Ev'n from each other we kept unreveal'd And with much Pain our Sufferings conceal'd But then at last our Love so fierce became That we no longer could suppress the Flame We find it much too hard and cruel too To hide a Light which so apparent grew For frequent Blushes Sighs and thousand things Declar'd our Wishes and our Languishings But oh what Joys what Ecstasies were shown When we to each durst our hid Passions own Then oft in private we together came And with Discourse blow'd up the pleasing Flame What cunning Plots we 've us'd what sly deceit To cheat our Spies and undiscover'd meet Whole Nights in whisp'ring Murmurs soft Tread We 've spent while drowsie Watches snor'd in Bed. And if we fail'd of such an Enterprize Too strictly guarded by our curious Spies We could in spite converse with speaking Eyes In vain they strove our Glances to constrain They spoke our mutual Wishes our mutual Pain Disorder'd thus not long unmark't I liv'd For my observing Mother soon perceiv'd The sad unusual melancholy Care Which did in all my Words and Acts appear And quickly guest the fatal Cause was Love Whom she design'd by Rigour to remove She thought my Passion with a Rod to quell But that provok't it stubborn to rebell Her cruel Usage could effect no Cure For Love alas had taught me to endure All only serv'd more to inflame Desire Like added Fuel to increase the Fire Nothing could chase the Stranger from my Breast My Health decay'd but still my Love increast This rough Experiment she try'd in vain For Love do's all Restraint and Force disdain And I within was more severely vext Doubly with mingled Fear and Love perplext Then with Maternal Tenderness she strove By Sighs and Tears my wilfull Mind to move Believing that her Sorrows might prevail On filial Duty to relate the Tale But even that soft Stratagem did fail At last she thought since nothing else could do To make pretence that she already knew And seeming pleas'd and speaking smilingly Said why do'st strive to keep ought hid from me Alas canst thou believe that I am blind By all thy Words and Actions not to find That secret Love distracts thy tender Mind For did not I but very lately see Some wanton Songs and Verses made by thee Then be obedient let thy Mother know Who cruel Pains for thee did undergo Acquaint me freely lay aside your Fear Tell me the naked Truth of all my Dear What then must I thus beg and sue in vain And is this all the Purchase I shall gain For Blood diffus'd and lost to bring thee forth And am I and my Woes of no more worth But if thou do'st preserve thy Chastitie Keeping thy self from guilty Action free All may be well and innocent as yet And Time may wear away this fond Love-sit Thus was I daily plagu'd but yet the Curse Was that I hop'd no Cure but still grew worse Not daring to discover the hid Pain I lov'd I languish'd and I griev'd in vain Nor needed I at last a Tongue to tell What my consumptive Paleness did reveal And doz'd Stupidity declar'd so well Thou mighty Searcher of Mysterious things Whose certain Knowledge certain Succour brings Bobetius you alone were truely kind Who div'd into the Secrets of my Mind And the hid Cause from dark Effects did find Well I remember when you first perceiv'd How I was tortur'd and how I was griev'd With gentle Words you prob'd the tender Wound And by soft soothing the sad secret found Urging me to declare my Griefs and Pain As the best means my Temper to regain With Ease did you my closed Breast unlock When gently arguing thus to me you spoke For an unknown Disease no Cure can be Conceal your Grief and want a Remedie As Fire when in a Cellar closely pent Rages the more for want of Air and Vent So while your Passions you with Force constrain To burn in secret you increase the Pain Then I half willing but o'er-rul'd with shame Blush't the sad Cause of all my Griefs to name Darkly at last my trembling Tongue exprest The rowling Flames which warm'd my guilty Brest Enough said you I now enough have seen By these Effects to know the Cause within Be plain and tell me all lay by your Fear I cannot else a Remedy prepare Thus you prevail'd I blush't I wept and sigh'd And nothing of the whole Intreigue could hide Down at your Feet to dye I prostrate fall And in its native order told you all You ask't would I possess the Beautious She No I reply'd 't were an Impietie You laugh'd and cry'd Oh wonderfull Delight Had ever Venus such a worthy Wight What an unspeakable strange Prodigie In Love alas would you appear to be Striving to keep a needless Chastitie 'T would be a most unmanly Sin and base To spare a longing Virgin in this Case Would you ridiculously strive to be Pious herein 't were worst Impietie Though when perhaps you try to tast the Joy She may seem angry and unkindly coy Be not discourag'd at the gratefull Fight For Opposition whets the Appetite Makes Love more fierce and heightens the Delight Young tender Loves are fed with peevish Rage And inn'cent Quarrels more the Hearts ingage Virgins untry'd half yielding half afraid Are in their own Resistance best betray'd With secret Pleasure to soft Force they yield And seemingly displeas'd give up the Field Melted at last their striving is but weak And breathless thus perhaps they faintly speak Ah do not use a harmless Creature so Still in the midst of Rapture crying no And prithee let me prithee let me go Thus when he had incourag'd me to hope I gave my Wishes an unbounded Scope In the mean time with Gifts and Gold he strove To bribe her Parents to allow my Love They easily consent such strength do's lye In the prevailing Force of Alchimy Their natural Affection soon gave way To the high Worship which to Gold they pay Oh sacred Metal Oh resistless Gold Who can thy strange betwitching Charms unfold 'T is thy unanswerable Eloquence Thy weighty Arguments and mighty Sence Which can perswade poor Mortals to dispence With any Vice or Villanous Offence So much thou didst her Parents move herein They did not barely suffer but begin To love and so promote their Daughter's sin All privacies of Place all proper Time We were allow'd to forward the sweet Crime They put us hand in hand and all the day A thousand Am'rous toying Tricks we play Nay ev'n at last the very lushious Fact They gave us Opportunity to act But there I baulk't for when to do an Ill I gain'd the Privilege I lost the Will. My hot Desire strait became cool within When once it was permitted me to sin That Lust which I before could not endure The very Power to fulfill did cure Then I and not before began to find The miserable Sickness of my Mind The Laws of Love by me were
disobey'd When near the wishing blushing yielding Maid I Languid and unwillingly was laid But she with unexpected coldness us'd Blushing with Passion and with shame confus'd Rose up incens'd to be so much abus'd And I to salve the great affront I did Cry'd hail untouch't and sacred Maidenhead Be thou preserv'd for ever pure by me And ever spotless and unblemish't be For nought regains a lost Virginitie Thus when she saw all that young Virgins hold More dear than Userers their ill-got Gold By me neglected when I might enjoy And that my Love I did my self destroy Oh mighty Youth she cry'd who hast the Pow'r Thy self to conquer thy own fierce Amour Take to thee all the Glory of the thing And be more great than a Triumphing King For since thou could'st thy own toil'd Passions quell Ev'n when they were incourag'd to rebell Let Venus Charms and her Son Cupid's Bow And brave Minerva's Arms submit to you There 's nothing now but what you can subdue Thus both displeas'd and melancholy She Parted with an uninjur'd Chastitie ELEGY IV. The ARGUMENT In this Elegy the Poet gives an account of his loving a young Maid very privately in his Youth but at last how in his Sleep he discover'd what so carefully he conceal'd when awake and concludes the Elegy with a Consideration of the Inconveniencies he lyes under by being Old. ONE more Intreigue of Youth I will reherse And sate my Genius with my soothing Verse For empty Tales and idle Poetrie Are a sit Task for doating Age and me And as in circling Time Mankind is found With various Chances always turning round So to my far-spent Life no Joy appears Like the Remembrance of most distant Years A Virgin once there was whom Heav'n design'd Both by the Graces of her Face and Mind To be adapted so that she became By Nature Candid as she was by Name Her pure white Hair from her delicious Head In flowing Curls around her Shoulders plaid But ev'ry Part of her was bright and fair And full as charming as her flaxen Hair. The tunefull Lyre she touch't with such a Grace That it confirm'd the Conquests of her Face While from the trembling Strings soft Tunes did slow With Love and Joy my Heart did tremble too But if she utter'd some surprizing Song How many Cupids sate upon her Tongue Each moving Word each Accent sent a Dart And ev'ry Note did melt my wounded Heart Then if she danc'd her Motion and her Air Made ev'ry Part appear more killing fair While I with Pleasure hug'd my golden Chain And silently indulg'd the gratefull Pain Thus one bright Maid with many Beauties arm'd From whom none scap'd unconquer'd or uncharm'd In various Parts storm'd my defenceless Mind Nor did one Dart the least Resistance find And when by Violence she was possest She ne'er for sook my entertaining Breast Once seen her beautious Form still stay'd with me And day and night dwelt in my Memorie How oft has my Imagination brought Her absent Image present to my Thought Fix'd and intent how oft though far remov'd Have I suppos'd I talk'd with her I lov'd How oft with Pleasure would my Fancy bring Those Songs to mind which she was wont to sing And with delight my busie Voice and Tongue Would imitate those Notes and words she sung Thus I my self against my self took part And like a Cheat play'd booty with my Heart How oft have I been thought with Madness seis'd How often has my Head been thought diseas'd While the wild Passions of my Breast encreas'd Nor can I think that I was wholly void Of Reason or my Reason well enjoy'd But sure 't is an intollerable pain To hide a stifled Passion or restrain The Rage 't is what no mortal Breast can bear For in the Countenance it will appear Though never so reserv'd though never so severe The changing Colours show how we decay And ev'n the Silence of the Tongue betray Th' affected Face will the hid Thoughts declare Blushing bespeaks a Shame and Paleness Fear But more my Dreams disclos'd my Privacie My Dreams unfaithfull to my Love and me Did my surpress'd Anxieties reveal Nor could Death's Image Sleep my Cares conceal For when my Sences were inclin'd to Rest And by oblivious Slumbers all possest Ev'n then my Tongue unacted Guilt confest As on the Grass sleeping I once was laid Close by the Father of my lovely Maid And while he thoughtless slumber'd by my Side Thus in my Dreams disturb'd aloud I cry'd Hast hast my Candida hast hast away Our secret Love is ruin'd if you stay For see already peeps the prying Sun If w' are discover'd we are both undone The envious Light will our stol'n Loves betray Hast hast my Candida my Candida Awak'd at this and in a strange surprize He started up and scarce believ'd his Eyes But for his Daughter search'd the place around While I was only sleeping on the Ground Gasping and panting there he saw me lye Transported from my self with Ecstasy With what vain Dreams said he art thou possest Or has a real Love usurp't thy Breast Some waking Objects rather I conclude Upon thy gentler Slumbers may intrude And thus thy Wishes fleeting Forms delude Astonish't he my broken Murmurs watch't And each imperfect unform'd Sentence catch't Gently his right hand on my Heart he lay'd And in soft Whispers more inquiries made For so apply'd the sly Inquirer ' s Hand From sleeping Breasts can any thing command And the loos'd Tongue do's by that Charm impart The very choicest Secrets of the Heart Thus I who had so long with Looks severe Kept from the prying Eye and listning Ear The Cares of Love grown by Concealment dear My treach'rous Tongue did when I slept declare Yet still had my whole wretched Life been free From impure Actions and Impietie Not that so much I did those Crimes prevent By perfect Vertue as by Accident But now I 'm old and want the Strength to sin It pleases me my Youth has guiltless been Tho' no just Praise that they from Vice are free To superannuated Men can be Since 't is not Choice but meer Necessitie Strength only sleeps their Inclinations wake And not they Vice but Vice do's them forsake Pleasure deserts their unperforming Years And leaves them fill'd with painful Toils Cares And all their Good in want of Power appears 'T is worth our while if we consider too What Penalties in Age we undergo How that with it a slow Repentance brings For all our Youthfull Faults and Riotings How many Groans it pays how many Tears For dear-bought Luxury of younger Years And though Mankind will often strive in vain Youth's boyling Heats and Follies to restrain Oft'ner with Knowledge and Contrivance we Persist in some deluding Villanie W' are oft industrious studious wise and nice In the performance of some witty Vice. Though Vice sometimes bears us by force away Yet we too oft its easie Call obey Oft though we cannot compass what we
will We are Well-wishers to some pleasing Ill. ELEGY V. The ARGUMENT In this Elegy the Poet shews the Folly and Weakness of Old Men's being in Love who thereby do but discover their Impotence and Dotage and can at best prove but unperforming Lechers being incapacitated of imploying Love's chief Agent the Praises of which in its full Strength and Beauty concludes the Elegy WHen to the East on Embassy I went With friendly Articles by Caesar sent While I design'd for others Rest and Ease And Nations did from me expect their Peace Lo in my Breast Tumults and Broils arose And cruel Wars troubled my own Repose Ev'n I on whom Hetruria did rely And with such Aid her crafty Foes defy Whom she oppos'd to Publick Policie Could not from private Wiles my self keep free For one Greek Dame's insinuating Art Well-practis'd to enslave the bravest Heart With such peculiar Vigour mine o'er-came It melted in the brisk assaulting Flame For while she feign'd that I had smitten her She seiz'd me first and took me Prisoner Wakefull each morning with the Dawn she rose Refusing to her Eyes a soft Repose And at my Windows shining as the Sun Darted in Light before the Day begun And Gods I knew not what it was she sung While Grecian Tunes slow'd from her charming Tongue But such bewitching Force her Murmurs had That with Delight and Pleasure I was mad Nor was this half her Cunning half her Art By which she conquer'd and enslav'd my Heart But strange resistless Charms she us'd far more To ruin me and to confirm her Power She wept she sigh'd look't pale and so complain'd As none could e'er believe it to be feign'd She shew'd what would a Stoick ' s Passion move Ev'n all the Signs of an unpractis'd Love So excellent she was in the dear Cheat That ev'n a Love was due for the Deceit Thus while I pitty'd her feign'd Miserie And thought her tortur'd with the Love of me The Miserable Object I became Of real Pity by my real Flame But Heav'n ne'er fram'd a Creature more compact For she was to a Miracle exact Her shining Eyes and Face chearfull and gay Bright and serene as an unclouded Day When e'er they did salute my wand'ring Eyes Mov'd me at once with Pleasure and Surprize Nor was she less accomplish'd in her Mind But that with noble Arts was well resin'd She knew the Strength of conqu'ring Eloquence And when she talk't could captivate each Sence Her Wit was like her Beauty sweet and clear As one the Eye the other fix'd the Ear. The mighty force of Poetry she knew And in that Art Apollo could out-doe Not Orpheus self was warm'd with nobler fire When his own Songs he sung to his own Lyre And Beasts and Trees did with new life inspire Than this bright Nymph who with her Harp Quill Out-did Apollo ' s Verse and Orpheus Skill Her Songs like Syrens moving vast delight Were quite as charming and as harmfull quite For while I listned to her fatal Voice Ruin or Safety were not in my choice But wanting pow'r such Witchcrafts to avoid In that Surprize I yield to be destroy'd Upon those treach'rous Rocks I blindly run Whither Love led nor could the mischief shun Not so of Old Vlysses fair'd for he Could miss those dangers which he could foresee What need I mention her amazing gate Or how by practis'd steps she mov'd in state How swim along with such a sallying sweep Like well-trimm'd Sailers on the smooth-fac'd Deep How ev'ry step was set with heedfull care That she as easie did and soft appear As Goddess cutting through the yielding Air. Bless me what Pow'r lay in her well-set Hair A trap was each white Lock each Curl a snare Her two hard Breasts so round and rarely fram'd That they with strong Desire my Heart inflam'd Neither of which to greater bigness swell'd Than what might be within one hand compell'd But when I near and nicely view'd each part What Joys unspeakable surpriz'd my Heart How did I feast and how delight my Eyes With ev'ry part which next adjacent lyes To Love's delicious nameless Paradise How to Embrace how did I long to touch Each Limb that charm'd and melted me so much What mighty Ecstasies did I suppose Would quite transport me if I were more close I wish't I ask't and gain'd the Beautious She But oh what Witchcraft did Enervate me Lifeless I on that mass of Beauty lay Nor the due debts of Sacred Love could pay All vigorous warmth my languid Limbs forsook And left me cold like an old sapless Oak My chief yet basest Nerve did then prove lank And like a Coward from the Battle shrank Shrivell'd and dry like a dead wither'd flow'r Depriv'd and void of all vivifick pow'r No fertile Moisture no prolisick Juice Could the enfeebled Instrument produce No unctious Substance no kind Balm emit Balm nourishing as Milk as Honey sweet At last cry'd out the Disappointed Fair Thy dull unactive weight I cannot bear Thy heavy Limbs press me with joyless pain And all thy faint Endeavours are in vain Useless I must confess I then did lye O'er-come of Thuscan grave Simplicitie And in soft Graecian Dalliance unskill'd To Age's Impotence was forc'd to yield Those very Arts those Stratagems of Love Which did of old Troy's sad Destruction prove And maugre Hector's Courage could prevail Us'd to one Old defective Man did fail Nay though a Beauty ev'n as Hellen bright Did to the mighty Task of Love invite Yet in the vain performance did I tire Though giv'n up to th' Empire of Desire Nor need I blush to own or be asham'd That I by such a Beauty was inflam'd For Jove himself had he my Goddess seen Ev'n Jove himself her Captive must have been Yet ne'ertheless such was my first sad Night That I could neither give nor take Delight But a base conscious shame possest each sence Nor left me pow'r to make the least defence Dash'd with the Guilt of my own Impotence But lo the next ensuing Night came on And lo my vig'rous heat again was gon Void of all warmth and strength did I remain And as before was dull and slow again But she much vex'd that I would not fulfill Her Expectation but deceive her still Blam'd my neglectfull sloath and angry too Claim'd the just Tribute which to Love was due And wond'ring why her Charms no more could move Said Sluggard pay thy Debts to me Love. But her just Anger with me nothing weigh'd Nothing her soothing Language could perswade In vain with either did she me assail ' Gainst my unconquer'd Impotence both fail For what alas can those Defects supply Which weaken'd Nature do's to Age deny But then I blush't and stupify'd became Much more debilitated by my Shame A conscious Terrour did possess my Mind And took away all pow'r of being kind Yet with her soft and active Hand she strove The frigid Member to adapt for Love But she the fainting
Latinè or to adapt it more to the present purpose Anglicè loqui fas sit potest Epistolà vel potius Titulo contentus esse And so farewell THE LIFE OF CN CORNELIVS GALLVS CN Cornelius Gallus was thought to have been Born about that same Year when M. Terentius Varro one of the most learned Romans dyed he is supposed as to his Country to be a Forojuliensian and to have been instructed in the most necessary and usefull Arts for he was a long time familiarly conversant with one Caecilius Epirata the great Grammarian of his time Yet who his Father was remains unknown nor is that with his own Name transmitted to Posterity only 't is generally held that he was born to a very small Estate though not unlikely of a Noble Family as Propertius seems to imply Nec tibi Nobilitas poterit succurrere amanti Nescit Amor priscis cedere Imaginibus He was highly favour'd and esteem'd of Augustus Caesar to whom his great Parts and Wit recommended him insomuch that he exalted him to very great Dignities gave him the Governmnet of Aegypt and he was the first that ever ruled that Kingdom after it was reduced to a Roman Province Caesar before he sent him to Aegypt delighted so much in his Company and Conversation that he never went any where without him and this gave occasion to Virgil in his second Eclogue to lament himself because Gallus being so much taken up with Caesar could not afford him that full enjoyment he desired of his more familiar Friendship Delicias Domini nec quid speraret habebat The thing he so much coveted and wish'd for O tantum libeat mecum tibi sordida Rura Atque humiles habitare Casas For Gallus finding the Honours and Preferments he receiv'd from Caesar more sutable to his Ambition then the humble Pleasures of a Country Life could not be invited to quit the Splendour of the Roman Court to take up with the more secure satisfaction of a Rural Retirement though Virgil endeavour'd to draw him to it by all the encouragements and advantages he proposed would accrue to him thereby and in Despair of success considering how disproportion'd his offers were to the immediate favours he receiv'd from Augustus cries out at last Rusticus es Coridon nec Munera curat Alexis Nec si Muneribus certes concedat Jolas Virgil out of the great Friendship he had for Gallus in Honour to him had writ half the fourth Book of his Georgicks which Caesar after his disgrace commanded him to alter and he turn'd it to the Fable of Aristaeus But all the Poets that were his Cotemporaries had a very high value for him unless some Criticks who say that Horace was his Adversary have happened to be in the right However such were his qualefications that Propertius could admire him though he was his Rival in Cynthia as he says in an Elegy writ upon that particular occasion Sed pariter miseri focio cogemur amore Alter in alterius mutua flere sinu Quare quid possit mea Cynthia desine Galle Quaerere non impunè illa rogata venit Gallus was of a gay amorous temper very fickle and changeable as Propertius in another place tells him Dum tibi deceptis augetur Fama Puellis Certus in nullo quaeris Amore moram But he was also very passionate and impatient of any unkind usage from those Women to whom he at any time addressed his Love and them would often come with his Complaints to Propertius Ah mea contemptus quoties ad lumina curres Quum tibi singulta fortia verba cadunt Yet at last he grew famous for the mighty love he had for one Cytharis a free'd Woman of Volumina's and a Whore who forsook him perhaps after he fell into disgrace and went away with one Antony to France and it is not unlikely that Propertius means her when he says Haec erit illarum contempti poena doloris Multarum miseras exigit una vices Haec tibi vulgares istos compescet amores Nec nova quaerendo semper amicus eris And a little after that he describes so extravagant a Passion of Gallus to which he was an eye-witness that it may be very reasonable to believe in all that Elegy the Woman of whom he speaks to be Cytharis Vidi ego te tot vinctum languescere collo Et flere injectis Galle diu manibus Et cupere optatis animam deponere verbis Et quae deinde celat amice Pudor Non ego complexus potui deducere vestros Tantus erat demens inter utrusque furor However Gallus no more then others could be perfectly happy and though he had been the great and only Favourite of Augustus Caesar yet after he was goue to Aegypt those who envy'd him gain'd their ends and brought him more into Disgrace and lower under the Emperour's Displeasure then he was ever before rais'd in his Esteem Whether he really deserv'd the mighty Misfortune that fell so heavy upon him may be a question since not always who merit best of Fortune are best used by her and after Caesar was offended with him he suffer'd none of his other Friends to venture at his justification so fatal and dangerous is the Anger of an inraged Monarch yet Virgil even then adventured to mourn his hard fate in his tenth Eclogue and still lov'd him though more secretly Gallo cujus amor tantum mihi crescit in horas Quantum vere novo viridis se subjicit alnus And though he design'd the Dedication to him of his Books of Bucolicks and his Books of Georgicks yet he afterwards durst not do it for fear of Caesar and therefore they fell to Pollio and Maecenas Praetera duo nec tuta mihi valle reperti Capreoli Quos tibi servo The things that were alledged against him wa◠his having been in a Plot against Caesar and tha◠he had ruin'd a City in Aegypt called Thebes and several other Imputations Ovid seems to imply as if the freedom he used with his tongue when heated with Wine might be the reason of his losing Caesar's favour for which he was banished as some think Non fuit opprobrio celetrasse Lycorida Gallo Sed linguam nimio non teneisse mero Nor is it unlikely that Ovid himself giving th◠same occasion in the same company might hav◠been partaker with him in equal sufferings How he dyed is uncertain some think Caesar caused him to be put to death others believe that being banished and his ambitious Soul not able to brook the Disgrace or else apprehensive of the Malice of his Enemies amongst the Nobility kill'd himself as Ovid intimates Sanguis atque animae prodige Galle tuae Others again believe his Mistriss Cytharis whom he called Lycoris forsaking him he was more impatient of the loss of her then his Government and for that reason kill'd himself and Virgil seems to lament him as having been a Victim to that unhappy Love of his Quae Nemora aut
qui vos saltus habuere Puellae Naiades indigno cum Gallus amore periret Yet Propertius may give occasion to believe that he was slain in some Battel Gallum per medios ereptum Caesaris enses Effugere ignotas non potuisse manus But probably from both these expressions one may naturally gather that Cytharis to appease the jealousie of her new Lover was a contriver of his Death and hired some to kill him He was reputed an excellent Poet and was particularly curious in Elegies in which way of writing he was not held to be inferiour to either Tibullus or Propertius We have an account that he writ six Books of Elegies of which perhaps these six Elegies only are preserv'd to us and he also translated one Euphorion a Chalcidonian Poet which Virgil confirms Ibo Chalcidico quae sunt mihi condita versu Carmina Pastoris Siculi modulabor avena He writ four Books of his Love to Cytharis who he called Lycoris but none of them are left however Ovid takes notice of them and numbers him amongst the Catalogue of the most Famous Poets of the World particularly for that very Poem Gallus Hesperiis Gallus notus Eois â—t sua cum Gallo nota Lycoris erit And thus much of his Life and if I have done him that justice I aim'd at in this Translation I believe the Reader will not think his time lost in perusing it and if I fail'd in it I cannot help it now Farewell A Return of Thanks for the Translation of the following Elegies WE thank you for your Verse and hope to see From Age Impotence our Loves set free Whilst ancient Fops read here their certain shame They 'll wiser grow nor tempt again their Fame Renounce their Amber and the sacred Trust They plac'd in Drugs to prop their feeble Lust Read this you Limberhams who with delay And puther keep some abler Spark away Who use your Mistriss Chamber as your home And set your Chariot up where e'er you come Play-time and Park-time at the Door it stays You make no Visits 't is your Dwelling-place Here you may see how great a Wretch is one Who strives to please when all his power is gone Who can endure to see a Gallant thristy Old Ladies making Love and Boys at fifty Let Nestor wast his Itch in Tricks of State Or take it out in rubbing of his Pate Nor when Desire grows impotently strong Beg some forbidden Sight or luscious Song Let ev'ry one perform their proper Part Let Nature work nor make it up with Art Let Youth make Love ev'n Kisses call for Youth The palsy'd Head can never hit the Mouth CORINNA To the Ingenious TRANSLATOR OF CN CORNELIVS GALLVS SAD Nightingales melodiously complain And pleasant Notes disclose their inward pain The ancient Swan whom in his vigorous state Ev'n fancy'd Jove left Heav'n to imitate Viewing the Streams where he was wont to play Warbles a Sigh and sings his Life away Thus Gallus here the Dread of Grief destroys And sweetlier mourns than others tell their Joys His Sorrows Sir are so well tun'd by You The Readers pitty but they wonder too You snatch the Wretch from his depressing Fate And to the Envy of our Youth Translate Old Age â—n him do's no defects impart But seems best suited to the charming Art While gentle Maids with his soft Witchcraft caught Are fully pleas'd in a performing Thought Virgil methinks doats on his Friend anew Of Caesar once but since more Proud of You. In Fields below he beats his Reed again Despairs afresh and fills the Elysian Plain With endless Pastorals of Gallus's Disdain J. D. This ODE is thought to be writ by CN CORNELIUS GALLUS and in the Latin was added to the Six ensuing Elegies Therefore it may not be very much amiss to insert it here in English I. FAirest Lydia my Delight More then Milk and Lillies white Whose mix't Beauties do exceed The Damask Roses and the Red And seems more fair and smooth to be Then Goddesses of Ivorie II. Thy Locks thy shining Locks unsold Brighter far then burnish't Gold. Thy panting Breasts my Dear unclose Where Love delights to take Repose Of which I would to be possest Give all the Treasures of the East III. Ope thy Planet-Eyes my Dear For oh my Fate is written there Thence Love's pointed Arrows fly Swift as Stars shot through the Sky While above each Brow do's show Like a wanton Cupid's Bow. Shew me Maid the blushing Red Which thy lovely Cheeks o'er-spread Thy lovely Cheeks which can out-vie The most luxurious Tyrian die IV. With warm and Am'rous fury joyn Thy softest Coral Lips to mine Give me Kisses like a Dove Full of sweetness full of Love. But oh the Pleasure is so great My Soul crowds up the Joy to meet And at my Mouth would force a way Nor longer in the Body stay My Heart is pierc'd with every Kiss I cannot bear the mighty Bliss I pant I languish saint and dye With the transporting Ecstasy V. Gods what mighty Power is here Thou drain'st my Veins of Life my Dear Hide those Beauties from mine Eyes Eternal gazing won't suffize That tempting fragrant Bosome close Sweeter then the sweetest Rose More perfum'd and richer sar Then all th' Arabian Spices are VI. From ev'ry part of Thee arise Such Delights as would surprise Jove himself were he to be But so near as I to thee And so revenge his Semile VII Hide oh hide those Hills of Snow Which engage and wound me so Thy Beauty's Luxury is such I cannot gaze I cannot touch The Pleasure is too exquisite And I 'm glutted with Delight VIII Oh cruel and inhumane Fair Wilt thou then regard my Care To see me languish wilt thou stay Or kill me more and go away Gods but whither art thou flying Wilt thou leave me now I 'm dying Oh forsake forsake me not Till I 'm dead upon the spot ELEGIES ON Old Age. ELEGY I. The ARGUMENT In this Elegy under the representation of an Old Man the Poet seems to repine at Fate for imposing Life on him too long and aggravates the Miseries of his Age by giving a Character of himself as he was when young by the remembrance of those happy Days past after which he describes the several Diseases and inconveniencâ—es attending him now Old concluding the Elegy with a reflection on the happiness of those who dye before their Age becomes a burthen to them WHy envious Age do'st with a ling'ring stay My wasting Life to growing Pains betray And the kind Stroak of welcome Death delay Why wilt thou not inlarge my Soul to Ease And the vext Pris'ner from his Jayl release To me 't is worst of Punishments to live And Death alone a peacefull Rest can give Cold and Disease inhabit me all o'er And what I was in Youth I 'm now no more A trembling Faintness loosens ev'ry Limb And dizz'd Vertigoes through my Brains do swim Light which to all the World do's Joy
dispence To me unhappy Mourner gives Offence Ev'n Mirth but serves my Sorrows to inrage Mirth which can Youthfull Griefs so well assuage Becomes th' Antiperistasis of Age. But then to live of mere Necessity And wish for Death is worse than 't is to dye While gracefull Youth remain'd vig'rous sence The wond'ring World prais'd my fam'd Eloquence Oft with Success Poetick Lyes I feign'd And sure Renown by pleasant Fictions gain'd Oft the contended Lawrel was my own And the rich Bays around my Temples shone But all these Pleasures all these Joys are past And a dead Numbness all my Vitals wast Ah! what an uncouth part of Life remains To Aged Men fill'd with Disease and Pains But Nature to my Youth excessive kind With all these Gifts a gracefull Beauty joyn'd Beauty which of it self has Power to move And claim from Men Respect from Women Love. But I had Vertue too which do's out-shine The brightest Gold dug out of Indian Mine And renders Wit more noble and divine If e'er invited by the op'ning Hound I did the Woods with eager Chase surround The frighted Game by me alone was slain And shunn'd the vigour of my Arms in vain Or when with Youthfull heat and warmth inflam'd I gave Pursuit to ruthfull Beasts untam'd Not without prais'd Success did I imploy My deadly Arrows certain to destroy Sometimes when I beheld the brave Resort Where active Wrestlers strove in manly sport The bold Engagements I would often chuse And artfull strength with sinewie Limbs could use Sometimes I have with practis'd Racers run And oft the Goal from fleetest Coursers won Buskin'd sometimes in Sophoclean Verse I could a Noble Tragedy reherse While trading Players blush't to be out-done In gracefull Action and a moving Tone Nor did I lose the least degree of Praise Because my Skill was good so many ways But rather found it heighten'd my Desert As various Works shews most the Master's Art. If in one Grace alone we Pleasure find When 't is with other noble Vertues joyn'd T will more exalt and more affect the Mind But then a hardy Suff'rance there was found Which all my other manly Vertues crown'd A Suff'rance which invincible remain'd Against all Ills and worst of Harms disdain'd For unconcern'd from Injury secure With a bare Front all Storms I could endure Harmless as drops of Oyl around my Head The violent Rain was innocently shed Ev'n roughest Winds assaulted me in vain Like sturdy Oaks I could their Rage sustain The Sun in Cancer or in Capricorn By me unprejudic'd alike was born And Tybers colder Streams I durst invade In hoary Frosts fearless and undismay'd Nor did the doubtfull Dangers of the Sea From Voyages deter or frighten me To me short Sleeps could long Refreshments give And mod'rate Meals my Hunger could relieve Yet if a jolly drunken Friend I found Inclin'd to pass the moving Goblets round And spend the happy hours of some smooth day In chasing with brisk Wine dull Cares away My stronger Brains could undisorder'd bear Of strongest Liquors an unmeasur'd share My sturdiest Guest with Ease I overcame Though he with others gain'd a Victor's Fame Had Father Bacchus ventur'd in for one Not Father Bacchus had unconquer'd gon Thus 't is no very easie thing to find Two Contrarieties within one Mind By the soft tye of Concord's bands confin'd And so 't is fam'd that the great Socrates Possessing opposite Varieties Was gayly Pleasant and severely Wise That he was skill'd and that he could excell As well in drinking as in reas'ning well And Cato oft would rigid Thoughts decline To sate his Sences with delicious Wine Nought in it self is good or bad we know And Circumstances only make things so For what 's perform'd with grace with wit and sence Cannot be call'd a vice by no Pretence 'T is that can only Ill and Vicious be That 's slubber'd o'er and acted slovenlie Unmov'd and fearless Fate 's worst spite I bore And on my Brows no heavy Sorrows wore Pomp and Adversitie to me were one No Grief for this no Joy for that was shewn A gen'rous Poverty I always lov'd And Avarice by full Content remov'd I all things had because I nought desir'd Enjoy'd my own my Neighbours ne'er requir'd Thou dolefull Age alone do'st me subdue Who conquers all things else must yield to you To thee we run all sading things are thine And with thy Evil last all things decline Thus in my Youth adorn'd Hetruria strove With her best Beauties for my Nuptial Love But Hymen's Fetters I unfit to bear Did Liberty to golden Bonds prefer When e'er I walk't the stately Streets of Rome Gay in my vernal Strength and youthfull Bloom Each longing Maid gaz'd with a wishing Eye To see my prom'sing Parts as I past by Blushing a Nymph my Visits would receive Yet of her Joy many dear Tokens give And smiling into some fly Corner run As if she would my gratefull Kindness shun Where undiscover'd long she could not be But laugh aloud to be found out by me More pleas'd with being caught than close conceal'd And only hid that she might be reveal'd So I to all seem'd pleasing kind and fair A Lover only nor would more declare For kindly Nature had bestow'd on me A modest and a chast Severitie No Beauty of sufficient force could prove To make me with a wedded Life in love Nor any Nymph appear'd so fair to me That I should buy her with my Libertie Howe'er a Face might charming seem before The thoughts of Hymen made it so no more Thus while I was so nice in choice of one Exactly perfect I remain'd alone The Short I lov'd not and the Tall did hate The Lean disdain'd and loath'd the fulsome Fat. I only lik'd the Medium of all these The Middle still is best and best do's please Soft Luxury do's there the Body grace And there do's Love his sacred Temple place I did i' th' Slender not the Lean delight Flesh satiates best the fleshy Appetite As Body is by Body gently prest The height of Pleasure then must be confest When the kind Touch no meager Bones molest The Pale and clear Complexion I abhorr'd Unless with Nature's Roses richly stor'd For Venus claims that Flower as her own Because in all her Votaries 't is shewn The untry'd Virgin blushes forth a Rose And modestly a Shame for loving shews Experienc'd Lovers too this Flower bear And in their Cheeks after Joys tasted wear The golden Hair and white declining Neck Denote a Wit and claim a just Respect Black Brows a Forehead large and sparkling Eyes Would oft my Heart with Love and Awe surprize I lov'd the Ruby moist and swelling Lip Where I could Kisses tast and Nectar sip A long round Neck made Gold appear more sine And Jewels with a double Lustre shine But all these Pleasures which to Youth were dear Offends distastfull Age but ev'n to hear For diff'rent Things oblige our diff'rent Years What once was decent now a
espy Me weaken'd with my Age as I pass by With Hood or Fan she 'll seem to hide her Eyes And me in these opprobrious terms despise Bless me did I e'er love this antick Thing Could his Embraces any Pleasure bring Those rivell'd Jaws or Lips did I e'er kiss Or kindly grant him the exalted Bliss She 'll nauseate me and in Contempt will seem To spew my Love up like a loathsome Flegme Alas what Comforts can Old Age afford You see with what prime Blessings it is stor'd VVhat once could move Delight and Love engage Becomes despis'd when sowr'd with crabbed Age. VVas 't not enough that I had liv'd to be To the full growth of manly Decencie VVhen all I did was acted with a Grace Active my Mind and beautifull my Face E'er I became offensive and despis'd Sordid unpleasing hatefull and unpris'd VVhat e'er I've liv'd before is nothing now In all the Circumstances where or how Time with himself has taken all away That was e'er chearfull pleasant brisk or gay VVhite falling Hairs are now around my Head And my pale Face would seem to speak me dead Yet bright and beautifull she still appears Nor grows less charming tho' more grown in Years Which she but too well sees and too well knows Therefore with inward heat of Pride she glows And I confess she still retains the Grace And Influence of her once dearer Face And in the Embers still the hidden Flame Of Love do's both conceal'd and warm remain So that I see Age do's contrive to spare And favour too as all things else the Fair. For all her Beauties are not quite decreast Sh' as still enough t' inflame the youngest Breast But Old Men feed on Reliques of their Love And former Action but in Thought can prove Unable to perform as heretofore They all past Joys to Memory restore Tickle with that and grieve they can no more And after all what can the wretched gain But the sad privilege to entertain Their own Misfortunes Misery and Pain Thoughts of lost Happiness gives no Relief They only serve more to inrage the Grief But since of former Vigour I 'm bereft Nor to give kind Embraces Strength have left Therefore my false Lycoris must not we Sometimes remember past Felicitie Must former Joys be vanishing and vain Like tracks of Cattle in a sandy Plain Must we forget all that was done before And think of happy Pleasures past no more Why even Brutes shun Pastures new and strange And Sheep in unknown Walks refuse to range The Bull his old frequented Shades do's love Nor will the Flocks from their known Folds remove Sweetest in wonted Brambles Philomel Do's sing and her sad mournfull Story tell But you alone experienc'd Friendship shun And to an untry'd Entertainment run Were it not better far that you confide In Certainties and things that you have try'd Various Events still Novelties attend As they begin they very seldom end If you object my Age remember too That creeping Age is stealing upon you Therefore let that instruct you to be wise And do not me because I 'm grey despise Old Time will silver too thy golden Hair For he do's neither Sex nor Beauty spare We often find that parity of Years Two Minds by parity of Love endears What though I cannot act as once I could Let it suffice that I did well of old The Husbandman whose Strength is lost in Years Still reverend to younger Swains appears The Young do's still the Courage and the Fire Which in the elder Souldier was admire The Swain is griev'd to loose his expert Steer And to the Trooper his old Horse is dear But oh alas Love only can subsist And live and act within a Youthfull Breast And sprightfull blooming Youth alone can prove The fittest Object for a perfect Love. But yet sad Age has not quite plundred me Of all my Rhetorick and Gayetie For still I can my dolefull Tale reherse In tunefull Numbers and in flowing Verse Slight not mature and solid Gravitie Nor venerable Age but let it be Esteem'd and valu'd as desir'd by thee Condemn not in another what so fain You for your self would willingly obtain Seems it not strange in one and foolish too To slight that Voyage which themselves must go Call me your Brother or your dearest Friend Or Father either of 'em Love intend Let Lust to Honour yield as now 't is fit And to pure Piety let Love submit Thus I with tears lament my weak Old Age But that cannot my troubl'd Thoughts assuage For long discourse of Grief do's Grief enrage ELEGY III. The ARGUMENT In this Elegy the Poet gives an account how he was very much in love when but a Boy and that the young Creature with whom he was so Enamour'd return'd his Passion to the full yet after all when with much toyl and difficulty it was so brought about that he had Liberty to enjoy her he would not but was then by having that privilege granted him cured of his Love. BUT now perhaps it may in part Assuage The violent Griefs of my tormented Age A while the mournfull Story to suspend Of Ills which do my present Days attend To recollect things past and call to mind Those Years which Time has left so far behind Those tender Years wherein my Life was free From all Disquiets Love but only thee For Aquilina did my Heart invade And I ador'd the Fair the Beaut'ous Maid To that degree I burnt that I became Pale mad and melancholy with the Flame Yet even then my childish Innocence Preserv'd me free from Scandal and Offence For Ignorant of Love and quite unskill'd In Venus Arts yet with Desire fill'd Something I wish't but innocent of what Did my own Miserie the more create Nor was the excellent the charming She Less griev'd or less disturb'd with Love of me For though she conquer'd yet she was o'er-come And could not carry perfect Triumphs home But heated with her Passion and Desire In vain she strove to shun th' internal Fire Restless from place to place for Ease she flew But with her what she would avoid she drew With Charms at distance we each other caught And lov'd unknowing what we either thought In Solitude we hop'd to find Redress And secret Love in Secret to repress But that alas did but our Loves increase Then we sought out a more obleiging way To feed and feast our Passions ev'ry day By the Exchange of kind and gentle Words Words which to Lover's Flames Fuel affords Yet we could only cherish the dear Fire With fruitless wishing Looks and vain Desire To me a cruel Pedagogue gave law And her a carefull Mother kept in awe Thus we both lov'd but no Success foresaw Our very Eyes our very Nods they watch't And at all little Circumstances catch't Each change of Colour with a carefull Eye They mark't by that our Passions to descry With Industry and with deceitfull Arts A while the growing Passions of our Hearts
thing did try in vain B'y inspiring touch to call to life again Nor answer'd it her Toil nor my desire But cold remain'd i' th' midst of such a Fire So the starv'd Wretch in Northern Scythia sees Th' ungratefull Pot ev'n o'er the Fire to freeze What cruel Woman thou unkind said she Has snatch'd thy Love my Due alone from me Where hast thou been ungrateful and with whom From whose Embraces do'st thou tir'd come I swore 't was her mistake and did protest No other Passion could invade my Breast She only She was of my Heart possest And that it was excess of Love and Care Dash't me with such a trembling Awe and Fear As render'd me uncapable to give Those Acts of Kindness which she should receive Yet maugre this the bright expecting Dame Believ'd 't was all but a pretended Sham. Thou ly'st the much-offended Fair One cry'd For thou some other Nymph do'st love beside And art with me alone unsatisfy'd Variety affects thy Appetite And thou do'st in a frequent Change delight Why else would you my tendred Kindness slight Do's Sorrow damp you then try to remove Such heavy Griefs by the brisk Joys of Love. Be not o'er-come by any sad Excess But intermit such Cares as over-press For Burthens oft laid down become the less Then I uncover'd in the Naked Bed To the inquiring Nymph thus weeping said Alas Fair Greek I am constrain'd to own What I endeavour'd to have kept unknown And lest you might suspect it want of Love Am forc'd by sad Defects my Age to prove Unhappy I whose Vigour is quite dead Alas my Will and Wishes are not fled Unfortunate that I am judg'd to be Unkind because of my Debilitie Lo I have brought you Arms with Shame I own By a long lazy Rest defective grown Yet Arms devoted to thy Use alone Do what thou canst all thy Endeavours try To move me I submit most willingly Yet still I fail'd the more the more I strove Desire 's excess did Impotence improve Streight she began with many Graecian Art To give new Courage to the drooping Part But she in vain the cold dead thing did strive With her gay Flames to quicken and revive When she at last its Ruin did perceive And that the dear-lov'd Nerve no more could live But of its Resurrection all hopes lost On which she had bestow'd such pains such cost Erected in the Bed she mournfull sate Griev'd and tormented with her wretched state And thus deplor'd her miserable Fate Ah fallen Member who wert once to Me The best Improver of best Luxurie And at each sacred celebrated Feast My only Entertainment only Guest My sweetest Darling my Delight my Health My dearest Honour and my chiefest Wealth How thy dejected state shall I lament And in what Floods of Tears my sorrows vent Where shall I find equal and worthy Verse Thy mighty Acts and Prowess to reherse Oft when inflam'd with my too hot Desire Thou didst allay the raging of that Fire And oft didst thou then when thou couldst be kind Charm the Diseases of my troubled Mind My dear Companion many tedious Nights Partaker of my Griefs and my Delights To thee my choicest Secrets were disclos'd And with much Safety in thy trust repos'd Still wert thou watchfull and wert still at hand To answer and obey my least Command Whither oh whither is thy Fervour fled Why do'st thou hang thy cold thy drooping Head What envious Power has depriv'd thee quite Of all that vigour all that former spright Which made thee heretofore so bold in fight Frequent Engagements pleas'd thee heretofore But now thy Courage fails and is no more For lo no more a lively chearfull Red Do's thee as once it did with warmth o'er-spread But pale and wan thou do'st dejected lye Nor dar'st look up to face thy Enemy The kindest most endearing Words to thee Are lost and altogether useless be The pow'rfull Charms of Verse which can relieve Sorrowfull Minds to thee no life can give Thee therefore justly I as dead bewail Since in all active Motion thou do'st sail But as she still run on I was constrain'd To interrupt her while she yet complain'd And of her sad impatience much asham'd Her needless Sorrows chiding thus I blam'd Thus to bemoan my languid Member's Case Argues thy self vex'd by a worse Disease And whilst thou do'st lament his sad Defect I must accuse you of a worse Neglect Begone from miserable unperforming Me To some young Lover more deserving thee Go happy Nymph for happy Joys design'd Go where thy Love equal Returns may find Go where fresh Youth blooming Strength invites Thy springing Beauty to more fit Delights Make use of all thy Youth while Youth thou hast And don 't with me thy pretious Minutes wast For Time unseen goes by and flies too fast For Mortals ever to o'er-take when past But she inrag'd said Fool thou do'st not know The real Cause of all my real Woe And why such floods of Tears my Eyes o'er-flow Be not so fond and vain as to believe That thy peculiar Fate I only grieve No this to my distracted Fancy brings The sad Estate of all Created things For if the gen'tive Pow'r were tane away How soon alas would this vast World decay And oh thou needfull Engine without Thee All things that breath would quickly cease to be Mankind Beast Fish and Fowl and all that live From Thee their first Beginnings must receive What Concord or Agreement could be made In diff'rent Sexes if without thy Aid And if of thy most gratefull Favours void The chiefest Good of Marriage is destroy'd With such strong Leagues of Kindness thou canst bind That of two diff'rent thou mak'st up one Mind So much thou do'st to Vnitie incline And separate Bodies can't so closely joyn That Two grow into One by Am'rous Twine Though to a Nymph Nature all Beauty grants She wants her chief Reward if Thee she wants In Thee alone Valour and Vertue lyes And thou of Beauty art the only Prize Manhood by Thee alone is made compleat Which without Thee were but a sordid Cheat. No sparkling Gems nor yellow shining Gold Can to thy solid real Worth be told Not the most sordid Miser would to be Master of all the Wealth sunk in the Sea Or yet on shore sell or dispose of Thee In vain as Ornaments such Toys are worn If thou as well do'st not the Man adorn Unlike those empty Trisles very much Thy kind increases by productive Touch But they by using still the more decay And with a frequent rubbing wear away With Thee is Credit and Fidelitie And Secrets told are safely lodg'd in Thee Oh! only true Reward of perfect Love To which thou do'st both kind and fruitfull prove To Thee both great things and sublime give way And all thy mighty Mandates must obey All yield and all submit without a Grief From the sweet Bondage wishing no Relief Thy angry Wounds are not so terrible But such as ev'n thy