 | Poetical works (1908) |  |
336
Boetius. Libr. 3. Metr. 12.
Thrice happy soul, that turns his Sphere of sight
To that great Sun, and Fount of goodness bright;
Thence fills his waining Orb with true, eternal light.
To that great Sun, and Fount of goodness bright;
Thence fills his waining Orb with true, eternal light.
Happy! who loosing his clogg'd feet, and hands
From pressing earths, and hells oppressing bands,
Mounts, soaring up to Heaven, and at that haven lands.
From pressing earths, and hells oppressing bands,
Mounts, soaring up to Heaven, and at that haven lands.
Once Orpheus plaining at his Spouses bier,
Gave Rocks a weeping eye, and listning ear;
Brooks staid their hasty stream; woods left their roots to hear.
Gave Rocks a weeping eye, and listning ear;
Brooks staid their hasty stream; woods left their roots to hear.
But when no Muse his wounded heart could plaister,
Songs fann'd his fires, and flames brake out the faster,
His verses pleasing all, but easing not their Master,
Songs fann'd his fires, and flames brake out the faster,
His verses pleasing all, but easing not their Master,
Weary of life, to hell he desperate flings,
There fits his sweetest voice to sweeter strings,
And into pitty Lords of Shades, and darkness sings.
There fits his sweetest voice to sweeter strings,
And into pitty Lords of Shades, and darkness sings.
There what his Mothers spring, there what his eyes,
(Griefs double fountain) what (which both out-vies)
Lost-longing love affords, he to stern Ghosts applyes.
(Griefs double fountain) what (which both out-vies)
Lost-longing love affords, he to stern Ghosts applyes.
Hells bauling Dog pricks up his thrice two ears,
To houl, to bark, to snarl, to whine he fears:
Haggs still their hissing snakes; and Furies melt in tears.
To houl, to bark, to snarl, to whine he fears:
Haggs still their hissing snakes; and Furies melt in tears.
Then first Ixion, and his wheel take rest;
Tantale neglects his tast, his ear to feast;
The Vulture, full of verse, scorns Titius loathed brest.
Tantale neglects his tast, his ear to feast;
The Vulture, full of verse, scorns Titius loathed brest.
Dis yields, and with this law restores his Love,
Till hell be left, his sight back must not move.
Who gives Love laws? alas! Loves only law is love.
Till hell be left, his sight back must not move.
Who gives Love laws? alas! Loves only law is love.
Now past black Stix, near to the verge of Skies,
Forc'd by desire, turning his longing eyes,
Euridice (at once) he saw, he lost, he dies.
Forc'd by desire, turning his longing eyes,
Euridice (at once) he saw, he lost, he dies.
This Fable looks to thee, who tir'd with night
Desir'st to draw thy soul to life, and light
On that Eternal Sun set, fasten, fix thy sight.
Desir'st to draw thy soul to life, and light
On that Eternal Sun set, fasten, fix thy sight.
337
If you turn back on hellish Shades to pore,
Thou ever losest what thou wan'st before:
Thy soul more barr'd from Heav'n, in hell implunged more.
Thou ever losest what thou wan'st before:
Thy soul more barr'd from Heav'n, in hell implunged more.
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