Pronounc'd, and in his Volumes taught our Laws, Which others at their Bar fo often wrench; To day deep thoughts refolve with me to drench In mirth, that after no repenting draws; Let Euclid reft, and Archimedes pause,
And what the Swede intend, and what the French. To measure life learn thou betimes, and know Tow'rd folid good what leads the nearest way: For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains, And disapproves that care, though wise in show, That with fuperfluous burden loads the day, And, when God fends a chearful hour, refrains.
SONNET XXIII. On his deceafed Wife.
Methought I faw my late efpoused Saint
Brought to me, like Alceftis, from the grave, Whom Jove's great Son to her glad Husband gave, Refcu'd from death by force though pale and faint Mine, as whom wash'd from spot of child-bed taint, Purification in th' old Law did fave,
And fuch as yet once more I trust to have Full fight of her in Heav'n without restraint, Came vested all in white, pure as her mind: Her face was vail'd, yet to my fancied fight, Love, Sweetness, Goodness, in her Person shin'd So clear, as in no face with more delight.
But oh! as to embrace me fhe inclin'd,
I wak'd, the fled, and day brought back my night.
Galli ex concubitu gravidam te, Pontia, Mori, Quis bene moratam, morigeramque neget?
Gaudete, Scombri, & quicquid eft piscium Sale, Qui frigida Hyeme incolitis algentes freta, Veftrum mifertus ille Salmafius eques Bonus amicire nuditatem cogitat; Chartaque largus apparat papyrinos Vobis cucullos præferentes Claudii Infignia, nomenque & Decus Salmafii, Gefteris ut per omne cetarium forum Equitis clientes, fcriniis mungentium Cubito virorum, & capfulis gratiffimos..
Brutus taking with him Geryon the Diviner in the inward Shrine of the Temple of the Goddess Diana, utters his Request thus:
Diva potens nemorum, &C.
Oddefs of fhades, and Huntrefs, who at will
Walk'ft on the lowring Sphears, and thro' the deep,
On thy third Reign the Earth look now, and tell What Land, what feat of reft thou bid'ft me feek; What certain Seat, where I may worship thee For aye, with Temples vow'd and Virgin C hoirs.
To whom fleeping before the Altar, Diana in a Vifion that Night, thus anfwered:
Brute, fub occafum folis, &c.
Brutus, far to the Weft in th' Ocean wide
Beyond the Realm of Gaul, a Land there lies,
Sea-girt it lies, where Giants dwelt of old, Now void, it fits thy people; thither bend Thy course, there shalt thou find a lafting Seat, There to thy Sons another Troy fhall rife
And Kings be born of thee, whofe dreadful might Shall awe the World, and conquer Nations bold.
Dante in the 19th Canto of Inferno. Ah Conftantine, of how much ill was cause, Not thy Converfion, but those rich Domains, That the first wealthy Pope receiv'd of thee!
In the 20th Canto of Paradife. Founded in chaste and humble Poverty, [Horn? 'Gainst them, that rais'd thee, doft thou lift thy Impudent Whore, where haft thou plac'd thy Hope? In thy Adulterers, or thy ill got Wealth? Another Conftantine comes not in haste.
Ariofto, Cant. 34.
And to be short, at last his guide him brings Into a goodly Valley, where he sees
A mighty mafs of things ftrangely confus'd, Things that on Earth were loft, or were abus'd. Then past he to a flow'ry Mountain green, Which once smelt fweet, now ftinks as odioufly; This was that gift (if you the truth will have) That Conftantine to good Silvefter gave.
HORACE to Quintius.
Whom do we count a good Man, whom but he Who keeps the Laws and Statutes of the Senate, Who judges in great Suits and Controversies, Whose Witness and Opinion wins the Cause? But his own House, and the whole Neighbourhood Sees his foul infide through his whited Skin.
Four Greek Lines out of Euripides..
This is true Liberty when free-born Men Having t' advise the Publick may speak free, Which he who can, and will, deserves his Praise; Who neither can, nor will, may hold his peace ;, What can be juster in a State than this?
-Valet ima fummis
Mutare,& infignem attenuat Deus,
Obfcura promens, &c.
The Pow'r, that did create, can change the scene Of things; make mean of great, and great of mean; The brightest Glory can eclipfe with might; And place the most obscure in dazling light.
HORACE.
Te Dacus afper, te profugi Scythæ, Regumque matres barbarorum, &
Purpurei metuunt Tyranni. Injuriofo ne pede proruas
Stantem Columnam, neu populus frequens Ad arma ceffantes, ad arma
Concitet, imperiumque frangat.
All barbarous People, and their Princes too, All purple Tyrants honour you;
The very wandring Scythians do. Support the Pillar of the Roman State, Left all men be involv'd in one man's fate, Continue us in Wealth and Peace ;
Let Wars and Tumults ever cease.
CATULUS.
Tantò pessimus omnium Poeta, Quantò tu optimus omnium Patronus.
The worst of Poets I my felf declare, By how much you the best of Patrons are.
On SALMASIUS.
Quis expedivit Salmafio fuam Hundredam, Picamque docuit, verba noftra conari ? Magifter artis venter, & Jacobei Centum, exulantis vifcera marsupii regis. Quòd fi dolofi fpes refulferit nummi, Ipfe, Antichrifti modò qui primatum Papa Minatus uno eft diffipare fufflatu,
Cantabit ultro Cardinalitium Melos.
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