APPENDIX. NUMBER II. A Latin Epitaph ascribed to Milton, with Cowper's opinion of it. In March, 1793, when Cowper was preparing to publish his Milton, I sent him the Epitaph on Cardinal Mazarine, with the following account of the manner, in which it bad then happened to engage my attention. "A very intelligent, and friendly collector of scarce books, sent me, the other day, from his own library, a little old miscellany, published by Gildon in 1692, containing the Epitaph on Mazarine, ascribed to Milton, exactly as I enclose it to you. I perfectly remember reading the Epitaph, when I was young, and admiring it so much, that many detached lines of it remained in my memory. In hunting for it among my own books, I find it in a miscellany of several volumes, entitled State Poems, printed in 1703. The Epitaph is not ascribed to any author in my book; but Milton is named, in the preface, as a contributor to the collection, and I find in the volume no other work that can be imputed to him." Julii Mazirini Cardinalis Epitaphium, authore John Milton. Hic jacet Julius Mazirinus, Galliæ Rex Italus Ecclesiæ Prosul Laicus, Europæ prædo purpuratus, Fortunam omnem ambiit, omnem corrupit; Ærarium administravit, et exhausit; 2 Negotiator in templo, Tyrannus in Regno, Prædo in Ministerio, Vulpes in Consilio, Grassator in Bello, Solus nobis in pace hostis. Fortunam olim adversam, aut elusit aut vicit; Et nostro seculo vidimus Quid deinde egerit, rogas? Paucis accipe. Ferreum nobis seculum induxit, sibi ex auro nostro 3 Quorundam capiti, nullius fortunis pepercit, 6 Plures ei mortes cœlo irrogante, 8 Vincenni se arcibus inclusit moriturus; $ Id quidem apte 9 Quæ sivit carcerem ; 5 Diu lædentem animam retinuit, ægre reddidit, 10 Sic retinere omnia didicerat, Nil suâ sponte reddere. Constanter tamen visurus est mori, quid mirum? 11 Ne morbum quidem novere qui curabant ; Fefellit Medicos; Mortuus est tamen, ni fallimur; moriens Regem regno, Regnum Regi restituit; Reliquit Præsulibus pessima exampla, Aulicis infida consilia, Adoptivo amplissima spolia, 12 Successoribus suis omnes prædandi artes, Immensas tamen opes licet profuderit, Pectus ejus post mortem apertum est; Quod nec precibus, nec lacrymis, nec injuriis moveretur, Diu quæsivimus, invenere medici Cor Lapideum. Quod mortuus ad huc omnia móveat, et administret ne mireris, Stipendia in hunc annum recepit, Nec fraudat post mortem bona fidei: Quo tandem evaserit forsitan, rogas; 13 Cœlum (si rapitur) tenet, si datur meritis, longe abest. Sed abi, Viator et cave; Nam hic tumulus Est Specus Latronis. Readings in another Copy. Galliæ Rex Italicus. * Pacem dedit aliquando, diu distulit. 3 Ferreum nobis induxit, sæculum sibi * Ex auro nostro aureum fecit. 5 Quorundam Capitibus, nullins fortunis pepercit. Plures ei a Cælo mortes erogatæ, 7 Cui Senatus olim unam tantum decreverat. 8 Vicentinis se arcibus inclusit moriturus. 9 Et quidem apte. 10 Diu cedentem animam retinuit, ægre reddidit, 11 Constanter tamen visus est mori, quid mirum ? 12 Adoptiva amplissima spolia. 13 Nec fraudat post mortem vir bonus fidei. Extract of a letter from Cowper. March 19, 1793. "Thanks for Mazarine's Epitaph: It is full of witty Paradox, and is written with a force and severity which sufficiently bespeak the author. I account it an inestimable curiosity, and shall be happy, when time shall serve, with your aid to make a good translation of it-But that will be a stubborn business- Adieu.” |