VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS, PARAPHRASED. CREATOR Spirit, by whose aid The world's foundations first were laid, The Father's promised Paraclete ! 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! VOL. XI. 5 10 15 20 25 N Chase from our minds the infernal foe; Make us eternal truths receive, Who for lost man's redemption died; 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, 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) 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. |