Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Cæsar, I have not known when his affections sway'd That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees Then, lest he may, prevent. SHAKESPEARE. ἐκμαρτυρήσω δ ̓ οὐκ ἰδὼν τῷ Καίσαρι γνώμης ποτ' αἰδῶ κρείσσον ̓ ἴσχουσαν ῥοπήν. καίτοι θάμ ̓ ἦν ἔνδηλος ἡ ταπεινότης κλιμάξ τις οὖσ ̓ ἄρχοντι μειζόνων ἐρᾶν, πρὸς ἦν τις ἐστήριξεν ἀμβάτης κάρα ἄκρον δὲ βαθμὸν οὐ φθάνει κατασχεθὼν καὶ νωτίσας τὴν κλίμακ ̓ εἶτ ̓ ἀπεστράφη, μετάρσιόν τ' ἔβλεψεν, αἷς ἐπήκρισεν ἐξωριάζων δουλίους προσαμβάσεις. ἃ κἂν ποιήσαι Καῖσαρ' ἀλλ ̓ εἴργειν τὸ μή. THE GENIUS OF THE WOOD. I. O'ER the smooth enamell'd green, Where no print of foot hath been, Follow me, as I sing And touch the warbled string: Under the shady roof Of branching elm, star-proof, Follow me: I will bring you where she sits Clad in splendour as befits Her deity: Such a rural queen All Arcadia hath not seen. SILVANUS. Qua gemmis nitet integrum gramen, nec viridi pes nocuit solo, mecum pergite, dum meis subtiles modulor carminibus fides, ulmos sub patulas, nemus astrorum radiis impenetrabile. ducam qua solium tenet dignis illa suo numine vestibus splendens: nec dea rusticos hac unquam tenuit pulcrior Arcadas. II. Nymphs and shepherds, dance no more On old Lycæus or Cyllene hoar To serve the lady of this place; Though Syrinx your Pan's mistress were, Yet Syrinx well might wait on her: Such a rural queen All Arcadia hath not seen. MILTON. |