Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

Two tyrants burst upon the WESTERN climes : Their savage bosoms stored with various crimes; Fierce Britain was to one* the native earth:

The other owed to Germany his birth,

grew;

A banished, servile wretch:-both soiled with guilt: 105
Alike their hands a master's blood had spilt.
The first, through mere success, audacious
The latter, prudence from examples drew.
New projects by the former were devised;
The second safety sought, which most he prized.
The Briton ranged at large;- the German tried
His forces to compress on ev'ry side.

The former sallied forth to distant falls;
The latter kept within the strongest walls;
Dissimilarity their actions showed,

Yet death alike was on the pair bestowed.
To both the same disgracefulness belonged;
To fall in fight would equity have wronged;
The mask removed;-distinctions torn away;-
Their former state resumed :-they, with dismay
And hands together tied, their necks bowed low,
To feel the sword prepared to give the blow.
Oh! loss of shame! for life they humbly sought,
For pardon asked, who lately cohorts brought,
Which freely moved, obedient to their law,
And held the universe in doubtful awe.

Not in the battle's rage they met with death,
But, as offenders, yielded up their breath.
The guilty tyrants, 'mid the combat spared,
Th' imperial voice unworthy life declared.

[blocks in formation]

110

115

120

195

130

Decidit in fluctus: illum suus abstulit ensis.
Hunc Alpes, hunc pontus, habet. Solatia cæsis
Fratribus hæc ultor tribuit. Necis auctor uterque
Labitur. Augustas par victima mitigat umbras.
Has dedit inferias tumulis, juvenumque duorum
Purpureos merito placavit sanguine Manes.

95

Illi justiciam confirmavere triumphi;

Præsentes docuere Deos. Hinc secula discant

Indomitum nihil esse pio, tutumve nocenti.

100

Nuntius ipse sui longas incognitus egit
Prævento rumore vias. Inopinus utrumque

Perculit, & clausos montes, ut plana, reliquit.
Extruite immanes scopulos, attollite turres,

Cingite vos fluviis, vastas opponite silvas,

105

Garganum Alpinis, Apenninumque nivalem

Pyrenes sociate jugis, & rupibus Æmum

Addite Caucasiis, involvite Pelion Ossæ.

Non dabitis murum sceleri. Qui vindicet, ibit.

Omnia subsident meliori pervia causæ.

110

Nec tamen oblitus civem cedentibus atrox

Permistis, Ed. in us. Delph.

Already had their leaders found a grave:
One* by his sword:-the second† in the wave!
Their own destroyers both!-Alps covers this:-
The other lies within the DEEP ABYSS.

For direful vengeance called two brothers slain;
Unpitied fell the authors of their pain.
The victims pacified each royal shade;
To sepulchres the sacrifice was made;
The MANES of the youths in purple vest,
The culprits' immolation laid to rest.

THESE triumphs seemed security to lend
The cause of justice, which the gods befriend.
Learn, future ages, nought withstands the JUST,
And CRIME, for safety, can to nothing trust.
With steps concealed the hero forward moved:
E'en rumour failed, his sudden coming proved.
Long ways he passed: the paths obscure he took :
And hills of strength, and plains, alike forsook.

135

140

145

HEAP rocks on rocks; tow'rs strong and lofty found; Enclose the streams; vast woods with ramparts bound; 150 Garganus on the Alpine summits set;

The cold and snowy Apenninus get

Upon the Pyrenees' rough cloud-capt space;
On Caucasus' high top, Mount Hæmus place;
To Ossa Pelion join;-'twould all be vain :-

No walls in safety villany maintain ;
Th' avenging hand shall steadily proceed,
And ev'ry pass the cause of virtue heed.

153

X

*Arbogastes. + Andragathius.

Valentinian II. and Gratian.

[ocr errors]

Partibus infremuit. Non insultare jacenti
Malebat, mitis precibus, pietatis abundans,
Pœnæ parcus erat. Paci non intulit iram
Post acies. Odiis idem, qui terminus armis.
Profuit hoc vincente capi, multosque subactos
Prospera laturæ commendavere catena.
Magnarum largitor opum, largitor honorum:
Pronus & in melius gaudens convertere fata.
Hinc amor, hinc validum devoto milite robur.
Hinc natis mansura fides. Hoc nobilis ortu

115

120

Nasceris, æquæva cum majestate creatus,

Nullaque privatæ passus contagia sortis.
Omnibus acceptis ultro te regia solum

Protulit, & patrio felix adolescis in ostro,
Membraque vestitu nunquam temerata profano

125

In sacros cecidêre sinus. Hispania patrem
Auriferis eduxit aquis. Te gaudet alumno
Bosporus. Hesperio de limite surgit origo:
Sed nutrix Aurora tibi. Pro pignore tanto
Certatur. Geminus te civem vindicat axis.
Herculis, & Bromii sustentat gloria Thebas,
Hæsit Apollineo Delos Latonia partu;

130

YET always mindful of the civick name,
To act with clemency appeared his aim;
Not insult add to those who prostrate lay,
Nor from their supplications turn away;
With kindness Theodosius' bosom glowed,
And to their suff'rings, tenderness he showed.
By pardon peace was sealed;-contention o'er,
Ill-will and enmity were felt no more.
Such captives happy should esteem their lot,
Who chains, instead of favour, might have got.
With lib'ral band he boons and honours gave;
And, trembling culprits, pleasure took to save.
The people's love and sturdy warriour's sword
Will to his race be true, and strength afford.
ILLUSTRIOUS prince, who spring from such a line :
Honorius! born with majesty to shine,
Who ne'er by private station were debased,
But who, from dawn of life, the palace graced;
In native purple grew, and never laid

Your limbs on clothes for humble stations made :-
With sacred coverlets intwined around,
Repose within th' imperial mansion found:

Spain's golden streams your father's morning cheered;
The Bosphorus your early smiles revered ;
First viewed your ancestors the WESTERN rays;
AURORA nourished your primeval days;

For such a precious pledge contentions spring:
Both worlds their claims with anxious fervour bring.
The glory, which attends Alcides' name

And rosy Bacchus' brow, to Thebes gives fame;
Latonian Delos, at Apollo's birth,

Her wand'ring changed to stationary earth;

160

165

170

175

180

185

190

« PoprzedniaDalej »