Lucasta [86]
For LET SEAS, &c., we ought to read SHALL SEAS, &c.
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IN VIRGILIUM. PENTADII.
Pastor, arator, eques; pavi, colui, superavi; Capras, rus, hostes; fronde, ligone, manu.
IN ENGLISH.
A swain, hind, knight: I fed, till'd, did command: Goats, fields, my foes: with leaves, a spade, my hand.
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DE SCAEVOLA.
Lictorem pro rege necans nunc mutius ultro Sacrifico propriam concremat igne manum: Miratur Porsenna virum, paenamque relaxans Maxima cum obscessis faedera a victor init, Plus flammis patriae confert quam fortibus armis, Una domans bellum funere dextra sua.
ENGLISHED.
The hand, by which no king but serjeant<97.1> dies, Mutius in fire doth freely sacrifice; The prince admires the Hero, quits his pains, And Victor from the seige peace entertains; Rome's more oblig'd to flames than arms or pow'r, When one burnt hand shall the whole war devour.<97.2>
<97.1> A somewhat imperfect rendering of LICTOR.
<97.2> The reader will easily judge for himself of the valueless character of these translations; but it is only just to Lovelace to suggest that they were probably academic exercises only, and at the same time to submit that they are not much worse than Marlowe's translation of Ovid, and many other versions of the Classics then current.
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DE CATONE.
Invictus victis in partibus omnia Caesar Vincere qui potuit, te, Cato, non potuit.
OF CATO.
The world orecome, victorious Caesar, he That conquer'd all, great Cato, could not thee.
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ITEM.
Ictu non potuit primo Cato solvere vitam; Defecit tanto vulnere victa manus: Altius inseruit digitos, qua spiritus ingens Exiret, magnum dextera fecit iter. Opposuit fortuna moram, involvitque, Catonis Scires ut ferro plus valuisse manum.
ANOTHER.
One stabbe could not fierce Cato's<98.1> life unty; Onely his hand of all that wound did dy. Deeper his fingers tear to make a way Open, through which his mighty soul might stray. Fortune made this delay to let us know, That Cato's hand more then his sword could do.
<98.1> Cato of Utica.
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ITEM.
Jussa manus sacri pectus violare Catonis Haesit, et inceptum victa reliquit opus. Ille ait, infesto contra sua vulnera vultu: Estne aliquid, magnus quod Cato non potuit?
ANOTHER.
The hand of sacred Cato, bad to tear His breast, did start, and the made wound forbear; Then to the gash he said with angry brow: And is there ought great Cato cannot do?
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ITEM.
Dextera, quid dubitas? durum est jugulare Catonem; Sed modo liber erit: jam puto non dubitas! Fas non est vivo quenquam servire Catone, Nedum ipsum vincit nunc Cato si moritur.
ANOTHER.
What doubt'st thou, hand? sad Cato 'tis to kill; But he'l be free: sure, hand, thou doubt'st not still! Cato alive, 'tis just all men be free: Nor conquers he himself, now if he die.
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PENTADII.
Non est, fulleris, haec beata non est Quod vos creditis esse, vita non est: Fulgentes manibus videre gemmas Et testudineo jacere lecto, Aut pluma latus abdidisse molli, Aut auro bibere, aut cubare cocco; Regales dapibus gravare mensas, Et quicquid Lybico secatur arvo; Non una positum tenere cella: Sed nullos trepidum timere casus, Nec vano populi favore tangi, Et stricto nihil aestuare ferro: Hoc quisquis poterit, licebit illi Fortunam moveat loco superbus.
ENGLISHED.
It is not, y' are deceav'd, it is not blisse What you conceave a happy living is: To have your hands with rubies bright to glow, Then on your tortoise-bed your body throw, And sink your self in down, to drink in gold, And have your looser self in purple roll'd; With royal
<-------------------->
IN VIRGILIUM. PENTADII.
Pastor, arator, eques; pavi, colui, superavi; Capras, rus, hostes; fronde, ligone, manu.
IN ENGLISH.
A swain, hind, knight: I fed, till'd, did command: Goats, fields, my foes: with leaves, a spade, my hand.
<-------------------->
DE SCAEVOLA.
Lictorem pro rege necans nunc mutius ultro Sacrifico propriam concremat igne manum: Miratur Porsenna virum, paenamque relaxans Maxima cum obscessis faedera a victor init, Plus flammis patriae confert quam fortibus armis, Una domans bellum funere dextra sua.
ENGLISHED.
The hand, by which no king but serjeant<97.1> dies, Mutius in fire doth freely sacrifice; The prince admires the Hero, quits his pains, And Victor from the seige peace entertains; Rome's more oblig'd to flames than arms or pow'r, When one burnt hand shall the whole war devour.<97.2>
<97.1> A somewhat imperfect rendering of LICTOR.
<97.2> The reader will easily judge for himself of the valueless character of these translations; but it is only just to Lovelace to suggest that they were probably academic exercises only, and at the same time to submit that they are not much worse than Marlowe's translation of Ovid, and many other versions of the Classics then current.
<-------------------->
DE CATONE.
Invictus victis in partibus omnia Caesar Vincere qui potuit, te, Cato, non potuit.
OF CATO.
The world orecome, victorious Caesar, he That conquer'd all, great Cato, could not thee.
<-------------------->
ITEM.
Ictu non potuit primo Cato solvere vitam; Defecit tanto vulnere victa manus: Altius inseruit digitos, qua spiritus ingens Exiret, magnum dextera fecit iter. Opposuit fortuna moram, involvitque, Catonis Scires ut ferro plus valuisse manum.
ANOTHER.
One stabbe could not fierce Cato's<98.1> life unty; Onely his hand of all that wound did dy. Deeper his fingers tear to make a way Open, through which his mighty soul might stray. Fortune made this delay to let us know, That Cato's hand more then his sword could do.
<98.1> Cato of Utica.
<-------------------->
ITEM.
Jussa manus sacri pectus violare Catonis Haesit, et inceptum victa reliquit opus. Ille ait, infesto contra sua vulnera vultu: Estne aliquid, magnus quod Cato non potuit?
ANOTHER.
The hand of sacred Cato, bad to tear His breast, did start, and the made wound forbear; Then to the gash he said with angry brow: And is there ought great Cato cannot do?
<-------------------->
ITEM.
Dextera, quid dubitas? durum est jugulare Catonem; Sed modo liber erit: jam puto non dubitas! Fas non est vivo quenquam servire Catone, Nedum ipsum vincit nunc Cato si moritur.
ANOTHER.
What doubt'st thou, hand? sad Cato 'tis to kill; But he'l be free: sure, hand, thou doubt'st not still! Cato alive, 'tis just all men be free: Nor conquers he himself, now if he die.
<-------------------->
PENTADII.
Non est, fulleris, haec beata non est Quod vos creditis esse, vita non est: Fulgentes manibus videre gemmas Et testudineo jacere lecto, Aut pluma latus abdidisse molli, Aut auro bibere, aut cubare cocco; Regales dapibus gravare mensas, Et quicquid Lybico secatur arvo; Non una positum tenere cella: Sed nullos trepidum timere casus, Nec vano populi favore tangi, Et stricto nihil aestuare ferro: Hoc quisquis poterit, licebit illi Fortunam moveat loco superbus.
ENGLISHED.
It is not, y' are deceav'd, it is not blisse What you conceave a happy living is: To have your hands with rubies bright to glow, Then on your tortoise-bed your body throw, And sink your self in down, to drink in gold, And have your looser self in purple roll'd; With royal