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72

Translations from the Latin of
Vincent Bourne.

[The English Latin poet, Vincent Bourne, who flourished between 1700 and 1747, published in 1734, the Poemata," which secured him his reputation. One-and-twenty of Bourne's poems, it may be remembered, Cowper had already honoured by translating.]

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III.

EPITAPH ON A DOG.

POOR Irus' faithful wolf-dog here I lie, That wont to tend my old blind master's steps,

His guide and guard; nor, while my service lasted,

Had he occasion for that staff, with

which

[fear

He now goes picking out his path in Over the highways and crossings, but would plant

Safe in the conduct of my friendly string,

A firm foot forward still, till he had reach'd

His poor seat on some stone, nigh where the tide

Of passers-by in thickest confluence flow'd:

To whom with loud and passionate laments

From morn to eve his dark estate he wail'd.

Nor wail'd to all in vain: some here and there,

The well-disposed and good, their pennies gave.

I meantime at his feet obsequious slept ;

Not all-asleep in sleep, but heart and

ear

Prick'd up at his least motion, to receive

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Have, from uncounted time, with ale and buns

Cherish'd the gift of Song, which sorrow quells;

And, working single in their lowroof'd cells,

Oft cheat the tedium of a winter's night With anthems warbled in the Muses' spight.

Who now hath caught the alarm? the Servant Maid

Hath heard a buzz at distance; and, afraid

To miss a note, with elbows red comes out.

Leaving his forge to cool, Pyracmon stout

Thrusts in his unwash'd visage. He stands by,

Who the hard trade of Porterage

does ply,

With stooping shoulders.

cares he? he sees

What

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Pathetic they alternately rehearse.
All gaping wait the event. This
Critic opes

His right ear to the strain. The other hopes

To catch it better with his left. Long trade

It were to tell, how the deluded Maid A victim fell. And now right greedily All hands are stretching forth the songs to buy,

That are so tragical; which she, and she,

Deals out, and sings the while, nor can there be

A breast so obdurate here, that will hold back

His contribution from the gentle rack Of Music's pleasing torture. Irus' self

The staff-propt Beggar, his thin-gotten pelf

Brings out from pouch, where squalid farthings rest,

And boldly claims his ballad with the

best.

An old Dame only lingers. To her

purse

The penny sticks. At length, with harmless curse,

"Give me," she cries. "I'll paste it on my wall,

While the wall lasts, to show what ills befall

Fond hearts, seduced from Innocency's way;

How Maidens fall, and Mariners betray."

V.

TO DAVID COOK, WATCHMAN OF THE PARISH OF ST. MARGARET'S, WESTMINSTER.

FOR much good-natured verse received from thee,

A loving verse take in return from me.

"Good morrow to my masters," is your cry;

And to our David, "twice as good," say I.

Not Peter's monitor, shrill chanticleer, Crows the approach of dawn in notes more clear,

Or tells the hours more faithfully. While night

Fills half the world with shadows of affright,

You with your lantern, partner of your round,

Traverse the paths of Margaret's hallow'd bound.

The tales of ghosts which old wives' ears drink up,

The drunkard reeling home from tavern cup,

Nor prowling robber, your firm soul appal;

Arm'd with thy faithful staff thou slight'st them all.

But if the market gardener chance to pass,

Bringing to town his fruit, or early grass,

The gentle salesman you with candour greet,

And with reiterated "good-mornings"

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ON A DEAF AND DUMB ARTIST.

(Benjamin Ferrers, who died
A.D. 1732.)

AND hath thy blameless life become
A prey to the devouring tomb?
A more mute silence hast thou known,
A deafness deeper than thine own,
While Time was? and no friendly
Muse,

That mark'd thy life, and knows thy dues,

Repair with quickening verse the breach,

And write thee into light and speech? The Power, that made the Tongue, restrain'd

Thy lips from lies, and speeches feign'd;

Who made the Hearing, without wrong

Did rescue thine from Siren's song. He let thee see the ways of men, Which thou with pencil, not with pen,

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