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第35节

lucasta-第35节

小说: lucasta 字数: 每页4000字

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and their effigies。

 An allusion is; of course; intended to Pliny's NATURAL HISTORY which; through Holland's translation; became popular in England after 1601。

 i。e。 in our globe。

 A term borrowed from the medical; or rather surgical; vocabulary。  〃To couch a cataract〃 (i。e。 in the eye) is to remove it by surgical process。

 An allusion to Lely's pictures of Venus and Cupid。

 Falsely portrayed。

 A glimpse。

 Some picture by Lely; in which the painter introduced a spring landscape; is meant。  The poet feigns the copy of Nature to be so close that one might suppose the Spring had set in before the usual time。  The canvass is removed; and the illusion is dispelled。  〃Praesto; 'tis away;〃 would be a preferable reading。

 i。e。 if my appetite; &c。  Lovelace's style is elliptical to an almost unexampled degree。

 The same story; with variations; has been told over and over again since the time of Zeuxis。

 Original edition has FILES。

 HAIR is here used in what has become quite an obsolete sense。  The meaning is outward form; nature; or character。 The word used to be by no means uncommon; but it is now; as was before remarked; out of fashion; and; indeed; I do not think that it is found even in any old writer used exactly in the way in which Lovelace has employed it。

 Original reads TO。

 Charles V。

 Henry VIII。

 A story too well known to require repetition。  The Earl is not mentioned。See Walpole's ANECDOTES OF PAINTING; ed。 1862; p。71。

 i。e。 no difference。  A compliment to Lely's spirituality。



AN ANNIVERSARY ON THE HYMENEALS OF MY NOBLE KINSMAN;              THO。 STANLEY; ESQUIRE。

                   I。     The day is curl'd about agen     To view the splendor she was in;         When first with hallow'd hands The holy man knit the mysterious bands When you two your contracted souls did move         Like cherubims above;             And did make love; As your un…understanding issue now; In a glad sigh; a smile; a tear; a vow。

                  II。     Tell me; O self…reviving Sun;     In thy perigrination         Hast thou beheld a pair Twist their soft beams like these in their chast air? As from bright numberlesse imbracing rayes         Are sprung th' industrious dayes;             So when they gaze; And change their fertile eyes with the new morn; A beauteous offspring is shot forth; not born。

                  III。     Be witness then; all…seeing Sun;     Old spy; thou that thy race hast run         In full five thousand rings; To thee were ever purer offerings Sent on the wings of Faith? and thou; O Night;         Curtain of their delight;             By these made bright; Have you not mark'd their coelestial play; And no more peek'd the gayeties of day?

                  IV。     Come then; pale virgins; roses strow;     Mingled with Ios as you go。         The snowy ox is kill'd; The fane with pros'lyte lads and lasses fill'd; You too may hope the same seraphic joy;         Old time cannot destroy;             Nor fulnesse cloy; When; like these; you shall stamp by sympathies Thousands of new…born…loves with your chaste eyes。

 Lovelace was connected with the Stanleys through the Auchers。  The Kentish families; about this time; intermarried with each other to a very large extent; partly to indemnify themselves from the consequences of gravelkind tenure (though many had procured parliamentary relief); and the Lovelaces; the Stanleys; the Hammonds; the Sandyses; were all more or less bound together by the ties of kindred。  See the tree prefixed by Sir Egerton Brydges to his edition of HAMMOND'S POEMS; 1816; and the Introduction to STANLEY'S POEMS; 1814。  Sir William Lovelace; the poet's grandfather; married Elizabeth; daughter of Edward Aucher; Esq。; of Bishopsbourne; near Canterbury; while Sir William Hammond; of St。 Alban's Court; married; as his second wife; Elizabeth; daughter of Anthony Aucher; Esq。; of Bishopsbourne; by whom he had; among other children; Mary; who became the wife of Sir Thomas Stanley; of Cumberlow; father of Thomas Stanley; the poet; historian; and translator of Bion; &c。

 See THE POEMS OF WILLIAM HAMMOND; 1655; edited by Sir E。 Brydges; 1816; p。 54; where there is a similar poem on Stanley and his bride from the pen of Hammond; who also claimed relationship with the then newly…married poet。  The best account of Stanley is in the reprint of his Poems and Translations; 1814; 8vo。

 Meaning that the earth had made 5000 revolutions round the sun; or; in other words; that the sun was 5000 years old。

 Original reads AND THOU OF NIGHT。



ON SANAZAR'S BEING HONOURED WITH SIX HUNDRED DUCKETS           BY THE CLARISSIMI OF VENICE;   FOR COMPOSING AN ELIGIACK HEXASTICK OF THE CITY。

                     A SATYRE。

  Twas a blith prince exchang'd five hundred crowns For a fair turnip。  Dig; dig on; O clowns But how this comes about; Fates; can you tell; This more then Maid of Meurs; this miracle? Let me not live; if I think not St。 Mark Has all the oar; as well as beasts; in's ark! No wonder 'tis he marries the rich sea; But to betroth him to nak'd Poesie; And with a bankrupt muse to merchandise; His treasures beams; sure; have put out his eyes。 His conquest at Lepanto I'l let pass; When the sick sea with turbants night…cap'd was; And now at Candie his full courage shown; That wan'd to a wan line the half…half moon。 This is a wreath; this is a victorie; Caesar himself would have look'd pale to see; And in the height of all his triumphs feel Himself but chain'd to such a mighty wheel。   And now me thinks we ape Augustus state; So ugly we his high worth imitate; Monkey his godlike glories; so that we Keep light and form with such deformitie; As I have seen an arrogant baboon With a small piece of glasse zany the sun。   Rome to her bard; who did her battails sing; Indifferent gave to poet and to king; With the same lawrells were his temples fraught; Who best had written; and who best had fought; The self same fame they equally did feel; One's style ador'd as much as t' other's steel。 A chain or fasces she could then afford The sons of Phoebus; we; an axe or cord; Sometimes a coronet was her renown; And ours; the dear prerogative of a crown。 In marble statu'd walks great Lucan lay; And now we walk; our own pale statua。 They the whole year with roses crownd would dine; And we in all December know no wine; Disciplin'd; dieted; sure there hath bin Ods 'twixt a poet and a Capuchin。   Of princes; women; wine; to sing I see Is no apocrypha: for to rise high Commend this olio of this lord 'tis fit: Nay; ten to one; but you have part of it; There is that justice left; since you maintain His table; he should counter…feed your brain。 Then write how well he in his sack hath droll'd; Straight there's a bottle to your chamber roll'd; Or with embroider'd words praise his French suit; Month hence 'tis yours with his mans; to boot; Or but applaud his boss'd legs: two to none; But he most nobly doth give you one。 Or spin an elegie on his false hair: 'Tis well; he cries; but living hair is dear。 Yet say that out of order ther's one curl; And all the hopes of your reward you furl。   Write a deep epick poem; and you may As soon delight them as the opera; Where they Diogenes thought in his tub; Never so sowre did look so sweet a club。   You that do suck for thirst your black quil's blood; And chaw your labour'd papers for your food; I will inform you how and what to praise; Then skin y' in satin as young Lovelace plaies。 Beware; as you would your fierce guests; your lice; To strip the cloath of gold from cherish'd vice; Rather stand off with awe and reverend fear; Hang a poetick pendant in her ear; Court her as her adorers do their glasse; Though that as much of a true substance has; Whilst all the gall from your wild ink you drain; The beauteous sweets of vertues cheeks to stain; And in your livery let her be known; As poor and tatter'd as in her own。 Nor write; nor speak you more of sacred writ; But what shall force up your arrested wit。 Be chast; religion and her priests your scorn; Whilst the vain fanes of idiots you adorn。 It is a mortal errour; you must know; Of any to speak good; if he be so。 Rayl; till your edged breath flea your raw throat; And burn remarks on all of gen'rous note; Each verse be an indictment; be not free Sanctity 't self from thy scurrility。 Libel your father; and your dam buffoon; The noblest matrons of the isle lampoon; Whilst Aretine and 's bodies you dispute; And in your sheets your sister prostitute。   Yet there belongs a sweetnesse; softnesse too; Which you must pay; but first; pray; know to who。 There is a creature; (if I may so call That unto which they do all prostrate fall) Term'd mistress; when they'r angry; but; pleas'd high; It is a princesse; saint; divinity。 To this they sacrifice the whole days light; Then lye with their devotion all night; For this you are to dive to the abysse; And rob for pearl the closet of some fish。 Arabia and Sabaea you must strip Of all their sweets; for to supply her lip; And steal new fire from heav'n; for

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