Here fmiling Loves and Bacchanals appear
The Julian ftar, and great Auguftus here,
The doves that round the infant-poet spread
Myrtles and bays, hung hov'ring o'er his head.
Here in a fhrine that caft a dazzling light,
Sat fix'd in thought the mighty Stagirite; *)
His facred head a radiant Zodiac crown'd
And various animals his fide furround;
His piercing eyes, erect, appear to view
Superior worlds, and look all nature through.
With equal rays immortal Tully fhone,
The Roman roftra deck'd the Conful's throne;
Gathering his flowing robe, he feem'd to stand
In act to speak, and graceful ftrech'd his hand.
Behind, Rome's genius waits with civic crowns
And the great father of his country owns.

*) Ariftotle,

Pope.

Dr. Lowth.

Dr. Lowth.

(Der Stoff der folgenden allegorischen Erzählung ist, wie bekannt, aus Xenophon's fokratischen Denkwürdigs keiten entlehnt, und ihr eigentlicher Erfinder war Prodiz Eus. Vom Xenophon ist sie meisterhaft vorgetragen; und hernach von mehrern Dichtern und Künstlern bearbeitet; unter andern findet man sie auch beim Silius Italicus, B. XV, S. 130. ff. -- Dr. Robert Lowth, Bischof von Lonz don, gestorben 1787. übertrug sie sehr glücklich in følgendes Gedicht, welches man, außer in der Dodsleyischen Samms lung, auch in Spence's Polymetis, S. 157. ff. abgedruckt findet. Eine deutsche Uebersehung in reimlose Jamben has ben wir vom Hrn. Legationsrath Bertuch erhalten, die Hr. Hofrath Wieland seiner lyrischen Dramatisirung dieses Subjekts beidrucken ließ. S. Teutschen Merkur B. III. S. 127. ff.)

Now had the son of Jove mature, attain'd
The joyful prime: when youth, elate and gay,
Steps into life; and follows unrestrain'd

Where paffion leads, or prudence points the way.
In the pure mind, at thofe ambiguous years,
Or vice, rank weed, firft ftrikes her pois'nous
root;

Or haply virtue's op'ning bud appears

By juft degrees, fair bloom of faireft fruit:

For, if on youth's untainted thought impreft,

The gen'rous purpose ftill fhall warm the manly breaft.

II.

As on a day, reflecting on his age

For highest deeds now ripe, Alcides fought
Retirement; nurfe of contemplation fage;
Step following step, and thought fucceeding
thought:

Mufing with fteady peace the youth purfu'd
His walk and loft in meditation stray'd
Far in a lonely vale, with folitude
Converfing: while intent his mind furvey'd
The dubious path of life: before him lay
Here virtue's rough afcent, there Pleafure's flow'ry

way.

III.

Much did the view divide his wavering mind: Now glow'd his breaft with generous thirft of fame;

Now love of eafe to fofter thoughts inclin'd
His yielding foul, and quench'd the rifing flame.
When, lo! far off two female forms he fpies;
Direct to him their fteps they feem to bear:
Both, large and tall, exceeding human fize;
Both far exceeding human beauty fair.

Graceful, yet each with different grace, they

move:

This, ftriking facred awe: that fofter, winning love.

IV.

The first, in native dignity furpass'd;
Artlefs and unadorn'd fhe pleas'd the more:
Health, o'er her looks, a genuine luftre caft;
A veft, more white than new-fall'n fnow fhe wore.
Auguft fhe trod, yet modeft was her air;

Serene her eye, yet darting heav'nly fire.

Still fhe drew near: and nearer ftill more fair,

More

Dr. Lowth..

Dr. Lowth., More mild appear'd: yet fuch as might infpire
Pleafure corrected with an aweful fear;
Majestically sweet, and amiably fevere.

V.

The other dame feem'd ev'n of fairer hue;
But bold her mien: unguarded rov'd her eye:
And her flufh'd cheeks confefs'd at nearer view
The borrow'd blushes of an artful dye.

All foft and delicate, with airy fwim
Lightly fhe danc'd along: her robe betray'd
Thro' the clear texture ev'ry tender limb,
Height'ning the charms it only feem'd to fhade:
And as it flow'd adown, so loose and thin,
Her ftature fhew'd more tall, more fnowy-white
her fkin,

VI.

Oft with a fmile fhe view'd herself afkance;
Ev'n on her fhade a confcious look fhe threw:
Then all around her caft a careless glance,
To mark what gazing eyes her beauty drew.
As they came near, before that other maid
Approaching decent, eagerly fhe prefs'd
With hafty step: nor of repulfe afraid,
With freedom bland the wond'ring youth ad-
drefs'd,

With winning fondness on his neck fhe hung;
Sweet as the honey-dew flow'd her enchanting ton-

gue.

VII.

„Dear Hercules, whence this unkind delay?
"Dear youth, what doubts can thus diftract thy
mind?

„Securely follow, where I lead the way:
,,And range thro' wilds of pleasure unconfin'd.

With me retire, from noife, and pain, and Dr. Lowth.

care

"Embath'd in bliís, and wrapt in endless ease:

Rough is the road to fame, thro' blood and

war;

Smooth is my way, and all my paths are peace,
With me retire, from toils and perils free;
Leave honour to the wretch! Pleafures were made

for thee.

VIII.

Then will I grant thee all thy foul's defire, ,,All that may charm thine ear, and please thy

fight:

"All that thy thought can frame, or wifh re

quire,

To steep thy ravish'd fenfes in delight.

,,The fumptuous feaft, enhanc'd with mufic's found;

Fittest to tune the melting foul to love;

,,Rich odours, breathing choiceft fweets around; The fragrant bow'r, cool fountain, fhady grove: Frefh flowers, to ftrew thy couch, and crown

"

thy head,

Joy fhall attend thy fteps, and ease shall smooth thy bed.

IX.

Thefe will I, freely, conftantly fupply; Pleafures, not earn'd with toil, nor mix'd with

woe:

„Far from thy reft repining want shall fly; „Nor labour bathe in fweat thy careful brow. ,,Mature the copious harveft fhall be thine; Let the laborious hind fubdue the foil:

Leave the rafh foldier spoils of war to win; „Won by the foldier thou shalt fhare the spoil: Thefe fofter cares my bleft allies employ, „New pleasures to invent; to wifh, and to enjoy."