CXXXV FROM 'OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS O to be up and doing, O With voiceless calls, the ancient earth Thou, O my love, ye, O my friends— Forth from the casemate, on the plain R. L. Stevenson. CXXXVI TO J. S. Let Grief be her own mistress still. I will not say, "God's ordinance Of Death is blown in every wind”; For that is not a common chance That takes away a noble mind. Tennyson. CXXXV RES AGE, TUTUS ERIS Tumultuante cum strepit volgo forum expers pudoris et metus agenda agam beatus, impiger, vacans mortalium negotiis. quis alia suadet? monita respuens iubet pectus malis resistere. vocem silentis audio:-terra in dies antiqua me nasci iubet. et aure et oculo me vocas, O lux mea, et quidquid est sodalium, ridere, amare, vivere, emori: quid est quod vita poscat amplius? linquamus arcem :-non nisi in campo decus opima tollit praemia. procurrite, equites, nuda corda obtendite; virtute non scutis opus. prodite, pergite, exuite prudentiam, exuite propugnacula. invadite acies ense confertissimas, lapsi simul resurgite. captine? iustam militi ne sit pudor causam tuentibus capi. an liberi pugnatis? ut victoria non detur, at vinci nefas. E. D. S. CXXXVI FRATER ADEMTE VALE Quid velit, ipse dolor iubeat:-tu cede iubenti : indulget lacrimis luxuriatque suis. gaudia prae fletu sordent :-edicta doloris fiant, seu iubeat seu vetet ille queri. non dicam :-"aeterna moriendum est lege deorum, nulli non Zephyri semina mortis habent." non ea communis sors est, quae misit ad umbras pectora tam pura nobilitata fide. CXXXVII This little life is all we must endure, In earth, air, water, plants, and other men. We finish thus; and all our wretched race To other beings, with their own time-doom: Infinite æons after the last man Has joined the mammoth in earth's tomb and womb. We bow down to the universal laws, Of cruelty or kindness, love or hate: All substance lives and struggles evermore James Thomson. CXXXVII ALID EX ALIO REFICIT NATURA Nil igitur nobis brevis haec nisi vita ferendumst, certaque pax manet et semper munita sepulcri, sopitis quoniam expergiscendi haud venit hilum, nec nostri quidquam super est nisi carni' solutum quod putret; quae si mutans elementa foras se dididit, inde alio conclusa in corpore rerum fit tellus aer aqua plantae saecla virorum. luminis haec finis nobis, haec pausa misellis decurso vitae si unorsis orbe peractast, cedimus, inque vicem nova crescit gens animantum et fati privo defungens ordine et aevi. namque erat infinita dies anteacta priusquam saecla fuere hominum, nosque infinita sequentur tempora, se supremus homo cum animalibu' primis addiderit terrae gremiumque rogumque petessens. denique perpetua naturae lege tenemur et vincimur ea; quid enim iam singula nobis excipiantur, amor propritim odiumve creatis iracundiave aut rusum ut clementia detur? non mage quam in rana si volturiove repertast deformis species, at tigribu' vividus ardet cum virtute color, favor hoc facit irave fati. semper enim vivunt corpuscula materiai innumerabilibus formis pugnantia secum, innumerabiliterque in coetus indupetita. nec, quem certa dies in luminis extulit oras, aetas ulla fuit quae non intenderit illuc, ullave iam vis est quae non hunc cirit in ortum, nil adeo validumst quod rem mutetve vetetve. CXXXVIII COLUMBUS From his adventurous prime The scattered isles that stand In its blue porch he stood: No more! but ah, how much, Of that majestic robe! When shall the world forget Immortal Genoese? Not while the shrewd salt gale Whines amid shroud and sail, Above the rhythmic roll And thunder of the seas. CXXXIX W. Watson. BACH, IN THE FUGUES AND PRELUDES Contentedly with strictest strands confined, To leap their bourn these waves did never long, W. Watson. |