I have not tried to do
more than to collect together a few old 'favourites' of my own.
more than to collect together a few old 'favourites' of my own.
Oxford Book of Latin Verse
A Water Urn with a Figure of Cupid_
IGNE salutifero Veneris puer omnia flammans
pro facibus facilis arte ministrat aquas.
_383. His Book's proper Place_
PARVVS nobilium cum liber ad domos
pomposique fori scrinia publica
cinctus multifido ueneris agmine,
nostri defugiens pauperiem laris,
quo dudum modico sordidus angulo
squalebas, tineis iam prope debitus,
si te despiciet turba legentium
inter Romulidas et Tyrias manus,
isto pro exsequiis claudere disticho:
contentos propriis esse decet focis,
quos laudis facile est inuidiam pati.
PHOCAS
circa 500 A. D. (? ).
_384. Poetry and Time_
(Prefixed to his Life of Vergil)
O VETVSTATIS ueneranda custos,
regios actus simul et fugacis
temporum cursus docilis referre,
aurea Clio,
tu nihil magnum sinis interire,
nil mori clarum pateris, reseruans
posteris prisci monumenta saecli
condita libris.
sola fucatis uariare dictis
paginas nescis, set aperta quicquid
ueritas prodit, recinis per aeuum
simplice lingua.
tu senescentis titulos auorum
flore durantis reparas iuuentae;
militat uirtus tibi: te notante
crimina pallent.
tu fori turbas strepitusque litis
effugis dulci moderata cantu,
nec retardari pateris loquellas
conpede metri.
his faue dictis: retegenda uita est
uatis Etrusci, modo qui perenne
Romulae uoci decus adrogauit
carmine sacro.
TRANSLATIONS AND IMITATIONS
The Selection that follows needs some explanation. I have made no
systematic search in the literature of translation: and it is likely
enough that I have omitted renderings more beautiful, or more
interesting, than some which I have included.
I have not tried to do
more than to collect together a few old 'favourites' of my own. Moreover
I have--save for one or two examples--confined myself to the four
principal Latin poets.
I have interpreted the word 'Imitations' rather widely. It is quite
possible, for example, that Clough never read Vergil's _Lines Written in
a Lecture-Room_ (Catalepton V): yet the poem of Clough which I have
brought into connexion with this piece is, I think, a truer translation
of it than could be found elsewhere. I will venture to hope, again, that
I may be readily forgiven for placing beside Statius' famous _Invocation
to Sleep_ six sonnets on a like subject from six English masters of the
sonnet-form.
I have to thank the following authors and publishers for permission to
reprint copyright pieces: Messrs. G. Bell & Sons (four versions by
Calverley, Nos. 67, 82, 145, 149), Prof. D. A. Slater (versions of
Lucretius, Nos. 66, 69, and Catullus, No. 97), Messrs. Blackwood (two
pieces by the late Sir Theodore Martin, Nos. 92, 136), Prof.
IGNE salutifero Veneris puer omnia flammans
pro facibus facilis arte ministrat aquas.
_383. His Book's proper Place_
PARVVS nobilium cum liber ad domos
pomposique fori scrinia publica
cinctus multifido ueneris agmine,
nostri defugiens pauperiem laris,
quo dudum modico sordidus angulo
squalebas, tineis iam prope debitus,
si te despiciet turba legentium
inter Romulidas et Tyrias manus,
isto pro exsequiis claudere disticho:
contentos propriis esse decet focis,
quos laudis facile est inuidiam pati.
PHOCAS
circa 500 A. D. (? ).
_384. Poetry and Time_
(Prefixed to his Life of Vergil)
O VETVSTATIS ueneranda custos,
regios actus simul et fugacis
temporum cursus docilis referre,
aurea Clio,
tu nihil magnum sinis interire,
nil mori clarum pateris, reseruans
posteris prisci monumenta saecli
condita libris.
sola fucatis uariare dictis
paginas nescis, set aperta quicquid
ueritas prodit, recinis per aeuum
simplice lingua.
tu senescentis titulos auorum
flore durantis reparas iuuentae;
militat uirtus tibi: te notante
crimina pallent.
tu fori turbas strepitusque litis
effugis dulci moderata cantu,
nec retardari pateris loquellas
conpede metri.
his faue dictis: retegenda uita est
uatis Etrusci, modo qui perenne
Romulae uoci decus adrogauit
carmine sacro.
TRANSLATIONS AND IMITATIONS
The Selection that follows needs some explanation. I have made no
systematic search in the literature of translation: and it is likely
enough that I have omitted renderings more beautiful, or more
interesting, than some which I have included.
I have not tried to do
more than to collect together a few old 'favourites' of my own. Moreover
I have--save for one or two examples--confined myself to the four
principal Latin poets.
I have interpreted the word 'Imitations' rather widely. It is quite
possible, for example, that Clough never read Vergil's _Lines Written in
a Lecture-Room_ (Catalepton V): yet the poem of Clough which I have
brought into connexion with this piece is, I think, a truer translation
of it than could be found elsewhere. I will venture to hope, again, that
I may be readily forgiven for placing beside Statius' famous _Invocation
to Sleep_ six sonnets on a like subject from six English masters of the
sonnet-form.
I have to thank the following authors and publishers for permission to
reprint copyright pieces: Messrs. G. Bell & Sons (four versions by
Calverley, Nos. 67, 82, 145, 149), Prof. D. A. Slater (versions of
Lucretius, Nos. 66, 69, and Catullus, No. 97), Messrs. Blackwood (two
pieces by the late Sir Theodore Martin, Nos. 92, 136), Prof.
