Miscellanies in Verse and Prose :: :: University of Virginia Library

Honorius' Bosom burn'd with fierce Desire
For the vow'd Fair, and felt unusual Fire.
But, rude in Love, and Novice to the Flame,
He knew not yet from whence the Passion came.
The hunting Courser is no more his Care,
Nor Feats of Arms, nor Honours of the Spear;
The graceful Nymph alone employs his Soul,
On her his eager Thoughts in endless Circles roll.
Oft' from the bottom of his heaving Heart
Issue sad Groans, and Sighs sincerely start;
And oft' his Face with sudden Flushes glows;
Apparent Signs, that secret Love disclose:
His Hands unbidden write the charming Name,
And unaware his Tongue repeats the same.
Now Gifts and Ornaments of Dress, with Care,
The Lover chuses for the plighted Fair;
The Vests which Livia wore, and all the Line
Of noble Consorts of the Race Divine.

Erect in Hope, and brookless of Delay,
He thinks the Sun too slowly drives the Day,
And the Moon loiters in the nightly Skys,
The Time adjourning of his promis'd Joys.

Thus, innocent of Art, the Syrian Maid
Achilles' tender Youth to Love betray'd,
Employ'd his warlike Hands the Wool to twine,
And taught the Heroe at the Wheel to spin,
Toy'd with the Terror of the Trojan War,
And softly set in Curls his braided Hair.

Then thus the Royal Lover said; Ah why
Shou'd fair Maria's Sire retard my Joy!
Why still delay our promis'd Hands to joyn,
Since his Consent already makes her mine?
From no false Portraiture my Passion springs;
The careless Manner of luxuriant Kings.
I chuse not thus by an uncertain Grace,
Nor wanton wed a dubious-fancy'd Face;
Nor from a former Husband's rightful Side,
With foul Injustice tear the weeping Bride;
But in these Nuptials I at once fulfill
Our plighted Vows, and my dead Father's Will.
Besides, our Grandsire on the Mother's Side
Unites the Line, and makes our Blood ally'd.
Nor little is the Merit which I claim,
That at her Knees a Suppliant I became,
My State submitting and Imperial Name;

And from my Court my Purple Nobles send
To plead my Passion, and my Suit commend.
The Prize I ask is mighty, I confess;
But sprung from such a Sire, I sure deserve not less.
With his own Neice he bless'd thy Nuptial Vow,
Thus thou to him dost fair Maria owe;
To me, his Son, then hesitate no more,
To pay the Debt contracted thus before,
But to th'Imperial Court th'Imperial Race restore.
Perhaps the Mother to my earnest Pray'r
Wou'd sooner yield, and lend a milder Ear;
O Daughter of my Uncle, to whose Name
I rose an Heir, of Spain the living Fame,
A Sister by Adoption, but in Love
A very Parent, to my Succour move:
Within thy Arms a helpless Infant laid,
I grew to Strength, and on thy Lap was bred.
Except my Birth alone, in ev'ry Part
More than Flaccilla, thou my Mother art.
Then wilt thou part us, nor be kindly won
To grant Maria to thy Foster Son?
Or shall the long-expected Day arrive,
And the wish'd Night our solemn Vows receive?

Love smil'd, and gliding thro' the peaceful Skys,
A willing Envoy to his Mother flys,
And all his little Wings, to speed his Journey, plys.

Th'Ionian Quarter of the Cyprian Shore,
A craggy Mountain cooly shadows o'er;

Untrod by human Feet: and, from its Head,
Nile's sev'nfold Mouths, and Proteus' Pharian Bed,
Th'Ægyptian Coast, in distant Prospect lye;
No louring Storms e'er cloud the happy Sky.
To Love and Luxury th'indulgent Scene
Devoted lies, and wears Eternal Green.
Nor the bleak Seasons that deform the Year,
Nor wintry Months disgracefully appear,
But Spring's immortal Beauties flourish here.
On its high Top a Field extends around,
With a rich Fence of Golden Hedges crown'd.

This curious Borden, Mulciber, 'tis said,
Uxorious, for his Wife's Embraces paid;
A Bribe to purchase Love: The Meadows smile;
Nor Culture need, for Zephyr tends the Soil.
No Bird presumes to warble in these Groves,
But such whose Voice the Goddess first approves;
The Victors triumph, and the vanquish'd Train
Are chas'd away to Distance on the Plain.
To Love the chearful Vegetables rise;
And ev'ry Tree seems sensible of Joys;
His Boughs the Alder with the Alder twines,
And, close-embracing, conjugally joyns.
The Poplar to the Poplar sighs his Pains,
And Beech to Beech, alternately, complains.

Two Fountains roll: one sweet, and bitter one,
Whose hateful Streams all Mirth and Pleasure drown.

Here Cupid, Fame reports, his Darts prepares,
And dips the cruel Weapons of his Wars.
A thousand Brothers on the Margin play,
Alike in Face and Dress, all young and gay,
The Family of Loves, of unresisted Sway.

The rest sprung from the Nymphs, but this alone
Of better Birth, is Golden Venus' Son;
Heav'n and the Gods are subject to his Throne;
On Princes his distinguish'd Shafts he spends;
O'er meaner Hearts the meaner Race attends.
Nor other wasteful Pow'rs are wanting here;
Voluptuous License, which no Bound can bear;
And hasty Anger, easily aton'd,
And Watchings, drench'd in Wine, inhabit round:
Blushes and Paleness, Loves alternate Hue,
Boldness, at first abash'd with Raptures new;
Delightful Fears, and Pleasures unsincere,
And wanton Perjuries on Wing appear;
Presumptuous Youth is still at hand to chase
Decrepit Age from this enchanting Place.

The glitt'ring Palace shoots a various Blaze
Thro' the brown Grove, and shines with mingled Rays;
By Vulcan rear'd, who added Art to Price;
Gems mix'd with Gold here strike th'admiring Eyes.
On Em'rald Bases plac'd the Pillars stand,
Hew'd from clear Hyacinth with happy Hand:

The Walls were Beryl; sparkling Jaspers joyn
To form the Doors, and nicely polish'd shine;
Rich Agat pav'd the Floor, dispos'd with Skill Divine.
Full in the midst an ample Plain appears,
Which curious Plants and od'rous Harvests bears;
Here sweet Amomum, and the Cassia's Spice,
And soft Sabean Cinnamon arise;
Nor grudgingly their Gumms the Branches yield,
But the rich Balm distills o'er all the Field.

Here Cupid clos'd his tedious Flight, and strait
Pass'd sprightly on, and enter'd thro the Gate;
On her soft Couch, his Mother then with Care
Was nicely forming her dishevel'd Hair;
On either Side th'Idalian Sisters stand;
This serves ambrosial Oyl with ready Hand,
That, with the Comb, divides th'entangled Train
Of mingling Locks, and disembroils again;
A third the Tresses forms with watchful Art,
And studiously neglected leaves a Part;
Th'Omission gave a Grace; the Goddess bright
No Mirror needed to direct her Sight;
Where-e'er she turns, her radiant Form she spys,
And her fair Image floats before her Eyes:
Now as her self she view'd with pleasing Pride,
Her Son approaching, on the Walls she spy'd;
Then to her fragrant Breast she clasps the Boy,
And thus accosts; From whence this swelling Joy?

What Battles, Wanton, dost thou form? And who
Has fall'n a Victim to thy cruel Bow?
Hast thou again the Thunderer compell'd
To low among the Heifers in the Field?
Or vanquish'd Phœbus? or recall'd agen
The shining Moon to her nocturnal Den?
Some stubborn God thou surely hast subdu'd,
Some Deity indignant, rough and rude.

Embracing her, he eagerly replys:
Mother rejoice, I boast no vulgar Prize;
A noble Trophy I have bravely won,
Honorius feels my Bow, and is our own.
Thou know'st Maria and her warlike Sire,
Who made the fierce Barbarian Troops retire,
And covers either Gaul, and Italy;
Nor is Serena's Fame unknown to thee.
Then yield propitious to the Royal Vows,
Unite their Hands; At once the Goddess rose,
Dismiss'd the Cupid from her Arms, and bound
Her flowing Hair, and throws her Robe around;
Her Love-inspiring Zone she snatch'd in haste,
And careless ty'd about her shapely Waste;
With this she calms the rapid Rivers Rage,
And do's the Winds and swelling Seas assuage;
And stills the rolling Thunder's angry Roar;
And now arriv'd upon the sandy Shore,
She in these Words accosts her winged Train;
Which spritely Youth will plunge below the Main,

And call old Triton up, to waft me o'er;
A Service so desir'd, was scarcely known before;
The Bridal is not of a common Line
I now attend, but Sacred and Divine.
Search ev'ry Quarter; whether with his Shell
He makes th'Ægean Seas, or Libyan Ocean swell;
Whoever finds, and brings him here, shall bear
A Golden Quiver, to reward his Care.

She spoke; th'officious Emissaries fly,
To serve their Queen, and search with curious Eye.
Beneath the Depth of the Carpathian Main,
Triton was sporting with the wat'ry Train;
He chas'd Cymothoe; she, with wild Affright,
Deceiv'd his Arms, and scudded from his Sight;
Love saw the Game; What! dost thou think to hide,
Said he, thy Gambols by the wavy Tide?
My Message heed, and instantly prepare
Our beauteous Queen across the Seas to bear.
No slight Reward shall gratify thy Pain,
Cynothoe, who now flys thee, thou shalt gain:
This thy Reward. Now thro' the rolling Flood,
With eager Vigour, bounds the Monster-God;
About his Shoulders hang his Sedgy Hairs,
And filmy Feet below his Groin he bears,
Where with the Man the Fish unites; he gain'd,
At the fourth rushing Spring, the Paphian Strand;
A shady Canopy, his Tail he spread,
Form'd in an Arch, above the Goddess' Head;

And on his scaly Back obsequious lays
The Leaves of Roses, a soft Seat to raise:

Embarqu'd, the Goddess sails; secure she glides,
Her Feet skim smoothly thro' the curling Tides;
The winged Loves attend her on the Way,
And shake with nimble Oars the smiling Sea;
Old Neptune's Palace is with Garlands crown'd,
And all the Nymphs in Pastimes meet around;
Leucothoë sports and with a rosy Rein
Palæmon guides his Dolphin on the Main;
With Herbs immortal, Glaucus binds his Hairs,
And Nereus, Reeds with Vi'lets mingled, wears.
On Water-Monsters borne, the Nereids came;
This on a glaring Tiger swiftly swam;
One mounts a Lyoness, and scuds along,
And on a Bullock's Back this joins the Throng.
With various Gifts the Goddess they address,
To crown the Nuptials, and their Joy express;
Cymothoë gave a Girdle for the Fair;
A Necklace Galatea, rich and rare;
A Diadem by Spatalé was brought,
Enrich'd with Pearls which she herself had sought.
All in a trice smooth Doto dives below,
And gathers blushing Corals where they grow:
What was a Twig when first she seiz'd it there,
Behold a Gemm, when she arose in Air.

Lost in a Ring the Goddess they salute,
And graceful recommend their ardent Suit.

These Ornaments, our Gifts, to grace the Fair,
Like thee a Queen, do thou vouchsafe to bear;
And say, the like not Thetis cou'd obtain,
Nor Amphitrité, Sister of our Train,
When she espous'd the Ruler of the Main.
And let this Tribute that we gladly pay,
Attest the prompt Obeisance of the Sea;
Victorious Vessels often we have borne,
With her great Father in his wish'd Return,
When the rebellious Greeks his Arms had quell'd,
And all the Fury of the Foe repell'd.

Now Triton's foamy Breast, advancing, bore,
And made the Margin of Liguria's Shore;
He stretch'd his Tail unfolded on the Tide,
And sweeping by the Coast in all his Pride,
Pass'd swiftly on, and to the City came,
Which from the fleecy Sow receiv'd its Name.
At Venus' Sight, the Clouds forsake the Sky,
And o'er the brighten'd Alps the North-winds fly;
The Soldier's Heart a sudden Gladness feeds,
He joys, yet knows not whence his Joy proceeds.
A Bloom of Flow'rs the martial Ensigns wear,
And Leaves sprout spritely from the pointed Spear.

Then turning to her Loves; Awhile, said she,
Bid Mars retire, and leave the Court to me;

Far be the dreadful Blaze of Helms abhorr'd,
And let the Scabbard sheath the shining Sword;
Let now the Roman Eagles quit the Sight,
And all, to-day, beneath my Banners fight.
For the shrill Cornet's and the Trumpet's Sound,
Let mellow Flutes and Lyres be heard around.
Let the rough Soldier now indulge his Soul,
And chearful crown in Arms the laughing Bowl.
Its awful State let Majesty dismiss;
And, without Scruple, in the gen'ral Bliss
Nobles and Commons undistinguish'd share;
Let loose the Reins to Jollity sincere,
Nor let the rigid Laws to smile forbear.
Prepare the Torches, Hymen; and the Flow'rs
Ye Graces gather from the sweetest Bow'rs;
Thou, Concord, for the Night two Crowns provide,
And ye, the wing'd Companions of my Side,
Lend all your Hands, with Diligence obey,
Each as he's call'd, and spritely shun Delay.
Dispose the sparkling Lamps to gild the Night,
And from a thousand Branches shed their Light.
These with my Myrtle dress the Pillars crown'd,
And those the living Nectar sprinkle round;
Let rich Sabæan Incense feed the Fire,
And from the Wardrobe all the gay Attire
Magnificent display, and hide the Floor
With rich Sidonian Carpets cover'd o'er:

With artful Texture form the Bridal Bed;
Let pictur'd Pillars raise the lofty Head;
And, glitt'ring in the curious Work Divine,
Bright Gemms, enwoven, elegantly shine.
Such be the Structure as may far outvye,
What Pelops ow'd to Lydian Luxury;
And what the Nymphs prepar'd the God of Wine,
With Indian Trophies and the branching Vine.
There all the Spoils display, her Parents gain'd,
What her fam'd Grandsire from the Moor obtain'd,
And vanquish'd Saxon; and what-e'er his Son,
With Stilicho, in num'rous Battles won;
What the Geloni and Armenia gave,
And swarthy Meroe, wash'd with Nilus' Wave;
What from the Mede were brought with Conquest home,
When suppliant Parthia bought its Peace of Rome.
Let on the Whole, Barbarian Wealth be spread,
And all the Triumphs crown the pompous Bed.
She said; and to the House, without Delay,
An unexpected Guest, pursu'd her Way.
Careless of Nuptials, and the Bridal Hour,
The Maid was list'ning to her Mother's Lore,
Imbib'd her Manners, and the Patterns weigh'd
Of Chastity in former Times display'd;
Nor did she spare, her studious Mind to please
With Roman Writers and the Wits of Greece;

A ready Pupil, by her Mother taught,
What antient Homer, or what Orpheus wrote,
Or Sappho sung to her enchanting Lyre,
She read, and did judiciously admire.
So by Latona was Diana led,
And so Mnemosyné, Thalia bred.

Now suddenly the Day grows doubly fair,
And heav'nly Odours fill the balmy Air;
Th'Occasion soon appears; before their Sight,
The Goddess shines, in all her Glory bright.
Struck with Amaze, awhile she silent stood,
And now the Daughter's Form, and now the Mother's view'd;
She Both admires; the Mother's comely Grace,
The Daughter's radiant Eyes, and beauteous Face.
This, like a dawning Crescent, freshly bright,
That, like the Moon full-orb'd, salutes the Sight;
Or, as beneath the Parent's ample Shade,
An Infant Laurel lifts its little Head,
And gaily promises, in time to bear
Th'accomplish'd Honours of the leafy Hair:
Or, as in one sweet floral Stem are seen
Two Roses shining on a Pæstan Green;
Indulg'd with Vernal Dews, this spreads abroad
Its finish'd Pomp; while, bashful in the Bud,
That lurking lies, and, fearful to be blown,
Dares not admit the warm-embracing Sun.
Long Cytherea thus the Pair survey'd,
Then tenderly accosts the lovely Maid.

Of fair Serena, Hail thou Daughter fair!
From Kings descended, future Kings to bear!
For thee I left my Paphian Seats; for thee
Have Toils sustain'd, and pass'd a Length of Sea,
That thou no more a private Life shou'dst lead,
And his fierce Flames Honorius pining feed.
Receive the Pomps that do thy Birth become,
And for thy Children's sake, the Diadem resume.
To that Imperial Palace, whence before
Thy Mother came, do thou thy self restore;
In Bands of Kindred tho' thou didst not joyn,
Nor wast descended of a Princely Line,
Thou might'st an Empire by thy Form alone
Deserve; what Face so worthy of a Throne?
Whose Person can a Crown so justly claim?
Thy ruddy Lips the Rose's Tincture shame;
Not Maiden Frosts can with thy Neck compare,
Nor purple Vi'lets with thy shaded Hair,
Nor Flames with thy keen Eyes, that sparkle heav'nly fair.
How smooth thy Brows! how nicely they divide
Their equal Arch, produc'd on either Side!
How thy Complexion charms the ravish'd Sight!
The Red so mildly mingling with the White.
Aurora's Fingers, and Diana's Pride
Of Shape and Stature, are by thee outvy'd;
And ev'n thy Mother thou dost now surpass,
In ev'ry Feature of enchanting Grace.

If Bacchus for his Love cou'd mark the Sky
With his fair dotal Crown, display'd on high,
Why for a Virgin so much more Divine,
Shou'd not some radiant Constellation shine?
For thee, Boötes sparkling Wreaths prepares,
And Heav'n lights up a Train of new-born Stars.
Go then, and make a worthy Prince thy own,
And share the Glories of so great a Throne.
Ister shall worship thee, with Faith sincere,
And willing People shall thy Name revere:
The Rhine and Elbe shall their Obeisance pay,
And rough Sicambrians own thy Royal Sway.
But single Nations why shou'd I recite?
The World's thy Dow'r, submitted to thy Right.

She said; and then before her Sight display'd
The splendid Presents which the Nereids made.
With her own Hands she fits them to the Fair,
She sets her Garments, and she forms her Hair,
The Nuptial Vail applies, adjusting all with Care.
Before the Gate resounds the Pomp; with Pride
Adorn'd, the Chariot waits the coming Bride.
The Prince is all on fire the Train to lead,
And wish'd the tardy Sun wou'd hide his Head.
Not otherwise the spritely Courser, stung
With Rage of Love, bounds furiously along,
Erects his Head, and shakes his comely Main,
And scours impetuous o'er the sounding Plain;

With ardent Neighs he seeks the neighb'ring Flood,
His fiery Nostrils breathe a smoky Cloud;
His Master smiles, and views him with Delight,
And all the Herd are gladded at the Sight.

Their Arms dismiss'd, mean time the Troops conspire
T'express their Joy, and hail the happy Sire;
The mingled Flow'rs the jocund Soldiers pour,
And on their Leader throw a rosy Show'r;
With Laurel and with Myrtle bind their Brows,
And in these Words their common Transport flows.

Great Father of thy Country, whether thou
Dwell'st in Olympus, or enjoy'st below,
Th'Elysian Fields, the happy Place assign'd
To worthy Spirits of a better Kind;
See Stilicho fulfils his plighted Vow,
Th'auspicious Season is accomplish'd now,
With glad Requital, when thy foster Care
Of him, in others amply he'll repair;
The Nuptial Honour, which with Royal Grace
Thou gav'st to him, he to thy Son repays.
Thy prudent Choice thou never shalt repent,
And thy last Trust is answer'd in th'Event.
Well worthy He, to whom, when near thy End,
Thou shou'dst thy Offspring and the State commend.
What Battels fought by Hæmus' lofty Hill,
Thy House's Praise, might here our Numbers fill?
What Fights that dy'd rough Strymon's Flood with Gore,
And swell'd the Waves encumber'd to the Shore!

How did he lift his Shield, and on the Foe
With what a Force his Martial Thunder throw!
But Hymen this forbids; his softer Rites
Require our Song; a milder Theme invites.
Who better knows with clear sagacious Mind,
The Mean of Right and Equity to find!
What never did in One before conspire,
Unite in thee, to raise thy Merit high'r,
Valour with Counsel, and with Prudence Fire.
Who boasts an equal Mien and Air? and whom
Wou'd Roman Majesty so well become?
What Arm so great a Charge can better bear?
And wield the Burden of the Publick Care?
Tho' meanly mingled in the common Croud,
Whoever saw thee, strait wou'd cry aloud,
This, this is Stilicho; thus art thou shown,
Thus pointed out, and by thy Presence known;
A Dignity not form'd by Arts of Pride,
By haughty Speeches, and a lofty Stride:
What others strive laboriously to gain,
By Imitation, and with Study feign,
That Nature gives to thee; in thee appear
A Mildness free, and Greatness not severe;
And Age's venerable Hue is seen,
T'augment the Honours of thy awful Mien;
For Youth and Years at once in thee display
Their mutual Ensigns, and assert their Sway,
A Gravity rever'd, and Strength without Decay.

In thee, the Man the Fortune do's adorn,
No guilty Arms by thee were ever borne;
No Swords nor Jav'lins dipp'd in Civil Gore,
Pollute the Triumphs which thou gain'dst before.
Thou dost not Hatred by thy Terrors raise,
Nor spare the Guilty out of partial Grace;
Our Hearts to thee agreeing Passions prove,
At once we fear thee, and at once we love.
The Fear we bear thee, our Affection draws,
Thou just Dispenser of impartial Laws;
Thou strict Observer of the plighted Peace,
Thou best of Leaders; lov'd by all Degrees.
The Duty which we owe our Sov'reign, now
New Tyes enhance; we gladly must avow,
That he, unconquer'd Heroe, is thy Son;
Then wave thy Rank, and lay thy Grandeur down,
To join our chearful Choir, and wear the floral Crown.
So may Eucherius his great Sire excell,
And fair Thermantia light the Torch as well;
And may Maria fruitfully increase,
And bring a young Honorius forth with Ease,
In Purple born, to press his Grandsire's Knees.

Milan.