Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/370

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��LATIN POEMS

��Quodque afflata tuo marcescant lilia tabo,

Et crocus, et pulchrse Cypridi sacra rosa ? Nee sinis ut semper fluvio conterinina quer-

CUS 21

Miretur lapsus praetereuntis aquae; Et tibi succumbit liquido quae plurima cselo

Evehitur pennis, quamlibet augur, avis, Et quse mille nigris errant animalia sylvis, Et quod alunt in u turn Proteos antra pe-

cus.

Invida, tanta tibi cum sit concessa potestas,

Quid juvat humana tingere caede manus?

Nobileque in pectus certas acuisse sagittas,

Semideamque animam sede fugasse

sua ? " 30

Talia dum lacrymans alto sub pectore

volvo,

Roscidus occiduis Hesperus exit aquis, Et Tartessiaco submerserat aequore currum

Phoebus, ab Ebo littore mensus iter. Nee mora; membra cavo posui refovenda

cubili ; Condiderant oculos noxque soporque

meos,

Cum mihi visus eram lato spatiarier agro; Heu ! nequit ingenium visa referre

meum. Illic punicea radiabant omnia luce,

Ut matutino cum juga sole rubent; 40 Ac veluti cum pandit opes Tbaumantia

proles

Vestitu nituit multicolore solum; Non dea tarn variis ornavit floribus hortos

Alcinoi Zephyro Chloris amata levi. Flumina vernantes lambunt argentea cam-

pos;

Ditior Hesperio flavet arena Tago; Serpit odoriferas per opes levis aura Fa-

voni,

Aura sub innumeris humida nata rosis: Talis in extremis terras Gangetidis oris

Luciferi regis fingitur esse domus. 50 Ipse racemiferis dum densas vitibus um- bras

Et pellucentes miror ubique locos, Ecce mihi subitb Praesul Wintonius astat !

Sidereum nitido fulsit in ore jubar; Vestis ad auratos defluxit Candida talos;

Infula divinum cinxerat alba caput. Dumque senex tali iucedit venerandus

amictu,

Intremuit laeto florea terra sono; Agmina gemmatis plaudunt cselestia pen- nis; Pura triumphali personat aethra tuba. 60

��That, touched by thy pestilent breath, the lily withers, and the crocus, and the rose sacred to beautiful Cypris ? Thou dost not permit the oak to stand forever by the stream, looking at the slipping-by of the water. To thee succumb the birds, as many as are borne on wings through the liquid sky, even the birds, though they give augury; and all the thousand animals that roam the dark forests ; and the dumb herd that the caves of Proteus shelter. Envious ! When so much power has been granted thee, what did it pleasure thee to steep thy hands in human slaughter, sharpen thy certain arrows to pierce a no- ble breast, and drive from its tenement a soul half-divine ? "

While I was brooding thus with tears, ruddy Hesperus rose from the western waters; for Phoebus, having measured out his journey from the shores of dawn, had submerged his chariot in the seas beyond Spain. I laid my limbs upon my bed to be refreshed by sleep. Night and slum- ber had embalmed my eyes, when suddenly I seemed to be walking in a wide field. Alas, I have no gift to tell what I saw! There all things shone with a purpureal light, as when the mountain tops are flushed with the morning sun; and the earth gleamed with a vestment of many colors, even as when Iris scatters her wealth abroad. Not with so various flowers did Chloris, goddess loved of light Zephyr, adorn the gardens of King Alcinoiis. Silver streams laved the green champaign; the sand shone richer than Hesperian Tagus. Through the odorous leafage breathed the light breath of Favonus, rising humid from under bow- ers of roses. Such a place men fable the home of Lucifer to be, far on the shores beyond Ganges. As I stood wondering at the enticing nooks and the shades made dense with loaded vines, behold, suddenly before me stood Winchester's bishop ! His face shone with glory like the stars; down to his golden sandals his robe flowed all candid; a white fillet encircled his head. As the old man, thus venerably clad, walked on, the flowery earth trembled with joyful sound; hosts of angels clapped their jew- elled wings, and through the air rang out a

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