day these eyes, though clear To outward view, of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot; Nor to their idle orbs doth sight appear Of sun, or moon, or star, throughout the year, Or man, or woman. Yet I argue not Against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope, but still bear up and steer Right onward. What supports me, dost thou ask? The conscience, friend, to have lost them overplied In Liberty's defence, my noble task, Of which all Europe rings from side to side. This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask Content, though blind, had I no better guide. XXIII. [ON HIS DECEASED WIFE.] METHOUGHT I saw my late espoused saint Brought to me like Alcestis from the grave, Mine, as whom washed from spot of child-bed taint And such as yet once more I trust to have Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint, Came vested all in white, pure as her mind. Her face was veiled; yet to my fancied sight Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined So clear as in no face with more delight. But, oh! as to embrace me she inclined, I waked, she fled, and day brought back my night. [TRANSLATIONS.] THE FIFTH ODE OF HORACE, LIB. I., Quis multâ gracilis te puer in rosâ, Rendered almost word for word, without rhyme, according tc the Latin measure, as near as the language will permit. WHAT slender youth, bedewed with liquid odours, In wreaths thy golden hair, Plain in thy neatness? Oh, how oft shall he Who now enjoys thee credulous, all gold; Hopes thee, of flattering gales To whom thou untried seem'st fair! Me, in my vowed My dank and dropping weeds To the stern God of Sea. [As Milton inserts the original with his translation, as if to challenge comparison, it is right that we should do so too.] AD PYRRHAM. ODE V. Horatius ex Pyrrhæ illecebris tanquam e naufragio enataverat, cujus amore irretitos affirmat esse miseros. QUIS multâ gracilis te puer in rosâ Cui flavam religas comam Simplex munditie? Heu, quoties fidem Qui nunc te fruitur credulus aureâ ; Fallacis ! Miseri quibus Intentata nites. Me tabulâ sacer Suspendisse potenti Vestimenta maris Deo. April, 1648.- -J. M. Nine of the Psalms done into metre; wherein all, but what is in a different character, are the very words of the Text, translated from the original. PSALM LXXX. I THOU Shepherd that dost Israel keep, Who leadest like a flock of sheep Thy loved Joseph's seed, That sitt'st between the Cherubs bright, Shine forth, and from thy cloud give light, And on our foes thy dread. 2 In Ephraim's view and Benjamin's, And in Manasseh's sight, Awake1 thy strength, come, and be seen 1 Gnorera. To save us by thy might. 3 Turn us again; thy grace divine And then we shall be safe. 4 Lord God of Hosts, how long wilt thou, How long wilt thou declare Thy 2 smoking wrath, and angry brow, 2 Gnashanta. 5 Thou feed'st them with the bread of tears; 20 And mak'st them largely 3 drink the tears 3 Shalish 6 A strife thou mak'st us and a prey 4 Among themselves they laugh, they 4 And flouts at us they throw. 7 Return us, and thy grace divine, And then we shall be safe. 8 A Vine from Egypt thou hast brought, And drov'st out nations proud and haut, 9 Thou didst prepare for it a place, That it began to grow apace, IO With her green shade that covered all 40 |