The Odes of Casimire Part 12

Remugit ingens interim tauris nemus, Umbrosa balant flumina; Et aut in antris garriunt acanthides, Aut in rubis luscinia.

Then after noone he takes a kind of pride To th'Hills to walke, or River side, And 'midst the pleasant Okes, a shade doth find, T'avoyd the blasts o'th' Southern wind; To th'darksome sh.o.r.e, by the deep poole he goes, And through, with nimble Boat he rowes; Sometimes the sporting fish, his baite thrown in, Hee plucks up with his trembling line.

Meane while th' s.p.a.cious woods with ecchoing note Doe answer to the Bulls wide throat, The shady rivers bleat; the Nightingale I'th' bushes chirps her dolefull tale.

Hinc per rubeta pastor errantes capras Vocante cogit fistula: Illinc herili messor e campo redux Alterna plaudit carmina; Et pressa sectos plaustra per sulcos gemunnt Ruptura ruris horrea.

At nec tacemus pone considentium Dulcis ma.n.u.s sodalium; Nec infaceta sermo differtur mora, Sed innocentibus jocis, Multoq; tinctus, sed verecundo sale, Innoxium trahit diem.

Haec si videret faenerator Alphius, Olim futurus rusticus, Quam collocarat Idibus pecuniam, Nollet Kalendis ponere.

With's hastning pipe the sheapheard drives away His flocke, which through the thickets stray: To which as from the field they pa.s.se along, Each mower sings by course, his song; O're yeilding furrowes, carts full press'd with corne Groane, and are like to breake the barne.

Our worke once done, we doe not silent sit, When knots of our good fellowes meet; Nor is our talke prolong'd with rude delay; In harmlesse jests we spend the day; Jests dip'd in so much salt, which rubbing shall Onely make fresh our cheeks, not gall.

If that rich churle, this had but seen, when hee A Country man began to be, The money which i'th' Ides hee sc.r.a.ped in Next month hee'd not put out agen.

[Decoration]

_Epig._ 4. _Ex Lib. Ep._

Veniat delectus meus in hortum suum. _Cant._ 5.

Pulcher Amor sumpsit rudis instrumenta coloni, Et sua deposuit tela suasque faces: Et manibus stivam rapuit; castique laboris Ad sua ruricolas junxit aratra boves.

Ilicet, ut facili subvert.i.t vomere corda, Castaque virginibus Gratia crevit agris; Flos, ait, unus abest: sunt cetera millia florum; Ut nullus possit, _Christe_, deesse, Veni.

[Decoration]

Epig. 4.

_Let my beloved come into his Garden._ Cant. 5.

Love takes the tooles of a rude Country clowne, His owne Artill'ry, and his torch layes down; With staffe in's hand, Oxen to th'Plow he set For tillage, and such honest labour fit; Straight, as he turn'd up hearts with easie share, And grace i'th' virgin-furrowes did appeare, 'Mongst thousand others, one flower, quoth he, is mist: That none may wanting be, come thou, O Christ.

Qualis est Dilectus tuus? ex _Cant._ 5.

Ex Lib. Epig. 37.

Qualis erat, tuus ille? tuus pulcherrimus ille?

Dicebat nuper barbara turba mihi.

Arripio dextra pennam, laevaque tabellam, Et noto, _Christe_, tuo quicquid in orbe noto.

Pingo rosas, aurum, gemmas, viridaria, silvas, Arva, lacus, celeri sidera pingo manu; Et tabulam monstrans, Noster pulcherrimus, inquam, Qualis erat, vultis discere? talis erat.

Who is thy Beloved? _Out of Cant._ 5.

_Lib. Epig._ 37.

What is that Spouse of thine? that fairest Hee?

The barb'rous people said, of late, to mee.

A Pen I tooke, and in a Tablet drew Whatsoe're, O Christ, in thy blest orbe I view.

Roses, and Gold I paint, Gems, Groves, Corne-land, Green Gardens, Lakes, and Stars with nimble hand; Would you needs learne, what might my fairest bee?

Looke o're this tablet, pray, O such was Hee.

_Epig. 40. Lib. Ep._

Veni de Libano sponsa.

Et fugis, & fugiens clamas, quid sponsa moraris?

Non fugis, ut fugias: ut capiare, fugis.

Epig. 40.

Thou run'st, & running cry'st, why dost thou stay My Spouse? thou would'st be ta'ne, not get away.

Ex lib. Epi. 48.

---- Lilia manu praeferenti.

Haec, quae virgineis nituntur lilia culmis, Unde verecundas explicuere comas?

Non generant similes Paestana rosaria flores, Nec simili Pharius messe superbit ager: Non haec purpureis mater Corcyra viretis, Nec parit aequoreis pulsa Carystos aquis.

c.u.m nullas habeant natales lilia terras, Qui neget e casta lilia nata manu?

Ep. 48.

_To ---- bearing Lillyes in her hand._

These Lillyes which on virgin stalks doe bend, From whence do they their chaster leaves extend?

The _Paestan_ beds such flowres did ne're bring forth, Nor _Pharian_ fields e're gloried in such worth: _Alcinous_ purple banks, ne're teem'd with these, Nor rich _Carystos_ watred by the Seas.

Since then these flow'res no native place do know, Who can deny from her chast hand they grow.

Ex Lib. Ep. 51.

_Iohanni de Lugo_, dum post morb.u.m ad intermissam de Penitentia doctrinam rediret.

Fertur inornatis nuper Metana capillis Flesse, repentina c.u.m raperere febri: Fertur & indomito fraenos laxa.s.se dolori, Et lacrymis madidos exhibuisse sinus: c.u.m rursus domito repetis tua pulpita morbo, Fertur inornatas disposuisse comas: Et domitos hilari risu fraena.s.se dolores, Et lacrymis vacuos explicuisse sinus.