A soul, resolv'd to pass the gloom of night, To whom the Pylian: "Think not, mighty king, And 'midst her legion search the powers of Troy." Jove ratifies vain Hector's haughty views; “O prince," he cries, “in this disastrous hour A sudden, sad reverse of mighty woes Greece all our counsel claims, now, now demands Waits that audacious victor, when in arms Our deepest cares! the power omnipotent Dreadful Achilles shines. But now thy steps Frowns on our arms, but smiles with aspect mild Nestor attends. Be it our care to wake On Hector's incense: Heavens! what son of Fame, Sage Ithacus, and Diomed the brave, Renown'd in story, e'er such deeds achiev'd Meges the bold, and in the race renown'd In a whole life, as in one glorious day Oïlean Ajax. To the ships that guard This favourite of the skies? and yet a man! Outmost the camp, some other speed his way a morta!! born to die! but such his deeds To raise stern Ajax and the Cretan king. As future Grecians shall repeat with tears But love, nor reverence to the mighty name To children yet unborn.-But haste, repair Of Menelaus, nor thy wrath, O king, To Ajax and Idomeneus: we wake Shall stop my free rebuke: sleep is a crime Ourself the Pylian sage, to keep the guards When Agamemnon wakes ; on him it lies On duty, by his care; for o'er the guards To share thy martial toils, to court the peers His son presides nocturnal, and in arms To act the men : this hour claims all our cares.” His great compeer, Meriones the bold.” Reserve,” rejoins the king, "for future hour “But say.”'rejoins the prince," these orders borne, Thy generous anger. Seems the royal youth There shall I stay, or measuring back the shores, Remiss? 'tis not through indolence of soul, To thee retur? No more return," replies But deference to our power; for our commands The king of hosts, “ lest treading different ways He waits, and follows when we lead the way. We meet no more ; for through the camp the ways This night, disdaining rest, his steps he bent Lie intricate and various : but aloud To our pavilion : now th’ illustrious peers, Wake every Greek to martial fame and arms; Rais'd at his call, a chosen synod stand Teach thein to emulate their godlike sires; Before the gates: haste, Nestor, haste away." And thou awhile forget thy royal birth, And share a soldier's cares: the proudest king To whom the sage well pleas'd: “In such brave Is but exalted dust; and when great Jove No Greek will envy power: with loyal joy [hands Call'd us to life, and gave us royal power, Subjects obey, when men of worth command.” He added not, but o'er his manly breast He gave a sad preeminence of woes.” Flung a rich robe : beneath his royal feet He spoke, and to the tent of Nestor turns The glittering sandals shone: a soft, large vest, His step majestic : on his couch he found Florid with purple wool, his aged limbs The hoary warrior ; all around him lay Graceful adorn'd : tipt with a star of brass His arms, the shield, the spears, the radiant helm, | A ponderous lance he grasp'd, and strode away And scarf of various dye: with these array'd, To wake sage Ithacus. Aloud his voice The reverend father to the field of Fame He rais'd: his voice was heard, and from his tent Led his bold fiies; for, with a brave disdain, Instant Ulysses sprung; and,“ Why," he cry'd, Old as he was, he scorn'd the case of age. Why thus abroad in the chill hours of night? Sudden die monarch starts, and half uprais'd, What new distress invades ?”_" Forgive my cares," Tous to the king aloud : “ What art thou, say? Reply'd the hoary sage; "for Greece I wake, Why in the camp alone? while others sleep, Greece and her dangers bring me to thy tent: Why wanderest thou obscure the midnight hours? Put haste, our wakeful peers in council meet; Seekst thou some centinel, or absent friend? This, this one night determines flight or war." Speak instant !-Silent to advance, is death!” Swift at the word he seiz'd his ample shield, "Opride of Greece,” the plaintive king returns, and strode along; and now they bend their way Here in thy tent thou Agamemnon view'st, To wake the brave Tydides: him they found A prince, the most unhappy of mankind ; Stretch'd on the earth, array'd in shining arms, Wots I endure, which none but kings can feel, And round, his brave companions of the war: Which ne'er will cease, until forgot in death : Their shields sustain'd their heads; erect their spears Pensive I wander through the damp of night, Shot through th'illumin'd air a streaming ray, Through the cold damp of night; distress’d; alone! Keen as Jove's lightning wing'd athwart the skies. And sleep is grown a stranger to my eyes : Thus slept the chief: beneath him on the ground The weizht of all the war, the load of woes A savage bull's black hide was roll'd; his head That presses every Greek, united falls A splendid carpet bore. The slumbering king The Pylian gently with these words awakes : “ Rise, son of Tydeus! ill, a whole night's rest To force its prison. beats against my sides! Suits with the brave! and sleep'st thou, while proud My strength is fail'd, and even my fect refuse Troy To bear so great a load of wretetedness! Hangs o'er our tents, and from yon joining hill Prepares her war? Awake, my friend, awake!" " But if thy wakeful cares (for o'er thy head Wakeful the hours glide on) have aught matur'u Sudeen the chief awoke, and milly gave l'seful, the thought unfold: but rise, my friend, This soft reply: "Oh! cruel to thy aya, Visit with me the watches of the night; Thou good old man! ne'er wilt thuir, wilt thou cease Jest tir'd they sleep, while Troy with all her war To burthen age with cares? Has Greece no youths Hangs o'er our tents, and now, perhaps ev'n now To wake the peers? unweary'd man, to hear Asms her proud bands. Arise, Day friend, arise !" At once the double load of toils, and years !” a “ 'Tis true,” he cry'd, "my subjects and my sons But haste; swift roll the hours of night, the more Might ease a sire and king: but rest 's a crime Already hastens to display her beams, When on the edge of fate our country stands : And in the vault of Heaven the stars decay.” Ere yet a few hours more have run their course, Swift at the word they sheathe their manly limba Important space! Greece triumphs, or Greece falls ! Horrid in arms: a two-edg'd sword and shield But, since an old man's cares thy pity moves, Nestor's bold son to stern Tydides gave; Haste, generous youth, with speed to council call A tough bull's hide his ample helmet form’d, Meges the brave, and in the race renown'd No cone adorn'd it, and no plumy crest Oilean Ajax."-Strait the chief obey'd, Wav'd in the air : a quiver and a bow, Strait o'er his shoulders flung the shaggy spoils And a huge faulchion, great Ulysses bears, Of a huge tawny lion ; with dire grace The gift of Merion : on his head an helm Down to his feet they hung: fierce in his hand Of leather nodded, firm within, and bound He grasp'd a glittering spear, and join'd the guards. With many a thong; without, in dreadful rows Wakeful in arms they sate, a faithful band, The snowy tusks of a huge savage boar As watchful dogs protect the Reecy train, Grinn'd horrible. Thus arm'd, away they stalk When the stern lion, furious for his prey, Undaunted : o'er their heads the martial maid Rushes through crashing woods, and on the fold Sends on the right an her'n; the ambient glooin Springs from some mountain's brow, while mingled Conceals him from the view, but loud in air Of men and hounds alarm : to every sound [cries They hear the clangor of his sounding wings. Faithful they turn : so through the gloom of night | Joyful the prosperous sign Ulysses haild. They cast their view, and caught each noise of Troy. And thus to Pallas : “ Offspring of dread Jove, Now met th' illustrious synod; down they sate, Who hurls the burning bolts ! O guardian power,. Down on a spot of ground unstain’d with blood, Present in all my toils, who view'st my way Where vengeful Hector from the slaughter stay'd Where'er I move, now thy celestial aid, . His murderous arm, when the dark veil of night Now, goddess, lend! may deeds this night adorn, Sabled the pole : to whom thus Nestor spoke : Deeds that all Troy may weep : may we return “ Lives there a son of Fame so nobly brave, In safety by thy guidance, heavenly maid !" That Troy-ward dares to trace the dangerous way, Tydides caught the word; and, “Oh!” he çries, To seize some straggling foe è or learn what Troy “ Virgin armipotent, now grant thy aid, Now meditates? to pour the tiood of war As to my sire! He by the gulphy tlood Fierce on our fleet, or back within her walls Of deep Asopus left th'embattled bands Lead her proud legians ? Oh! what fame would crown Of Greece in arms, and to imperial Thebes The hero thus triumphant, prais'd o'er Earth Bore terms of peace; but, as from haughty Thebes Above the sons of men ! And what rewards Alone he journey'd, deeds, heroic deeds, Should he receive! From every grateful peer His arm achiev'd, for Tydeus was thy care : A sable ewe, and lamb, of highest worth Thus guard his offspring, Oh! stern queen of arms į Memorial ; to a brave, heroic heart So shall an heifer on thy altars bleed, The noblest prize! and at the social feast Young and untam’d; to thee her blood I pour, Amongst the great, be his the seat of Fame, is And point ber lunar horns with burnish'd gold.”. Abash'd they sate, and ev'n the brave knew fear. Thus pray the chiefs, and Pallas hears their prayer: Not so Tydides: unappall'd he rose, Then, like two lions through the shades of night, And nobly spoke! “My soul! Oh! reverend sage, Dauntless they stride along ; and hold their way Fires at the bold design; through yon black host Through blood, and mangled limbs, o'er arms and Venturous I bend my way; but, if his aid 6 Nor pass they far, e'er the sagacious eye (death, Some warrior lend, my courage might arise Of Ithacus discerns a distant foe To nobler heights: the wise by mutual aid Coasting from Froy, and thus to Diomed : Instruct the wise, and brave men fire the brave." “See! o'er the plain some Trojan bends this way, Fierce at the word upstarted from the ground Perhaps to spoil the slain ! or to our host The stern Ajaces, fierce bold Merion rose, Comes he a spy . Beyond us o'er the field કે And Thrasymedes, sons of War: nor sate 'Tis best he pass, then sudden from behind The royal Spartan, nor great Nestor's heir, Rush we precipitant; but if in flight Nor greater Ithacus; his manly heart His active feet prevail, thy spear employ Sweli'd at the view of fame.Elate with joy To force him on our lines, lest hid in shades, Atrides saw; and, “Oh! thou best of friends, Through the dusk air he re-escape to Troy." Brave Diomed,” he cries, “ of all the peers Then couching to the ground, ambush'd they lay Chuse thou the valiantest : when merit pleads, Behind a hill of slain, onward the spy Titles no deference claim; high birth and state Incessant mov'd : he pass'd, and now arose To valour yield, and worth is more than power.” The fierce pursuers. Dolon heard the sound Thus, fearing for his brother, spoke the king, Of trampling feet, and panting, listening stood; Not long ! for Diomed dispels his fears. Now reach'd the chiefs within a javelin's throw, Stern foes of Dolon ! swift along the shores “Since free my choice, can I forget a friend, He wing'd his flight, and swift along the shores The man, for visdom's various arts renown'd; They still pursued : as when two skilful hounds The man, whose dauntless soul no toils dismay, Chase o'er the lawn the hare or bounding roe, Ulysses, lov'd by Pallas ? through his aid, Still from the sheltering brake the game they ture Though thousand fires oppose, a thousand fires Stretch every nerve, and bear upon the prey ! Oppose in vain; his wisdoin points the way.” “Nor praise, nor blame," the hero strait replies; " You speak to Greeks, and they Ulysses know : 6 V. 339. a Bo ran the chiefs, and from the host of Troy Venturous you bend to search the host of Troy, With glittering silver plates, and radiant gold Lest some bold Greek should interpose a wound, His chariot flames; gold forms his dazzling arms, And ravish half the glories of the night. Arms that may grace a god !--but to your tents New war thou wagest, nor return’st a spy." He spoke terrific: and as Dolon rais'd Suppliant his humble hands, the trenchant blade To whom Ulysses artfully : “ Be bold : Sheer through his neck descends; the furious blaw Far hence the thought of death! but instant say Cleaves the tough nerves in twain; down drops the Why thus alone in the still hours of night And mutters unintelligible sounds. [head, While every eye is clos'd ? to spoil the slain Strait they despoil the dead: the wolf's grey hide Cuin'st thou rapacious ? or some nightly spy They seize, the helm, the spear, and battle-bow: By Hector sent? or has thy venturous mind These, as they dropp'd with gore, on high in air Impelld thee to explore our martial bands ?” Ulysses rais'd, and to the martial maid Thus lowly consecrates: “ Stern power of war, “ By Hector sent, and by rewards undone,” Virgin armipotent, receive these arms, Returns the spy, (still as he spoke he shook) “I come unwilling : the refulgent car Propitious to my vows, thee, goddess, thee Chiefly I call: direct our prosperous way He promis'd, and immortal steeds that bear To pierce the Thracian tents, to seize the steeds Ta tight the great Achilles : thus betray'd, Of Rhesus, and the car that flames with gold.” Through the dun shades of night I bend my way Unprosperous, to explore the tented host Then fierce oʻer broken arms, through streams Of adverse Greece, and learn if now they stand of bloud Wakaful on guard, or, vanquish'd by our arms, They move along: now reach the Thracian bands Precipitant desert the shores of Troy.” All hush'd in sleep profound; their shining arms, To whom with smiles of scorn the sage returns : Rang'd in three ranks along the plain, around “ Bold were thy aims, O youth! But those proud By every Thracian stood : Rhesus their king Illumin'd the dun air : chariot and horse And his proud steeds were rein'd behind his car. Reluctant: But this night where Hector sleeps With joy Ulysses through the gloom descry'd Faithful disclose: Where stand the warrior's steeds? The sleeping king; and, Lo!" hecries,“ the steeds, Where lie his arms and implements of war? Lo! Diomel, the chief of Thrace, this night What guards are kept nocturnal ? Say, what Troy Describ'd by Dolon: now, oh! now thy strength Dauntless exert! loose thou the furious steeds; Now meditates ? to pour the tide of fight Fierce on our fleet, or back within her walls Or while the steeds 1 loose, with slaughtering hands Transfer the war?”_"To these demands,” he cries, The queen of arms inflam'd Tydides' soul Invade the soldiery.” He spoke, and now Faithful my tongue shall speak: The pcers of Troy With all her martial fires : his reeking blade Hector in council meets : round Ilus' tomb Apart from poise they stand: no guards surround On every side dealt fate; low, hollow groans The spacious host: where through the gloom yon Wellid from the slain. As in his nightly haunts Murmur'd around, biood o'er the crimson field fires Blaze frequent, Trojans wake to guard their Troy; Of sheep, or goat, and rends th’ unguarded prey; The surly lion rushes on the fold So he the Thracian bands. Twelve by his sword Safe sleep their wives and sons on foreign shores.” Lay breathless on the ground : behind him stood Sage Ithacus, and, as the warrior slew, "But say, apart encamp th' auxiliar bands," Swift he remov'd the slain, lest the fierce steeds, or join the powers of Troy?” Not yet inur'd to blood, should trembling start, " Along the sea-beat shores,” returns the spy, Impatient of the dead. Now o'er the king "The Leleges and Carians stretch their files; He whirls his wrathful blade, now furious gores Near these the Caucons, and Pelasgian train, His heaving chest : he wak'd not; but a dream and Pæons, dreadful with the battle-bow, By Pallas sent, rose in his anxious thoughts; Extended lie; on the Thymbræan plain A visionary warrior frowning stood The Lycians and the Mysians in array Fast by his head, and his acrial sword Spread their deep ranks: There the Mæonian bands, Plung'd through his tabouring breast. Mean while And Phrygians, range the fiery steeds of war. the steeds But why this nice Inquiry? If your way The sage unbinds, and instant with his bow Replies the sage, a DAMON. a FLORUS. DAMON. DAMON. FLORUS. Drives through the sleeping ranks : then to his Beside what fountain, in what breezy bower, FLORUS. By the fleet roes, that bound along the lawns; Thensanguj. 'd field; when, lo! the martial maid Soft tread, ye virgin daughters of the grove, Down rusbes from the battlements of Heaven, Nor with your dances wake my sleeping love ! And sudden cries, “ Return, brave chief, return, Lest from the skies some guardian power of Troy Wrathful descend, and rouse the hostile bands.” Return, O virgin ! and if proud disdain Arm thy fierce soul, return, enjoy my pain : Thus speaks the warrior queen: the heavenly If pleas'd thou view'st a faithful lover's cares, Tydides owns, and mounts the fiery steeds, (voice Thick rise, ye sighs: in floods descend, ye tears I Observant of the high command; the bow Sage Ithacus apply'd, and tow'rd the tents (plain. Return, O virgin! while in verdant meads Scourg'd the proud steeds, the steeds fiew o'er the By springs we sport, or dream on flowery beds! She weary wanders through the desert way, The food of wolves, or hungry lions' prey. Ah! shield her, Heaven! your rage, ye beasts, for SO A YOUNG LADY, UPON HER LEAVING, AND RETURN Those are not limbs for savages to tear! (bear! TO, THE COUNTRY. Adieu, ye meads! with her through wilds I go O’er burning sands, or everlasting snow; Say, while each scene so beautiful appears, With her I wander through the desert way, Why heaves thy bosom, and why flow thy tears? The food of wolves, or hungry lions' prey. See! from the clouds the spring descends in showers, The painted vallies laugh with rising flowers : Come, Rosalind, before the wintry clouds Smooth flow the floods, soft breathe the vernal airs; Prown o'er th' aerial vault, and rush in foods; The spring, flowers, floods, conspire to charm our Ere raging storms howl o'er the frozen plains; Thy charms may suffer by the storms or rains. DAMON. But vain the pleasures which the season yields, Come, Rosalind, 0 come; then infant flowers The laughing vallies, or the painted fields. Shall bloom and smile, and for their charins by No more, ye floods, in silver mazes flow; By you, the lily shall her white compose; (yours: Smile not, ye flowers; no more, soft breezes, blow : Your blush shall add new blushes to the rose; Far, Damon, far from these unhappy groves, Each flowery mead, and every tree shall bud, The cruel, Jovely Rosalinda roves. And fuller honours clothe the youthful wood. The sultry suns thy beauties may impair!- Hark! from yon bower what airs soft-warbled play! My soul takes wing to meet th' enchanting lay: For thee the rose withdrew her sweets, and dy'd. Silence, ye nightingales! attend the voice! While thus it warbles, all your songs are noise. See! from the bower a form majestic moves, And, smoothly eliding, shines alon: the groves; But since fair Rosalind forsook the plains, Say, comes a goddess from the golden spheres? Sweet Philomel no more renews her strains; A goddess comes, or Rosalind appears! Shine forth, thou Sun, bright ruler of the day; And where she treads, ve flowers, adorn the way! Say, O ye winds, that range the distant skies, Pejoice, ye groves; my heart, dismiss thy cares ! Now swell’d to tempests by my rising sighs; My goddess comes, iny Rosalind appears! cares. FLORUS. FI ORUS. DAMON. FLORUS. DAMON. DAMON. But it is plain, that in these times Aw'd by your guardian's dangerous power, No house is rais'd by poets' rhymes ; At distance trembling we adore ; They for themselves can only rear At distance once again behold A fev wild castles in the air; A serpent guard the blooming gold. Poor are the brethren of the bays, Well pleas'd, and harmless, lo! he lies, Down from high strains, to ekes and ayes. Basks in the sunshine of your eyes; The Muses too are virgins yet, Now twists his spires, and now unfurls And may be till they portions get. The gay confusion of his curls. Yet still the doating rhymer dreams, Oh! happy on your breast to lie, And sings of Helicon's bright streams; As that bright star' that gilds the sky, But Helicon, for all his clatter, Who, ceasing in the spheres to shine, Yields only uninspiring water; Would, for your breast, his Heaven resign. Yet evin athirst he sweetly sings ' Yet, oh! fair virgin, caution take, Of Nectar, and Elysian springs. Lest some bold cheat assume the snake. What dire malignant planet sheds, When Jove comprest the Grecian dame, Ye bards, his influence on your heads ? Aloof he threw the lightning's flame; Lawyers by endless controversies, On radiant spires the lover rode, And in the snake conceal'd the god. TO A LADY OF THIRTY. No more let youth its beauty boast, Pursues a sure and thriving trade; S Though patients die, the doctor's paid : -n at thirty reigns a toast, Licens'd to kill, he gains a palace, And, like the Sun as he declines, For what another mounts the gallows. More mildly, but more sweetly shincs The hand of Time alone disarms In shady groves the Muses stray, Her face of its superfluous charms : And love in flowery meads to play ; But adds, for every grace resign’d, A thousand to adorn ber mind.. Youth was her too inflaming time; This, her more habitable clime: Tous they gain nothing to bequeath How must she then each heart engage, Their votaríes, but a laurel wreath. Who blooms like youth, is wise like age ! Thus the rich orange-trees produce But love rewards the bard! the fair At once both ornament, and use: Here opening blossoms we behold, ON THE BIRTH-DAY OF MR. ROBERT TREFUSIS But then some say you purchase fame, And gain that envy'd prize, a name; BEING THREE YEARS OLD, MARCH 22, 1710-11. Great recompence! like his who sells Awake, swcet babe! the Sun's emerging ray, A diamond, for beads and bells. Will Fame be thought sufficient bail That gave you birth, renews the happy day! Calmly serene, and glorious to the view, To keep the poet from the jail ? He marches forth, and strives to look like you Thus the brave soldier, in the wars, Gets empty praise, and aching scars; is paid with fame and wooden legs ; Why, lovely babe, docs slumber seal your eyes! And, starv'd, the glorious vagrant begs. Sce, fair Aurora blushes in the skies ! Begins his course, and ushers in the day. Calmly serene, and glorious to the view, He marches forth, and strives to look like you. PLAYING WITH A SNAKE. Fair beauty's bud! when Time shall stretch thy It is a pleasing direful sight! Confirm thy charms, and ripen thee to man, (span,. At once you charm us, and affright! How shall each spain, cach beauteous nymph com. So Heaven destroying angels arms For love each nymph, for envy every swain! (plain, With terrour, dreadful in their charms ! What matchless charms shall thy full noon adorn, Snch, such was Cleopatra's air, When so admir'd, so glorious, is thy morn! ? 'The Scorpion By the dire asp, its noblest boast. Olympias, mother of Alexander the Greate VARIATIONS. a 8 |
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