Sooth'd with the found the King grew vain, Fought all his battles o'er again, And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he
flew the slain. The master saw the madnefa rise, His glowing cheeks, his ardent eyes, And while he heav'n and earth defyd, Chang'd his hand, and check'd his pride. He chose a mournful Muse, Soft pity to infuse: He fung Darius, great and good! By too levere a fate Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen, Fallen from his high estate, And welt'ring in his blood; Deserted at his utmost need By those, hiş former bounty fed; On the bare earth expos'd he lies, With not a friend to close his eyes. With downcast looks the joyless vi&or fate, Revolving in his alter'd soul The various turns of chance below; And now and then a figh hè stole, And tears began to flow.
Softly sweet, in Lydian measures, Soon' he sooth'd his foul to pleasures. War, he fung, is toil and trouble, Honour hut an empty bubble; Never ending, still beginning, Fighting still, and still destroying: If the world be worth thy winning, Think, o think it worth enjoying! Lovely Thais fits beside thee; Take the good the gods provide thee. The many rend the skies with loud applause: So Love was crown'd, but Music won the cause. The Prince, unable to conceal his pain, Gaz'd on the fair, Who caus’dhis care, And figh'd and look'd, figh'd and look'd, Sigh'd and look?d, and ligh'd again. At length, with love and wine at once opprest, The vanquish'd vi&tor funk upon her breast.
The Prince, unable to conceal his pain, Gaz'd on the fair
Whó caus'd his cares ,And figh'd and look'd, figh'd and look'd,
Sigh'd and look'd and figh'd again. At length, with love and wine at once opprest
The vanquish'd victor funk upon her breaft.“
Now ftrike the golden lyre again : A louder yet, and yet a louder strain. Break his bands of sleep alunder, And rouze him, like a rattling peal of thunder. Hark, hark, the horrid found Has rais'd up his head, As awak'd from the dead, And amaz'd, he stares around.
Drøden. Revenge, revenge! Timotheus cries,
See the furies arise! See the snakes that they rear, How they hiss in their hair! And the sparkles that flash from their eyes! Behold a ghastly band, Each a torch in his hand! Those are Grecian ghosts, that in battle were flain, And unbury'd remain Inglorious on the plain: Give the vengeance due To the valiant crew, Behold how they toss their torches on highy How they point to the Persian abodes, And glitt'ring temples of their hostile gods! The princes applaud with a furious joy, And the King Leiz'd a flambeau, with zeal to de.
stroy: Thais led the way To light him to his préy, And, like another Helen, fir'd another Troy.
„And the King seiz'd a flambeau, with zeal to de
stroy: Thais led the way, To light him to his prey; » And; like another Helen, fir'd another Troy.“,
Thus long ago, Ere heaving bellow's learn'd to blow, While organs yet were niute, Timotheus, to his breathing flute And sounding lyre Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle foft defire. At last divine Cecilia came, Inventress of the vocal frame; The sweet enthusiast, from her facred store,
Enlarg'd
Enlarg'd the former narrow bounds, And added length to folemn sounds, With Nature's mother-wit, and arts, unknown be-
fore. Let old Timotheus yield the prize, Or both divide the crown; He rais'd a mortal to the skies "She drew an angel down.
At last divine Cecilia came, Inventress of the vocal fraine; The sweet enthusiast, from her facred store, Enlarg'd the former narrow bounds, And added length to folemn founds, With Nature's mother - wit, and arts unknown be
fore. „Let old Timotheus yield the prize,
1 „Or both divide the crown; ,,He rais'd'a mortal to the skies, „She drew an angel down.“
Dr. Warton benterkt in seinein Efay on Pope, Vol. I. p. 51. Pope habe mehrmals erklärt, daß er die Jliade nicht würde übersekt haben, wenn Dryden reine Ueberseßung volls endet båtte; aber, rett er hinzu, richtiger und wahrer båtte er sagen können: Ich mag, nach dem Alexandersfefte, keine Ode mehr für die Musik schreiben.“ Den zweiten Rang ges fteht indeß dieser Kunstrichter der Ode von Dope zu; und fie übertrifft unftreitig die übrigen, auch die vou Congreve,
Bornehmlich ist die Hinabsteigung des Orpheus, in die Unterwelt sehr glücklich darin angebracht und geschils dert. Schade nur, daß die Stanze sich mit fechs Bersen schliefft, die gang ins Burleske fallen. Man vergleiche die geschmackvolle Zergliederung des Ganjen in Warton's anges führtem Bersuche.
Descend, ye Nine! descend and fing; The breathing instruments inspire, Wake into voice each filent ftring, And sweep the founding lyre!
In a fadly. pensive strain Let the warbling lute complain; Let the loud trumpet sound, Till the roofs all around
The shrill echoes rebound: While in more lengthen'd notes and flow The deep, majestic, folemn organs blow.
Hark! the numbers fofo and clear Gently steal upon the ear; Now louder, and yet louder, rise, And fill with spreading sounds the skies ;
Exulting
« EdellinenJatka » |