III.

At once from the wave the Nymphs arise:

And, following the dance in measure, weave

Their tune.

IV.

Triton blows his trumpets;* and all
His flock sport on the surface of the
Sea.

V.

Orpheus, standing at the stern, clothed in
Purple, arouses them to fame, and trophies.

VI.

For the brave is triumph for the brave

The first crown; popular applause, and the Senate's Thanks.†

VII.

For them illustrious death immortal honour

Bears: sepulchral titles, temples and

Altars.

VIII.

Here you might see heroes and the flower

Of youth brush the deep, and vanquish the
Threatening floods.

IX.

Then spoke the bard in solemn tune :

Act thus, offspring of the Gods, and devote yourselves To willing toil.

X.

Toil shall make you princes, and adding you

To the heavenly host, subdue the waves,

And the Earth.

* Buccina.

† Vota.

ALCAICS.

EXERCISE LXXXI.

"Stellæ sponte suâ jussæne vagentur et errent."

LAUS ASTRONOMIE.

I.

The fires of heaven attest God,

And the starry train sings the

Almighty Everlasting* Deity;

II.

Who first breathed upon the

Swelling waves, stirred the empire

Of night, and the chaoticf

III.

Mass. Forthwith the contests of

Elements are hushed, nor any more
Do they kindle strife.

IV.

Then did the Sun, fount of heavenly
Fires, gleam on the infant world:

And Earth inhales th' Etherial day.

*Sine fine.

† Omnigenus.

Semina.

V.

The gentle breeze then shakes his wings :
The concert of the stars gladdens heaven:
And the Moon wanders in her car.

Was formed

VI.

And Man, sharing Mind with Angelst on him the eternal order, And changing seasons,

VII.

Smiled. But long he delayed

To search the secrets of nature:

Nor dared explore the path of heaven.

VIII.

Until the sailor tried the Bosporus

With his bark, wondering at the monsters

Of the deep, and the stormy

IX.

Winds. Yet to some auspices

The sea revealed itself, and starry

Omens shone to the homebound§ mariner.

Thou, Urania, seated at the

X.

Thunderer's right hand, gavest

Jason|| Hope and Safety,

XI.

To attend his path: and deigning

To light the sailor, did'st guide back

His vessel through the novel realms of the sea.

*Consors.

† Cælicolæ.

Alnus.

§ Reversurus.

Æsonides.

XII.

Then were the stars named, and

Marked in their orbits:* and the revolutions
Of heaven revealed.

With what motions the Sun

XIII.

And Mercury held their annual† path:

And divine Venus; nor wast thou hid,

XIV.

Whom Mars with crimson orbit

Beholds, Earth; next to him burns Jove's

Dewy‡ star, forerunner of morn:

XV.

Whom a sleepless band of Satellites

Guard, compassing each side with

Their brilliant train.

XVI.

Next Saturn rolls, inert with age and sloth,

And drags his azure car

Girt-with-clouds through the sluggish fields (of air).

O that a mortal|| could strike

The Angelic lyre,

XVII.

And fly beyond the world's realms,

XVIII.

As the sacred seer hurried away in

Chariot of fire, where day gleams, and innumerable

XIX.

But alas! the body's earthly chains,

Too inert a mass, impede the traveller,*

And forbid the mind to wander further

XX.

Through the regions† of light; save Urania
Shall have looked with benignant eye on the
Hour of birth, relaxing the mind's bonds.

EXERCISE LXXXII.

GRÆCIAM VIATOR DEPINGIT.

I.

I stood on the summit of Enus:

Pine-groves, clouds, lie beneath my feet:

Scarce do the vines of Zacynthus

II.

Arrest my gaze; nor Leucas, conscious

Of Sappho's§ fate; nor the olive-groves
Of Corcyra:

III.

Nor the land of Ulysses: nor Samos at-the-foot-of
Verdant slope; to thee, nurse of heroes,

I turn,

IV.

Greece, loved of the Muses! as I gaze on
The lofty Achæan mount; Erymanthus

Is close on-my-right** with its darkening shadow;

* Euns.

†Oræ.

Nascens. § Lesbis.
** Dexter.

Sub.

Adsum.