Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

INTRODUCTION.

It may be neceffary to inform the reader that, many of the following odes were tranflated feveral years ago. at College, for the author's amufement, without any intention of making them public. But being encouraged by the partiality of friends, and allowed to infert thofe odes of Anacreon, which are elegantly tranflated by the late Dr. Broonie, and a few others t; he determined to give an entire verfion of the Teian bard, as no one of this nation had hitherto done it. Mr. John Addifon's tranflation is incomplete, and, excepting a few odes, harsh and crude, and far from being well done. What the late ingenious and learned Mr. Welt fays of Cowley's Pindar, may be applied to his odes of Anacreon: "That they have not the "leaft resemblance to the manner of the author whom they pretend to imitate, or, if any, it is "fuch a refemblance only as is expreffed by the "Italian word caricatura, a monstrous and distort"ed likeness."

[ocr errors]

It may be thought a bold undertaking to attempt Sappho, after the high encomiums which Mr. Addifon, in the Spectator, has passed on Philips's tranflation of her two odes. But, with

* Dr. Broomes's Odes were printed in the Gentleman's Magazine, under the name of Charles Chefler, M. D. † Viz. Odes 2, II, 45, 49, and 51.

deference to the authority of fo good a judge, befides what the reader will find obferved with regard to Mr. Philips's mistaking the true sense of his author, the three first lines are amazingly rough and awkward.

Bleft as th' immortal gods is be,
The youth who fondly fits by thee,

And hears and fees thee all the while, &c.

It is furprising, that fuch unpoetical expressions, as thofe here marked should escape the cenfure of the accurate Mr. Addifon, unless we fufpect that the partiality of the friend biaffed the judgment of the critic.

It is equally furprising, that the beautiful Idylliums of Bion and Mofchus, which charm every reader in the original, should scarce ever have been atten pted in English. The tranflator, therefore, may juttly claim fome merit in endeavouring to make thefe elegant Greek writers fpeak his native language.

He cannot conclude this short introduction, without returning his thanks to an ingenious and worthy friend (whofe name would do honour to the title page) for his revifal and correction of this little work, and for thofe excellent translations of the Idylliums of Mofchus, marked D.

THE LIFE OF ANACREON.

ANACREON was born at Teos, a fea-port town of loria. Who were his parents is uncertain, though it is conjectured, from good authority, that his family was noble. The time of his birth, according to Barnes, was in the second year of the 55th Olympiad, about the beginning of the reign of Cyrus, in the year of Rome 194, and the 554th be fore Chrift According to this account, he was about eighteen years of age, when Harpagus, the general of Cyrus, came with an army against the confederate cities of the lonians and Æolians. The Teians, finding themselves too weak to withstand

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

world. It is certain, that wine, love, and the mufe, had the difpofal of all his hours.

From Abdera he went to the court of Polycrates, tyrant of Samos, at that time one of the moft gay and flourishing in Afia. A perfon of Anacreon's character must undoubtedly meet with a welcome reception, wherever wit and pleasure were esteemed: Accordingly we find, that he was fo highly honoured by Polycrates, as not only to be admitted into a fhare of his friendship, but even into his moft fecret counfels. How long he continued at Samos is uncertain; but it is probable, that the friendship of Polycrates, and the splendour of his court, had influence enough to detain him there the greatest part of his reign. This opinion alfo feems confirmed by Herodotus, who affures us, that Anacreon was with that prince in his chamber, when he received a message from Ore. tes, governor of Sardis, by whofe treachery Polycrates was foon after betrayed, and inhumanly crucified.

A little before this remarkable incident, Anacreon left Samos, and removed to Athens, having been invited thither by Hipparchus the eldest fon of Pififtrates, one of the most virtuous and learned princes of his time; who, as Plato affures us, fent the moft obliging letters, with a veffel of fifty oars, to convey him over the Ægean. The fame philofopher who relates this, does Anacreon the honour to ftyle him "the wife Anacreon;" which is the foundation of Monfieur Fontenelle's ingenious dialogue, where he introduces Anacreon and Ariftotle difputing the prize of wisdom, and gives the advantage to our poet.

Hipparchus being affaffinated, he returned to his native country Teos; for, after the death of Cyrus, the Teians had been fuffered to reinhabit their country unmolefted. Here he remained, as Suidas informs us, till another commotion in the ftate obliged him once more to fly to Abdera; where he died in the 85th year of his age.

The manner of his death was very extraordinary; for we are told, that he was choked with a grape flone, as he was regaling on fome new wine which has afforded Mr. Cowley a fubject for a fine elegy, the conclufion of which is very happy:

It grieves me, when I fee what fate
Does on the beft of mankind wait,
Poets or lovers let them be;
'Tis neither love nor poely

Can arm againft death's fmalleft dart
The poet's head, or lover's heart.
But when their life in its decline

Touches th' inevitable line,

All the world's mortal to them then,

And wine is aconite to men.

Nay, in death's hand the grape-ftone proves
As strong as thunder is in Jove's.

A fmall part only of his works has efcaped the malice of time; for, befides the odes and epigrams that ftill remain, he compofed elegies

See Univerfal Hiftory, vol. 8. Evs. page 271.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Anacreon had a delicate genius, and there are inexpreffible charms and graces in his poetry. His chief excellence, fays Madam Dacier, con"fits in imitating nature, and following reafon : "He prefents no images to the mind but what are "noble and natural." "The odes of Anacreon," fays Rapin, "are flowers, beauties, and perpetual

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

graces it is familiar to him to write what is "natural: He has an air fo delicate, eafy, and graceful, that among all the ancients, there is "nothing comparable to the method he took, nor to that kind of writing he followed. He flows "foft and eafy, every where diffufing the joy and "indolence of his mind through all his compofi"tions, and turning his harp to the pleasant and "happy temper of his foul."

But no one has given us a juter character of his writings, than that little god who infpired them, as Mr. Cowley has made him speak: All thy verfe is fofter far

Than the downy feathers are
Of my wings, or of my arrows,
Of my mother's doves, or sparrows;
Graceful, cleanly, smooth, and round,
All with Venus' girdle bound.

I cannot better conclude, this account of Ana. creon, than with the following epitaph, as it is tranflated in the Spectator, No. 551.

ON ANACREON. BY ANTIPATER. This tomb be thine, Anacreon; all around Let ivy wreath, let flow'rets deck the ground, And from its earth, enrich'd by fuch a prize, Let wells of milk, and ftreams of wine arife: So will thine afhes yet a pleafure know, If any pleasure reach the fhades below.

To which let me add a fine ftanza from Dr. Akenfide's Ode on Lyric Poetry, in honour of our poet:

I fee Anacreon fmile and fing:
His filver trefies breathe perfume;
His cheek dilplays a fecond fpring
Of roles, taught by wine to bloom.
Away, deceitful cares, away!
And let me liften to his lay,
While flowery dreams my foul employ;
While, turtle-wing'd the laughing hours
Lead hand in hand the feftal powers,
Lead youth, and love, and harmless joy.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

"Celebrate the brother-kings, "Sons of Atreus, fam'd afar, "Cadmus and the Theban war Rapt I ftrike the vocal fhellHark-the trembling chords rebel; All averie to arms they prove, Warbling only strains of love.

Late trung anew my lyre "Heavenly mufe my breaft infpire, "While the fwelling notes refound "Hercules for toils renown'd." Still the chords rebellious prove, Anfwering only strains of love! Farewell heroes, farewell kings! Love alone fhall tune my ftrings.

ODE II. By another Hand.

ON WOMEN.

NATURE gives all creatures arms,
Faithful guards from hoftile harms;
Jaws, the lion to defend,
Horrid jaws that wide distend!
Horns, the bull, refiftlefs force!
Solid hoofs, the vig rous horse;
Nimble feet, the fearful hare;
Wings to fly, the birds of air;
Fins to win the wat'ry kind;
Man, the bold undaunted mind.
Nature lavishing her store,
What for woman had the more?
Helpless woman to be fair;
Beauty fell to woman's fhare.

She that's beauteous needs not fear
Sword, or flame, or fhield, or fpear:

10

1ο

PROGRESS OF POETRY. By a Lady."

Beauty ftronger aid affords, Stronger far than flames or fwords, Stronger far than fwords or fhields; Man himself to beauty yields.

ODE III.

CUPID BENIGHTED.

THE fable night had spread around This nether world a gloom profound; No filver moon nor ftars appear, And ftrong Beötes urg'd the Bear: The race of man, with toils oppreft Enjoy the balmy fweets of reft; When from the heav'nly.court of Jove Defcended fwift the god of love, (Ah me! I tremble to relate) And loudly thunder'd at my gate. "Who's there?" I cry'd, "Who breaks "At this unfeaforable hour?" The god, with well-diffembled fighs, And moan infidious thus replies: "Pray ope the door, dear Sir-'tis I, "A harmless miferable boy; "Benumb'd with cold and rain I ftray "A long, uncomfortable way

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

"The winds with bluft'ring horror roar. "'Tis difmal dark---Pray ope the door.". Quite unfufpicious of a foe

I liften'd to the tale of woe,

Compaffion touch'd my breast, and strait

I ftruck a light, unbarr'd the gate;

When, lo! a winged boy I fpy'd,
With bow and quiver at his fide:
I wonder'd at his ftrange attire;

Then friendly plac'd him near the fire.
My heart was bounteous and benign,
I warm'd his little hands in mine,
Cheer'd him with kind affiduous care,
And wrung the water from his hair.
Soon as the fraudful youth was warm,
"Let's try," fays he, "if any harm

20

เว

Has chane'd my bow this stormy night; "I fear the wet has fpoil'd it quite :" With that he bent the fatal yew,

And to the head an arrow drew:

Loud twang'd the founding ftring, the dart Pierc'd through my liver and my heart. Then laugh'd amain the wanton boy,

And, "Friend." he cry'd, "I with thee joy; "Undamag'd is my bow, I fee,

"But what a wretch I've made of thee,"

ODE IV.

ON HIMSELF,

RECLIN'D at cafe on this foft bed,
With fragrant leaves of myrtle spread
And flow'ry lote, I'll now refign
My cares, and quaff the rofy wine.
In decent robe behind him bound,
Cupid fhall ferve the goblet round:
For faft away our moments steal,
Like the swift chariot's rolling wheel:
The rapid courfe is quickly done,
And foon the race of life is run,
Then, then, alas! we droop, we die,
And funk in diffolution die;
Our frame no fymmetry retains;
Nought but a little duft remains.
Why on the tomb are odours fhed?
Why pour'd libations to the dead?
To me far better while I live,
Rich wines and balmy fragrance give;
Now, now the rofy wreath prepare,
And hither call the lovely fair.
Now, while I draw my vital breath,
Ere yet I lead the dance of death,
For joy my forrows I'll refign,
And drown my cares in rofy wine.

ODE V.

ON THE ROSE.

To make the beverage divine,
Mingle fweet roles with the wine;
Delicious will the liquor prove,
For rofes are the flowers of love:

And while with wreaths of roles crown'd,
Let laughter and the cup go round.

Hail, lovely rofe to thee I fing, Thou fweetest daughter of the spring: All mortals prize thy beauties bright; In thee the pow'rs above delight. Gay Cupid, with the graces bland, When lightly bounding hand in hand, With nimble feet he beats the ground, Shows his bright locks with rofes crown'd. Here then the flow'ry garland bring; with numbers fweet I'll wake the fpring, And crown'd with roles, heav'nly flow'rs! Admitted, Bacchus, to thy bow'rs, With fnowy-botom'd Sappho gay I'll dance the feather'd hours away. ODE VI.

THE PARTY OF PLEASURE.

WHILE rofes round our temples twine,
We'll gayly graff the fparkling wine:

40

10

20

10

20

And, lo! the love alluring fair
Her Thyrfus brandishes in air,
With cluft'ring ivy wreath'd around,
Whofe branches yield a rustling found;
With graceful eafe her steps the fuits
To notes of foft Ionian lutes.

A youth, whofe hair luxuriant flows,
In curls, with breath ambrofial blows
I he well-pair'd pipes, and sweetly clear,
Pour melting mufic on the ear.
Here Cupid too with golden hair,
And Bacchus, ever young and fair,
With Cytherea, who inspires
Delightful thoughts and warm defires,
Gay-fmiling join the fellive train,
And make an old man young again.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

As on a purple bed fupine,
Rapt in the pleafing joys of wine,
I lull'd my weary limbs to rest,
Methought, with nymphs fupremely bleft,
A beauteous band, I urg'd the chase,
Contending in the rapid race;

While fairest youths, with envy stung,
Fair as Lyæus ever y ung,
With jealous leer, and bitter jeft,
Their keen malevolence exprest.
Intent on love, I ftrive to greet

1 he gamefome girls with kiffes sweet,
And, as on pleafure's brink I feem,
Wake, and, behold! 'tis all a dream.
Vex d to be thus alone in bed,
My vifionary charmer's fled,

To dream once more clofe my eyes:
Again, ye foft illusions, rife!

ODE IX.

THE DOVE.

"TELL me, dear. delighttul dove, "Emblematic bird of love,

"On your waving wings defcending, "Whence you come, and whither tending?

10

* Tell me whence your fnowy plumes "Breath fuch fragrance of perfumes? And what master you obey, "Gentle bird of Venus, fay!" "Blithe Anacreon, the wife, (Thus the feather d page replies)

Sends me o'er the meads and groves To Bathyllus whom he loves, "To Bathyllus, beauteous boy, "Men's delight, and maidens joy. "For a fonnet terfe and trim, "Which the poets call a hymn, "Venus, in her sweet regard, "Sold me to the gentle bard: Happy in his easy sway,

[ocr errors]

"All his mandates I obey; "Often through the fields of air Song or billet-doux I bear.

[ocr errors]

If you ferve me well, fays he, "I will fhortly make you free.

He may free me, if he will, "Yet I'll stay and serve him still: "For what comfort can I know "On the mountain's barren brow? "Or in deferts left alone, "There to murmur and to moan?

Now I eat delicious bread,

"Or in melancholy wood,

Pecking berries, naufeous food!

[ocr errors]

By my liberal master fed;

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Now I drink of his own bowl,

Rofy wine that cheers my foul;

"Sometimes dance, and fometimes play,

"Ever ealy, ever gay;

"Or my fragrant pinions fpread,

"Hovering o'er my master's head:

When iny limbs begin to tire,

"Then I perch upon his lyre;
Soothing founds my eye-lids close,
Sweetly lulling my repofe.
"Now I've told you all I know,
"Friend, adieu-'tis time to go;
You my speed fo long delay,
"I have chatter'd like a jay."

ODE X.

CUPID IN WAX.

A RUSTIC brought, of curious mold, A waxen Cupid to be fold, "What price, I cry'd, ingenuous say, "For this small image fhall I pay?" "Smail is the price, reply'd the clown, "Take it, c'en take it at your own: "To tell you all without a lie, * I make no images, not 1; • But dare not in my mansion trust "I his patron of unbounded luft.” "It fo, then for this little coin, *Said I, the deity is mine. "And now, great god, my breaft inspire, * There kindle all thy gentle fire: "But, if thou fail'ft to favour me, * i fwear I'll make a fire of thee."

ODE XI.

By another Hand.

ON HIMSELF.

ΤΟ Orr, with wanton fmiles and jeers,"
Women tell me, I'm in years;
1, the mirror when I view,
Find, alas they tell me true;
Find my wrinkled forehead bare,
And regret my falling hair;
White and few, alas! I find
All that time has left behind.
But my hairs, if thus they fall,
If but few, or none at all,
Afking not, I'll never share
Fruitless knowledge, fruitless care.
This important truth I know,
If indeed in years I grow,

20

30

40

ΙΟ

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
« EdellinenJatka »