Mundum cum frivolis suis condemnavi,
Aurum, gemmas, prædia, vana reputavi,
Rebus transitoriis abrenunciavi,

Et me Christi manibus commendavi.

Explicit conflictio inter corpus et animam.

There is great resemblance between the playful cruelties exercised by these demons, and those of Dante:

E Graffiacan, che gli era più di contra,
Gli arroncigliò le 'mpegolate chiome,
E trassel su, che mi parve una lontra.

O Rubicante, fa che tu gli metti

Gli unghioni addosso sì, che tu lo scuoi,
Gridavan tutti insieme i maladetti.

E Libicocco, Troppo avem sofferto,
Disse e presegli'l braccio col ronciglio,
Sì che, stracciando, ne portò un lacerto.

Barbariccia con gli altri suoi dolente,

Quattro ne fe' volar dall' altra costa,
Con tutti i raffi, ed assai prestamente

Di quà di là discesero alla posta:

Poser gli uncini verso gl' impaniati,
Ch' eran già cotti dentro della crosta3.

5 Inferno, Cant. xxii. v. 34. 40. 70. 145.

The next is the celebrated convivial song, which has been often printed; but as it is the best specimen of Walter de Mapes's humorous style, I shall again introduce it:

Mihi est propositum in tabernâ mori,
Vinum sit appositum morientis ori,
Ut dicant cum venerint Angelorum chori,
"Deus sit propitius huic potatori."

Poculis accenditur animi lucerna,
Cor imbutum nectare volat ad superna,
Mihi sapit dulcius vinum in tabernâ
Quam quod aquâ miscuit præsulis pincerna.

Suum cuique proprium dat natura munus.
Ego nunquam potui scribere jejunus;
Me jejunum vincere posset puer unus,
Sitim et jejunium odi tanquam funus.

Unicuique proprium dat natura donum
Ego versus faciens vinum bibo bonum,
Et quod habent melius dolia cauponum
Tale vinum generat copiam sermonum.

Tales versus facio quale vinům bibo;
Nihil possum scribere nisi sumpto cibo,
Nihil valet penitùs quod jejunus scribo,
Nasonem post calices carmine præibo.

Mihi nunquam spiritus prophetiæ datur
Nisi tunc cum fuerit venter benè satur:
Cum in arce cerebri Bacchus dominatur,

In me Phoebus irruit ac miranda fatur ".

The following spirited translation of this Bacchanalian song is by Mr. Derby of Fordingbridge in Hampshire:

1.

I'm resolv'd in a tavern with honour to die :
At my mouth place a full flowing bowl,

That angels, while round me they hover, may cry,

Peace, O God, peace to this jolly soul !"

2.

By toping the mind with fresh vigour is fraught,

The heart too soars up to the skies;

Give me wine that's unmixed-not that watery draught
Which the president's butler supplies.

3.

To each man his gift Nature gives to enjoy,

To pretend to write well is a jest

When I'm hungry; I yield, overcome by a boy;
And a fast like the grave I detest.

6 Camden's Remains, p. 298.

4.

My verses all taste of the wine that I stow;

While I'm empty my muse is unkind;

But with bumpers enliven'd how sweet does she flow!
Fam'd Ovid I leave far behind.

5.

Till my belly's well fill'd truths I ne'er can divine;
But when Bacchus presides in my pate,

The strong impulse I feel of the great god of rhyme,
And wonderful things I relate.

7 Petri Andrea Canonherii de admirandis vini virtutibus. Ant

werp, 1627, page 501.

Et pro Rege, et pro Papâ
Bibe vinum sine aquâ.
Et pro Papâ, et pro Rege,
Bibe vinum sine lege.
Hæc una est lex Bacchica,
Bibentium spes unica.

His verses when the pope forbade the clergy their wives and concubines are witty, but too long for insertion here. The first and last stanzas are:

Prisciani regula penitus cassatur

Sacerdos per Hic et Hæc olim declinatur,
Sed per Hic solummodò nunc articulatur,
Cum per nostrum Præsulem Hæc amoviatur.

Ecce jam pro clericis multum allegavi,
Nec non pro presbyteris plura comprobavi:
Pater Noster nunc pro me, quoniam peccavi,
Dicat quisque Presbyter cum suâ Suavi ®.

To show the popularity of such subjects as the dispute between the body and the soul, I shall now introduce a poem written by an Englishman in the time of Henry the third, containing a contest between the eye and the heart, in alternate rhyme 9.

› Camden's Remains, p. 501.

9 Ibid. p. 301.