IDEM LATINE REDDITUM. I. HEU inimicitias quoties parit æmula forma, Cum flores ipsos bilis et ira movent. Hortus ubi dulces præbet tacitosque recessus, III. Ira Rosam et meritis quæsita superbia tangunt, Multaque ferventi vix cohibenda sinu, Dum sibi fautorum ciet undique nomina vatum, Jusque suum, multo carmine fulta, probat. IV. Altior emicat illa, et celso vertice nutat, Ceu flores inter non habitura parem, Fastiditque alios, et nata videtur in usus Imperii, sceptrum, Flora quod ipsa gerat. V. Nec Dea non sensit civilis murmura rixæ, Cui curæ est pictas pandere ruris opes. Deliciasque suas numquam non prompta tueri, Dum licet et locus est, ut tueatur, adest. VI. Et tibi forma datur procerior omnibus, inquit; VII. His ubi sedatus furor est, petit utraque nympham, Qualem inter Veneres Anglia sola parit; Hanc penes imperium est, nihil optant amplius, hujus Regnant in nitidis, et sine lite, genis. THE POPLAR FIELD. THE poplars are felled, farewell to the shade, And the whispering sound of the cool colonnade; The winds play no longer and sing in the leaves, Nor Ouse on his bosom their image receives. Twelve years have elaps'd, since I last took a view The blackbird is fled to another retreat, Where the hazels afford him a screen from the heat, And the scene, where his melody charm'd me before, Resounds with his sweet-flowing ditty no more. My fugitive years are all hasting away, 'Tis a sight to engage me, if any thing can, Mr. Cowper afterward altered this last stanza in the following manner: The change both my heart and my fancy employs, IDEM LATINE REDDITUM. POPULEÆ cecidit gratissima copia silvæ, Hei mihi! bis senos dum luctu torqueor annos, His cogor silvis suetoque carere recessu, Cum serò rediens, stratasque in gramine cernens, Insedi arboribus, sub queîs errare solebam. Ah ubi nunc merulæ cantus? Felicior illum Sed qui succisas doleo succidar et ipse, Defixum lapidem tumulique cubantis acervum. Tam subitò periisse videns tam digna manere, Sit licèt ipse brevis, volucrique simillimus umbræ, VOTUM. O MATUTINI rores, auræque salubres, Quam vellem ignotus, quod mens mea semper avebat, Ante larem proprium placidam expectare senectam, Tum demùm, exactis non infeliciter annis, Sortiri tacitum lapidem, aut sub cespite condi! |