 | Miscellanies in Verse and Prose |  |
The Epithalamium of Palladius and Celerina.
Alter'd from Claudian.
Within a secret Grove, the Paphian Queen
Extended careless on the various Green,
Serenely slept: all lovely Flow'rs compose
The fragrant Bed, and round the Goddess rose.
Across the Borders of the pleasing Glade,
The purple Vine its ample Foliage play'd,
And hung its ruddy Fruit: The Breezes fly
Between the quiv'ring Leaves, and cool the sultry Sky.
Extended careless on the various Green,
Serenely slept: all lovely Flow'rs compose
The fragrant Bed, and round the Goddess rose.
Across the Borders of the pleasing Glade,
The purple Vine its ample Foliage play'd,
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Between the quiv'ring Leaves, and cool the sultry Sky.
Th'Idalian Family, a joyous Train,
And chearful Graces lay upon the Plain,
Beneath a spacious Oak; and, fond of Shade,
The sprightly Cupids o'er the Meadows stray'd.
High in the Wind, the whistling Boughs among,
Their deadly Darts, and sighing Quivers hung.
Some exercise in Sport, and Others pry
For downy Nests of Birds, in Hedges nigh,
Our pelt the ripen'd Apples from on high.
This the tall Elm, with mighty Labour, climbs,
And on the trembling Branches trusts his Limbs:
With Watch and Ward, another keeps the Grove,
And makes the peeping Dryades remove;
Nor lets the Woodland Pow'rs approach the Scene,
Or lustful Fawns inspect the sacred Den.
And chearful Graces lay upon the Plain,
Beneath a spacious Oak; and, fond of Shade,
The sprightly Cupids o'er the Meadows stray'd.
High in the Wind, the whistling Boughs among,
Their deadly Darts, and sighing Quivers hung.
Some exercise in Sport, and Others pry
For downy Nests of Birds, in Hedges nigh,
Our pelt the ripen'd Apples from on high.
This the tall Elm, with mighty Labour, climbs,
And on the trembling Branches trusts his Limbs:
With Watch and Ward, another keeps the Grove,
And makes the peeping Dryades remove;
Nor lets the Woodland Pow'rs approach the Scene,
Or lustful Fawns inspect the sacred Den.
While thus their sev'ral Games the Wantons ply,
All suddenly was heard a various Cry,
A Peal of echoing Shouts; and by the Noise,
It seem'd of merry Youths the sprightly Voice,
In Chorus with the Lyre; and clearly round,
Fair Celerina's Name the hollow Mountains sound:
The winding Circuit of the Fields along,
Palladius' Name was answer'd to the Song.
To Venus soon the jovial Clamour flies,
And chas'd the Slumber from her radiant Eyes:
She rais'd her Head, and summon'd, thro' the Groves,
The youthful Hymen from her wand'ring Loves:
A Muse his Mother; with becoming Pride,
Hymen do's o'er the Marriage Bed preside:
He lights the Torch: Without his kindly Aid,
No sacred Nuptial Union can be made.
All suddenly was heard a various Cry,
A Peal of echoing Shouts; and by the Noise,
It seem'd of merry Youths the sprightly Voice,
In Chorus with the Lyre; and clearly round,
Fair Celerina's Name the hollow Mountains sound:
The winding Circuit of the Fields along,
Palladius' Name was answer'd to the Song.
To Venus soon the jovial Clamour flies,
And chas'd the Slumber from her radiant Eyes:
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The youthful Hymen from her wand'ring Loves:
A Muse his Mother; with becoming Pride,
Hymen do's o'er the Marriage Bed preside:
He lights the Torch: Without his kindly Aid,
No sacred Nuptial Union can be made.
At length she finds him: Shelter'd in the Grove,
The busy Boy, in idle Pastime, strove
Unequal Reeds in working Wax to bind;
Then to his Lips the pastoral Flute he joyn'd,
And various Notes excites with modulated Wind.
But when he saw the Queen, he hush'd his Tune,
And blushing dropp'd the Rural Whistle down.
Bright were his Eyes; the Sun, and conscious Shame,
His snowy Cheeks had kindled in a Flame.
Speechless he gaz'd; when thus the Goddess broke
The Silence first, and with a Smile bespoke.
The busy Boy, in idle Pastime, strove
Unequal Reeds in working Wax to bind;
Then to his Lips the pastoral Flute he joyn'd,
And various Notes excites with modulated Wind.
But when he saw the Queen, he hush'd his Tune,
And blushing dropp'd the Rural Whistle down.
Bright were his Eyes; the Sun, and conscious Shame,
His snowy Cheeks had kindled in a Flame.
Speechless he gaz'd; when thus the Goddess broke
The Silence first, and with a Smile bespoke.
Fair Offspring of the
Muse, thou lovely Boy,
For ever do thy Mother's Arts employ
Thy downy Hours, and Songs of Marriage Joy?
What tender Airs, amid' the Noon-day Heat,
Dost thou alone melodiously repeat?
Or dost thou scorn the Harp, and with the Flocks,
Blow the blithe Shepherd's Pipe, while Echo mocks
With ready Voice, and answers from the Rocks?
But tell, my Child, what means this sudden Joy?
What Bridal Pomp is sweetly passing by?
For ever do thy Mother's Arts employ
Thy downy Hours, and Songs of Marriage Joy?
What tender Airs, amid' the Noon-day Heat,
Dost thou alone melodiously repeat?
Or dost thou scorn the Harp, and with the Flocks,
Blow the blithe Shepherd's Pipe, while Echo mocks
With ready Voice, and answers from the Rocks?
But tell, my Child, what means this sudden Joy?
What Bridal Pomp is sweetly passing by?
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Can you, said Hymen, Goddess, linger here,
When such a Bridal's celebrating there?
When such a Bridal's celebrating there?
Phœbus, the radiant Pow'r, whose Beams Divine
On Heav'n and Earth with chearful Glory shine;
Skill'd in the Lyre, to multiply around
The joyous Notes, and Harmony of Sound;
Who forms the tuneful Lay, and fully knows
What virtuous Plant, and sov'reign Simple grows:
To raise his Worth, at once the Youth inspires,
With Arts of Med'cine, and Poetic Fires:
The lov'd Iäpis, with diminish'd Praise,
Preferr'd the Leech's Skill, and scorn'd the Bays;
But, capable of both, his rising Name
This Youth improves, and shares a double Fame.
While, in the Bride, thy own delightful Grace
Thou hast express'd, and Comeliness of Face;
How elegant she shines! the lovely Kind
Confess her Form; where sweetly are combin'd,
A beauteous Person, and a prudent Mind.
Since such a Couple give their Hands to-day,
Your happy Presence, Queen, no more delay.
Come, lead your little Loves; I'm all on fire,
To scatter dewy Crowns amid the Quire;
To shake my bridal Torch, and bless the Night
With Mirth sincere, and Fulness of Delight.
This rural Pipe, of Rushes rudely made,
Shall in the merry Chorus join: he said;
And Venus, rising from her fragrant Bed,
Mov'd to the Fount, and in the cooling Streams
Her Body bath'd, and wash'd her beauteous Limbs;
Her flowing Locks in curious Order ty'd,
And dress'd her Heav'nly Form in utmost Pride:
With gather'd Flow'rs she strew'd her Chariot round,
With scatter'd Flow'rs the silken Meads were crown'd,
And her soft Doves in Flow'ry Harness bound.
On Heav'n and Earth with chearful Glory shine;
Skill'd in the Lyre, to multiply around
The joyous Notes, and Harmony of Sound;
Who forms the tuneful Lay, and fully knows
What virtuous Plant, and sov'reign Simple grows:
To raise his Worth, at once the Youth inspires,
With Arts of Med'cine, and Poetic Fires:
The lov'd Iäpis, with diminish'd Praise,
Preferr'd the Leech's Skill, and scorn'd the Bays;
But, capable of both, his rising Name
This Youth improves, and shares a double Fame.
While, in the Bride, thy own delightful Grace
Thou hast express'd, and Comeliness of Face;
How elegant she shines! the lovely Kind
Confess her Form; where sweetly are combin'd,
A beauteous Person, and a prudent Mind.
Since such a Couple give their Hands to-day,
Your happy Presence, Queen, no more delay.
Come, lead your little Loves; I'm all on fire,
To scatter dewy Crowns amid the Quire;
To shake my bridal Torch, and bless the Night
With Mirth sincere, and Fulness of Delight.
This rural Pipe, of Rushes rudely made,
Shall in the merry Chorus join: he said;
And Venus, rising from her fragrant Bed,
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Her Body bath'd, and wash'd her beauteous Limbs;
Her flowing Locks in curious Order ty'd,
And dress'd her Heav'nly Form in utmost Pride:
With gather'd Flow'rs she strew'd her Chariot round,
With scatter'd Flow'rs the silken Meads were crown'd,
And her soft Doves in Flow'ry Harness bound.
Thick Flights of Birds in Rings attend the Car,
Of ev'ry Kind, repairing from afar,
Such as around the running River build,
And hold the silent Woods, or open Field.
The laughing Loves, who saw the feather'd Train,
For Coursers press'd, and curb'd them with the Rein,
And rode them round the Skies, with Grace before their Queen.
Of ev'ry Kind, repairing from afar,
Such as around the running River build,
And hold the silent Woods, or open Field.
The laughing Loves, who saw the feather'd Train,
For Coursers press'd, and curb'd them with the Rein,
And rode them round the Skies, with Grace before their Queen.
Quick, with a Shout, in merry Fight they close;
Their little Hands are clench'd for sturdy Blows;
And here and there a Fall the Wantons caught,
Then flew with better Speed, to mend the Fault.
Their little Hands are clench'd for sturdy Blows;
And here and there a Fall the Wantons caught,
Then flew with better Speed, to mend the Fault.
Th'officious Cupids, at the Bridal Door,
Of mingled Violets and Roses pour,
From their full Canisters, a fragrant Show'r.
Others, from sparkling Boxes, fill the Room
With Scent of precious Balm; the rich Perfume
Was caught as dropping from the bleeding Wound,
Where the cleft Bark wept Odours on the Ground.
Then to the Fair a fav'rite Cupid prest,
And led her blushing from her Mother's Breast:
Glad Venus join'd the Bride and Bridegroom's Hands,
And solemnly thus ty'd the Nuptial Bands.
Of mingled Violets and Roses pour,
From their full Canisters, a fragrant Show'r.
Others, from sparkling Boxes, fill the Room
With Scent of precious Balm; the rich Perfume
Was caught as dropping from the bleeding Wound,
Where the cleft Bark wept Odours on the Ground.
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And led her blushing from her Mother's Breast:
Glad Venus join'd the Bride and Bridegroom's Hands,
And solemnly thus ty'd the Nuptial Bands.
Live Happy Both, crown'd by the Pow'rs above;
Abundant be your Joys, and permanent your Love!
With soft Address, and Tenderness of Care,
Invite, my Son, and captivate the Fair:
And thou, O Fair, receive the marry'd Life,
And chearful yield thyself a virtuous Wife.
Why in thine Eyes o'erflow the rising Tears?
Why heaves thy Breast? Dismiss thy bashful Fears:
With ev'ry Charm thy Face serenely dress,
And let gay Smiles thy secret Flame confess.
Abundant be your Joys, and permanent your Love!
With soft Address, and Tenderness of Care,
Invite, my Son, and captivate the Fair:
And thou, O Fair, receive the marry'd Life,
And chearful yield thyself a virtuous Wife.
Why in thine Eyes o'erflow the rising Tears?
Why heaves thy Breast? Dismiss thy bashful Fears:
With ev'ry Charm thy Face serenely dress,
And let gay Smiles thy secret Flame confess.
So Cytherea spoke; then call'd aloud
Two wing'd Attendants of her circling Croud:
The fluttering Boys with costly Plumes appear'd,
And, dipp'd in Balm, their pointed Arrows rear'd;
One to the Virgin's Bosom was addrest,
The other doom'd to pierce the Bridegroom's Breast:
Sounded at once the Horns, at once the Darts
Sunk in their Marrow, and transfix'd their Hearts.
Two wing'd Attendants of her circling Croud:
The fluttering Boys with costly Plumes appear'd,
And, dipp'd in Balm, their pointed Arrows rear'd;
One to the Virgin's Bosom was addrest,
The other doom'd to pierce the Bridegroom's Breast:
Sounded at once the Horns, at once the Darts
Sunk in their Marrow, and transfix'd their Hearts.
| Miscellanies in Verse and Prose | |