A

V Ο Υ Α G E

TO THE

PL A N E T S.

Translated by the Rev. Mr. FAWKES, A. M.

T

DA TUR

MUNDORUM PLURALITAS.

U

NDE labor novus hic menti ? Quæ cura quietam
Sollicitat, rapienfque extra confinia terræ,

Cæleftes sine more jubet volitare per ignes ?
Scilicet impatiens angufto hoc orbe teneri,
Fontinelle, tuos audax imitarier ausus

· 5 Gestio, & infolitas fpirant præcordia Aammas.

IO

Fallor, an ipfe venit ? Delapfus ab æthere summo Pegafon urget eques, laterique flagellifer inftat : Me vocat; & duris desiste laboribus, inquit, “ Me duce, carpe viam facilem, tibi fingula clarè “ Expediam, tibi cernere erit, quos fidera nôrunt, , “ Indigenas cultusque virûm, moresque docebo.” Nec mora, pennipedem confcendo juffus, ovansque (Quanquam animus secum volvens exempla priorum Bellerophonteæ pallet difpendia famæ)

15

Post

A

VOYAGE to the PLANETS.

Translated by the Rev. Mr. FAWKES, A. M.

S

A Y, what uncommon cares disturb my rest,
And kindle raptures foreign to my breast ?

From earth’s low confines lift my mind on high,
To trace new worlds revolving in the sky?
Yes---- I'm impatient of this orb of clay,
And boldly dare to meditate my way,
Where Fontinelle first saw the planets roll,
And all the God tumultuous shakes

my

soul.

5

IO

'Tis He! He comes ! and thro’ the sun-bright skies Drives foaming Pegasus, and thus he cries :

Cease, cease, dear youth, too studiously employ'd, “ And wing with me the unresisting void ; « 'Tis thine with me round other worlds to foar, “ And visit kingdoms never known before ; “ While I succinctly shew each various race, ~ The manners and the genius of the place.” 1 (tho'my mind with lively horror fraught, Thinks on Bellerophon, and shudders at the thought)

15

20

Post equitem sedeo, liquidumque per aëra labor.
--Mercurium petimus primum : Dux talibus infit,

Aspicias vanæ malesana negotia gentis,
“ Quam mens deftituit Titane exusta propinquo.
" Stramineis viden'? Hic velatus tempora fertis
“ Emicat, & folos reges crepat atque tetrarchas.
« Ille suam carbone Chloen d pingit amator
“ Infelix, ægram rudia indigestaque mentem
“ Carmina demulcent, indoctaque tibia musas.
“ En ! sedet incomptus crines barbataque menta 25

Astrologus, nova qui venatur fidera, folus “ Semper in obscuro penetrali ; multaque muros “ Linea nigrantes, & multa triangula pingunt. " Ecce ! sed interea curru flamante propinquat « Titan.---Clamo, O me! gelidâ sub rupe, sub'umbrâ “ Siste precor : tantos nequeo perferre calores.”

31

Pegason inde tuo genius felicior astro
Appulit, alma Venus. Spirant quam molliter aura !

Ridet

25

Mount quick the winged steed; he springs, he flies, Shoots thro' the yielding air, and cleaves the liquid skics! ----First, swift Cyllenius, circling round the sun, We reach, when thus my friendly guide begun : “ Mark well the genius of this fiery place, - The wild amusements of the brainsick race, 66 Whose minds the beams of Titan, too intense, “ Affect with frenzy, and distract the sense. “ A monarch here gives subject princes law, “ A mighty monarch, with a crown of straw. “ There fits a lover, fad in pensive air, « And like the dismal image of despair, « With charcoal paints his Chloe heav'nly fair. “ In fadly-soothing strain rude notes he sings, « And strikes harsh numbers from the jarring strings. “ Lo! an astrologer, with filth besmear’d,

Rough and neglected, with a length of beard, 35 “ Pores round his cell for undiscover'd stars, « And decks the wall with triangles and squares. « Lol---But the radiant car of Phæbus nigh “ Glows with red ardour, and inflames the sky--« Oh! waft me, hide me in some cool retreat; « I faint, I ficken with the fervent heat.”

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40

Thence to that milder orb we wing our way, Where Venus governs with an easy sway:

Soft