Poems By the most deservedly Admired Mrs Katherine Philips: The matchless Orinda. To which is added Monsieur Corneille's Pompey & Horace Tragedies. With several other Translations out of French |
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169
Translations.
BY K. PHILIPS.
170
La Solitude de St. Amant.
171
1
O! solitude my sweetest choice,Places devoted to the night,
Remote from tumult, and from noise,
How you my restless thoughts delight!
O Heavens! what content is mine
To see those Trees which have appear'd
From the nativity of Time,
And which all Ages have rever'd,
To look to day as fresh and green
As when their beauties first were seen!
2
A chearful wind does court them so,And with such amorous breath enfold,
That we by nothing else can know,
But by their height that they are old.
Hither the demy-gods did flie
To seek a Sanctuary, when
Displeased Jove once pierc'd the skie,
To pour a deluge upon men,
And on these boughs themselves did save,
Whence they could hardly see a wave.
3
Sad Philomel upon this Thorn,So curiously by Flora drest,
In melting notes, her case forlorn,
To entertain me, hath confess'd.
O! how agreeable a sight
These hanging Mountains do appear,
173
To finish all their sorrows here,
When their hard fate makes them endure
Such woes, as only death can cure.
4
What pretty desolations makeThese torrents vagabond and fierce,
Who in vast leaps their springs forsake,
This solitary vale to pierce.
Then sliding just as Serpents do
Under the foot of every Tree,
Themselves are chang'd to Rivers too,
Wherein some stately Nayade,
As in her native bed, is grown
A Queen upon a Cristal throne.
5
This Fen beset with River-Plants,(O! how it does my senses charm!)
Nor Elders, Reeds, nor Willows want,
Which the sharp Steel did never harm.
Here Nymphs which come to take the air,
May with such Distasts furnish'd be,
As Flags and Rushes can prepare,
Where we the nimble Frogs may see.
Who frighted to retreat do flie,
If an approaching man they spie.
6
Here Water-fowl repose enjoy,Without the interrupting care,
Lest Fortune should their bliss destroy
By the malicious Fowlers Snare.
175
their Feathers finely prune and deck,
Others their amorous heats allay,
Which yet the waters could not check,
All take their innocent content
In this their lovely Element.
7
Summer's, nor Winter's bold approach,This Stream did never entertain,
Nor ever felt a Boat or Coach
Whilst either season did remain.
No thirsty Traveller came neer,
And rudely made his hand his cup,
Nor any hunted Hind hath here
Her hopeless life resigned up,
Nor ever did the treacherous Hook
Intrude to empty any Brook.
8
What beauty is there in the sightOf these old ruin'd Castle walls,
On which the utmost rage and spight
Of times worst insurrection falls.
The Witches keep their Sabbath here,
And wanton Devils make retreat,
Who in malicious sport appear,
Our sence both to afflict and cheat,
And here within a thousand holes
Are nests of Adders and of Owles.
9
The Raven with his dismal cries,That mortal augury of Fate,
177
Which in these gloomy places wait.
On a curs'd Tree the wind does move
A Carcase which did once belong
To one that hang'd himself for love
Of a fair Nymph that did him wrong,
Who though she saw his love and truth,
With one look would not save the Youth.
10
But Heaven which judges equally,And its own Laws will still maintain,
Rewarded soon her cruelty
With a deserv'd and mighty pain:
About this squallid heap of bones,
Her wandring & condemned shade,
Laments in long and piercing grones
The destiny her rigour made,
And the more to augment her fright
Her crime is ever in her sight.
11
There upon Antique Marbles trac'd,Devices of past times we see,
Here age hath almost quite defac'd
What Lovers carv'd on every Tree.
The Cellar, here, the highest Room,
Receives when its old rafters fail,
Soil'd with the venom and the foam
Of the Spider and the Snail:
And th' Ivy in the Chimney we
Find shaded by a Wall-nut Tree.
179
12
Below there does a Cave extend,Wherein there is so dark a Grot,
That should the Sun himself descend,
I think he could not see a jot.
Here sleep within a heavy lid
In quiet sadness locks up sense,
And every care he does forbid,
Whilst in the arms of negligence,
Lazily on his back he's spread,
And sheaves of Poppy are his Bed.
13
Within this cool and hollow Cave,Where Love it self might turn to Ice,
Poor Eccho ceases not to rave
On her Narcissus wild and nice:
Hither I softly steal a thought,
And by the softer Musick made
With a sweet Lute in charms well taught,
Sometimes I flatter her fad shade,
Whilst of my Chords I make such choice,
They serve as body to her voice.
14
When from these ruines I retire,This horrid Rock I do invade,
Whose lofty brow seems to enquire
Of what materials mists are made:
From thence descending leisurely
Under the brow of this steep hill,
It with great pleasure I descry
By Waters undermin'd, until
They to Palæmon's seat did climb,
Compos'd of Spunges and of Slime.
181
15
How highly is the fancy pleas'dTo be upon the Oceans shore,
When she begins to be appeas'd,
And her fierce billows cease to roar!
And when the hairy Tritons are
Riding upon the shaken wave,
With what strange sounds they strike the air
Of their Trumpets hoarse and brave,
Whose shrill report, does every wind
Unto his due submission bind!
16
Sometimes the Sea dispels the Sand,Trembling and murmuring in the Bay,
And rowles it self upon the shells
Which it both brings and takes away.
Sometimes exposes on the strand,
Th' effects of Neptune's rage and scorn,
Drown'd Men, dead Monsters cast on Land,
And Ships that were in Tempests torn,
With Diamonds and Ambergreece,
And many more such things as these.
17
Sometimes so sweetly she does smile,A floating mirrour she might be,
And you would fancy all that while
New Heavens in her face to see:
The Sun himself is drawn so well,
When there he would his Picture view,
That our eye can hardly tell
Which is the false Sun, which the true;
And lest we give our sense the lye,
We think he's fallen from the skye.
183
18
Bernieres! for whose beloved sakeMy thoughts are at a noble strife,
This my fantastick Landskip take,
Which I have copied from the Life.
I only seek the Desarts rough,
Where all alone I love to walk,
And with discourse refin'd enough,
My Genius and the Muses talk;
But the converse most truly mine,
Is the dear memory of thine.
19
Thou may'st in this Poem find,So full of liberty and heat,
What illustrious rays have shin'd
To enlighten my conceit:
Sometimes pensive, sometimes gay,
Just as that fury does controul,
And as the object I survey,
The notions grow up in my Soul,
And are as unconcern'd and free
As the flame which transported me.
20
O! how I Solitude adore,That Element of noblest wit,
Where I have learnt Apollo's lore,
Without the pains to study it:
For thy sake I in love am grown
With what thy fancy does pursue;
But when I think upon my own,
I hate it for that reason too,
Because it needs must hinder me
From seeing, and from serving thee.
184
Tendres desers out of a French prose.
Go soft desires, Love's gentle Progeny,And on the Heart of charming Sylvia sieze,
Then quickly back again return to me,
Since that's the only cure for my disease;
But if you miss her breast whom I adore,
Then take your flight, and visit mine no more.
Amanti ch' in pianti &c.
Lovers who in complaints your selves consume,
And to be happy once perhaps presume;
Your Love and hopes, alike are vain,
Nor will they ever cure your pain.
They that in Love would joy attain,
Their passion to their power must frame;
Let them enjoy what they can gain,
And never higher aim.
And to be happy once perhaps presume;
Your Love and hopes, alike are vain,
Nor will they ever cure your pain.
They that in Love would joy attain,
Their passion to their power must frame;
Let them enjoy what they can gain,
And never higher aim.
Complaints and Sorrows, from me now depart,
You think to soften an ungentle Heart,
When it not onely wards such blows,
But from your sufferance prouder grows.
They that in Love would joy &c.
You think to soften an ungentle Heart,
When it not onely wards such blows,
But from your sufferance prouder grows.
They that in Love would joy &c.
A Pastoral of Mons. de Scudery's in the first volume of Almahide, Englished.
Slothful deceiver, come away,
With me again the fields survey;
And sleep no more, unless it be
My Fortune thou should'st dream of me.
With me again the fields survey;
And sleep no more, unless it be
My Fortune thou should'st dream of me.
185
The Sky, from which the Night is fled,
Is painted with a matchless Red,
'Tis day; the morning greets my Eyes:
Thou art my Sun, wilt thou not rise.
Is painted with a matchless Red,
'Tis day; the morning greets my Eyes:
Thou art my Sun, wilt thou not rise.
Now the black Shadows of the Night
From Heav'n and Earth, are put to Flight:
Come and dispel each lingring shade,
With that Light which thy Eyes have made.
From Heav'n and Earth, are put to Flight:
Come and dispel each lingring shade,
With that Light which thy Eyes have made.
That Planet, which so like thee seems,
In his long and piercing beams,
At once illuminates and Guilds,
All these valleys, and these Fields.
In his long and piercing beams,
At once illuminates and Guilds,
All these valleys, and these Fields.
The Winds do rather sigh than blow,
And Rivers murmure as they go,
And all things seem to thee to say,
Rise Fair one, 'tis a Lovely Day.
And Rivers murmure as they go,
And all things seem to thee to say,
Rise Fair one, 'tis a Lovely Day.
Come and the liquid Pearls descry,
Which glittering 'mong the flowers lye;
Day finds them wet, when it appears,
And 'tis too often with my Tears.
Which glittering 'mong the flowers lye;
Day finds them wet, when it appears,
And 'tis too often with my Tears.
Hearken, and thou wilt much approve
The Warbling Consort of this Grove;
Compleat the pleasure of our Ears,
Mixing thy harmony with theirs.
The Warbling Consort of this Grove;
Compleat the pleasure of our Ears,
Mixing thy harmony with theirs.
Feather'd Musician step aside,
Thy self within these bushes hide,
While my Aminta's Voice affords
Her charming Notes to cloath my words.
Thy self within these bushes hide,
While my Aminta's Voice affords
Her charming Notes to cloath my words.
Hasten to sing them, then my fair,
And put this proud one to despair,
Whose Voice, the Base and Trebles part,
With so marvellous an Art.
And put this proud one to despair,
186
With so marvellous an Art.
Come Philomel, and now make use
Of all, thy practice can produce,
All the harmonious Secrets, thou
Canst try, will do no service now.
Of all, thy practice can produce,
All the harmonious Secrets, thou
Canst try, will do no service now.
Thou must to her this Glory give,
For nothing can thy Fame relieve.
Then e're thou dost the Conquest try,
Chuse to be silent here or dye.
For nothing can thy Fame relieve.
Then e're thou dost the Conquest try,
Chuse to be silent here or dye.
Come my Shepherdess, survey
(While a hundred pipes do play,)
From every Fold, from every Shed,
How the Herds and Flocks are fed.
(While a hundred pipes do play,)
From every Fold, from every Shed,
How the Herds and Flocks are fed.
Hear the pleasing, harmless voice,
Of thy Lambs, now they rejoyce,
While with their bleating notes are mix'd,
Their pretty bounds, and leaps betwixt.
Of thy Lambs, now they rejoyce,
While with their bleating notes are mix'd,
Their pretty bounds, and leaps betwixt.
See, see, how from the Thatched Rooms
Of these our artless Cabbins, comes
A Rustick troop of Jolly Swains,
From every side, unto the Plains.
Of these our artless Cabbins, comes
A Rustick troop of Jolly Swains,
From every side, unto the Plains.
Their Sheep-hooks steel, so bright and clear,
How it shines, both far and near;
A Bag-pipe here, and there a Flute,
With merryer whistles do dispute.
How it shines, both far and near;
A Bag-pipe here, and there a Flute,
With merryer whistles do dispute.
Hear thy flocks, which for thee bleat
In Language Innocent, and sweet;
See here thy Shepherd who attends 'em,
And from the Ravenous Wolf defends 'em.
In Language Innocent, and sweet;
See here thy Shepherd who attends 'em,
And from the Ravenous Wolf defends 'em.
187
Thy Melampus, him endears,
And leaps, and sports, when he appears,
He complains that thy sloth is such;
And my poor heart does that as much.
And leaps, and sports, when he appears,
He complains that thy sloth is such;
And my poor heart does that as much.
Among the rest here's a Ram, we
So white so blith, so merry see,
In all our Flocks, there is not one,
Deserves such praise, as he alone.
So white so blith, so merry see,
In all our Flocks, there is not one,
Deserves such praise, as he alone.
On the grass he butts and leaps,
Flatters, and then away he skips;
So gentle, and yet proud is he,
That surely he hath learn'd of thee.
Flatters, and then away he skips;
So gentle, and yet proud is he,
That surely he hath learn'd of thee.
The fairest Garlands we can find,
Unworthy are, his horns to bind;
But Flowers that death can never know,
Are fittest to adorn his Brow.
Unworthy are, his horns to bind;
But Flowers that death can never know,
Are fittest to adorn his Brow.
He is full of modest shame,
And as full of amorous flame;
Astrologers in heaven see,
A Beast less beautiful than he.
And as full of amorous flame;
Astrologers in heaven see,
A Beast less beautiful than he.
I have for thee a Sheep-hook brought,
On which thy Shepherd hard hath wrought,
Here he thy character hath trac'd;
Is it not neatly interlac'd?
On which thy Shepherd hard hath wrought,
Here he thy character hath trac'd;
Is it not neatly interlac'd?
To that a Scrip is ty'd for thee,
Which woven is so curiously,
That the Art does the stuff excell,
And Gold it self looks not so well.
Which woven is so curiously,
That the Art does the stuff excell,
And Gold it self looks not so well.
Here's in a Cage that he did make,
All the Birds that he could take.
How glorious is their slavery,
If they be not despis'd by thee!
All the Birds that he could take.
How glorious is their slavery,
If they be not despis'd by thee!
188
A Garland too for thee hath staid;
And 'tis of Fairest Flowers made:
Aurora had this offering kept,
And for its loss hath newly wept.
And 'tis of Fairest Flowers made:
Aurora had this offering kept,
And for its loss hath newly wept.
A lovely Fawn he brings along,
Nimble, as thy self, and young,
And greater presents he would bring,
But that a Shepherd is no King.
Nimble, as thy self, and young,
And greater presents he would bring,
But that a Shepherd is no King.
Come away my Lovely bliss,
To such divertisement as this,
And bring none to these Lovely places,
But onely Venus, and the Graces.
To such divertisement as this,
And bring none to these Lovely places,
But onely Venus, and the Graces.
Whatever company were nigh,
Would tedious be; when thou art by;
Venus and Fortune would to me
Be troublesome, if I had thee.
Would tedious be; when thou art by;
Venus and Fortune would to me
Be troublesome, if I had thee.
She comes! from far, the Lovely Maid
Is by her shining charms betray'd:
See how the Flowers sprout up, to meet
A Noble ruine from her feet.
Is by her shining charms betray'd:
See how the Flowers sprout up, to meet
A Noble ruine from her feet.
How Sprightly, and how Fair is she!
How much undone then must I be?
My torment is, I know, severe,
But who can think on't when she's near?
How much undone then must I be?
My torment is, I know, severe,
But who can think on't when she's near?
My heart leaps up within my breast,
And sinks again with Joy opprest;
But in her sight to yield my breath,
Would be an acceptable Death.
And sinks again with Joy opprest;
But in her sight to yield my breath,
Would be an acceptable Death.
Come then, and in this shade, be sure,
That thy fair Skin shall be secure;
For else the Sun would wrong, I fear,
The Colours which do flourish there.
That thy fair Skin shall be secure;
For else the Sun would wrong, I fear,
The Colours which do flourish there.
189
His Flaming steeds do climb so fast,
While they to our Horizon hast,
That by this time his Radiant Coach,
Does to his highest house approach.
While they to our Horizon hast,
That by this time his Radiant Coach,
Does to his highest house approach.
His fiercer Rays in heat, and length,
Begin to rob us of our strength;
Directly on the Earth they dart,
And all the shadows are grown short.
Begin to rob us of our strength;
Directly on the Earth they dart,
And all the shadows are grown short.
This Valley hath a private seat,
Which is a cool, and moist retreat,
Where the angry Planet which we spy,
Can ne're invade us with his Eye.
Which is a cool, and moist retreat,
Where the angry Planet which we spy,
Can ne're invade us with his Eye.
Behold this fresh and florid Grass,
Where never yet a foot did pass,
A Carpet spreads for us to sit,
And to thy Beauty offers it.
Where never yet a foot did pass,
A Carpet spreads for us to sit,
And to thy Beauty offers it.
This delicate apartment is
Roof'd o're with Aged stooping Trees,
Whose verdant shadow does secure
This Place a native furniture.
Roof'd o're with Aged stooping Trees,
Whose verdant shadow does secure
This Place a native furniture.
The Courts of Naiades are such,
In shades like these, ador'd so much,
Where thousand Fountains round about,
Perpetually gush water out.
In shades like these, ador'd so much,
Where thousand Fountains round about,
Perpetually gush water out.
How finely this thick moss doth look,
Which limits this transparent brook;
Whose sportful wave does swell, and spread,
And is on flags and rushes shed!
Which limits this transparent brook;
Whose sportful wave does swell, and spread,
And is on flags and rushes shed!
Within this liquid Chrystal, see
The cause of all my Misery,
And judge by that, (fair Murtheress)
If I could love thy beauty less.
The cause of all my Misery,
And judge by that, (fair Murtheress)
If I could love thy beauty less.
190
Thy either Eye does Rays dispence
Of modesty and Innocence;
And with thy seriousness, we find
The gladness of an Infant joyn'd.
Of modesty and Innocence;
And with thy seriousness, we find
The gladness of an Infant joyn'd.
Thy frowns delight, though they torment,
From thy looks Life and Death is sent;
And thy whole air does on us throw
Arrows, which cureless wounds bestow.
From thy looks Life and Death is sent;
And thy whole air does on us throw
Arrows, which cureless wounds bestow.
The stature of a Mountain Pine,
Is crooked, when compar'd to thine:
Which does thy sex to envy move,
As much as it does ours to love.
Is crooked, when compar'd to thine:
Which does thy sex to envy move,
As much as it does ours to love.
From thy dividing lips do flye,
Those pointed shafts that make us dye:
Nor have our Gardens e're a Rose,
That to thy cheeks we dare oppose.
Those pointed shafts that make us dye:
Nor have our Gardens e're a Rose,
That to thy cheeks we dare oppose.
When by a happy liberty,
We may thy lovely bosom see,
The whitest Curds, nor falling Snow,
Can any such complexion show.
We may thy lovely bosom see,
The whitest Curds, nor falling Snow,
Can any such complexion show.
Thyme and Majoram, whose scent,
Of all perfumes, most Innocent,
Less Fragrancy than thy breath have,
Which all our senses does enslave.
Of all perfumes, most Innocent,
Less Fragrancy than thy breath have,
Which all our senses does enslave.
Even when thou scornest, thou can'st please,
And make us love our own disease.
The blushes that our cherrys wear,
Do hardly to thy lips come near.
And make us love our own disease.
The blushes that our cherrys wear,
Do hardly to thy lips come near.
When upon the smoother Plains,
Thou to dance wilt take the pains,
No Hind, when she employs her feet,
Is half so graceful, or so fleet.
Thou to dance wilt take the pains,
No Hind, when she employs her feet,
Is half so graceful, or so fleet.
191
Of thy garments fair and white,
The neatness gives us most delight,
And I had rather them behold,
Then clothes embroidered with Gold.
The neatness gives us most delight,
And I had rather them behold,
Then clothes embroidered with Gold.
I nothing in the World can see
So rare as unadorned thee,
Who art (as it must be confess'd)
Not by thy clothes, but Beauty dress'd.
So rare as unadorned thee,
Who art (as it must be confess'd)
Not by thy clothes, but Beauty dress'd.
Thy Lovely hair thou up hast ty'd,
And in an unwrought Veil dost hide;
In the mean time thy single Face,
All other beauties does disgrace.
And in an unwrought Veil dost hide;
In the mean time thy single Face,
All other beauties does disgrace.
Yes, yes, thy negligence alone,
Does more than all their care hath done:
The Nymphs, in all their pompous dress,
Do entertain my fancy less.
Does more than all their care hath done:
The Nymphs, in all their pompous dress,
Do entertain my fancy less.
A Nosegay all thy Jewel is,
And all thy Art consists in this;
And what from this pure Spring does pass
Is all thy paint, and all thy Glass.
And all thy Art consists in this;
And what from this pure Spring does pass
Is all thy paint, and all thy Glass.
Adored beauty, here may we
Our selves in lovely glasses see:
Come then, I pray thee, let us look,
I in thy Eyes, thou in the Brook.
Our selves in lovely glasses see:
Come then, I pray thee, let us look,
I in thy Eyes, thou in the Brook.
Within this faithful Mirrour see
The obiect which hath conquer'd me,
Which though the stream does well impart,
'Tis better form'd here in my heart.
The obiect which hath conquer'd me,
Which though the stream does well impart,
'Tis better form'd here in my heart.
In th' entertainment of thy Mind,
When 'tis to pensiveness inclin'd,
Count if thou canst these Flowers, and thou
The sum of my desires wilt know.
When 'tis to pensiveness inclin'd,
Count if thou canst these Flowers, and thou
The sum of my desires wilt know.
192
Observe these Turtles, kind and true,
Hearken how frequently they woo:
They faithful Lovers are, and who
That sees thee, would not be so too?
Hearken how frequently they woo:
They faithful Lovers are, and who
That sees thee, would not be so too?
Of them my fair Aminta learn,
At length to grant me thy concern;
Follow what thou in them do'st see,
And thou wilt soon be kind to me.
At length to grant me thy concern;
Follow what thou in them do'st see,
And thou wilt soon be kind to me.
Those mighty Bulls are worth thy sight,
Who on the plains so stoutly fight;
Fiercely each others brow they hit,
Where Beauty does with anger meet.
Who on the plains so stoutly fight;
Fiercely each others brow they hit,
Where Beauty does with anger meet.
Love is the quarrel they maintain,
As 't was the reason of their pain.
So would thy faithful Shepherd do,
If he should meet his Rival too.
As 't was the reason of their pain.
So would thy faithful Shepherd do,
If he should meet his Rival too.
Thy Shepherd, fair, and cruel one,
In all these Villages is known:
Such is his Fathers herd and flock,
The Plain is cover'd with the stock.
In all these Villages is known:
Such is his Fathers herd and flock,
The Plain is cover'd with the stock.
He the convenient'st pastures knows,
And where the wholsom water flows;
Knows where the coolest shadows are,
And well hath learn'd a Shepherds care.
And where the wholsom water flows;
Knows where the coolest shadows are,
And well hath learn'd a Shepherds care.
Astrology he studies too,
As much as Shepherds ought to do;
Nay Magick nothing hath so dim,
That can be long conceal'd from him.
As much as Shepherds ought to do;
Nay Magick nothing hath so dim,
That can be long conceal'd from him.
When any do these Secrets dread,
He for himself hath this to plead;
That he by them such herbs can pick,
As cure his sheep when they are sick.
He for himself hath this to plead;
That he by them such herbs can pick,
As cure his sheep when they are sick.
193
He can foresee the coming storm,
Nor Hail, nor Clouds, can do him harm,
And from their injuries can keep,
Safely enough his Lambs and Sheep.
Nor Hail, nor Clouds, can do him harm,
And from their injuries can keep,
Safely enough his Lambs and Sheep.
He knows the season of the year,
When Shepherds think it fit to shear
Such inoffensive sheep as these,
And strip them of their Silver fleece.
When Shepherds think it fit to shear
Such inoffensive sheep as these,
And strip them of their Silver fleece.
He knows the scorching time of day,
When he must lead his flock away
To Valleys which are cool and near,
To chew the Cud, and rest them there.
When he must lead his flock away
To Valleys which are cool and near,
To chew the Cud, and rest them there.
He dares the Fiercest Wolves engage,
When 't is their hunger makes them rage;
The frighted dogs, when they retire,
He with new courage can inspire.
When 't is their hunger makes them rage;
The frighted dogs, when they retire,
He with new courage can inspire.
He sings and dances passing well,
And does in wrestling too excel,
Yes fair Maid, and few that know him,
But these advantages allow him.
And does in wrestling too excel,
Yes fair Maid, and few that know him,
But these advantages allow him.
At our Feast, he gets the Praise,
For his enchanting Roundelayes,
And on his head have oftenest been
The Garlands, and the Prizes seen.
For his enchanting Roundelayes,
And on his head have oftenest been
The Garlands, and the Prizes seen.
When the Skrip, and Crook he quits,
And free from all disturbance sits,
He can make the Bag-pipes swell,
And Oaten Reeds his passion tell.
And free from all disturbance sits,
He can make the Bag-pipes swell,
And Oaten Reeds his passion tell.
When his flame does him excite,
In amorous songs to do thee right,
He makes the Verses which he uses,
And borrows none of other Muses.
In amorous songs to do thee right,
He makes the Verses which he uses,
And borrows none of other Muses.
194
He neglects his own affairs,
To serve thee with greater cares,
And many Shepherdesses would
Deprive thee of him if they could.
To serve thee with greater cares,
And many Shepherdesses would
Deprive thee of him if they could.
Of Alceste he could tell
And Silvia's Eye, thou know'st it well:
But as his modesty is great,
He blushes if he them repeat.
And Silvia's Eye, thou know'st it well:
But as his modesty is great,
He blushes if he them repeat.
When in the Chrystal stream he looks,
If there be any truth in Brooks,
He finds, thy scorn can never be
Excus'd by his deformity.
If there be any truth in Brooks,
He finds, thy scorn can never be
Excus'd by his deformity.
His Passion is so high for thee,
As 'twill admit no new degree.
Why wilt not thou his love requite,
Since Kindness gives so much delight?
As 'twill admit no new degree.
Why wilt not thou his love requite,
Since Kindness gives so much delight?
Aminta hearkned all this while,
Then with a dext'rous, charming smile,
Against her will, she let him see,
That she would change his destiny.
Then with a dext'rous, charming smile,
Against her will, she let him see,
That she would change his destiny.
I promise nothing, then said she,
With an obliging air, and free;
But I think, if you will try,
The Wolves are crueller than I.
With an obliging air, and free;
But I think, if you will try,
The Wolves are crueller than I.
When my Sheep unhealthy are,
I have compassion, I have care;
Nor pains, nor journeys then I grudge,
By which you may my Nature judge.
I have compassion, I have care;
Nor pains, nor journeys then I grudge,
By which you may my Nature judge.
When any of them goes astray,
All the hamlets near us may
Perceive me, all in grief and fear,
Run and search it every where.
All the hamlets near us may
Perceive me, all in grief and fear,
Run and search it every where.
195
And when I happen once to find;
The object, of my troubled mind,
As soon as ever it I spy,
O! how over-joy'd am I!
The object, of my troubled mind,
As soon as ever it I spy,
O! how over-joy'd am I!
I flatter her, and I caress,
And let her ruffle all my dress;
The vagabond I kindly treat,
And Mint and Thyme, I make her eat.
And let her ruffle all my dress;
The vagabond I kindly treat,
And Mint and Thyme, I make her eat.
When my Sparrow does me quit,
My throbbing heart makes after it;
And nothing can relief afford,
For my fair inconstant bird.
My throbbing heart makes after it;
And nothing can relief afford,
For my fair inconstant bird.
When my Dog hath me displeas'd,
I am presently appeas'd;
And a tear is in my Eye,
If I have but made him cry.
I am presently appeas'd;
And a tear is in my Eye,
If I have but made him cry.
I never could a hatred keep,
But to the Wolf that kills my sheep:
Gentle and kind, and soft I am,
And just as harmless as a Lamb.
But to the Wolf that kills my sheep:
Gentle and kind, and soft I am,
And just as harmless as a Lamb.
Dispel thy fear, cease thy complaint,
O Shepherd timerous, and faint!
For I'me a Mistress very good,
If you'l but serve me as you should.
O Shepherd timerous, and faint!
For I'me a Mistress very good,
If you'l but serve me as you should.
Words of a favourable strain,
(Cry'd out that now transported swain,)
Which do in thy Leontius fate,
So glad and swift a change create.
(Cry'd out that now transported swain,)
Which do in thy Leontius fate,
So glad and swift a change create.
But look about, for now I mark
The fields already growing dark,
And with those shadows cover'd all,
Which from the neighbouring Mountains fall.
The fields already growing dark,
And with those shadows cover'd all,
Which from the neighbouring Mountains fall.
196
The winged Quire on every tree
By Caroling melodiously,
Do the declining Sun pursue,
With their last homage, and adieu.
By Caroling melodiously,
Do the declining Sun pursue,
With their last homage, and adieu.
From the next Cottages, I here
Voices well known unto my Ear,
They are of our Domesticks who
Do pipe, and hollow for us too.
Voices well known unto my Ear,
They are of our Domesticks who
Do pipe, and hollow for us too.
The Flocks and Heards do homwards go,
I hear them hither bleat and low,
Thy Eyes which mine so much admire,
Tell me 'tis time we should retire.
I hear them hither bleat and low,
Thy Eyes which mine so much admire,
Tell me 'tis time we should retire.
Go then destroying, fair one go,
Since I perceive it must be so,
Sleep sweetly all the night, but be,
At least, so kind to dream of me.
Since I perceive it must be so,
Sleep sweetly all the night, but be,
At least, so kind to dream of me.
Translation of Thomas a Kempis into Verse, out of Mons. Corneille's lib. 3. Cap. 2. Englished.
Speak, Gracious Lord, thy servant hears,
For I both am and will be so,
And in thy pleasant paths will go
When the Sun shines, or disappears.
For I both am and will be so,
And in thy pleasant paths will go
When the Sun shines, or disappears.
Give me thy Spirit, that I may perceive,
What by my Soul thou would'st have done,
Let me have no desire but one,
Thy will to practice and believe.
What by my Soul thou would'st have done,
Let me have no desire but one,
Thy will to practice and believe.
But yet thy Eloquence disarm,
And as a whisper to my heart,
Let it like dew plenty impart,
And like that let it freely charm.
And as a whisper to my heart,
Let it like dew plenty impart,
And like that let it freely charm.
197
The Jews fear'd Thunder-bolts would fall,
And that thy words would Death procure,
Nor in the Desart could endure
To hear their Maker speak at all.
And that thy words would Death procure,
Nor in the Desart could endure
To hear their Maker speak at all.
They court Moses to declare thy will,
And begg'd to hear no more thy voice,
They could not stand the dreadful noise,
Lest it should both surprise and kill.
And begg'd to hear no more thy voice,
They could not stand the dreadful noise,
Lest it should both surprise and kill.
Without those terrours, I implore,
And other favours I entreat,
With confident, though humble heat,
I beg what Samuel did of yore.
And other favours I entreat,
With confident, though humble heat,
I beg what Samuel did of yore.
Though thou art all that I can dread,
Thy voice is musick to my ears,
Speak Lord then, for thy Servant hears;
And will obey what thou hast said.
Thy voice is musick to my ears,
Speak Lord then, for thy Servant hears;
And will obey what thou hast said.
I ask no Moses that for thee should speak,
Nor Prophet to enlighten me,
They all are taught and sent by thee,
And 'tis thy voice I only seek.
Nor Prophet to enlighten me,
They all are taught and sent by thee,
And 'tis thy voice I only seek.
Those beams proceed from thee alone,
Which through their words on us do flow;
Thou without them canst all bestow
But they without thee can give none.
Which through their words on us do flow;
Thou without them canst all bestow
But they without thee can give none.
They may repeat the sound of words,
But not confer their hidden force,
And without thee, their best discourse,
Nothing but scorn to men affords.
But not confer their hidden force,
And without thee, their best discourse,
Nothing but scorn to men affords.
Let them thy Miracles impart,
And vigorously thy will declare;
Their voice, perhaps, may strike the Ear,
But it can never move the heart.
And vigorously thy will declare;
Their voice, perhaps, may strike the Ear,
But it can never move the heart.
198
Th' obscure and naked Word they sow,
But thou dost open our dim Eye,
And the dead letter to supply,
The Living Spirit dost bestow.
But thou dost open our dim Eye,
And the dead letter to supply,
The Living Spirit dost bestow.
Mysterious truth's to us they brought,
But thou expound'st the Riddle too,
And thou alone, canst make us do
All the great things that they have taught
But thou expound'st the Riddle too,
And thou alone, canst make us do
All the great things that they have taught
They may indeed the way direct,
But thou inablest us to walk;
I'th ear alone sticks all they talk,
But thou dost even the Heart dessect.
But thou inablest us to walk;
I'th ear alone sticks all they talk,
But thou dost even the Heart dessect.
They wash the surface of the mind,
But all her fruit, thy Goodness claims,
All that e're enlightens, or enflames,
Must be to that alone assign'd.
But all her fruit, thy Goodness claims,
All that e're enlightens, or enflames,
Must be to that alone assign'd.
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