And now the stranger with a band
Of fond companions hand in hand

Is led into the grove;

And straight for his beloved he looks; Around the vales, the meads, the brooks, His eyes impatient rove:

Whom on a bank of mossy green
Reclined he sees, by her is seen,

And in a moment both

Together rush, like sunbeams meet,
And in a perfect union sweet
Renew their early troth:

And all the fond Elysian band
Around the pair in rapture stand,

And songs triumphal chime :

Oh, this is love, and life to live,
Such joy as Hymen cannot give ;
Soul-harmony sublime!

Videsne? ducunt in nemus advenam

Læti sodales: ille per obvia

Vireta lucorumque flexus

Sollicitum jaciens ocellum

Quærit maritam; quam viridi super Ripâ jacentem protinus aspicit Aspectus, incurritque fidos

Alter in alterius lacertos:

Ceu lympha lymphæ mobilis influit, Et flamma flammam sueta prehendere, Sic Umbra commiscetur Umbræ

Ut veteres renovent amores.

Ornata vittis agmina Manium

Circumsteterunt; et chorus incipit
Cantare, pæan mille vocum,

Mille simul resonare chordæ :

En vita felix! en amor unicus,

Quem nescit Hymen jungere vinculo;

Sublimis, incorrupta virtus,

Consocians animos fideles !

TRANSLATION FROM PETRARCH.

Creatures there are of such a piercing sight
That can endure upon the sun to gaze,

While others, whom the mighty sunbeams daze,
Come not abroad but in the dim twilight:

Others are found whom yearnings strange incite
To feel the flame that hath such beauteous rays,
Which coming near, they perish in the blaze :
Of the last tribe am I, unhappy wight.
The dazzling beauties of my lovely maid
These weak and tearful eyes do overpower;
Yet still I gaze upon her; 'tis my doom:

Nor will I seek to screen me by the shade
Of dusky places, or the twilight hour,

But follow her who doth my

heart consume.

THE SAME TRANSLATED.

Sunt quorum ocellis visus est acerrimus,

Solem intueri ut audeant;

Ast alia gens ardente radio territa

Non prodit ante vesperem ;

Aliisque mirus est amor viventibus

Sentire flammarum jubar,

Cui cum propinquant, illa fulgor enecat:

Sum talis infelix ego.

Nam qui puellæ splendor e vultu micans

Præstringit oculos debiles,

Spectare cogit dira me necessitas ;

Nec animus est caliginis

Umbraculo me tegere vel crepusculo,

Sed pectus urentem sequi.

I

TRANSLATION FROM PETRARCH.

When in the virgin throng my Laura's face
Array'd I see in loveliness divine,

The more she seems all others to outshine,

With firmer hold doth she my love embrace.
Then do I bless the time, the hour, the place,
That with such noble passion warm'd these eyne,
And say; My soul, a happy lot is thine,
That worthy found thee of so high a grace:
She did in thee the amorous thought inspire,
Which teaches thee the greatest good to know,
Esteeming not what other men desire;

She made in thee the buoyant strength to grow,

Which heavenward guides the way, and here below Cheering my path in hope exalts me higher.