The poetry dispersed throughout this work, the translator assures us has occasionally been "altered to make it more suitable to an English reader," and may consequently be considered in some measure as original composition. It has considerable merit, as the following specimens will prove. SONNET Used in a Serenade from a Lover to his Mistress. Whether, or fixed or wandering, lights of heaven! A brazen heart, an adamantine mind, Doubtless had he, whose restless working brain Had he who rashly sought to fly, in vain :- Downheadlong drew, against his father's mind : A daring act, a pretty enterprise, 'Twas to descend and conquer Erebus, To bind the triple-porter in a chain: But to presume to venture on her eyes, Without more note or merit court them thus, SONNET. If, of a wretched state and all forlorn, That be the wretched'st, not at all to be: Since in condemned prisoners we may see, Though they must die, they'ld not, not have been born.Than by oblivion to be slowly torn, Or vexed with absence in extremity, Or plagued with rage of restless jealousy,These nothing are to not being loved,—a scorn : He that's forgotten, yet a being had, He that is absent may return again, He that is jealous may find constancy :- SONNET To a Lady singing, unseen. Sweet voice! I hear thy pleasing harmony, O that the glorious angel I could see, That thus enchants mine ear, suspends my mind! Love sure is no bare voice, no fancy blind, Nor faint intention, but reality, A substance and engendered deity, 'Twixt Mars and Venns in adulterate kind. Then if not wholly voice, since body too, Or yet if echo, hark! So may thy fair Narcissus soft relent and learn to woo! But why concealed thus dost thou declare Thyself like him self-loving? if not so, Why art thou nought but voice wrapt up in air? SONG. When young April once a year On him that basely in a brother's shape, But I, the more relief I seek, the more's my grief! SONNET, On seeing a Lady Bathing in the River Betis. Betis! whilst pretty philomel doth sing, 'Mongst well-tun'd leaves with gentle murmuring;- SONG. At the foot of a mountain white Clad all in snow, That doth melt with the sun-beams bright, Celio as in a dream, Beholdeth how the stream, Drives to and fro. Little pebbles, white, red, and blue, Lift up their heads from those fresh seas, With different garlands crown'd; His loss bewails. Young Hyacinthus groweth near; Adonis too; Acanthus the boy doth appear; In a flower of his name, That scorned to woo. The Thracian minstrel riseth then, That attracts birds, beasts, fishes, men :- The listening shepherd's ears, And thus he sings- Swain weep no more! Come then, Fenissa, fair Fenissa come, Come to the shade, By cool leaves made. Sing Celio; valley, make Fenissa room, And let echo ring, She's the valley's spring! Fenissa come! SONNET Introductory to a fresh discourse. As a poor L |