popular example, as by the guiding of reason._
_Ode 10. Lib. 4._
Delli, si populo duce
Vita degenerem carpimus orbitam,
Erramus, procul arduis
Virtus se nimium seposuit jugis.
Illuc quo via tritior,
Hoc est certa minus. Longus inutili
Error nectitur ordine:
Et mores populum, non ratio trahit.
Wee erre (my _Dellius_) if wee take
That baser path of life, the people make;
In highest and remotest Hills
Vertue sequesters up her selfe, and dwells.
There where the way more beaten lyes,
Lesse certaine, and more slipp'ry alwayes 'tis.
From fruitlesse order, errours grow;
Custome, not reason, drawes the people now.
Casu vivitur, & viam
Non metam premimus, qua praeeuntium
Per vestigia civium
Insanae strepitus plebis, & improbae
Voces invidiae vocant.
Exemplis trahimur & trahimus retro,
Soli nemo sibi est malus,
Nulli vita sua est: dum vaga postero
Tubam turba premit gradu,
Sunt primi exitio saepe sequentibus.
Men live by Chance, our time we spend
I'th' way, like Truants, and forget the end,
Where 'mid'st the throng of passers by,
The noyse of the mad rout, the hatefull cry
Of envy, calls, wee're drawne amaine
B'example; others wee draw back againe;
No man is ill to himselfe alone,
Nor no mans life is onely call'd his owne.
Whil'st that the rambling rout treads o're
With after steps, the heeles of them before,
They that goe formost are design'd
A mischiefe oft to those that come behind.
Me Parnassus & integer
Plebeiis Helicon caetibus eripit
Sublimem; unde vagantium
Errores animorum, & male desidis
Vulgi damna patent. juvat
Ex alto intrepidum colle jacentia
Despectare pericula, &
Cantum non propriis vivere casibus.
_Pernassus_, and chaste _Helicon_
Sublimes and takes mee from the vulgar throng:
From whence, the false mistakes I view
And wandring mindes of the too slothfull crew;
And from on hye I fearelesse see,
With sport, the dangers that below me lye;
Thus warily with joy I live,
And by, other mens mischances I can thrive.
_Ad Sigismundum Laetum._
Gloriae inanis despicientiam & silentium commendat.
Ode 11. l. 4.
To Sigismundus Laetus.
_Hee Commends the despising of vaine-glory, and silence._
Od. 11. Lib. 4.
Laete, quid cassis sequimur fugacem
Gloriam telis? fugit illa Mauri
More, vel Parthi, regeritque ab ipso
Vulnera tergo.
Hospes unius negat esse tecti
Garrulus vulgi favor: hic inani
Aure rumores legit, inde veris
Falsa remiscet.
Why fleeting glory follow wee,
_Laetus_, with weapons all in vaine?
When like a Moore, or Parthian, shee
Flyes at her backe with wounded Trayne.
The Talking-peoples love, denyes
Under one roofe a guest to fix:
With's empty care, one takes up lyes,
And them with truths, doth subt'ly mix,
Hic velut nidum positurus haesit,
Mox ubi vano vacuum tumultu
Pectus illusit, tacitis in altum
Subsilit alis,
Vera laus sciri fugit. ipse pulcher
Se sua Titan prohibet videri
Luce: qui totus potuit latere,
Major habetur.
Another sticks, and thinkes to build
His nest: but when he plainly sees
His empty breast with noise beguild,
Aloft with silent wings, hee flees.
True praise would not be knowne; the Sun
Forbids from being seen below
By his own light: and hee that can
Ecclipse himselfe, doth brighter show.
Qui premit sacram taciturnitate
Pectoris gazam; bene non silenti
Tutus in vulgo bene suspicaci
Regnat in aula.
Praeterit mutas bene cymba ripas;
Quae simul raucis strepuere saxis,
In latus cautam sapiens memento
Avertere proram.
Hee that in silence, of his mind
The sacred Treasury containes;
Safety i'th' vulgar noyse doth find:
In's doubtfull Court, and wisely raignes.
Still banks thy Pinnace well may passe.
But when with hoarse rocks they do roare,
Remember wisely to forecast
And turn't aside with wary Oare.
_Ad Ianum Libinium._
Solitudinem suam excusat.
_Ode 12. Lib 4._
To Ianus Libinius.
_Hee excuses his retyrednesse._
_Ode 12. Lib. 4._
Quid me latentem sub tenui lare
Dudum moretur, cum mihi civium
Amica certatim patescant
Atria, saepe rogas _Libini_.
Me plenus, extra quid cupiam? meo
In memet ipsum clausus ab ostio,
In se recedentis reviso
Scenam animi vacuumq; relustro
Vitae theatrum, sollicitus mei
Spectator, an quae fabula prodii
Matura procedam, & supremo
Numinis excipienda plausu.
Omnes recenset numen, & approbat
Vel culpat actus: quo mea judice
Si scena non leve peracta est,
Sim populo sine teste felix.
What 'tis detaines me here, and why--
I hide my selfe from every eye.
How in so poore a house I spend
My houres, y'have often ask'd me, friend;
When the free Courts of free-borne men,
Fall out, which first shall let me in.
I enjoy my selfe, what need I more?
Of every sense I lock the dore;
And close shut up, a taske I find
In the retyring house o'th' mind:
The Theatre of my life I view
My owne spectator and iudge too--
Whether the tale I first begun
In well digested Acts I'ue spun;
In every scene, if every clause
Goes neatly off, with heav'ns applause:
Each Action scan'd, is there set free
Or sentenc'd by authoritie--
If there, with _well Done_ I escape,
I'me blest without the peoples clap.
Odi loquacis compita gloriae
Plebeia: quam cum fama faventibus
Evexit auris, saepe misso
Invidiae stimulata telo,
Aut invidentum territa vocibus,
Parum obstinatis & male fortibus
Dimittit alis. Illa nudam
Plangit humum, lacerosq; saxis
Affligit artus. Me melius tegat
Privata virtus, & popularia
Numquam volaturum per ora
Celet iners sine laude tectum.
Semota laudem si meruit, vetat
Audire virtus. tutius invidi
Longinqua miramur: propinquis
Laevus amat comes ire Livor.
I hate the common road of praise,
Or what the gaping vulgar raise,
Which with a pleasant gale a while
Fame hurries, but doth soone beguile:
Now Envie's sting it feeles, ere long
Th'Artillery of some spightfull tongue:
Thus chac'd, with weak'ned wings it dyes;
Or torne, on the bare ground it lyes.
A private fame, a meane house, where
I live conceal'd from popular ayre,
Best fits my mind, and shelters me:
Vertue t'her owne praise deafe should be.
Our emulation, things a farre off command,
But Envy haunts things that are neere at hand.
_Ad Caesarem Pausilippium._
Adversa constanti animo ferenda esse.
_Ode 13. Lib. 4._
Si quae flent mala lugubres
Auferrent oculi, Sidoniisego
Mercarer bene lacrymas
Gemmis, aut teretum merce monilium,
At ceu rore seges viret,
Sic crescunt riguis tristia fletibus.
Urget lacryma lacrymam;
Fecundusq; sui se numerat Dolor.
Quem fortuna semel virum
Udo degenerem lumine viderit,
Illum saepe ferit; mala
Terrentur tacito fatae silentio.
Ne te, ne tua fleveris
Quae tu, care, vocas, _Pausilipi_, mala,
Quam pellunt lacrymae, fovent
Sortem: dura negant cedere mollibus.
Siccas si videat genas,
Durae cedet hebes sors patientiae.
To Caesar Pausilippius.
_That adversity is to bee endured with a constant mind._
Ode 13. l. 4.
If mournfull eyes could but prevent
The evils they so much lament
Sidonian Pearles, or Gems more rare,
Would be too cheap for ev'ry teare.
But moyst'ned woes grow fresh, and new,
As Come besprinkled with the dew.
Teare followes teare, and fruitfull griefe
Hath from it selfe, its owne reliefe.
The man whom Fortune doth espy
With drooping spirit, and moyst'ned eye,
Shee, often strikes; ill Fate, amaine
Runs Scarr'd no notice being ta'ne.
Bewayle not then thy selfe, deare friend,
Or evills that on thee attend;
What they expell, teares cherish oft;
Hard things deny to yeild to soft.
Mischance is conquered, when she spies
A valiant patience with dry eyes.
_Ad Crispum Laevinium._
Rogatus cur saepe per viam caneret, respondet.
_Ode 44. Lib 4._
To Crispus Laevinius.
_Being asked why hee sung so often as hee travailed,
hee answers._
_Ode 44. Lib. 4._
Cum meam nullis humeros onustus
Sarcinis tecum patriam reviso
Laetus, & parvo mihi cumque dives
Canto viator.
Tu siles moestum: tibi cura Musas
Demit, & multi grave pondus auri.
Quaeque te quondam male fida rerum
Turba relinquet.
Dives est qui nil habet; illa tantum
Quae potest certa retinere dextra,
Seque fert secum vaga quo, migrare
Jussit egestas.
As cheerefully I walke with thee,
My shoulders from all burdens free.
Our native soyle again to see
Rich to my selfe I sing,
Whil'st care strikes thee, and thy Muse dumb,
The heavy weight of thy vast summe,
Or what estate in time to come
The faithlesse rout may bring.
Hee's rich that nothing hath; Hee that
In's certaine hand holds his estate,
That makes himselfe his constant mate
Where need commands him go;
Quid mihi, qui nil cupiam, deesse
Possit? umbro si placet una _Pindi_
Vallis: o sacrum nemus, o jocosa
Rura Camoena!
Quae meos poscet via cunq; gressus,
Delphici mecum, mea regna, colles
Itis, & fessum comitante circum-
Sistitis umbra.
Me Gothus saevis religet catenis,
Me Scythes captum rapiat; soluta
Mente, vobiscum potero tremendos
Visere Reges.
What can I want, that nought desire?
Then _Pindus_ vale, I reach no higher:
O sacred Grove! O pleasant quire
In those coole shades below!
What paths soe're my steps invite
Ye Delphian hills, my sole delight
Doe goe with mee; in weary plight,
And veyle me with good grace.
Let th'_Goth_ his strongest chaines prepare,
The _Scythian_ hence mee captive teare,
My mind being free with you, I'le stare
The Tyrants in the face.
_Ad Munatium._
Nihil in rebus humanis non taedio plenum esse.
_Ode 15. Lib. 4._
To Munatius.
_That nothing in humane affaires is not full of tediousnesse._
Ode 15. l. 4.
Nil est, _Munati_, nil, iterum canam,
Mortale, nil est, immedicabilis
Immune taedi. Clarus olim
Sol proavis atavisque nobis,
Parum salubris, nec macula reus
Damnatur una; quicquid in arduo
Immortale mortales _Olympo_
Vidimus, invidiae caduca
Fuscamus umbra. non placet incolis
Qui Sol avitis exoritur jugis;
Aut prisca quae dudum paternam
Luna ferit radiis fenestram.
Nothing _Munatius_, nothing I sing't againe,
That's mortall, nothing from th'uncured paine
Of tediousnesse is free. The Sun
Which bright to our forefathers shone
To us, but little healthfull, doth appeare,
And though not guilty of one spott, not cleare:
Whatsoe're immortall thing we see
In high _Olympus_, silly wee
Doe over-cast with Envy's shade; here one
From his owne native Hills the rising Sun.
Disclaimes; or th'ancient Moone, that strikes
Her beames through's fathers glasse, dislikes.
Caelo quotannis, & patriis leves
Migramus arvis; hunc tepidae vocant
Brumae Batavorum, huic aprici
Ausoniae placuere soles.
Frustra; fideles si dominum retro
Morbi sequuntur, nec tacitus Dolor
Absistit, aut Veiente curru,
Aut Veneta comes ire cymba.
Each yeare we change our ayre, and soyle, so light;
Him, _Hollands_ warmer Climate doth invite:
Another differs, and doth cry
_Ausonia_'s clearer Suns please mee.
In vaine all this, if faithfull sicknesses
Wait close behind; if secret griefes ne're cease,
All's one, whether in Chariot
Thou goest, or in Venetian boat.
Tandemque nobis exulibus placent
Relicta; certam cui posuit domum
Virtus, huic nunquam paternae
Fumus erit lacrymosus aulae.
Virtus agresti dives in otio
Sese ipsa claudit finibus in suis
Plerumque, & insonti quietum
In palea solium reclinat.
Poore exiles! then, things left doe please us most,
Who a sure building can from vertue boast,
To him the smoke of's father's Hall
Doth never hurt his eyes at all.
Vertue oft-times, rich in a rustick ease
Confines her selfe to her owne private blisse;
And in the guiltlesse straw, her throne
With great delight can leane upon.
Ad Iesum Opt. Max.
Ex sacro Salomonis Epithalamio.
_Indica mihi quem diligit anima mea, ubi pascas,
ubi cubes in meridie._
Ode 19. Lib. 4.
Dicebas abiens: Sponsa vale; simul
Vicisti liquidis nubila passibus.
Longam ducis, Jesu,
In desideriis moram.
Ardet iam medio summa dies polo,
Jam parcit segeti messor, & algidas
Pastor cum grege valleis,
Et picta volucres petunt.
At te quae tacitis destinet otiis
O Jesu regio? quis mihi te locus
Caecis invidet umbris,
Aut spissa nemorum coma?
Scirem quo jaceas cespite languidus,
Quis ventus gracili praeflet anhelitu,
Quis rivus tibi grato
Somnum praetereat sono;
Ah! ne te nimio murmure suscitent
Nostrae diluerent flumina lacrymae,
Et suspiria crudis
Miscerentur Etesiis.
Out of _Solomon_'s sacred Marriage Song.
CHAP. 1. 7.
_Tell mee (o thou whom my soule loveth) where thou feedest,
where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noone, &c._
+paraphrastikos+
Od. 19. Lib. 4.
Thou said'st, farewell my Spouse, & went'st away
More fleet then Clouds with liquid paces stray:
Oh what a longing, Jesu thus
With thy delay thou mak'st in us?
'Tis now high noone, the scorching Sun doth burne
I'th' mid'st o'th' pole, the mower spares the corne,
The Shepheard, with his flocks, is glad--
And painted birds, to seeke coole shade.
But Jesu! where art thou? what region's blest
By holding thee so long in silent rest?
What darksome shade denyes my love?
Or with thick boughs what shady Grove?
Knew I on what green Turfe thou dost repose
Thy fainting limbs; what wind with soft breath blowes'
What streame, with bubling, passing by
Disturbs thy sleep, or wakens thee;
Oh! lest the too much noise should raise thee, I
Would let fall streams of teares should qualifie;
My warmer sighes thou mix'd should'st find
With the cold blasts o'th'Easterne wind.
_Ex sacro Salomonis Epithalamio._
En dilectus meus loquitur mihi: Surge, propera amica mea,
columba mea, formosa mea, & veni. Iam enim hiems transiit,
imber abiit & recessit. &c.
_Ode 21. Lib. 4._
Out of _Salomon_'s sacred marriage song.
_My beloved spake and said unto mee, rise up my love,
my Dove, my faire one, and come away; for loe the winter
is past, the raine is over and gone: the flowers appeare
on the earth, the time of singing of birds is come,
and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land.
The fig tree putteth forth, &c._
_Ode 21. Lib. 4._
Fallor? an Elysii laeva de parte Sereni
Me mea vita vocat!
Surge soror, pulchris innectito lora columbis;
Pulchrior ipsa super
Scande rotas, Libaniq; levem de vertice currum,
Has, age flecte domos.
Ad tua decidu fugiunt vestigia nimbi,
Turbidus imber abiit:
Ipsa sub innocuis mitescunt fulmina plantis,
Ipsa virescit hiems.
Do I mistake? or from Elyzium cleare
My life's call doe I heare?
Sister arise, and harnesse thy sweet paire
Of Doves, thy selfe more faire;
Mount and drive hither, here let thy Chariot stop,
From _Libanus_ hye top;
At thy approach the falling showres doe fly,
Tempestuous stormes passe by,
The lightning's quench'd under thy harmlesse feet,
Winter turnes Spring to see't.
Interea sacris aperit se scena viretis
Sub pedibusq; tibi
Altera floret humus, alterq; vagantia laetus
Sidera pascit ager.
Hic etiam trepidi pendent e rupibus haedi,
Praecipitesq; caprae;
Hinnuleique suis, passim dum flumina tranant,
Luxuriantur aquis.
While in the sacred Green, a bow're we see
Doth spread it selfe for thee.
The Earth new Turff's it selfe for thee to tread,
The straying starrs fresh fields make glad.
Here with their dams, of Kids th'amazed flocks
Hang on steep sides of Rocks;
Here as they swim, the wanton Hinds do play
In the coole streames all day.
It Leo cum Pardo viridis de colle Saniri
Mitis uterque regi,
Cumque suo passim ludunt in montibus agno
Exsuperantque juga.
Plurimus hos circum tacito pede labitur amnis,
Pumicibusque cavis
Per violas lapsae per declives hyacinthos,
Exspatiantur aquae.
The Lion with the Libard downe is l'ed
Tame and well governed;
Each with his Lamb about the Mountaines skip,
O're Hills they lightly trip.
By these a spacious brooke doth slowly glide,
Which with a spreading tyde
Through bending Lilyes, banks of Violets
From th'hollow Pumice sweats.
Lene fluunt rivi, muscosis lene susurrus
Murmurat e scopulis.
In vitrio pisces saliunt hilares crystallo,
Dulce queruntur aves.
Nec vero, si moesta placent saletia caelo
Flebile murmur abest:
Nam sibi dum vestro regemunt ex orbe palumbes,
Huc sonus ille venit.
Sic dum se viduo solatur Carmine turtur,
Gaudia nostra placent.
The rivers gently flow, and a still sound
From mossie Rocks doth bound.
The sporting fish dance in the christall Mayne,
The Birds sweetly complaine,
The ayre, if dolefull comforts please, doth ring
With mournfull murmuring.
For when the Doves eccho each others cry
That sound doth hither fly.
As they with widowed notes themselves do please,
Just so, our joyes increase.
Cetera non desunt, pronis vindemia pendet
Officiosa botris,
Hic etiam vulgo violas, albentia vulgo
Ungue ligustra leges:
Ipsa tibi, leti succos oblita priores,
Mitia poma cadent:
Ipsae matura labentur ab arbore ficus,
Percutientq; sinum.
Interea falcem vindemia nescit, aratrum
Saucia nescit humus.
Ipsae sponte virent segetes, innoxius ipse
Messibus albet ager.
Praebent Hospitium platani: praebet formosos
Graminis herba toros.
No want appeares; th'officious Vine doth stand
With bending clusters to our hand.
Here, thou shalt pick sweet Violets, and there
Fresh Lillyes all the yeare:
The Apple ripe drops from its stalke to thee,
From tast of death made free.
The luscious fruit from the full Figtree shall
Into thy bosome fall.
Meane while, the Vine no pruning knife doth know,
The wounded earth no plow.
The Corne growes green alone, and th'unhurt land
Doth white with harvest stand.
The grasse affords a stately bed, the Plane
Spreads thee to entertaine.
Caedua Pachaeos sudant opobalsama nimbos;
Et genialis odor
Aspirat quoties, nutantibus hinc atque illinc
Ingruit aura comit.
Surge; quid indignos ducis per taedia soles?
Surge, age, cara soror.
Ecce tuis ipsae iam circum fraena columbae
Ingemuere moris.
Huc age, formosas formosior ipsa columbas
Hospita flecte furor.
Arabian mists sweat from the gummy tree
Of Balme, and all for thee;
Which through the ayre, a rich perfume doe throw,
Fann'd with each neighb'ring bough.
Arise my Sister deare, why dost thou stay,
And spend th'unwilling day?
Behold thy harness'd Doves, at thy delay
Doe sigh, come, drive away.
Put on, and hither drive thy beauteous paire
Of Doves, thy selfe more faire.
_Ad Ianussium Skuminum._
Cum conjugi charissimae justa persolveret.
+paraphrastikos+.
_Ode 30. Lib. 4._
To _Ianusius Skuminus_.
_When hee performed the Funerall obsequies of his
most deare Wife._
+paraphrastikos+.
Ode 30. Lib. 4.
Si tibi pollicitum numen, si fata fuissent
AEternos fere conjugis annos;
Jure per assiduos (procerum fortissime) fletus
Ereptam quererere, _Janussi_.
Quem Pietas quem non moveat non tristibus unquam
Arx animi concussa procellis
Et pudor, & proni niveo de pectore sensus,
Et Regina modestia morum,
Aut bona sedulitas, aut non incauta futuri
Praesagae solertia montis?
What though the Gods have promis'd she shall bee
Enfranchis'd to Eternity?
Yet (valiant Sir) so great a losse still cryes
For a just tribute from your eyes;
View but her pious mind, that tow're of state
Not shaken by sad stownes of Fate,
Her humble innocent soule, her guiltlesse feare,
Her modesty chiefe Regent there;
The prudent thrift of her presaging mind
Her constant zeale, pure and refin'd;
_And who can then forbeare t'embalme her Hearse_
_With the daily precious dew of teares?_
Provida sed longam magnis virtutibus aevum
Non audent promittere fata:
Nec possunt, si quae maturavere, profanis
Astra diu committere terris.
Nunc adeo parces longis onerare querelis
Depositum repetentia magnum,
Ingentes animi gazas, & robur, & aureo
Incoctum bene pectus honesto.
Tis not in Fate to promise length of dayes,
To things of such esteeme and praise;
Nor can the starrs suffer so ripe a birth
To be long sullied with dull earth.
Load not the Heavens then with unjust complaints,
For taking back one of their Saints.
The courage of her richly temp'red breast
Made her for them a fitter guest:
Such jewells of her mind sparkle about her
The starres themselves can't shine without her.
Sic Tanaquil, sic quae cunctantem Claudia rexit
Virginea cervice Cybellen,
Quaeque maritali successit Thessala fato,
Et Latiis vaga Cloelia ripis;
Ante diem raptae vivunt post funera, vatum
Perpetuos in carmine fastos.
Illa quid[em] non, si surdos ad carmina Manes
Orphea testudine vincam,
Eductas adamante fores, & ahenea rumpat
Elysiii pomoeria muri,
Reddaturq; tibi. Stat nulli janua voto,
Nullis exorata Poetis.
Thus _Tanaquil_; thus _Claudia_'s virgin band
Steer'd the unwilling Barke to land.
Thus shee, that durst her Husbands fate abide,
And _Cloelia_ over _Tiber's_ tyde;
Too early crop'd, survive in Poesie,
And keepe perpetuall jubilie.
'Tis not in Art to fetch her back againe,
Or charme the spirits with _Orpheus_ straine,
To breake the bars of Adamant or scale
The Rampiers of th'Elysian wall,
No Orisons prevaile, sent from the breast
Of great _Apollo_'s choisest Priest.
Sunt tamen exiles insigni in limine rimae
Qua possint arcana videri,
Haec ego si nullos fallunt insomnia maneis,
Aut vidi, aut vidisse putavi
Errantem campo in magno, quem gemmea circum
Perspicuis stant moenia portis:
Auro prata virent; arbor crinitur in aurum;
Crispantur violaria gemmis,
Quae nec Apellaeus liquor, nec pulchra trigoni
Assimulent mendacia vitri.
Yet in the arched entrance chinks there bee,
Which may befriend the covetous eye;
Through these to th'hidden mysteries I peep,
And (if the spirits nor dream, nor sleep)
I saw, or else me thoughts, I there had seene
Her, wandring o're a Spacious Greene,
With walls of Diamond, gates of purest glasse,
No Chrystall more transparent was:
Each blade of grasse was gold, each tree was there,
A golden Periwig did weare.
The swelling banks of Violets did curle
Themselves with Gems, and Orient Pearle;
The glorious nothing, of the _Trigon_ glasse--
And all _Apelles_ Art, which passe.
Centum ibi formosis in vallibus Heroinae
Aeternum Paeana frequentant.
Stant virides campo stellae, madidisque corusca
Connivent sibi sidera flammis.
Illa inter medias parvo comitata nepote
Et roseo vivacior ore,
Ibat ovans, grandemq; sibi, grandemque nepoti
Nectebat de flore coronam.
Cetera me vetuit magni caligo sereni
Mortali percurrere visu.
Nectu plura velis; satis est, cui fata dederunt
Aeternis mutasse caduca.
Through the sweet vales a Quire of Damsels sing
Eternall Paeans to their King.
The stars with sparkling light stand round I see,
Twinkling to their shrill melodie.
Her and her tender darling, then I spy,
I'th' mid'st of that blest company;
With looks more fresh and sweet, then are the Roses
Of which her Garlands shee composes--
Two flowry Chaplets, which with Gems set round
Her owne and Nephew's temples crown'd.
But here a veyle was drawne, I must not prie
Nor search too farre with mortall eye,
Nor would you more. It may suffice that shee
Hath chang'd fraile flesh for blest Eternitie.
_Ad Albertum Turscium._
De suis somniis & lyricis.
_Ode 32. Lib. 4._
To _Albertus Turscius_.
_Of his Dreames, and Lyricks._
_Ode 32. Lib. 4._
_Tursci_, seu brevior mihi
Seu pernox oculos composuit sopor,
Pennas Somnia laevibus
Affigunt humeris; jamque virentia
Latus prata superuolo,
Qua se cumque novum molle tumentibus
Campis explicuit nemus,
Herbosaeque patet scena superbiae:
Mox & nubibus altior,
Mistus flumineis ales oloribus;
Vivos despicio lacus,
Et dulci volucrem carmine mentior.
VVhether a shorter sleep, or whether
A long one (_Turscius_) joyns mine eyes together
In my soft dreames, me thinks, I see
To my light shoulders wings set on, and I
With joy transported, upward soare,
The flowry Meddowes, and the pastures o're;
Where the greene Grove its coole shade yeilds
To th'stately grasse plotts, and ripe swelling fields:
Straight, 'mid'st the river Swans, up hyer
A winged fowle above the cloudes I'aspire;
The lively Lakes below, I sleight,
And with sweet straines a bird I counterfeit.
Jam tunc nubila, jam mihi
Blandis dissiliunt fulmina cantibus;
Et quae plurima circuit
Collum, punicea vincior Iride.
Idem jam vigil, & meus,
Non ingrata simul somnia dispuli,
Cum ter mobilibus lyram
Percussi digitis, immemor & ducis
Nil sectator Horatii,
Sublimis liquidum nitor in aera;
Et nunc littera, nunc vagas
Siccis trajiciens passibus insulas,
Nil mortale mei gero, &
Jam nil sollicito debeo ponderi.