Sacred Poetry.

PART IV.

Folia Silbulæ

1650-1678.

Note.

I have brought together under the title Folia Silvulæ', a number of scattered poems by VAUGHAN, hitherto inedited and uncollected. The source of each is given in relative foot-notes. I have followed chronological order in arranging the successive pieces, and the pagination from first to last, of the several Volumes whence they are taken. In Vol. IId. in like manner, will be found secular minor poems placed under the heading of ' Aurea Grana.' In our Translations from VAUGHAN'S Latin-three in number in the present volume, and none of which has been before translated,—we have tried to be close to the thought rather than to give a bald literality. I have right heartily to acknowledge most willing, helpful and modest cooperation herein, and elsewhere, from my excellent friend the Rev. J. H. CLARK, M. A., of West Dereham, Norfolk. G.

I. LATIN SACRED POEMS, WITH

TRANSLATIONS.

AN EMBLEM OF THE AUTHOR (CON-
CERNING HIMSELF).1

ORD! Thou hast sought me I must own
Full oft by gentleness alone;

Full oft Thy voice without reply
-Like a soft whisper breathing bye-
Has striv'n to win my heart to Thee
Into Thy glorious liberty':

เ

Still deaf and dumb as flint, to all,
Vainly Thou didst upon me call;
But such Thy love where it is set
Thou patient One, leav'st me not yet;
Resisted, Thou another way

Dost take with me, and dost essay,
Since all the arts of love are vain,
My stubborn force by force to gain;

1 See the original Latin of the Emblem', page 6 ante, and in large paper and quarto editions, reproduction of the engraved (first) title-page of Silex Scintillans, containing the Emblem'. G.

And so Thou drawest still more nigh
And breakest in Thy mastery

My rocky breast, till Thou canst own
As flesh what was but late a stone.
Behold Thy victim Lord! and see

These sparks that flash to heav'n and Thee!
These cheeks bedew'd with tears, that pour
From adamant-as Thou of yore,

From flinty rocks full floods didst send,
Loving Thy people to the end.

O wondrous is Thy hand: for dead

I live again, astonishèd.

And mid the wreck of worldly store

Am wealthier than I was poor.

JORDANIS.

QUID celebras auratam undam, et combusta

pyropis

Flumina, vel medio quæ serit æthra salo?
Eternum refluis si pernoctaret in undis
Phoebus, et incertam sydera suda Tethyn
Si colerent, tantæ gemmæ! nil cærula librem :
Sorderet rubro in littore dives Eos.

Pactoli mea lympha macras ditabit arenas,
Atque universum gutta minuta Tagum.

O charum caput! O cincinnos unda beatos

Libata! O Domini balnea sancta mei! Quod fortunatum voluit spectare canalem, Hoc erat in laudes area parva tuas. Jordanis in medio perfusus flumine lavit, Divinoque tuas ore beavit aquas.

Ah! Solyma infælix rivis obsessa1 prophanis !
Amisit genium porta Bethesda suum.
Hic Orientis aquæ currunt, et apostata Parphar,
Atque Abana immundo tumidus amne fluit.
Ethnica te totam cum fædavere amne fluenta,
Mansit Christicolâ Jordanis unus aqua.2

OF JORDAN: TRANSLATION.

WHY sing of waves with gold and gems a-glow?
Or streams, sky-fed, that in mid-ocean flow?
Should Phoebus in the ebbing sea aye sleep
And the clear stars o'er changeful Tethys keep,
Still with her tarrying-what gems were there,
Flaming with splendors manifold as rare!
By all their splendors I would set light store,
Nor heed tho' either Ind purpled the shore:
My wave would meagre make Pactolus' stream
And Tagus far-renown'd, with one drop's gleam.

1 Misprinted 'obessa'. G.

2 See pages 312-13 ante. G.