Olor Iscanus A Collection of some Select Poems, and Translations, Formerly written by Mr. Henry Vaughan Silurist. Published by a Friend |
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To the River Isca. |
 | Olor Iscanus |  |
To the River Isca.
When
Daphne's Lover here first wore the Bayes,
Eurotas secret streams heard all his Layes.
And holy Orpheus, Natures busie Child
By headlong Hebrus his deep Hymns Compil'd.
Soft Petrarch (thaw'd by Laura's flames) did weep
On Tybers banks, when she (prou'd fair!) cou'd sleep;
Mosella boasts Ausonius, and the T es
Doth murmure SIDNEYS Stella to her streams;
While Severn sworn with Joy and sorrow, wears
Castara's smiles mixt with fair Sabrin's tears.
Thus Poets (like the Nymphs, their pleasing themes)
Haunted the bubling Springs and gliding streams,
And happy banks! whence such fair flowres have sprung,
But happier those where they have sate and sung!
Poets (like Angels) where they once appear
Hallow the place, and each succeeding year
Adds rev'rence to't, such as at length doth give
This aged faith, That there their Genii live.
Hence th'Auncients say, That, from this sickly aire
They passe to Regions more refin'd and faire,
To Meadows strow'd with Lillies and the Rose,
And shades whose youthfull green no old age knowes,
Where all in white they walk, discourse, and Sing
Like Bees soft murmurs, or a Chiding Spring.
Eurotas secret streams heard all his Layes.
And holy Orpheus, Natures busie Child
By headlong Hebrus his deep Hymns Compil'd.
Soft Petrarch (thaw'd by Laura's flames) did weep
On Tybers banks, when she (prou'd fair!) cou'd sleep;
Mosella boasts Ausonius, and the T es
Doth murmure SIDNEYS Stella to her streams;
While Severn sworn with Joy and sorrow, wears
Castara's smiles mixt with fair Sabrin's tears.
Thus Poets (like the Nymphs, their pleasing themes)
Haunted the bubling Springs and gliding streams,
And happy banks! whence such fair flowres have sprung,
But happier those where they have sate and sung!
Poets (like Angels) where they once appear
Hallow the place, and each succeeding year
Adds rev'rence to't, such as at length doth give
This aged faith, That there their Genii live.
Hence th'Auncients say, That, from this sickly aire
They passe to Regions more refin'd and faire,
To Meadows strow'd with Lillies and the Rose,
And shades whose youthfull green no old age knowes,
Where all in white they walk, discourse, and Sing
Like Bees soft murmurs, or a Chiding Spring.
But Isca, whensoe'r those shades I see,
And thy lov'd Arbours must no more know me,
When I am layd to rest hard by thy streams,
And my Sun sets, where first it sprang in beams,
I'le leave behind me such a large, kind light,
As shall redeem thee from oblivious night,
And in these vowes which (living yet) I pay
Shed such a Previous and Enduring Ray,
As shall from age to age thy fair name lead
'Till Rivers leave to run, and men to read.
First, may all Bards born after me
(When I am ashes) sing of thee!
May thy green banks and streams (or none)
Be both their Hill and Helicon;
May Vocall Groves grow there, and all
The shades in them Propheticall,
Where (laid) men shall more faire truths see
Than fictions were of Thessalie.
May thy gentle Swains (like flowres)
Sweetly spend their Youthfull houres,
And thy beauteous Nymphs (like Doves)
Be kind and faithfull to their Loves;
Garlands, and Songs, and Roundelayes,
Mild, dewie nights, and Sun-shine dayes,
The Turtles voyce, Joy without fear,
Dwell on thy bosome all the year!
May the Evet and the Tode
Within thy Banks have no abode,
Nor the wilie, winding Snake
Her voyage through thy waters make.
In all thy Journey to the Main
No nitrous Clay, nor Brimstone-vein
Mixe with thy streams, but may they passe
Fresh as the aire, and cleer as Glasse,
And where the wandring Chrystal treads
Roses shall kisse, and Couple heads.
The factour-wind from far shall bring
The Odours of the Scatter'd Spring,
And loaden with the rich Arreare,
Spend it in Spicie whispers there.
No sullen heats, nor flames that are
Offensive, and Canicular,
Shine on thy Sands, nor pry to see
Thy Scalie, shading familie,
But Noones as mild as Hesper's rayes,
Or the first blushes of fair dayes.
What gifts more Heav'n or Earth can adde
With all those blessings be thou Clad!
Honour, Beautie,
Faith and Dutie,
Delight and Truth,
With Love, and Youth
Crown all about thee! And what ever Fate
Impose else-where, whether the graver state,
Or some toy else, may those lowd, anxious Cares
For dead and dying things (the Common Wares
And showes of time) he'r break thy Peace, nor make
Thy repos'd Armes to a new warre awake!
But Freedome, safety, Joy and blisse
United in one loving kisse
Surround thee quite, and stile thy borders
The Land redeem'd from all disorders!
And thy lov'd Arbours must no more know me,
When I am layd to rest hard by thy streams,
And my Sun sets, where first it sprang in beams,
2
As shall redeem thee from oblivious night,
And in these vowes which (living yet) I pay
Shed such a Previous and Enduring Ray,
As shall from age to age thy fair name lead
'Till Rivers leave to run, and men to read.
First, may all Bards born after me
(When I am ashes) sing of thee!
May thy green banks and streams (or none)
Be both their Hill and Helicon;
May Vocall Groves grow there, and all
The shades in them Propheticall,
Where (laid) men shall more faire truths see
Than fictions were of Thessalie.
May thy gentle Swains (like flowres)
Sweetly spend their Youthfull houres,
And thy beauteous Nymphs (like Doves)
Be kind and faithfull to their Loves;
Garlands, and Songs, and Roundelayes,
Mild, dewie nights, and Sun-shine dayes,
The Turtles voyce, Joy without fear,
Dwell on thy bosome all the year!
May the Evet and the Tode
Within thy Banks have no abode,
Nor the wilie, winding Snake
Her voyage through thy waters make.
In all thy Journey to the Main
No nitrous Clay, nor Brimstone-vein
Mixe with thy streams, but may they passe
Fresh as the aire, and cleer as Glasse,
And where the wandring Chrystal treads
Roses shall kisse, and Couple heads.
The factour-wind from far shall bring
The Odours of the Scatter'd Spring,
And loaden with the rich Arreare,
Spend it in Spicie whispers there.
No sullen heats, nor flames that are
Offensive, and Canicular,
3
Thy Scalie, shading familie,
But Noones as mild as Hesper's rayes,
Or the first blushes of fair dayes.
What gifts more Heav'n or Earth can adde
With all those blessings be thou Clad!
Honour, Beautie,
Faith and Dutie,
Delight and Truth,
With Love, and Youth
Crown all about thee! And what ever Fate
Impose else-where, whether the graver state,
Or some toy else, may those lowd, anxious Cares
For dead and dying things (the Common Wares
And showes of time) he'r break thy Peace, nor make
Thy repos'd Armes to a new warre awake!
But Freedome, safety, Joy and blisse
United in one loving kisse
Surround thee quite, and stile thy borders
The Land redeem'd from all disorders!
| Olor Iscanus | |