Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

I THE GLOW-WORM.

TRANSLATION OF THE FOREGOING.

e

I.

BENEATH the hedge, or near the stream

A worm is known to stray,
That shows by night a lucid beam,
Which disappears by day.
II.

Disputes have been, and still prevail,
From whence his rays proceed;
Some give that honour to his tail,

And others to his head.

III.

But this is sure-the hand of might,
That kindles up the skies,
Gives him a modicum of light
Proportion'd to his size.

IV.

Perhaps indulgent Nature meant,

By such a lamp bestow'd,
To bid the trav'ller, as he went,

Be careful where he trod;

V.

Nor crush a worm, whose useful light
Might serve, however small,

So show a stumbling stone by night,
And save him from a fall.

VI.

Whate'er she meant, this truth divine
Is legible and plain,

'Tis pow'r almighty bids him shine,

Nor bids him shine in vain.

VII.

Ye proud and wealthy, let this theme
Teach humbler thoughts to you,
Since such a reptile has its gem,
And boasts its splendour too.

CORNICULA.

BY VINCENT BOURNE.

NIGRAS inter aves avis est, quæ plurima turres,
Antiquas ædes, celsaque Fana colit.

Nil tam sublime est, quod non audace volatu,
Aeriis spernens inferiora, petit.

Quo nemo ascendat, cui non vertigo cerebrum
Corripiat, certe hunc seligit illa locum.
Quo vix a terra tu suspicis absque tremore,
Illa metu expers incolumisque sedet.
Lamina delubri supra fastigia, ventus
Qua cœli spiret de regione, docet ;
Hanc ea præ reliquis mavult, securi pericli,
Nec curat, nedum cogitat, unde cadet.
Res inde humanus, sed summa per otia, spectat,
Et nihil ad sese, quas videt, esse videt.
Concursus spectat, plateaque negotia in omni,
Omnia pro nugis at sapienter habet,
Clamores, quas infra audit, și forsitan audit,
Pro rebus nihili negligit, et crocitat.

Ille tibi invideat, felix Cornicula, pennas,
Qui sic humanis rebusse velit

II. THE JACKDAW.

TRANSLATION OF THE FOREGOING.

I.

THERE is a bird who by his coat,
And by the hoarseness of his note,
Might be suppos'd a crow;
A great frequenter of the church,
Where bishop-like he finds a perch,
And dormitory too.

II.

Above the steeple shines a plate,
That turns and turns to indicate

From what point blows the weather;
Look up your brains begin to swim,
"Tis in the clouds-that pleases him,
He chooses it the rather.

[blocks in formation]

You think, no doubt, he sits and muses
On future broken bones and bruises,
If he should chance to fall.
No: not a single thought like that
Employs his philosophick pate,
Ör troubles it at all.

V.

He sees, that this great roundabout,
The world, with all its motley rout,
Church, army, physick, law,
Its customs, and its businesses,
Is no concern at all of his,

And says-what says he ?-Caw.
VI.

Thrice happy bird! I too have seen
Much of the vanities of men;

And, sick of having seen 'em, Would cheerfully these limbs resign For such a pair of wings as thine, And such a head between 'em.

[blocks in formation]

II.

Diceris innocensque
Et gratus inquilinus ;
Nec victitans rapinis,
Ut sorices voraces,
Muresve curiosi,
Furumque delicatum
Vulgus domesticorum ;
Sed tutus in camini
Recessibus, quiete
Contentus et calore.

III.

Beatior Cicada,

Quæ te referre forma,
Quæ voce te videtur;
Et saltitans per herbas,
Unius, haud secundæ,
Estatis est chorista;
Tu carmen integratum,
Reponis ad Decembrem,
Lætus per universum
Incontinenter annum.
IV.

Te nulla lux relinquit,
Te nulla nox revisit,
Non musicæ vacantem,
Curisve non solutum :
Quin amplies canendo,
Quin amplies fruendo,
Ætatulam, vel omni,
Quam nos homunciones
Absumimus querendo,
Etate longiorem.

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »