See, Apollo with the Nine

Sings---the Chorus must be thine!

Boethius de consol. Phil. translated by John Polwhele anno 1649.

Boet. lib. 1. met. 3.

*

Thus Vesperus fadinge from the sighte

When the black heavens anticipate the nighte,

If Boreas blowe those mists away

And breake the prison of the daye,

Phoebus will quickly shine againe, and daze

Our wondringe eyes with radiant blaze.

Boet. lib. 2. met. 3.

When Phoebus in Aurora's coach
Drawes on the blushinge morne ;.
The weary starres att his approache
Appalled, look forlorne.

When woods by Zephir's fruictfull breath

Springe with vermilian flowers;

Then foggy south-winds vapour death,

And blaste the beautious bowers.

Boet. lib. 3 met. 10.

Heere labour rests in calm repose,
Harboure and refuge for all woes.
What Hermus and rich Tagus hold
In theire glisteringe bancks of gold,
Or India neere the torrid zone

With emerald, pearle, and saphyre stone,
Cannot enlighten purblind eyes

Darkened by dull obscurityes:

For, while these vanities had birth

From secret wombs of sordid earth;

That spiritual splendor made Heaven shine---

Makes guilty ruin'd soules divine:

Compar'd to this angelicke lighte,

Chaste snowe and sunbeames ar not white.

EPISTLE TO LAURA.

Of life, my Laura, many a faery dream
I cherish'd midst the groves of Academe.
'Twas then my comrades with a joyous air
I met, and cried-" Avaunt to felon care."
Then the strong outline of my hopes I drew,
And fondly nurs❜d them as each figure grew;
Sketch'd for my different friends the future plan,
And form'd my systems, as my wishes ran;
Contented crown'd a living with a wife,

Nor mark'd the varied ills that chequer life;
View'd, halcyon-bright, domestic ease appear,
Nor saw pale grief distain it with a tear;

Bade the sweet pledges of affection rise
To melting blushes, and entrancing eyes;
Pictur'd the bliss of love's romantic morn,
And press'd the rosy couch without a thorn!

BUT ah! too soon, the dear delirium fled! Too soon I bow'd to care this throbbing head; While in each scene of vulgar life I found

The hoar-frost scatter'd by indifference round O
Where blasts from avarice nip'd young fancy's bloom,

And envy's cloud diffus'd its deadly gloom.
Lo, as impetuous joys began to move

My beating bosom to the pulse of love,

And, as I deem'd the illusive picture true
That brought another Eden to my view;
Misguided friendship aim'd the heavy stroke,
And all the spell of rapturous passion broke!
At this calm moment, tho' content be ours,
Not without trembling I retrace the hours,

When they, to whom my kindred spirit tends, Whom pure sincerity had stamp'd my friends, Ah, Laura! bade thee droop thy clouded eyes, And waste the softness of thy soul in sighs!

E'EN now, tho' wedded love on pure esteem
Shed the sweet influence of her ardent beam,
And by the mother's name exalt the wife;
Tho' my kind parent soothe the cares of life;
Tho' praise from cold extinction guard the fire
That feebly glows and trembles o'er my lyre;
Yet, as my former days in prospect rise,
Full oft I mourn, with deep regretful sighs,
The contrast of civilities that mark

The affected tribe who feel no friendly spark,
Who every fleeting form of fashion ape,
Prefer all figures to their proper shape,

And with contempt or apathy behold

The brightest talents unattacht to gold.