favorable to fancy, that Milton wrote the incomparable Latin poem addressed to his father. There are, indeed, some expressions in this performance, which may favor an opinion, that it ought to bear an earlier date; but it has such strength and manliness of sentiment, as incline me to suppose it written at this period; an idea that seems almost confirmed by the lines, that speak of his application to French and Italian, after the completion of his classical studies.
Whatever date may be assigned to it, the composition deserves our particular regard, since, of all his poems, it does the highest honor to his heart.
With what energy and tenderness is his filial gratitude expressed in the following graceful exordium :
Nunc mea Pierios cupiam per pectora fontes Irriguas torquere vias, totumque per ora Volvere laxatum gemino de vertice rivum, Ut tenues oblita sonos, audacibus alis Surgat in officium venerandi musa parentis. Hoc utcunque tibi gratum, pater optime, carmen
Exiguum meditatur opus: nec novimus ipsi Aptius a nobis quæ possint munera donis Respondere tuis, quamvis nec maxima possint Respondere tuis, nedum ut par gratia donis Esse queat, vacuis quæ redditur arida verbis.
O that Pieria's spring would thro' my breast Pour it's inspiring influence, and rush No rill, but rather an o'er-flowing flood! That for my venerable father's sake,
All meaner themes renounc'd, my muse, on wings Of duty borne, might reach a loftier strain! For thee, my father, howsoe'er it please,
She frames this slender work; nor know I aught That may thy gifts more suitably requite;
Tho' to requite them suitably would ask Returns much nobler, and surpassing far The meagre gifts of verbal gratitude.
How elegant is the praise he bestows on the musical talents of his father, and how pleasing the exulting and affectionate spirit, with which he speaks of their social and kindred studies!
Nec tu perge, precor, sacras contemnere Musas Nec vanas inopesque puta, quarum ipse peritus
Munere, mille sonos numeros componis ad aptos, Millibus et vocem modulis variare canoram
Doctus, Arionii merito sis nominis hæres. Nunc tibi quid mirum, si me genuisse poetam Contigerit, charo si tam prope sanguine juncti, Cognatas artes, studiumque affine sequamur? Ipse volens Phoebus se dispertire duobus, Altera dona mihi, dedit altera dona parenti; Dividuumque deum, genitorque puerque, tenemus. Tu tamen ut simules teneras odisse camænas, Non odisse reor; neque enim, pater, ire jubebas Qua via lata patet, qua pronior area lucri, Certaque condendi fulget spes aurea nummi: Nec rapis ad leges, male custoditaque gentis Jura, nec insulsis damnas clamoribus aures ; Sed magis excultam cupiens ditescere mentem, Me procul urbano strepitu, secessibus altis Abductum, Aoniæ jucunda per otia ripæ, Phoebæo lateri comitem sinis ire beatum.
Nor thou persist, I pray thee, still to slight The sacred Nine, and to imagine vain And useless, powers, by whom inspir'd thyself Art skilful to associate verse with airs Harmonious, and to give the human voice A thousand modulations! Heir by right Indisputable of Arion's fame!
Now say! What wonder is it, if a son
Of thine delight in verse; if so conjoin'd
In close affinity, we sympathize
In social arts, and kindred studies sweet: Such distribution of himself to us
Was Phoebus' choice; thou hast thy gift, and I Mine also, and between us we receive, Father and son, the whole inspiring God. No ho wsoe'er the semblance thou assume Of hate, thou hatest not the gentle muse, My father! for thou never bad'st me tread The beaten path and broad, that leads right on To opulence; nor didst condemn thy son To the insipid clamors of the bar,
To laws voluminous and ill observ'd; But wishing to enrich me more, to fill My mind with treasure, ledst me far away From civic din to deep retreats, to banks And streams Aonian, and with free consent. Didst place me happy at Apollo's side.
The poet seems to have had a prophetic view of the singular calumnies, that awaited his reputation, and to have anticipated his triumph, over all his adversaries, in the following magnanimous exclamation:
Este procul vigiles curæ! procul este querelæ ! Invidiæque acies transverso tortilis hirquo!
Sæva nec anguiferos extende calumnia rictus: In me triste nihil, fœdissima turba, potestis, Nec vestri sum juris ego; securaque tutus Pectora, viperio gradiar sublimis ab ictu.
Away then, sleepless care! complaint away! And envy "with thy jealous leer malign;" Nor let the monster calumny shoot forth Her venom'd tongue at me! Detested foes! Ye all are impotent against my peace; For I am privileg'd, and bear my breast Safe, and too high for your viperian wound.
After this high-toned burst of confidence and indignation, how sweetly the poet sinks again into the tender notes of gratitude in the close of this truly filial composition!
At tibi, cháre pater, postquam non æqua merenti Posse referre datur, nec dona rependere factis, Sit memorasse satis, repetitaque munera grato Percensere animo, fidæque reponere menti. Et vos, O nostri, juvenilia carmina, lusus, Si modo perpetuos sperare audebitis annos, Et domini superesse rogo, lucemque tueri, Nec spisso rapient oblivia nigra sub orco; Forsitan has laudes, decantatumque parentis Nomen, ad exemplum, sero servabitis ævo.
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