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A Poetical Translation of the works of Horace

With the Original Text, and Critical Notes collected from his best Latin and French Commentators. By the Revd Mr. Philip Francis...The third edition
  

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Ode XXVII. To Galatea.
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317

Ode XXVII. To Galatea.

Fierce from her Cubs the ravening Fox
Or Wolf from steep Lanuvian Rocks,
Or pregnant Bitch, or chattering Jay,
Ill-omen'd guide the guilty on their Way;
Serpents, like Arrows, sidelong thwart
The Road, and make their Horses start;
But for the Maid, for whom I fear,
I view the doubtful Skies, a prudent Seer,
And bid the chaunting Raven rise
When Phœbus gilds his orient Skies,
Ere speeds the Shower-boding Crow
To Lakes, whose languid Waters cease to flow.

319

Happy may Galatea prove,
Nor yet unmindful of our Love,
For now no luckless Pye prevails,
Nor vagrant Crow forbids the swelling Sails.
Yet see, what Storms tumultuous rise,
While prone Orion sweeps the Skies;
Too well I know the Adrian Main,
And Western Winds, perfidiously serene.
Oh! may the rising Tempest shake
Our Foes, and dreadful o'er them break;
For them the blackening Ocean roar,
And angry Surges lash the trembling Shore.
When on her Bull Europa rode,
Nor knew she press'd th'imperial God,
Bold as she was, th'affrighted Maid
The rolling Monsters of the Deep survey'd.
Late for the rural Nymphs she chose
Each Flower, a Garland to compose,
But now, beneath the Gloom of Night,
Views nought but Seas, and Stars of feeble Light.

321

Soon as she touch'd the Cretan Shore,
My Sire, she cries,—Ah! mine no more,
For every pious, tender Name
Is madly lost in this destructive Flame.
Where am I, wretched and undone?
And shall a single Death atone
A Virgin's Crime? Or do my Fears
Deplore the guilty Deed with waking Tears?
Or am I yet, ah! pure from Shame,
Mock'd by a vain, delusive Dream?
Could I my springing Flowrets leave,
To tempt through Length of Seas the faithless Wave?
While thus with just Revenge possest,
How would I tear that monstrous Beast?
How would I break, by Rage inspir'd,
Those Horns, alas! too fondly once admir'd?
Shameless, my Father's Gods I fly;
Shameless, and yet I fear to die.
Hear me some gracious heavenly Power,
Let Lions fell this naked Corse devour.

323

My Cheeks ere hollow Wrinkles seize,
Ere yet their rosy Bloom decays,
While Youth yet rolls its vital Flood,
Let Tygers fiercely riot in my Blood.
But hark! I hear my Father cry,
Make haste, unhappy Maid, to die,
For if a pendant Fate you chuse,
Your faithful Girdle gives the kindly Noose;
Or if you like an headlong Death,
Behold the pointed Rocks beneath;
Or plunge into the rapid Wave,
Nor live, on haughty Tasks, a Spinster-Slave,
Some rude Barbarian's Concubine,
Born as Thou art of Royal Line.
Here the perfidious-smiling Dame,
And idle Cupid to the Mourner came;

325

A while She rallied with the Fair,
Then with a grave and serious Air,
Indulge, she cries, thy Rage no more,
This odious Bull shall yield him to thy Power.
Yet sigh no more, but think of Love,
For know Thou art the Wife of Jove;
Then learn to bear thy future Fame,
When Earth's wide Continent shall boast thy Name.