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The poems and translations of Sir Edward Sherburne (1616-1702)

excluding Seneca and Manilius Introduced and Annotated by F. J. Van Beeck

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[Haveing past cloudy Nava's rapid Stream]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[Haveing past cloudy Nava's rapid Stream]

[_]

[Ausonius, Edyll. X, 1–44]

Haveing past cloudy Nava's rapid Stream,
T'admire new Walls of an old Towne I came
Where France late did the Latian Cannae foyle
And poore Troops, yet unwept for, strow the Soyle.
Thence entring pathlesse Forrests on I trace
My way,
No Footsteps seeing of a humane Race.
Leaving dry Densens thirsty Lands, & Those
Of fruitful Sauverne, wch wth sweet Springs flowes.
And Feilds sett out to Sarmate Colonies.
Then see in Belgias Skirts Nimegen rise,
The famous Camp of holy Constantine.
Here Purer Aire and Suns serener shine,
In purple Skies. No close weav'd Bows here skreen
Th'excluded Day by their caliginous Green.
But Sols cleare Beams shew to the freer Ey
Through the Transparent Aire a lucid Skie.
All things so faire, & pleasing e'en compeld
To think 'twas my deare Bourdeaux I beheld.
Aspireing Villa's raisd on pendent Rocks
Hills cloathd wth Vines, and Vallies stoard wth flocks.
All pleasd Me strangely, Nothing yet so well
As the soft glideing Stream of the Moselle.
Haile Flood, the Feilds' Applause! the Plowmans Praise!
For whose sake Cæsar Once vouchsafd to raise
These Belgian Walls: Sweet Flood! in a sweet Ground!
With Bacchus odoriferous Bounty crownd,
Thy green Banks still with gawdy flowres Stuck round.

121

As the Sea Navigable; as a River
Flowing with downe-prest Waves, yet faileing never.
As a faire Lake thy Glasselike streame is deep.
And as a Brooke thy trembling Windings creep.
Thirst to allay, Thy liquid Waters quaft
No gelid spring affords a sweeter draught.
Thou hast alone All that Spring, Brooke, or Lake
River, or Sea with bivious Tides partake.
Thee falling with a gently flowing Wave
No Wind makes rough, no hid rock makes to rave.
No high rais'd Shores thy winding Course restraine
Nor intercepted Ground thy Water Plaine
Riseing deformes: or takes from thy just Name
The Honour, to make Islands part thy Streame.
Shareing thy Course, when fairly flowing on
And plyd Oars make thy fixt Banks seem to run.
Or when along thy sides the Bargemen goe
And lay their stout Necks to the adverse Tow.
How often wonderst Thou to see Boats run
Up thy streame fast as that drives others downe.