Cessisse morti, et ferreis sororibus, Te, generis humani decus, Qui Rex sacrorum illa fuisti in insula Quæ nomen Anguillæ tenet. Tunc inquietum pectus ira protinus Tumulis potentem sæpe devovens deam : Nec vota Naso in Ibida Concepit alto diriora pectore ; Turpem Lycambis execratus est dolum, At ecce diras ipse dum fundo graves, Et imprecor neci necem, Audisse tales videor attonitus sonos Leni, sub aura, flamine: Cæcos furores pone, pone vitream Bilemque, et irritas minas: Quid temere violas non nocenda numina, Subitoque ad iras percita? Non est, ut arbitraris elusus miser, Mors atra Noctis filia, 15 20 25 30 14 Anguilla] Ely,' so called from its abundance of eels. 20 Graius] Archilochus. Warton. Warton. 22 Neobolen] This word is without authority, the right name is Neobule.' 29 temere] The last syllable of temere always elided by Virgil, and the best writers; no authority for making it long, as by many modern Latin poets. Tertullian cannot be quoted with propriety on such a question. Erebove patre creta, sive Erinnye, Vastove nata sub Chao: Ast illa, cœlo missa stellato, Dei Animasque mole carnea reconditas In lucem et auras evocat; Ut cum fugaces excitant Horæ diem, Et sempiterni ducit ad vultus patris: Sub regna furvi luctuosa Tartari, Sedesque subterraneas. Hanc ut vocantem lætus audivi, cito Fœdum reliqui carcerem, Ad astra sublimis feror: Vates ut olim raptus ad cœlum senex, Auriga currus ignei. Non me Boötis terruere lucidi Sarraca tarda frigore, aut Vidi triformem, dum coërcebat suos 40 Ofilia] Ov. Met. ii. 118. Fast. i. 125. Warton. 58 dracones] Il Pens. 59, 'While Cynthia checks her dragon yoke. Comus, v. 131; and Shaks. M. N. Dream, act iii. sc. 2, The dragons of the night.' Todd. Erraticorum siderum per ordines, Per lacteas vehor plagas, Velocitatem sæpe miratus novam; Donec nitentes ad fores 60 Ventum est Olympi, et regiam crystallinam, et Stratum smaragdis atrium. Sed hic tacebo; nam quis effari queat, Oriundus humano patre, 65 NATURAM NON PATI SENIUM.* HEU, quam perpetuis erroribus acta fatiscit Oedipodioniam volvit sub pectore noctem ! 5 Ergone marcescet sulcantibus obsita rugis Naturæ facies, et rerum publica mater Omniparum contracta uterum sterilescet ab ævo ? Et se fassa senem, male certis passibus ibit * This poem is replete with fanciful and ingenious allusions. It has also a vigour of expression, a dignity of sentiment, and elevation of thought, rarely found in very young writers. Warton. 15 20 25 Sidereum tremebunda caput? Num tetra vetustas, 30 35 40 Nec fovet effoetas loca per declivia terras 45 Devexo temone Deus; sed semper amica lutat. Utque solet, Siculi diverberat ima Pelori 55 Rex maris, et rauca circumstrepit æquora concha Oceani Tubicen, nec vasta mole minorem Ægeona ferunt dorso Balearica cete. 60 Sed neque, Terra, tibi sæcli vigor ille vetusti ævum Ibit cunctarum series justissima rerum ; VOL. III. X 65 |