And wisely learn to curb thy sorrows wild; to live. * 75 ANNO ÆTATIS 19. At a VACATION EXERCISE in the COLLEGE, part Latin, part English. The Latin speeches ended, the English thus began. HAIL, native Language, that by sinews weak Where he had mutely sat two years before: 5 5 dumb silence] Nonni Dionys. xv. 10. ἀφωνήτω σιωπή. Chapman's Homer's Il. p. 98, ‘Dumb silence seiz'd them all.' Daniel's Poems, ii. 236. Wishart's Immanuel, p. 66. Sylvester's Du Bartas, p. 5. England's Helicon, p. 259. С. Cotton's Poems, p. 239. Buchanan. Sylv. p. 310, tacitæ per muta silentia silvæ.' Small loss it is that thence can come unto thee, 15 20 25 Till thou hast deck'd them in thy best array; Thy service in some graver subject use, 30 Such as may make thee search thy coffers round, Before thou clothe my fancy in fit sound: Such where the deep transported mind may soar Above the wheeling poles, and at Heav'n's door Look in, and see each blissful Deity 35 30 graver] An anticipation of the subject of Par. Lost, if we substitute Christian for Pagan ideas. Warton. How he before the thunderous throne doth lie, To th' touch of golden wires, while Hebe brings Immortal nectar to her kingly sire: 3G Then passing through the spheres of watchful fire, 45 When beldam Nature in her cradle was; And last of kings and queens and heroes old, 50 In solemn songs at king Alcinous' feast, 36 thunderous] Jortin proposed 'thunderer's throne;' but see P. L. x. 702, 'thunderous clouds; and Sylvester's Du Bartas, p. 420. 'Rushing with thundrous roar.' Warton and Todd. 37 unshorn] Hor. Od. i. xxi. 2. 'Intonsum, pueri, dicite Cynthium.' And Pind. Pyth. Od. iii. 26. Newton. 40 watchful] Vigiles flammas.' Ov. Art. Am. iii. 463. 'Vigil flamma.' Trist. iii. v. 4. Warton. 52 sweet] Tasso, Gier. Lib. c. vi. st. 84. dolce e leggiero.' Du Bartas, p. 997. of my captivitie. Warton and Todd. 'Giogo di servitu The willing chains Then quick about thy purpos'd business come, That to the next I may resign my room. Then Ens is represented as father of the Predicaments his ten sons, whereof the eldest stood for Substance with his canons, which ENS, thus speaking, explains. 60 Good luck befriend thee, Son; for at thy birth [still Yet there is something that doth force my fear, For once it was my dismal hap to hear A Sibyl old, bow-bent with crooked age, Ungratefully shall strive to keep him under, 70 75 Yet on his brothers shall depend for clothing. And peace shall lull him in her flow'ry lap; 85 What pow'r, what force, what mighty spell, if not Your learned hands, can loose this Gordian knot? The next QUANTITY and QUALITY spake in prose; then RELATION was called by his name. RIVERS, arise; whether thou be the son His thirty arms along th' indented meads, Or sullen Mole that runneth underneath, 05 Or coaly Tine, or ancient hallow'd Dee, Or Humber loud that keeps the Scythian's name, Or Medway smooth, or royal tower'd Thame. 100 [The rest was prose.] 94 indented] Sylvester's Du Bartas, D. iii. W.1. Our silver Medway which doth deepe indent The flowerie meadowes of my native Kent. Warton. 93 hallow'd] holy Dee.' Randolph's Poems, p. 48, ed. 1640. Todd. |