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 rosa, Rendered almost word for word, without rhyme, according to 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 ; Sperat, nescius auræ Fallacis ! Miseri quibus Intentata nites. Me tabulâ sacer Votivâ paries indicat uvida 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 4 Lord God of Hosts, how long wilt thou, 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 To every neighbour foe; Among themselves they laugh, they play, 4 And flouts at us they throw. 7 Return us, and thy grace divine, O God of Hosts, vouchsafe; Cause thou thy face on us to shine, 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, 10 With her green shade that covered all 4 Jilgnagu. 30 40 Her boughs as high as cedars tall II Her branches on the western side And upward to that river wide Her other branches went. 12 Why hast thou laid her hedges low, And broken down her fence, That all may pluck her, as they go, With rudest violence? 13 The tusked boar out of the wood Upturns it by the roots; Wild beasts there browse, and make their food 14 Return now, God of Hosts; look down From Heaven, thy seat divine; Behold us, but without a frown, And visit this thy Vine. 15 Visit this Vine, which thy right hand And the young branch, that for thyself 16 But now it is consumed with fire, 17 Upon the Man of thy right hand 18 So shall we not go back from thee 19 Return us, and thy grace divine, 50 60 70 |