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The house that was the happiest within the Roman walls, The house that envied not the wealth of Capua's marble halls, Now for the brightness of thy smile, must have eternal gloom, And for the music of thy voice, the silence of the tomb." Macaulay..

VI.

Into HEXAMETERS.

And now a shade of doubtful darkness was spread before his eyes, the compressed throat of the parent swelled; and with changed voice he began-" O dearest child, farewell; with what affection did I cling to thee! Sometimes to others I may be harsh; to thee, I call yourself too to witness, I never could have been, for who could be harsh to thee? But well the daughter responded to the father's love. Truly rejoicing she caught my returning steps in the former year, and on the very threshold of my dwelling exulting she gazed upon the badge of my civic crown. The sword, which she had just taken from my side, being hung up, herself brought forth from the antient chest my toga of peace. Alas this has been! the comfort of my home is gone, the harmless sport, the soothing of (her) tongue, the labours of her needle, the songs of old bards thrown in the while. There will be none to yearn now for me when going forth to the camp, to receive me with smiles on my return, to sit constant at the couch of me sick, or to adorn my ashes with tears. And the house which had been more prosperous than any at Rome, and had envied not the marble halls of Capua; in which the genial light of thy smile shone forth, and the melody of thy pleasant voice was heard, alas! sunk in perpetual darkness, shall henceforth know still silence."

TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME.

VII.

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying:

And this same flower, that smiles to-day,
To-morrow will be dying.

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Gather, ye Nymphs, while it may be allowed you, garlands of roses; gather them; time passes with fleet decline. The floweret which glitters to-day in the bright gardens, to-morrow will be dying, its stem cut down. The Sun, which shines the purest lamp of heaven, the more it essays the arched height of

the sky; so will it be given him the sooner to reach the goal of his course, the sooner will he put forth a setting beam. This which comes first, comes the best age to us, while joyous Youth bounds with warm blood. Worse times succeed, from hence the worst arise; they are assigned in a perpetual change deteriorating. If ye are wise, excessive modesty will not hinder love, and each, while the hour permits, will allure a husband. Forsooth if the flower of genial beauty shall have passed away, she who is now unwed will remain a lone old woman.

VIII.

The third qualification of an Epic poem is its greatness. The anger of Achilles was of such consequence that it embroiled the kings of Greece, destroyed the heroes of Troy, and engaged all the gods in factions. Eneas's settlement in Italy produced the Cæsars, and gave birth to the Roman Empire. Milton's subject was still greater than either of the former; it does not determine the fate of single persons or nations, but of a whole species. The united powers of hell are joined together for the destruction of mankind, which they effected in part, and would have completed, had not Omnipotence itself interposed. The principal actors are man in his greatest perfection, and woman in her highest beauty. Their enemies are the fallen angels; the Messiah their friend; and the Almighty their protector. In short, every thing that is great in the whole circle of being, whether within the verge of nature or out of it, has a proper part assigned it in this admirable poem.

Addison.

VIII.

Into PROSE, literally rendered.

Doubtless the third merit of an Epic poem consists in its greatness. Of such consequence was the wrath of Achilles that it implanted enmities in the Grecian Princes, utterly uprooted the heroes of Troy; yea, tore asunder into parties the inhabitants of heaven themselves. That the Eneade fixed their settlement in Italy, hence the race of Caesars sprang, and the beginning of the Roman Empire. But Milton's subject was loftier than both these; for it determines the destinies not of individuals, nor of states, but of a whole race. The collected powers of the shades conspired the destruction of the human race. What was indeed to a certain point effected, that they seemed to have had power (to do) entirely, had not the all-powerful hand of God interposed. Here play the first parts, man as perfect as possible, woman of surpassing beauty. Angels cast down from heaven fight against these; Messias aids them; the omnipotent Father defends them. Finally, whatever in the wide circuit of living things is excellent, within or without the boundaries of nature, has its own proper place assigned to it in this beautiful poem.

IX.

Now storming fury rose,

And clamour, such as heard in Heaven till now
Was never; arms on armour clashing bray'd
Horrible discord, and the madding wheels
Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise
Of conflict; overhead the dismal hiss
Of fiery darts in flaming volleys flew,
And flying vaulted either host with fire.

So under fiery cope together rush'd
Both battles main, with ruinous assault
And inextinguishable rage. All Heaven
Resounded; and had Earth been then, all Earth
Had to her centre shook. What wonder, when
Millions of fierce encountering Angels fought
On either side, the least of whom could wield
These elements, and arm him with the force
Of all their regions.

IX.

Milton.

ears.

Into HEXAMETERS.

On all sides now the excited rage of fury resounds, and clamour such as along the heights of the ethereal sky was not heard before. Now this horrible discord of savage war strikes arms on rattling arms. Then afar off cars, hurried through the expanse, thundered with brazen wheels; the dire carnage and clang of conflicting war falls upon the astonished Moreover too a dismal hissing increases the terrors, where, above, the fiery darts were flying with impetuosity, and, as they flew, surrounded both armies with flames. So beneath the darts, beneath the flaming arch, the opposing bands rushed upon one another from different part; on the one side with rage not to be satiated, on the other side with vigour of attack. Heaven resounded on all sides; if the Earth had been, the Earth would at the same time quake on all sides from its lowest roots. What wonder, when thus on both sides countless angels were mingling battles, amongst whom the least could move those elements with inborn strength, and reckless could take to himself the arms of the ethereal region.

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