 | Translations and Poems Written on Several Subjects |  |
32
Horti Arlingtoniani
TRANSLATED.
Near to those Domes th' indulgent Powers assign
The sacred Seat of Stuart's Majestick Line;
(Those rising Tow'rs, that known to ancient Fame,
Bear both the Monarch's and the Martyr's Name;)
Near those fair Lawns, and intermingled Groves,
Where gentle Zephyrs breathe and sporting Loves,
A Frame there stands, that rears its beauteous Height,
And strikes with pleasing Ravishment the Sight.
Full on the Front the Orient Sun displays
His chearful Beams; and as his Light decays,
Again adorns it with his Western Rays.
Here wondring Crowds admire the Owner's State,
And view the Glories of the Fair and Great;
Here falling Statesmen Fortune's Changes feel,
And prove the Turns of her revolving Wheel;
Then envy mighty Arlington, thy Life
That feels no Tempest, and that knows no Strife.
Whence ev'ry jarring Sound is banish'd far,
The restless Vulgar, and the noisy Bar;
But heavenly Peace, that shuns the Courtier-Train
And Innocence, and conscious Virtue reign.
The sacred Seat of Stuart's Majestick Line;
(Those rising Tow'rs, that known to ancient Fame,
Bear both the Monarch's and the Martyr's Name;)
Near those fair Lawns, and intermingled Groves,
Where gentle Zephyrs breathe and sporting Loves,
A Frame there stands, that rears its beauteous Height,
And strikes with pleasing Ravishment the Sight.
Full on the Front the Orient Sun displays
His chearful Beams; and as his Light decays,
Again adorns it with his Western Rays.
Here wondring Crowds admire the Owner's State,
And view the Glories of the Fair and Great;
Here falling Statesmen Fortune's Changes feel,
And prove the Turns of her revolving Wheel;
33
That feels no Tempest, and that knows no Strife.
Whence ev'ry jarring Sound is banish'd far,
The restless Vulgar, and the noisy Bar;
But heavenly Peace, that shuns the Courtier-Train
And Innocence, and conscious Virtue reign.
Here when Aurora brings the Purple Day,
And op'ning Buds their tender Leaves display;
While the fair Vales afford a smiling View,
And the Fields glitter with the Morning Dew;
No rattling Wheel disturbs the peaceful Ground,
Or wounds the Ear with any jarring Sound;
Th' unwearied Eye with ceaseless Rapture strays,
And still Variety of Charms surveys.
Here watch the fearful Deer their tender Fawns,
Stray thro' the Wood, or browze the verdant Lawns:
Here from the marshy Glade the Wild-duck springs,
And slowly moves her wet incumber'd Wings:
Around soft Peace and Solitude appear,
And Golden Plenty crowns the smiling Year.
And op'ning Buds their tender Leaves display;
While the fair Vales afford a smiling View,
And the Fields glitter with the Morning Dew;
No rattling Wheel disturbs the peaceful Ground,
Or wounds the Ear with any jarring Sound;
Th' unwearied Eye with ceaseless Rapture strays,
And still Variety of Charms surveys.
Here watch the fearful Deer their tender Fawns,
Stray thro' the Wood, or browze the verdant Lawns:
Here from the marshy Glade the Wild-duck springs,
And slowly moves her wet incumber'd Wings:
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And Golden Plenty crowns the smiling Year.
Thy beauteous Gardens charm the ravish'd Sight,
And surfeit ev'ry Sense with soft Delight;
Where'er we turn our still transported Eyes,
New Scenes of Art with Nature join'd arise;
We dwell indulgent on the Lovely Scene,
The lengthen'd Vista or the Carpet Green;
A thousand Graces bless th'inchanted Ground,
And throw promiscuous Beauties all around.
And surfeit ev'ry Sense with soft Delight;
Where'er we turn our still transported Eyes,
New Scenes of Art with Nature join'd arise;
We dwell indulgent on the Lovely Scene,
The lengthen'd Vista or the Carpet Green;
A thousand Graces bless th'inchanted Ground,
And throw promiscuous Beauties all around.
Within thy fair Parterres appear to view
A thousand Flowers of various Form and hue.
There spotless Lillies rear their sickly Heads,
And Purple Violets creep along the Beds;
Here shews the bright Jonquil its gilded Face,
Join'd with the pale Carnation's fairer Grace;
The painted Tulip, and the blushing Rose,
A blooming Wilderness of Sweets compose.
A thousand Flowers of various Form and hue.
There spotless Lillies rear their sickly Heads,
And Purple Violets creep along the Beds;
Here shews the bright Jonquil its gilded Face,
Join'd with the pale Carnation's fairer Grace;
The painted Tulip, and the blushing Rose,
A blooming Wilderness of Sweets compose.
35
In such a Scene great Cupid wounded lay
To Love and Psyche's Charms a glorious Prey;
Here felt the pleasing Pain, and thrilling Smart,
And prov'd too well his own resistless Dart.
To Love and Psyche's Charms a glorious Prey;
Here felt the pleasing Pain, and thrilling Smart,
And prov'd too well his own resistless Dart.
High in the midst appears a rising Ground,
With Greens and Balustrades inclos'd around:
Here a new Wonder stops the wandring Sight,
A Dome whose Walls and Roof transmit the Light;
Here foreign Plants and Trees exotic thrive,
And in the cold unfriendly Climate live;
For when bleak Winter chills the rolling Year,
The guarded Strangers find their Safety here;
And fenc'd from Storms, and the inclement Air,
They sweetly flourish ever green and fair;
Their lively Buds they shoot and Blossoms show
And gayly bloom amidst surrounding Snow.
With Greens and Balustrades inclos'd around:
Here a new Wonder stops the wandring Sight,
A Dome whose Walls and Roof transmit the Light;
Here foreign Plants and Trees exotic thrive,
And in the cold unfriendly Climate live;
For when bleak Winter chills the rolling Year,
The guarded Strangers find their Safety here;
And fenc'd from Storms, and the inclement Air,
They sweetly flourish ever green and fair;
Their lively Buds they shoot and Blossoms show
And gayly bloom amidst surrounding Snow.
But when the genial Spring all Nature chears,
And Earth renew'd, her verdant Honours wears;
The Golden Plants their wonted Station leave,
And in the milder Air with Freedom breathe:
Their tender Branches feel th' enlivening Ray,
Unfold their Leaves, and all their Pomp display;
Around their fragrant Flowers the Zephyrs play,
And waft the Aromatic Scents away.
And Earth renew'd, her verdant Honours wears;
36
And in the milder Air with Freedom breathe:
Their tender Branches feel th' enlivening Ray,
Unfold their Leaves, and all their Pomp display;
Around their fragrant Flowers the Zephyrs play,
And waft the Aromatic Scents away.
Not far from hence a lofty Wood appears,
That spite of Age its verdant Honours wears,
Here widely spread does ample Shade display,
Expel the Sun, and form a doubtful Day.
Here thoughtful Solitude finds spacious Room,
And reigns thro' all the wide-extended Gloom;
Beneath the friendly Covert Lovers toy,
And spend the flying Hours in am'rous Joy;
Unmindful of approaching Night they sport,
While circling Pleasures new Attention court;
Or thro' the Maze forgetfully they stray,
Lost in the pleasing sweetly-winding Way:
Or stretch'd at Ease upon the flow'ry Grass,
In Tales of Love the starry Night they pass;
While the soft Nightingale thro' all the Groves,
His Song repeats and sooths his tender Loves;
Whose strains harmonious and the silent Night,
Increase the Joy and give compleat Delight.
That spite of Age its verdant Honours wears,
Here widely spread does ample Shade display,
Expel the Sun, and form a doubtful Day.
Here thoughtful Solitude finds spacious Room,
And reigns thro' all the wide-extended Gloom;
Beneath the friendly Covert Lovers toy,
And spend the flying Hours in am'rous Joy;
Unmindful of approaching Night they sport,
While circling Pleasures new Attention court;
Or thro' the Maze forgetfully they stray,
Lost in the pleasing sweetly-winding Way:
37
In Tales of Love the starry Night they pass;
While the soft Nightingale thro' all the Groves,
His Song repeats and sooths his tender Loves;
Whose strains harmonious and the silent Night,
Increase the Joy and give compleat Delight.
A Curious
Terrass stops the wandring Eye,
Where lovely Jasmines fragrant Shade supply;
Whose tender Branches in their Pride array'd,
Invite the Wanderer to the grateful Shade:
From hence afar, a various Prospect lyes,
Where artless Nature courts the ravish'd Eyes;
The Sight at once a thousand Charms surveys,
And pleas'd o'er Villages and Forests strays:
Here Harvests grow, and Lawns appear, and Woods,
And gently rising Hills, — and distant Floods.
Where lovely Jasmines fragrant Shade supply;
Whose tender Branches in their Pride array'd,
Invite the Wanderer to the grateful Shade:
From hence afar, a various Prospect lyes,
Where artless Nature courts the ravish'd Eyes;
The Sight at once a thousand Charms surveys,
And pleas'd o'er Villages and Forests strays:
Here Harvests grow, and Lawns appear, and Woods,
And gently rising Hills, — and distant Floods.
Here Arlington, thy mighty Mind disdains
Inferior Earth, and breaks its servile Chains,
Aloft on Contemplations Wings you rise,
Scorn all below and mingle with the Skies;
Where rais'd by great Philosophy you soar,
And Worlds remote, in boundless Space explore;
There from your Height, divine with Pity view,
The various Cares that busy Men pursue:
Where each by diff'rent Ways aspires to gain
Uncertain Happiness with certain Pain:
While you, well pleas'd, th'exalted Raptures know,
That do from conscious Truth and Virtue flow;
And blessing all, by all around you blest,
You taste the Earnest of eternal Rest.
Inferior Earth, and breaks its servile Chains,
38
Scorn all below and mingle with the Skies;
Where rais'd by great Philosophy you soar,
And Worlds remote, in boundless Space explore;
There from your Height, divine with Pity view,
The various Cares that busy Men pursue:
Where each by diff'rent Ways aspires to gain
Uncertain Happiness with certain Pain:
While you, well pleas'd, th'exalted Raptures know,
That do from conscious Truth and Virtue flow;
And blessing all, by all around you blest,
You taste the Earnest of eternal Rest.
You, who have left the publick Cares of State,
Another Scipio in Retirement great,
Have chang'd your Royal Master's gentle Smiles,
For Solitude divine, and rural Toils;
In vain the Call of Glory sounds to Arms;
In vain Ambition shews her painted Charms;
While in the happy Walk, or sacred Shade,
No anxious Cares thy Soul serene invade;
Where all the Heavenly Train thy Steps attend,
Sooth ev'ry Thought, from ev'ry Ill defend:
Such was the Lot th' immortal Roman chose;
Great in his Triumphs, greater in Repose!
Another Scipio in Retirement great,
Have chang'd your Royal Master's gentle Smiles,
For Solitude divine, and rural Toils;
In vain the Call of Glory sounds to Arms;
In vain Ambition shews her painted Charms;
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No anxious Cares thy Soul serene invade;
Where all the Heavenly Train thy Steps attend,
Sooth ev'ry Thought, from ev'ry Ill defend:
Such was the Lot th' immortal Roman chose;
Great in his Triumphs, greater in Repose!
Thus blest with smiling Heav'ns indulgent Store,
Can'st thou in Wishes lavish ask for more?
Yet more they give — thy good old Age to bless,
And fill the Sum of mortal Happiness:
Thy only Daughter, Britain's boasted Grace,
Join'd with a Hero of the Royal Race ;
And that fair Fabrick which our wondring Eyes,
So lately saw from humble Ruins rise,
And mock the Rage of the devouring Flame!
A nobler Structure, and a fairer Frame!
Whose Beauties long shall charm succeeding Days,
And tell Posterity the Founder's Praise.
Can'st thou in Wishes lavish ask for more?
Yet more they give — thy good old Age to bless,
And fill the Sum of mortal Happiness:
Thy only Daughter, Britain's boasted Grace,
Join'd with a Hero of the Royal Race ;
And that fair Fabrick which our wondring Eyes,
So lately saw from humble Ruins rise,
And mock the Rage of the devouring Flame!
A nobler Structure, and a fairer Frame!
40
And tell Posterity the Founder's Praise.
“When from divine Olympus' tow'ring Height,
“All beauteous Venus saw the pleasing Sight,
“In dimpled Smiles, and Looks inchanting drest,
“Thus pow'rful Jove the charming Queen addrest.
“Behold the lovely Seat, and let thy Care,
“Indulgent bless th'united happy Pair;
“Here long their Place, their happy Race assign,
“By Virtue still distinguish'd may they shine,
“In the Request immortal Pallas joins,
“(Long has the Patriot offer'd at her Shrines)
“With Love of Arts his God-like Bosom glows,
“And treads those Paths by which the Goddess rose.”
“All beauteous Venus saw the pleasing Sight,
“In dimpled Smiles, and Looks inchanting drest,
“Thus pow'rful Jove the charming Queen addrest.
“Behold the lovely Seat, and let thy Care,
“Indulgent bless th'united happy Pair;
“Here long their Place, their happy Race assign,
“By Virtue still distinguish'd may they shine,
“In the Request immortal Pallas joins,
“(Long has the Patriot offer'd at her Shrines)
“With Love of Arts his God-like Bosom glows,
“And treads those Paths by which the Goddess rose.”
The awful Father gave the gracious Sign,
And fix'd the Fortunes of the glorious Line.
And fix'd the Fortunes of the glorious Line.
| Translations and Poems Written on Several Subjects | |