The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw Volume II Part 56

Latin Poems.

PART SECOND. SECULAR.

I.

FROM 'STEPS TO THE TEMPLE' AND 'DELIGHTS OF THE MUSES,' ETC.

1646-1648.

NOTE.

Among the English poems of the 'Steps to the Temple' and 'Delights of the Muses' of 1646 were the following, in order: In Picturam Reverendissimi Episcopi D. Andrews (p. 89)--Epitaphium in Dominum Herrisium (pp. 92-3)--Principi recens natae omen maternae indolis (pp. 108-9)--In Serenissimae Reginae partum hyemalem (pp. 118-9)--Ad Reginam (pp. 121-2)--In faciem Augustiss. Regis a morbillis integram (p. 127)--Rex Redux (pp. 131-2), and Ad Principem nondum natum (p.

133). In the enlarged edition of 1648 besides these, there appeared: Bulla (pp. 54-58)--Thesaurus Malorum Foemina (p. 59)--In Apollinea depereuntem Daphnen (pp. 60-1)--Aeneas Patris sui Bajulus (p.

61)--In Pygmaliona (p. 61)--Arion (pp. 61-2)--Phnicis Genethliacon et Epicedion (p. 63)--Epitaphium (p. 64)--d.a.m.no affici saepe fit Lucrum (pp. 64-5)--Humanae Vitae Descriptio (p. 65)--Tranquillitas Animi, Similitudine ducta ab Ave captiva et canora tamen (pp. 66-7).

These Poems I have arranged under two cla.s.ses: (_a_) Miscellaneous, really, not merely formally, poetry: (_b_) Royal and other commemorative pieces. The former in the present section, the latter in the next. See our Essay on each. Nearly the whole of the translations in this division are by myself, with additional renderings of some by Rev. Thomas Ashe, M.A., as before, and others by Rev. Richard Wilton, M.A., as before, as pointed out in the places.

As before, I note here the more misleading errors of Turnbull's text. In 'Bulla,' l. 1, 'timores' for 'tumores;' l. 4, 'dextera mihi' for 'dextra mei;' l. 54, 'nitent' for 'niteat;' l. 80, 'avis'

for 'uvis;' l. 84, 'nives' for 'niveae;' l. 85, 'sint' for 'sunt;'

l. 154, 'desinet' for 'defluet;' l. 157, 'Tempe' for 'Nempe:' in Tranquillitas Animi,' l. 13, 'minis minisque' for 'nimis nimisque;'

l. 16, 'patrisque' for 'patreaeque;' l. 20, 'provocabit' for 'provocabat:' in 'Humanae Vitae Descriptio,' l. 13, 'more' for 'mare:' in 'Apollinea depereuntem Daphnen,' l. 12, 'ores' for 'oris:' in Phnicis Genethliacon et Epicedion,' l. 5, 'teipsum' for 'teipsam:' in 'Epitaphium,' l. 6, 'tremulum' for 'tremulam;' l. 7, 'discas' for 'disces,' 'hinc' for 'huc,' and 'reponas' for 'repones;' l. 10, 'miseris' for 'nimis:' in 'Thesaurus Malorum Foemina,' l. 16, 'Pietas' for 'Pectus.' G.

BULLA.

Quid tibi vana suos offert mea Bulla tumores?

Quid facit ad vestrum pondus inane meum?

Expectat nostros humeros toga fortior. Ista En mea Bulla, lares en tua dextra mei.

Quid tu? quae nova machina, 5 Quae tam fortuito globo In vitam properas brevem?

Qualis virgineos adhuc Cypris concutiens sinus, Cypris jam nova, jam recens, 10 Et spumis media in suis, Promsit purpureum latus; Concha de patria micas, Pulchroque exsilis impetu; Statim et millibus ebria 15 Ducens terga coloribus Evolvis tumidos sinus Sphaera plena volubili.

Cujus per varium latus, Cujus per teretem glob.u.m 20 Iris lubrica cursitans Centum per species vagas, Et picti facies chori Circ.u.m regnat, et undique, Et se Diva volatilis 25 Jucundo levis impetu Et vertigine perfida Lasciva sequitur fuga, Et pulchre dubitat; fluit Tam fallax toties novis, 30 Tot se per reduces vias, Erroresque reciprocos Spargit vena coloribus; Et pompa natat ebria.

Tali militia micans 35 Agmen se rude dividit; Campis quippe volantibus, Et campi levis aequore Ordo insa.n.u.s obambulans Pa.s.sim se fugit, et fugat. 40 Pa.s.sim perdit, et invenit.

Pulchrum spargitur hic Chaos.

Hic viva, hic vaga flumina Ripa non propria meant, Sed miscent socias vias, 45 Communique sub alveo Stipant delicias suas.

Quarum proximitas vaga Tam discrimine lubrico, Tam subtilibus arguit 50 Juncturam tenuem notis, Pompa ut florida nullibi Sinceras habeat vias; Nec vultu niteat suo.

Sed dulcis c.u.mulus novos 55 Miscens purpureus sinus Flagrant divitiis suis, Privatum renuens jubar.

Floris diluvio vagi, Floris sidere publico 60 Late ver subit aureum, Atque effunditur in suae Vires undique copiae.

Nempe omnis quia cernitur, Nullus cernitur hic color, 65 Et vicinia contumax Allidit species vagas.

Illic contiguis aquis Marcent pallidulae faces.

Unde hic vena tenellulae, 70 Flaminis ebria proximis Discit purpureas vias, Et rubro salit alveo.

Ostri sanguineum jubar Lambunt lactea flumina; 75 Suasu caerulei maris Mansuescit seges aurea; Et lucis faciles genae Vanas ad nebulas stupent; Subque uvis rubicundulis 80 Flagrant sobria lilia; Vicinis adeo rosis Vicinae invigilant nives; Ut sint et niveae rosae, Ut sunt et roseae nives, 85 Accenduntque rosae nives, Extinguuntque nives rosas.

Illic c.u.m viridi rubet, Hic et c.u.m rutile viret, Lascivi facies chori. 90 Et quicquid rota lubrica Caudae stelligerae notat, Pulchrum pergit et in ambitum.

Hic cli implicitus labor, Orbes...o...b..bus obvii; 95 ex velleris aurei, Grex pellucidus aetheris; Qui noctis nigra pascua Puris morsibus atterit; Hic quicquid nitidum et vagum 100 Coeli vibrat arenula, Dulci pingitur in joco; Hic mundus tener impedit Sese amplexibus in suis.

Succinctique sinu globi 105 Errat per proprium decus.

Hic nictant subitae faces, Et ludunt tremulum diem, Mox se surripiunt sui et Quaerunt tecta supercili, 110 Atque abdunt petulans jubar, Subsiduntque proterviter.

Atque haec omnia quam brevis Sunt mendacia machinae!

Currunt scilicet omnia 115 Sphaera, non vitrea quidem-- Ut quondam Siculus globus-- Sed vitro nitida magis, Sed vitro fragili magis, Et vitro vitrea magis. 120 Sum venti ingenium breve, Flos sum, scilicet, aeris, Sidus scilicet aequoris; Naturae jocus aureus, Naturae vaga fabula, 125 Naturae breve somnium.

Nugarum decus et dolor; Dulcis doctaque vanitas.

Aurae filia perfidae; Et risus facilis parens. 130 Tantum gutta superbior, Fortunatius et lutum.

Sum fluxae pretium spei; Una ex Hesperidum insulis.

Formae pyxis, amantium 135 Clare caecus ocellulus; Vanae et cor leve gloriae.

Sum caecae speculum Deae, Sum Fortunae ego tessera, Quam dat militibus suis; 140 Sum Fortunae ego symbolum, Quo sancit fragilem fidem c.u.m mortalibus ebriis, Obsignatque tabellulas.

Sum blandum, petulans, vagum, 145 Pulchrum, purpureum, et decens, Comptum, floridulum, et recens, Distinctum nivibus, rosis, Undis, ignibus, aere, Pictum, gemmeum, et aureum, 150 O sum, scilicet, o NIHIL.

Si piget, et longam traxisse in taedia pompam Vivax, et nimium Bulla videtur a.n.u.s: Tolle tuos oculos pensum leve defluet, illam Parca metet facili non operosa manu. 155 Vixit adhuc. Cur vixit? adhuc tu nempe legebas.

Nempe fuit tempus tum potuisse mori?

NOTE.

A collation of the 'Bulla' with the Tanner MS. corrects the punctuation of the original and subsequent printed texts, and specially puts right in the last line 'Nempe' for 'Tempe,' so long retained. In the fourth line from close the printed texts read 'desinet' for 'defluet.' Nothing else noticeable. G.

TRANSLATION. THE BUBBLE. [TO REV. DR. LANY.]

What art thou? What new device, Globe, chance-fas.h.i.+on'd in a trice, Into brief existence bounding, Perfectly thy circle rounding?

As when Cypris, her breast smiting-- Virgin still, all love inviting-- Cypris in young loveliness Couch'd rosy where the white waves press Her to bear and her to bless; _So_ forth from thy native sh.e.l.l Gleamest thou ineffable!

Springing up with graceful bound And describing dainty round; Thousand colours come and go As thou dost thy fair curves show, Swelling out--a whirling ball Meet for Fairy-Festival; Through whose sides of s.h.i.+fting hue, Through whose smooth-turn'd globe, we view Iris' gliding rainbow sitting, In a hundred forms soft-flitting: And semblance of a troop displaying, All around dominion swaying: And the G.o.ddess volatile With witching step and luring smile Follows still with twinkling foot In link'd mazes involute: With many a sight-deceiving turn And flight which makes pursuers burn, And a graceful hesitation-- Only treacherous simulation: JUST SO, and no less deceiving, Our BUBBLE, all its colours weaving, Follows ever-varying courses, Or in air itself disperses: Here now, there now, coming, going, Wand'ring as if ebbing, flowing: Sporting Pa.s.sion's colours all In ways that are baccha.n.a.l; And the GLOBES undisciplin'd As though driven by the wind, Borne along the fleeting plains Light as air; nor order reigns-- But the heaven-possess'd array Moving each in its own way, Hither now and thither flying, Glancing, wavering, and dying, Losing still their path and finding, In a random inter-winding: Rising, falling, on careering, Vis'ble now, now disappearing; Living wand'ring streams outgoing, Ev'n Confusion beauteous showing: Flowing not each in its course, But each to other joining force; Moving in pleasant pastime still In a mutual good-will: And a nearness that's so near You the contact almost fear, Yet so finely drawn to eye In its delicate subtlety That the procession, blossom-fair, Nowhere has direction clear: Nor with their own aspect glance, But in the sweet luxuriance Which skiey influences lend, As in new windings on they trend: Throwing off the stol'n sunlight In a flood of blossoms bright, Scatter'd on the fields of light; Such a brilliancy of bloom As all may share if all will come.

Now golden Spring advances lightly, Spreading itself on all sides brightly, Out of its rich and full supply Open-handed, lavishly.

Since all colours you discern, No one colour may you learn: All tints melted into one In a sweet confusion, You cannot tell 'tis that or this, So s.h.i.+fting is the loveliness: Gleams as of the peac.o.c.k's crest, Or such as on dove's neck rest; Opal, edg'd with amethyst, Or the sunset's purpl'd mist, Or the splendour that there lies In a maiden's azure eyes, Kindling in a sweet surprise: Flower-tints, sh.e.l.l-tints, tender-dy'd, Save to curious unespied: Lo, one BUBBLE follows t'other, Differing still from its frail brother, Striking still from change to change With a quick and vivid range.

There in the contiguous wave Torches palely-glist'ning lave; Here what delicate love-lights s.h.i.+ne!

Through them near flames bick'ring s.h.i.+ne.

Matching flus.h.i.+ng of the rose, As the ruddy channel flows: Milky rivers in white tide Lucent, hush, still onwards glide: Purple rivers in high flood-- Red as is man's awful blood: Corn-fields smiling goldenly Meet the blue laugh of the sea: Mist-clouds sailing on their way Darken the changeful cheeks of Day: And beneath vine-cl.u.s.ters red Lilies are transfigured: Here you mark as 'twere the snows Folding o'er the neighb'ring rose; Snow into blown roses flus.h.i.+ng, Roses wearied of their blus.h.i.+ng, As the s.h.i.+fting tints embrace, And their course you scarce can trace; Now retiring, now advancing, Now in wanton mazes dancing; Now a flow'ry red appears, Now a purpl'd green careers.

All the signs in heaven that burn Where the gliding wheel doth turn, Here in radiant courses go, As though 'twere a heaven below: The sky's mazes involute Circling onward with deft foot, Sphere on heavenly sphere attending, Coming, going, inter-blending: And the gold-fleec'd flocks of air Wand'ring inviolate and fair; Flocks that drink in chaste delight Dewy pastures of the Night, Leaving no trace of foot or bite.

Whate'er of change above you note, As these clouds o'er heaven float, Lo, repeated here we see In a sportive mimicry.

Here the tiny tender world Within its own brightness furl'd Wavers, as in fairy robe 'Twere a belted lined globe.

Lights as of the breaking Day Tremble with iridescent play, But now swiftly upward going, Evanescent colours showing, In some nook their beams concealing, Nor their wantonness revealing.

O, what store of wonders here In this short-liv'd slender SPHERE!

For all wonders I have told Are within its GLOBE enroll'd: Not such globe as skilled he Fas.h.i.+on'd of old in Sicily: Brighter e'en than crystals are, And than crystal frailer far.

'I am Spirit of the Wind, For a flitting breath design'd; I am Blossom born of air; I'm of Ocean, guiding Star; I'm a golden sport of Nature, Frolic stamp'd on ev'ry feature: I'm a myth, an idle theme, The brief substance of a dream: Grace and grief of trifles, I Charm--a well-skill'd vanity; Begotten of the treacherous breeze, Parent of absurdities: Yet, a drop or mote, at best, Favour'd more than are the rest.

I'm price of Hope that no more is, One of the Hesperides: Beauty's casket, doating eye Of lovers blinded wilfully: The light Spirit of Vanity.

I am Fortune's looking-gla.s.s, The countersign which she doth pa.s.s To her troop of warriors: I'm the oath by which she swears, And wherewith she doth induce Men to trust a fragile truce.

Charming, provoking, still astray, Fair and elegant and gay, Trim and fresh and blossom-hu'd; Interchangeably imbu'd With rosy-red and the snow's whiteness, Air and water and fire's brightness: Painted, gemm'd, of golden dye, NOTHING--after all--am I!'

If now, O gentle Reader, it appear Irksome my BUBBLE'S chatterings to hear; If on it frowning, 'Words, words, words!' thou say, No more I'll chatter, but at once obey.

So, turn thine eye, my Friend, no more give heed; My BUBBLE lives but if thou choose to read.

Cease thou to read, and I resign my breath; Cease thou to read, and that will be my death. G.

TRANQUILLITAS ANIMI:

SIMILITUDINE DUCTA AB AVE CAPTIVA, ET CANORA TAMEN.

Ut c.u.m delicias leves, loquacem Convivam nemoris vagamque musam Observans, dubia viator arte Prendit desuper: horridusve ruris Eversor, male perfido paratu, 5 Heu durus! rapit, atque io triumphans Vadit: protinus et sagace nisu Evolvens digitos, opus tenellum Ducens pollice lenis erudito, Virgarum implicat ordinem severum, 10 Angustam meditans domum volucri.