A TRANSLATION of part of the first Canto of the RAPE of the Lock, into Leonine Verfe, after the manner of the antient Monks. ET T nunc dilectum fpeculum, pro more rete&tum, Emicat in mensâ, quæ fplendet pyxide densâ : Tum primum lymphâ, se purgat candida nympha ; Jamque fine mendâ, cœleftis imago videnda, Nuda caput, bellos retinet, regit, implet, ocellos. Hác ftupet explorans, feu cultus numen adorans. Inferior claram Pythonifla apparet ad aram, Fertque tibi cautè, dicatque fuperbia! lautè, Dona venufta; oris, quæ cunctis, plena laboris, Excerpta explorat, dominamque deamque decorat. Pyxide devotâ, fe pandit hic India tota, Et tota ex iftâ transpirat Arabia cista ; Teftudo hic flectit, dum fe mea Lesbia pectit; Here files of pins extend their shining rows, And keener lightnings quicken in her eyes. HEALTH, Hic jacet et mundè, mundus muliebris abundè; Pigmina jam miscet, quo plus fua purpura gliscet, F3 HEALTH, an ECLOGUE. W early fhepherds o'er the meadow pafs, NOW And print long footsteps in the glitt'ring The cows neglectful of their pasture ftand, [grafs ; By turns obfequious to the milker's hand. When Damon foftly trod the fhaven lawn, Damon a youth from city cares withdrawn ; Long was the pleafing walk he wander'd thro', A cover'd arbour clos'd the distant view; There reft's the youth, and while the feather'd throng Raise their wild mufic, thus contrives a fong. Here wafted o'er by mild Etefian air, Thou country Goddefs, beauteous Health! repair; Joy to my foul! I feel the Goddess nigh, O'er O'er the flat green refreshing breezes run, The brooks run purling down with filver waves, And scatter fix'd attention in delight. Come, country Goddefs, come, nor thou fuffice, But bring thy mountain-fifter, Exercise. Call'd by thy lovely voice, fhe turns her pace, Her winding horn proclaims the finifh'd chace; She mounts the rocks, fhe fkims the level plain, Dogs, hawks and horfes, croud her early train Her hardy face repels the tanning wind, And lines and meshes loosely float behind. All these as means of toil the feeble fee, But thefe are helps to pleasure join'd with thee. |