Translations and Poems Written on Several Occasions [by Samuel Boyse] |
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Catullus. (de Sepulchro suo.)
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Catullus. (de Sepulchro suo.)
Paraphras'd.
The stately Monument let others raise,
And seek by Art to live till future Days;
To Stone or Brass their Hope of Fame intrust,
The flatt'ring Marble, or deceitful Bust!
No pompous Ornaments my Wishes crave,
But simple as my Life, I wish my Grave!
And seek by Art to live till future Days;
To Stone or Brass their Hope of Fame intrust,
The flatt'ring Marble, or deceitful Bust!
No pompous Ornaments my Wishes crave,
But simple as my Life, I wish my Grave!
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When Fate impartial calls this fleeting Breath,
And every Tie dissolving yields to Death;
To the kind Bosom whence I took my Birth,
Commit the Remnant of returning Earth;
Far from the common Graves, and publick Way,
Peaceful inter th' inanimated Clay,
In some fair Mead, some Wood-enshelter'd Ground,
Or near some bubbling Fountain's soothing Sound,
Where no rude Hand my Ashes may invade,
Disturb my Urn, or fright my watchful Shade;
Green be the Spot beneath, and over Head
Let some fair Tree its guardian Umbrage spread!
Light lie the Earth, and hallow'd be the Ground,
And Flow'rs in sweet Profusion rise around!
Let others servile beat the common Road,
A Poet dead or living scorns a Crowd!
And every Tie dissolving yields to Death;
To the kind Bosom whence I took my Birth,
Commit the Remnant of returning Earth;
Far from the common Graves, and publick Way,
Peaceful inter th' inanimated Clay,
In some fair Mead, some Wood-enshelter'd Ground,
Or near some bubbling Fountain's soothing Sound,
Where no rude Hand my Ashes may invade,
Disturb my Urn, or fright my watchful Shade;
Green be the Spot beneath, and over Head
Let some fair Tree its guardian Umbrage spread!
Light lie the Earth, and hallow'd be the Ground,
And Flow'rs in sweet Profusion rise around!
Let others servile beat the common Road,
A Poet dead or living scorns a Crowd!
| Translations and Poems | |