AN ARABIAN ECLOGUE. roves He hears, where'er he moves, the dreadful sound ; To warm the traveller numb'd with winter's cold; Check the deep vales, and Check the woods The young to cherish, to support the old ; rebound : The sad to comfort, and the weak protect; No place remains : he sees the certain fate, The poor to shelter, and the lost direct :And yields his throne to ruin, and check-mate. These are her cares, and this her glorious task ; A brighter blush o'erspreads the damsel's cheeks, Can Heaven a nobler give, or mortals ask? And mildly thus the conquer'd stripling speaks : Come to these groves, and these life-breathing "A double triumph, Delia, hast thou won, glades, By Mars protected, and by Venus' son ; Ye friendless orphans, and ye dowerless maids ; Mourns there a widow, bathed in streaming tears! Of tender parents and of hope bereft? To Solima their sorrows they bewail ; She hears; and, radiant as the star of day, Whilst all her soul sits melting in her eye: That wanton with the laughing summer-air ; Then with a smile the healing balm bestows, Love-tinctured cheeks, whence roses seek their And sheds a tear of pity o'er their woes, bloom, Which, as it drops, some soft-eyed angel bears And lips, from which the zephyr steals perfume ; Transform'd to pearl, and in his bosom wears. Invite no more the wild unpolish'd lay, “When chill'd with fear, the trembling pilgrim But fly like dreams before the morning ray. (groves, Then farewell, love! and farewell, youthful fires! Through pathless deserts and through tangled A nobler warmth my kindled breast inspires. Where mantling darkness spreads her dragon wing, Far bolder notes the listening woods shall fill ; And birds of death their fatal dirges sing, Flow smooth, ye rivulets; and, ye gales, be still. While vapours pale a dreadful glimmering cast, * See yon fair groves that o'er Amana rise, And thrilling horror howls in every blast; And with their spicy breath embalm the skies ; She cheers his gloom with streams of bursting Where every breeze sheds incense o'er the vales, light, And every shrub the scent of musk exhales ! By day a sun, a beaming moon by night ; (ray, See through yon opening glade a glittering scene, Darts through the quivering shades her heavenly Lawns ever gay, and meadows ever green; And spreads with rising flowers his solitary way. Then ask the groves, and ask the vocal bowers, “ Ye heavens, for this in showers of sweetness Who deck'd their spiry tops with blooming flowers, shed Tanght the blue stream o'er sandy vales to flow, Your mildest influence o'er her favour'd head! And the brown wild with liveliest hues to glow? Long may her name, which distant climes shall Fair Solima! the hills and dales will sing; praise, Fair Solima! the distant echoes ring.t Live in our notes, and blossom in our lays ! But not with idle shows of vain delight, And, like an odorous plant, whose blushing flower To charm the soul or to beguile the sight; Paints every dale, and sweetens every bower, At noon on banks of pleasure to repose, Borne to the skies in clouds of soft perfume Where bloom entwined the lily, pink, and rose ; For ever flourish, and for ever bloom! Not in proud piles to heap the nightly feast, These grateful songs, ye maids and youths, renew, Till morn with pearls has deck'd the glowing east; While fresh blown violets drink the pearly dew; Ah! not for this she taught those bowers to rise, O'er Azib's banks while love-lorn damsels rove, And bade all Eden spring before our eyes : And gales of fragrance breathe from Hagar's Far other thoughts her heavenly mind employ grove." (Hence, empty pride! and hence, delusive joy!) So sung the youth, whose sweetly-warbled strains To cheer with sweet repast the fainting guest; Fair Mena heard, and Saba's spicy plains. To lull the weary on the couch of rest ; Sooth'd with his lay, the ravish'd air was calm, The winds scarce whisper'd o'er the waving palm; A parody of the last line in Pope's translation of the Like the swift ostrich, or the sportful fawn; The camels bounded o'er the flowery lawn, Iliad: "And peaceful slept the mighty Hector's shade.” Their silken bands the listening rose-buds rent, + It was not easy in this part of the translation to And twined their blossoms round his vocal tent : avoid a turn similar to that of Pope in the known de. He sung, till on the bank the moonlight slept, scription of the Man of Ross. And closing flowers beneath the night-dew wept ; Then ceased, and slumber'd in the lap of rest AN ODE IN IMITATION OF ALCAEUS. Ου λιθοι, εδε ξυλα, υδε Alc. quoted by Arislides. Thick wall or moated gate ; Not bays and broad-arm'd ports, Not starr'd and spangled courts, NO:-Men, high-minded men, In forest, brake, or den, Men, who their duties know, Prevent the long-aim'd blow, These constitute a state ; O'er thrones and globes elate Smit by her sacred frown And e'en th' all dazzling crown Such was this heaven-loved isle, No more shall freedom smile? Since all must life resign, 'Tis folly to decline, Aberguvenny, March 31, 1781. Thus, Harmodius! shone thy blade; Whose, when Britain sighs for aid, Dearest youths, in islands bless'd, You with fleet Pelides rest, Verdant myrtle's branchy pride Such, Harmodius ! deck'd thy side; They the base Hipparchus slew Gods -how swift their poniards flew . Then in Athens all was peace, Nurse of arts, and age of Greece! Not less glorious was thy deed, Not less brilliant be thy meed, High in freedom's temple raised, For collected virtues praised, Ne'er shall Fate their eyelids close : With Harmodius shall repose : No, bless'd chiefs! a hero's crown You less fiercely won renown; They through blood for glory strove, They to death a tyrant drove, Rise, BRITANNIA! dauntless rise ! Monarch good, and nobles wise THE FIRST NEMEAN ODE OF PINDAR.. CALM breathing-place of Alpheus dead, AN ODE IN IMITATION OF CALLIS Ortygia, graceful branch of Syracuse renown'd, Young Dina's rosy bed, Sister of Delos, thee, with sweet, yet lofty, sound Bursting numbers call, to raise Of tempest-footed steeds the trophies glorious (Thus Etnean Jove we praise ;) Quod si post Idus illias Martias e Tyrannoctonis quis. While Chromius' car invites, and Nemea's plain, piam tale aliquod carmen plebi tradidisset inque For noble acts victorious Suburram et fori circulos et in ora vulgi intulisset, To weave the encomiastic strain. actum profecto fuisset de partibus deque dominatione Cæsarum; plus mehercule valuisset unum Apuodiy From prospering gods the song begins ; uelos quam Ciceronis Philippicæ omnes. - Lowth De Next hails that godlike man and virtue's holy meeds: Sacra Poesi, Præl. 1. VERDANT myrtle's branchy pride *This ode is translated word for word with the original; Shall my biting falchion wreathe ; those epithets and phrases only being necessarily added, Soon shall grace each manly side which are printed in italic letters. Tubes that speak, and points that breathe. See Argument of the Hymns to Pacriti. He the flower of greatness wins, Horror seized the female train, Whom smiling fortune crowns; and vast heroic Who near Alcmena’s genial couch attended : deeds She, from agonizing pain Yet weak, unsandall'd and unmantled rush'd, Whilst he the fiery monsters crush'd. Swift the Cadmean leaders ran In brazen mail precipitately bold: First Amphitryon, dauntless man, Sicilia's full nutritious breast Bared his raised falchion from its sheathing gold, With tower'd and wealthy cities he would crown. While grinding anguish pierced his fluttering breast; Her the son of Saturn bless'd For private woes most keenly bite With suitors brazen-arm'd for war's renown Self-loving man; but soon the heart is light, With sorrow not its own oppress'd. Standing in deep amazement wild With rapturous pleasure mix'd, he saw th' enor mous force, Oft in the portals was I placed Saw the valour of his child : Of that guest-loving man, and pour'd the dulcet And fated heralds prompt, as heaven had shaped strain, their course, Where becoming dainties graced Wafted round the varied tale: His hospitable board; for ne'er with efforts vain Then called he from high Jove's contiguous region, Strangers to his mansion came : Him, whose warnings never fail, And thus the virtuous, when detraction rages, Tiresias blind, who told, in diction sage, Quench with liberal streams her fame. The chief and thronging legion Let each in virtue's path right onward press, What fortunes must his boy engage ; As each his art engages, What lawless tyrants of the wood, And, urged by genius, win success. What serpents he would slay, what monsters of the Laborious action strength applies, main, What proud toe to human good, The worst of monstrous forms, that holy manhood stain, Agesidamus' son, she frankly gave to thee Powerful might and wisdom deep. His huge arm to death would dash : I see not in dark cells the hoarded treasure How when heaven's host, o'er Phlegra's champaign hasting, Grotelling with low care to keep, But, as wealth flows, to spread it, and to hear With embattled giants rash Load fame, with ample measure Vindictive warr'd, his pondrous mace would storm With dreadful strokes wide-wasting, Cheering my friends, since hope and fear And dust their glittering locks deform. Assail disastrous men. The praise He told ; and how in blissful peace Or Hercules with rapture I embrace Through cycles infinite of gliding time, On the heights, which virtues raise, When his mortal task should cease, The rapid legend old his name shall place ; Sweet prize of perils hard and toil sublime, For, when he brook'd no more the cheerless gloom, In gorgeous mansions he should hold entranced And burst into the blaze of day, Soft Hebe, fresh with blooming grace, The child of Jove with his twin brother lay, And crown, exalting his majestic race, Refulgent from the sacred womb. The bridal feast near Jove advanced. Not unobserved the godlike boy By Juno golden-throned the saffron'd cradle press'd; Straight heaven's queen with furious joy Bade hideous dragons fleet th' unguarded floor infest: A CHINESE ODE, PARAPHRASED. They, the portals opening wide, BEHOLD, where yon blue rivulet glides Roll'd through the chamber's broad recess tremen Along the laughing dale; dous, Light reeds bedeck its verdant sides, And frolic in the gale So shines our prince! in bright array The virtues round him wait; And sweetly smiled th' auspicious day, With both resistless hands he clasp'd That raised him o'er our state. Both struggling horrid pests, and clothed their necks with death; As pliant hands, in shapes refined, They espiring, as he grasp'd, Rich ivory carve and smooth, Pour'd from their throats compress'd, the foul His laws thus mould each ductile mind, envenom'd breath. And every passion soothe. As gems are taught by patient art * The sparkling dew-drops o'er the lilies play, In sparkling ranks to beam, Like orient pearls, or like the beams of day. With manners thus he forms the heart, If love and mirth your wanion thoughts engage, And spreads a general gleam. Attend, ye nymphs! a poet's words are sage ; While thus you sit beneath the trembling shade, What soft, yet awful dignity! Be gay: too soon the flowers of spring will fade. What meek, yet manly grace! What sweetness dances in his eye, + The fresh-blown rose like Zeineb's cheek apAnd blossoms in his face ! pears, When pearls, like dew-drops, glitter in her ears. So shines our prince ! A sky-born crowd The charms of youth at once are seen and past : Of virtues round him blaze: And nature says, “They are 100 sweet to last." Ne'er shall oblivion's murky cloud So blooms the rose ; and so the blushing maid. Obscure his deathless praise. Be gay : too soon the flowers of spring will fade. With rubies flaming and with living gold. -While crystal showers from weeping clouds deBEHOLD yon reach of the river Kı; scend, Its green reeds how luxuriant! how luxuriant ! Enjoy the presence of thy tuneful friend : Thus is our prince adorn’d with virtues ; Now, while the wines are brought, the sofa's laid, As a carver, as a filer of ivory, Be gay: too soon the flowers of spring will fade. As a cutter, as a polisher of gems O how elate and sagacious! O how dauntless and 9 The plants no more are dried, the meadows dead, composed ! No more the rose-bud hangs her pensive head : How worthy of fame! How worthy of reverence! The shrubs revive in valleys, meads, and bowers, We have a prince adorn'd with virtues, And every stalk is diadem'd with flowers ; Whom to the end of time we cannot forget.” In silken robes each hillock stands array’d. Be gay: too soon the flowers of spring will fade. || Clear drops, each morn, impearl the rose's bloom, A TURKISH ODE OF MESIHI. And from its leaf the zephyr drinks perfume ; The dewy buds expand their lucid store: HEAR! how the nightingales on every spray, Be this our wealth : ye damsels, ask no more. Hail, in wild notes, the sweet return of May ; Though wise men envy, and though fools upbraid, -The gale that o'er yon waving almond blows, Be gay : too soon the flowers of spring will fade. The verdant bank with silver blossoms strows : The smiling season decks each flowery glade. I The dew-drops sprinkled, by the musky gale, Be gay : 100 soon the flowers of spring will fade. Are changed to essence ere they reach the dale. The mild blue sky a rich pavilion spreads, # What gales of fragrance scent the vernal air! Without our labour, o'er our favour'd heads. Hills, dales, and woods, their loveliest maniles Let others toil in war, in arts, or trade ;wear, Be gay: too soon the flowers of spring will fade. Who knows what cares await that fatal day, When ruder gusts shall banish gentle May ? E'en death, perhaps, our valleys will invade. IMITATIONS. Be gay: too soon the flowers of spring will fade. “Again the dew glitters on the leaves of the lily, like the water of a bright cimeter. The dew-drops fall | The tulip now its varied hue displays, through the air on the garden of roses. Listen to me, And sheds, like Ahmed's eye, celestial rays. listen to me, if thou desirest to be delighted. Be eheer. Ah, nation ever faithful, ever true, ful,” &c. The joys of youth, while May invites, pursue ! "The roses and tulips are like the bright cheeks of Will not these notes your timorous minds persuade? beautiful maids, in whose ears the pearls hang like drops Be gay: 100 soon the flowers of spring will fade. of dew. Deceive not thysels, by thinking that these charms will have a long duration. Be cheerful," &c. "Tulips, roses, and anemonies, appear in the gar dens; the showers and the sunbeams, like sharp lancets, IMITATIONS. tinge the banks with the colour of blood. Spend this * "Thou hearest the tale of the nightingale, 'that the day agreeably with thy friends, like a prudent man. Be vernal season approaches.' The spring has spread a cheerful,” &c. bower of joy in every grove, where the almond tree $"The time is passed in which the plants were sick, sheds its silver blossoms. Be cheerful; be full of and the rose-bud hung its thoughtful head on its bosom. mirth ; for the spring passes soon away: it will not last." The season comes in which mountains and rocks are 7 "The groves and hills are again adorned with all coloured with tulips. Be cheerful,”' &c. sorts of flowers; a pavilion of roses, as the seat of plea I“ Each inorning the clouds shed gems over the rose. sure, is raised in the garden. Who knows which of us garden; the breath of the gale is full of Tartarian musk. will be alive when the fair season ends? Be cheer. Be not neglectful of thy duty through too great a love ful," &c. of the world. Be cheerful,” &c. "The edge of the bower is filled with the light of q" The sweetness of the bower has made the air so Ahmed; among the plants the fortunate tulips represent fragrant, that the dew, before it falls, is changed into rosehis companions. Come, O people of Mohamıned! this water. The sky spreads a pavilion of bright clouds over is the season of merriment. Be cheerful," &c. the garden. Be cheerful,”' &c. * Late, gloomy winter chill'd the sullen air, his corporeal nature, and reducing hiin to a mental Till Soliman arose, and all was fair. essence; and hence his chief dominion is over the Soft in his reign, the notes of love resound, minds of mortals, or such deities as he is permitted to subdue. And pleasure's rosy cup goes freely round. Here on the bank, which mantling vines o'ershade, THE HYMN. Be gay: too soon the flowers of spring will fade. What potent god from Agra's orient bowers + May this rude lay from age to age remain, Floats through the lucid air, whilst living flowers A true memorial of this lovely train. With sunny twine the vocal arbours wreath, With gems of dew his musky tresses. 60 HYMN TO CAMDEO. • Know'st thou not me ?” Celestial sounds I hear! Know'st thou not me?" Ah, spare a mortal ear! THE ARGUMENT. Behold”—My swimming eyes entranced I raise, The Hindoo god, to whom the following poem is ad. But O! they sink before th' excessive blaze. dressed, appears evidently the same with the Grecian Yes, son of Maya, yes I know Eros and the Roman Cupido; but the Indian description Thy bloomy shafts and cany bow, of his person and arms, his family, attendants, and attri. Cheeks with youthful glory beaming, butes, has new and peculiar beauties. Locks in braids ethereal streaming, According to the mythology of Hindoostan, he was Thy scaly standard, thy mysterious arms, the son of Maya, or the general attracting power, and married to Retty, or Affection; and his bosom friend is And all thy pains and all thy charms. Bessent or Spring: he is represented as a beautiful God of each lovely sight, each lovely sound, youth, sometimes conversing with his mother and con. sort, in the midst of his gardens and temples; sometimes Soul-kindling, world-inflaming, stary-crown'd, riding by moonlight on a parrot or lory, and attended by Eternal Cama! Or doth Smara bright, dancing girls or nymphs, the foremost of whom bears Or proud Ananga give thee more delight ? his colours, which are a fish on a red ground. His fa Whate'er thy seat, whate'er thy name, vourite place of resort is a large tract of country round Seas, earth, and air, thy reign proclaim: Agra, and principally the plains of Matra, where Krishen Wreathy smiles and roseate pleasures also, and the nine Gopia, who are clearly the Apollo Are thy richest, sweetest treasures. and muses of the Greeks, usually spend the night with music and dance. His bow of sugar-cane, or flowers All animals to thee their tribute bring, with a string of bees, and his five arrows, each pointed and hail thee universal king with an Indian blossom of a heating quality, are allegories equally new and beautiful. He has at least twenty. Thy consort mild, Affection ever true, three names, most of which are introduced in the hymn: Graces thy side, her vest of glowing hue ; that of Cam, or Cama, signifies desire, a sense which it And in her train twelve blooming girls advance, also bears in ancient and modern Persian ; and it is pos. Touch golden strings, and knit the mirthful dance. sible that the words Dipuc and Cupid, which have the Thy dreaded implements they bear, sarne signification, may have the same origin, since And wave them in the scented air, we know that the old Hetruscans, from whom great part of the Roman language and religion was derived, and Each with pearls her neck adorning, wbose system had a near affinity with that of the Per Brighter than the tears of morning. sians and Indians, used to write their lines alternately Thy crimson ensign, which before them flies, forwards and backwards, as furrows are made by the Decks with new stars the sapphire skies. plough; and, though the two last letters of Cupido may enly be the grammatical termination as in libido and God of the flowery shasts and flowery bow, capedo, yet the primary root of cupio is contained in the Delight of all above and all below! first three letters. The seventh stanza alludes to the Thy loved companion, constant from his birth, bold attempt of this deity to wound the great god Maha. In heaven clep'd Bessent, and gay Spring on earth, deo, for which he was punished by a flame consuming Weaves thy green robe and flaunting bowers, He with fresh arrows fills thy quiver, (Sweet the gift, and sweet the giver !) & Whoever thou art, know that the black gusts of And bids the many-plumed warbling throng autumn had seized the garden ; but the king of the Burst the pent blossoms with their song. world again appeared, dispensing justice to all: in his reign the happy cupbearer desired and obtained the He bends the luscious cane, and twists the string flowing wine. Be cheerful," &c. With bees, how sweet! but ah, how keen their + "By these strains I hoped to celebrate this delight. sting! ful valley: may they be a memorial to its inhabitants, He with five flowerets tips thy ruthless darts, and remind them of this assembly, and these fair maids ! Thou art a nightingale with a sweet voice, O Mesihi, Which through five senses pierce enraptured when thou walkest with the damscls, whose cheeks are hearts : like roses. Be cheerful; be full of mirth; for the Strong Chumpa, rich in odorous gold, spring passes soon away; it will not last !" Warm Amer, nursed in heavenly mould, F |