"I lull'd thee not to this repose, Ianthis, my sweet son, "As in thy glowing childhood's time by twilight I have done. "How is it that I bear to stand and look upon thee now, "And that I die not, seeing death on thy pale glorious brow?" 99 66 1, 2. A funeral chant (carmen funebre) was resounding by (ad) a youth's couch, whilst his tearful mother sings as follows (talia). Observe that “cano,’ loquor," &c., often have “ore” or "Voce" pleonastic.—3, 4. “ 'My son," she said, "dost thou sleep? whither has fled the calm (pax), whither that (iste) breathing, whither the rosy colour that there was before ?""fugit" in line 4.-5, 6. Not with these slumbers did I soothe thy infant (puerilis) limbs, pillowed (semisupinus) at eve on thy mother's (adj.) bosom.-7, 8. Alas! how different (quantum distat) is this repose from that repose, my darling (lux), Ianthis, delight of thy mother !—9, 10. Still (adhuc) shines thy brow (line 10), as it ever did (quæ semper fulsit), with its peculiar glory; but the paleness of death is-settled (sedeo) on thy face.—11, 12. Why am I unhappy present? how (quo numine) can I gaze upon (aspecto) thy death, without-having-the-heart (nec tamen ausa) to die? Observe the use of "audeo,” like roλμáw in Greek. EXERCISE XCIII. (same continued). I look upon thee, thou that wert of all most fair and brave: I see thee wearing still too much of beauty for the grave. Though mournfully thy smile is fix'd, and heavily thine eye Hath shut upon the falcon glance that in it loved to lie, Though fast is bound that springing step, that seem'd on breezes borne, When to thy couch I came and said, "Wake, hunter, wake; 'tis morn :" Yet art thou lovely still, my flower, untouch'd by slow decay; And I, the wither'd stem, remain-I would that grief might slay! 1, 2. Lo! before my eyes thou liest dead, than whom none appeared (exstitit) fairer, than whom none more brave. Aids I. f. N.B. The lines must be transposed.—3, 4. Lo! thou liest dead-(Poet. Orn. (. 1); and still there is left (superstes) to thee, my son, the beauty which deserved not (non debuerat) to have perished.-5, 6. Though thy face (plural) is-reft-of its smile, and torpor weighs-down the eyes that once rivalled (imitatus) the falcon with their fires; "gravo" in line 6.—7, 8. And no longer (nec jam) go free with springing (agilis) course the steps to which (queis) the breeze seemed to have lent its own wings;-9, 10. As-often-as I said by thy couch, "My boy, shake off thy slumbers; come, rise, huntsman: the dayspring (orta dies) is already shining."-11, 12. Thou bloomest lovely still: nor for thee has begun to fade (decresco), my flow'ret, thy beauty (honor) consumed gradually by decay (tabes) :-13, 14. I linger a dry stem: and although (ut), worn out (enectus) by grieving I pray-for death, yet (at) death ever disregards (fugio) my (Poet. Orn. a) prayers. "Ut precer" belong to line 14. EXERCISE XCIV. (same continued). Oh! ever when I met thy look, I knew that this would be ; I knew too well that length of days was not a gift for thee. I saw it in thy kindling cheek, and in thy bearing high, A voice came whispering to my soul, and told me thou must die :— That thou must die, my fearless one, where swords were flashing red: Why doth a mother live to say-"My first-born and my dead?" They tell me of thy youthful fame, they talk of victory won: Speak thou, and I will hear, my child! Ianthis, my sweet son! 1, 2, As often as with a mother's (adj.) eye I beheld thy countenance, and kindling cheeks, and commanding carriage (conspicui gradus).—3, 4. I was too sure, ('twould have been better not to know it): that the stern fates had denied length of days (longos dies) to thee.-5, 6. A voice oft warned me, addressing (affatus) me with gentle whisper, and in-my-soul (conscius) I learnt this: thou wast about to die.-7, 8. Thou wast about to die, where arms were gleaming (corusco, imperf. subj.), red (part.) with much bloodshed, thyself a-stranger-to (nescius, with gen.) fear. The italicized words belong to line 8.-9, 10. Why do I, an unfeeling (impius) mother, live? how can I say “Lo, the son whom I brought forth first lies-dead!"-11, 12. But they tell of his youthful fame, and triumphs won (actus); they tell of battles waged with victorious hand.-13, 14. Speak thou, and thy voice as thou speakest shall be heeded (audita fuerit); my darling, Ianthis, the delight of thy mother. For the construction of "loquens" in line 13, see Poet. Orn. a. ad fin. Observe the Anaphora in line 7. See Poet Orn. §. EXERCISE XCV. (Wolfe). If I had thought thou couldst have died, But I forgot, when by thy side, That thou couldst mortal be: It never through my mind had past, And thou shouldst smile no more. 5 IV. 1, 2. If thou hadst seemed to me powerless-against (superabilis, with dat.) black death, the sad tear would ne'er have bedewed my cheeks.—3, 4. But I was unconcerned (securus); and clinging close to thee (tecum amplexibus hærens), I forgot (dedisco. Aids b), unhappy one, that thou too couldst die.-5, 6. Never (Aids 11. 1) did my pleasure soon-to-perish (periturus) come into my mind: never had the day seemed to be so near (tam prope abesse),—7, 8. When thou shouldst depart smiling for the last time (subridens ultima) on me as I smiled (part.) ne'er again to be beheld by my eyes. EXERCISE XCVI. (Longfellow). I shot an arrow into the air, I breathed a song into the air; I found the arrow still unbroke: Stanza I. 1, 2. Once with-all-my-might (connixus) I shot (line 2) an arrow (calamus) into the air of heaven (pl.): it fell in some unknown place.-3, 4. The fallen arrow lies-hid: I cannot find its hiding-place; with so swift a flight it seemed to have gone by. Stanza II. 1, 2. I was singing, I remember: the sweet sound goes-forth to (in) the sky, and the strain (vox) carried-away falls I know not where (nescio quâ regione).-3, 4. For who, keen though he be, enjoys (utor) such vigorous sight (eyes), that he can see the path of song? Stanza III. 1, 2. Long after (solibus exactis), in (inter) the midst of an oak's branches (brachia), the shaft was unbroken F (incolumis) where it stuck before.—3, 4. Just so (nec minus), the full rhythm (numerorum copia), with the song entire (integer, abl. abs.), Came-back, having been stored in the heart of a beloved friend (vir). Observe the Historic present. EXERCISE XCVII. "Tis not for love of gold I go, 'Tis not for love of fame : Though Fortune may her smiles bestow, And I may win a name. And yet it is for gold I go, And yet it is for Fame, That they may deck another's brow, Ailleen. 5 1, 2. Not the lust of gold compels me to go, Ailleen; I make not my journey, led by love of fame.-Look in the list at the end for a suitable name.-3, 4. Although kindly Fortune smile with serene countenance, and forbid me not to win (fero) the rewards of well-earned praise.-5, 6. But yet (at tamen) gold does urge on my steps as I go (see Poet. Orn. a, ad fin.); yet (at) I eagerly follow Fame whither she invites me.-7, 8. That a new charm, I ween (Aids VII. 7), may adorn (colo) another's brow; that another's name may-be-exalted (cresco) by my honour. EXERCISE XCVIII. (same continued). For this-but this alone,-I go And lose thy love awhile, To tempt the seas, and try my fate Ailleen. |
