And round great stems, like pillars, interlaces Look'd the gold growing its dark leaves between; So came there to the low wind's rise and fall Metallic tinkling thin and faintly musical. XXIX. It, seeming loth to part, incontinent All rich and resinous for the fire's strong wings. Dark leaves enweave it. Trophies of his frays, O'er cypresses of bale they hang his arms ablaze. XXX. Part haste the boiling caldron all a-bubble, Wash the cold corpse, anoint it, and make moan. Then on the bed that never shall know trouble They place the limbs, and over them are thrown The purple vestments that are so well known, Part stoop below the bier (a woeful toil!) Holding the torch averse, as erst was done. Fiercely and yet more fierce do the flames boil With frankincense flung in and flesh and cups of 348 SPECIMEN OF A TRANSLATION. XXXVI. Darkling they walk'd beneath the lonely night, homes, Realms unsubstantial. Look ! such dubious light, Rather than shines a moon in clouded skies XXXVII. Yon is the home of Sickness, pale and pining, Misery with Shame,—of Death and Labour's din, And Sleep, Death's brother and his next of kin. Over against them, and against the lair Of those Ill Joys that are the foulest sin, War on the threshold stands,—and Discord there, With ribbons blood-bedropp'd wove through her snaky hair. Printed by Porteous and Gibbs, 18 Wicklow Street, Dublin. intimation, that the rivers, one of them ninefold, had to be passed by any one wishing to enter the infernal world, while Virgil might lead us to suppose that Æneas only passed one, I turn upon the critic. In the chiaro-obscuro and shadowy horror of that world, we are not to expect precision and definiteness. It reminds one of the tastelessness of those astute commentators, who, in a far holier region, ask how the harpers can hold both harps and vials, and who construct plans of the Heavenly Jerusalem. Nor am I much moved by accusations of plagiarism. Bossuet and Massillon never seem more original than when they are borrowing Augustine or Chrysostem. We answer the accusers in Virgil's own words, "Let them, try to steal from themselves, as they say I have stolen for myself." VIRGILLI ENEIS. LIB. VI. 1–281. ANGLICE REDDITA. I. So he speaks weeping, and speeds on full sail, The sailors turn their prows. Their perils o'er, The anchor stays them, and they rock no more. Far, far along with ships the strand is lined, The merry men leap on the Hesperian shore: Part strike the seeds of flame from flints, part wind. Swift through the leafy lairs and forest fountains find. II. But good Æneas seeks the shrine exalted The Sibyl's home. Her mighty mind and sprite The Delian seer doth evermore inspire, And touch the opening future with his light. They enter Trivia's groves, and much admire III. They say self-exiled Dædalus going forth From Minos' realms with pinions swift and bold Dared trust him to the sky, and swam far North Way unattempted! to the Arcti, cold. Lightly at last oe'r Cuma's ancient hold Self-poised he hung, and first from air set free Treading this firm green earth, his vow enroll'd To dedicate the wings that oar'd the sea Of the blue sky, in fanes, O Phoebus, built for thee! IV. The fane is built-lo! the doors sculptured here, Androgeos' death. This side the Athenians stand, Ah me! in act to yield their seven a year. |