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VOYAGE to the PLANETS.

Tranflated by the Rev. Mr. FAWKES, A. M.

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AY, what uncommon cares difturb my rest,
And kindle raptures foreign to my breast?
From earth's low confines lift my mind on high,

To trace new worlds revolving in the sky?
Yes----I'm impatient of this orb of clay,
And boldly dare to meditate my way,
Where Fontinelle firft faw the planets roll,

And all the God tumultuous shakes my foul.

'Tis He! He comes! and thro' the fun-bright skies Drives foaming Pegasus, and thus he cries:

Ceafe, ceafe, dear youth, too ftudiously employ'd, "And wing with me the unrefifting void; "'Tis thine with me round other worlds to foar, "And vifit kingdoms never known before;

"While I fuccinctly fhew each various race,
"The manners and the genius of the place."

I (tho' my mind with lively horror fraught,
Thinks on Bellerophon, and fhudders at the thought)

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Mount

Post equitem sedeo, liquidumque per aëra labor.
---Mercurium petimus primum: Dux talibus infit,
Afpicias vanæ malefana negotia gentis,

Quam mens deftituit Titane exufta propinquo. "Stramineis viden'? Hic velatus tempora fertis "Emicat, & folos reges crepat atque tetrarchas. "Ille fuam carbone Chloen depingit amator “Infelix, ægram rudia indigeftaque mentem "Carmina demulcent, indoctaque tibia musas. "En! fedet incomptus crines barbataque menta Aftrologus, nova qui venatur fidera, folus "Semper in obfcuro penetrali; multaque muros "Linea nigrantes, & multa triangula pingunt. "Ecce! fed interea curru flamante propinquat "Titan.---Clamo, O me! gelidâ fub rupe, sub'umbrâ "Sifte precor: tantos nequeo perferre calores.”

Pegafon inde tuo genius felicior aftro

Appulit, alma Venus. Spirant quam molliter auræ !

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Mount quick the winged fteed; he fprings, he flies, Shoots thro' the yielding air, and cleaves the liquid skies! ----First, swift Cyllenius, circling round the fun, We reach, when thus my friendly guide begun : "Mark well the genius of this fiery place, "The wild amufements of the brainfick race, "Whofe minds the beams of Titan, too intense, "Affect with frenzy, and distract the sense. "A monarch here gives fubject princes law, "A mighty monarch, with a crown of straw. "There fits a lover, fad in penfive air, "And like the dismal image of despair, "With charcoal paints his Chloe heav'nly fair. "In fadly-foothing ftrain rude notes he fings, "And ftrikes harsh numbers from the jarring ftrings. "Lo! an aftrologer, with filth befmear'd, "Rough and neglected, with a length of beard, "Pores round his cell for undiscover'd stars, "And decks the wall with triangles and fquares. "Lo!---But the radiant car of Phœbus nigh "Glows with red ardour, and inflames the sky--"Oh! waft me, hide me in fome cool retreat; "I faint, I ficken with the fervent heat."

Thence to that milder orb we wing our way,

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Where Venus governs with an easy sway:

Soft

Ridet ager, frugum facilis, lafcivaque florum
Nutrix; non Euri ruit hic per dulcia Tempe
Vis fera, non Borea; fed blandior aura Favonî,
Lenis agens tremulo nutantes vertice sylvas,
Ufque fovet teneros, quos ufque refcucitat, ignes.
Hic lætis animata fonis Saltatio vivit :

Hic jam voce ciet cantum, jam pectine, dulces
Musica docta modos: pulchra longo ordine nymphæ
Festivas ducunt choreas, dilecta juventus

Certatim ftipant comites: latè halat amomo

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Omne nemus, varioque æterni veris odore :

Cura procul: circumvolitant rifufque jocique :

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Atque amor eft, quodcunque vides. Venus ipfa volentes

Imperio regit indigenas, hic innuba Phœbe,

Innuba Pallas amet, cupiant fervire Catones.

Jamque datum molimur iter, fedesque beatas Multa gemens linquo; & lugubre rubentia Martis

Arva,

Soft breathes the air; fair Flora paints the ground,

And laughing Ceres deals her gifts around.

This blissful Tempe no rough blafts moleft,

Of bluft'ring Borcas, or the baleful East;
But gentle Zephyrs o'er the woodlands flray,
Court the tall trees, and round the branches play,
Ætherial gales difpenfing as they flow,

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To fan those paffions which they teach to glow.

Here the gay youth in meafur'd steps advance,
While fprightly music animates the dance;
There the sweet melody of found admire,
Sigh with the fong, or languifh to the lyre:

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Fair nymphs and amorous youths, a lovely band,

Blend in the dance, light-bounding hand in hand.
From ev'ry grove the buxom Zephyrs bring
The rich ambrofia of eternal spring.

Care dwells not here, their pleasures to deftroy,
But Laughter, Jeft, and univerfal joy :
All, all is love; for Venus reigns confest
The fole fultana of each captive breast :
Cold Cynthia here wou'd Cupid's victim prove,
Or the chafte daughter of imperial Jove,
And Cato's virtue be the flave of love.

But now thro' deftin'd fields of air we fly, And leave those manfions, not without a figh :

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