Amid the glare of livid flames that rose
Fast from their idol's furnace; high was reared Amid the circling gloom the grisly king,
With smoke and mixed blood smeared, his fiery arm
Lifted to grasp the living sacrifice,
The babe by ruthless parents doomed to flames;
Loud yelled the impious crew to drown the cries
Of him consuming, and the cymbal's clang
Rang through the woods, and shook the echoing
Let leisure be denied, and straight the stings b Of fierce desire have lost their sharpest pangs. Love only seizes on our vacant hours;
Therefore at early morn, at noon, at eve,
And o'er the midnight oil, studious revolve
The deep recondite page of ancient lore,
Plato's majestic pomp, the purity
Of lucid Xenophon, the energy
Concise and strong of sage Olorides;
Nor yet the mighty masters of the lyre
Pass thou neglectful; let the' immortal strain
Of Homer fire thy soul; and the bold flight
Of him whose swelling dithyrambic song
a See Plutarch. de Superstit. for an account of these horrid rites, and Tertull. in Apolog.
Placed in the stars the skilful, strong, or swift, a
Victorious in the toil of Pisa's strife.
Nor will it less behove thee on the tower
That science loves, to keep thy frequent watch,
What time the radiant Moon in Heaven's mid way
Hangs her nocturnal lamp; there, hand in hand,
With contemplation to behold the orbs
Of whirling planets, that with speedy wheel
Perform their stated rounds; while with them roll
In lucid circles their fair satellites,
Companions of their travel; then thine eye
May drink the glittering radiance of each star
That gives its brightness to that splendid path
Shining with milky lustre, every star
That, given by man to many-fabled groups,
Peoples the figured Zodiac, where the wing.
Of eagle never yet was dipped in air.
Well sung the Bards of old, who in the woods, On heaths, in mountain forests gave to dwell, Armed with the flexile yew and quivered steel, The virgin patroness of Chastity.
Therefore the' enervate tenderness of Love,
Its bane, its snares voluptuous, would'st thou shun,
"Among the stars he sticks his name." CowLEY, PIND.
While yet the breeze of morn across the plain
Refreshing sweeps, while yet the early dews.
Hang on the thicket, forth, amid the song
Of thousand birds that carol to the dawn,
Let the steed bear thee. Hark! the welkin rings
With jovial shouts of men, with neighing steeds,
And all the' harmonious thunder of the chase.
From hill to dale, through all the woodland pours
The cry tumult'ous, Zephyrs waft it round,
The horn's deep music floats along the vale,
And wakes the secret echoes of the hills.
Roused by the cheering gladness of the scene,
The soul shakes off her languor, and the load
Inglorious of those ever-gnawing cares
Which lately held the heart a shackled slave;
The spirits dance and sparkle in the eyes,
And the distempered flush that tinged the cheek
Is changed for health's pure rosy hue....Such power
To quell the languid sickness of desire,
Its poison, its intoxicating charms,
Is found in exercise and active use.
If not too deep Love's venomed shaft hath pierced, Flight from the source from which the poison flows May bring relief: and happy he who 'scapes, Though flying, all Love's plagues! happy, though far
From friends most dearly prized, though far from
From native soil, and clime; whether the shades
That round Ontario's ample bosom spread
Receive his steps, the plains that Ganges laves,
The banks of Niger, or the untrod wilds
Where Nilus swelling from his secret fount
Begins his course; so absence banish love.
Nursed in Idalian groves, amid the bloom Of fragrant roses, lulled by the sweet chime Of waters, and the murmured strain of doves, That build amid his mother's myrtle bowers, The God of Love to sloth and ease invites, And woos to win the patient and the brave From all the toil and labour of the great. But from the din of arms, the blaze of steel, The banner's waving crimson, plumed helms, The' attire of battle, and the clarion's voice, He shrinks away dismayed. Those female bands Once by Marpesia led 'gainst Caucasus,
From Thermodon's red wave with clang of shields Drove the scared deity, and, of his rites
Unmindful, slew their weak unwarlike lords.
As Love from Glory and from Honour shrinks,
So they in turn avoid the walks of Love;
And never on the flowery couch of Sloth
Amid the roses is the laurel found,
The olive, or the palm. The bold, the brave,
Pay the full price of honour....toil and care.
Then turn to deeds of high emprise, to arms,
And martial deeds; behold the pomp of war,
The glittering phalanx; let thy ear drink in
The trumpet's thrilling voice, the clang, the shout
That from the battle rises when the strife
Most highly rages; place before thy soul
The brave of other days, who led the fight
Beneath the pressure of the habergeon,
The cuirass, and the helm; for whom the voice
Of all their country raised the choral song.
Nor him forget, Tydides, whose bold spear, a
Red with immortal blood, back to her skies
Wounded and screaming drove the Queen of Love.
2 Ενθ' επορεξαμενος μεγάθυμε Τυδέος υἱος
Ακρην στασε χειρα μεταλμένος οξέϊ χαλκ
Αβληχρην είθαρ δε δορυ χροος αντετόρησαν
Αμβροσια δια αμπλό, ὃν ὁι Χαρίτες καμον αυταίς
Πρυμνον ύπερ θάναρος" ρει δ' αμβροτον αιμά τους
Ιχωρ, διοςπερ τε ρεει κατάμεσσι θεοισιν
Ἡ δε μεγα άχεσα απο το καββαλεν υἱον.
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