VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS,

PARAPHRASED.

CREATOR Spirit, by whose aid

The world's foundations first were laid,
Come visit every pious mind;
Come pour thy joys on humankind;
From sin and sorrow set us free,
And make thy temples worthy thee.
O source of uncreated light,

The Father's promised Paraclete !
Thrice holy fount, thrice holy fire,
Our hearts with heavenly love inspire;
Come, and thy sacred unction bring

To sanctify us, while we sing.

Plenteous of grace, descend from high,

Rich in thy sevenfold energy!

Thou strength of his Almighty hand,

Whose power does heaven and earth command.

Proceeding Spirit, our defence,

Who dost the gifts of tongues dispense,

And crown'st thy gift with eloquence.

Refine and purge our earthy parts;

But, oh, inflame and fire our hearts!
Our frailties help, our vice control,
Submit the senses to the soul;
And, when rebellious they are grown,
Then lay thy hand, and hold them down.

VOL. XI.

5

10

15

20

25

N

Chase from our minds the infernal foe;
And peace, the fruit of love, bestow;
And, lest our feet should step astray,
Protect and guide us in the way.

Make us eternal truths receive,
And practise all that we believe;
Give us thyself, that we may see
The Father, and the Son, by thee.
Immortal honour, endless fame,
Attend the Almighty Father's name;
The Saviour Son be glorified,

Who for lost man's redemption died;
And equal adoration be,

Eternal Paraclete, to thee.*

*[For Hymns probably to be ascribed to Dryden, see vol. xv.; for discussion of their authenticity, see Appendix. -ED.]

30

335

FABLES.

TALES FROM CHAUCER.

[Fables, Ancient and Modern. Translated into Verse from Homer, Ovid, Boccace, and Chaucer. With Original Poems. By Mr. Dryden.

Nunc ultro ad cineres ipsius et ossa parentis

(Haud equidem sine mente, reor, sine numine divum)
Adsumus.

VIRG. Æn. v. 57.

London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, within Gray's Inn Gate, next Gray's Inn Lane. MDCC.-ED.]

TO HIS GRACE

THE DUKE OF ORMOND.*

MY LORD,

Anno 1699.

SOME estates are held, in England, by paying a fine at the change of every lord. I have enjoyed the patronage of your family, from the time of your excellent grandfather to this present day. I have dedicated the "Lives of Plutarch" to the first Duke; and have celebrated the memory of your heroic father. Though I am very short

* James, second Duke of Ormond, was eldest son of the gallant Earl of Ossory, and grandson to the great Duke of Ormond, to whose honours he succeeded in 1688. He was first married to Lady Anne Hyde, daughter of Lawrence, Earl of Rochester; and, upon her death, to Lady Mary Somerset, second daughter of the Duke of Beaufort. The Duke of Ormond was favoured by King William, but attained still higher power and influence during the reign of Queen Anne, especially in her later years, when he entered into all the views of her Tory administration. Upon the accession of George 1. he was impeached of high treason, and consulted his safety by flying abroad. He died in Spain in 1746.

The tales which follow, with the various translations marked in the preface, were first published in 1700 in one volume folio.

+ See vol. xvii.

See the passage in "Absalom and Achitophel,” vol. ix., and the notes on that poem, pages 291-299.