Wine, Women, and Song V

The oddly archaic phraseology of this love-song rendered it unfit fortranslation; but I have tried my hand at a kind of hymn in praise ofRome, which is written in the same peculiar rhythm:--

"O Rome illustrious, of the world emperess!Over all cities thou queen in thy goodliness!Red with the roseate blood of the martyrs, andWhite with the lilies of virgins at God's right hand!Welcome we sing to thee; ever we bring to theeBlessings, and pay to thee praise for eternity.

"Peter, thou praepotent warder of Paradise,Hear thou with mildness the prayer of thy votaries;When thou art seated to judge the twelve tribes, O thenShow thyself merciful; be thou benign to men;And when we call to thee now in the world's distress,Take thou our suffrages, master, with gentleness.

"Paul, to our litanies lend an indulgent ear,Who the philosophers vanquished with zeal severe:Thou that art steward now in the Lord's heavenly house,Give us to taste of the meat of grace bounteous;So that the wisdom which filled thee and nourished theeMay be our sustenance through the truths taught by thee."

"Come therefore now, my gentle fere,Whom as my heart I hold full dear;Enter my little room, which isAdorned with quaintest rarities:There are the seats with cushions spread,The roof with curtains overhead;The house with flowers of sweetest scentAnd scattered herbs is redolent:A table there is deftly dightWith meats and drinks of rare delight;There too the wine flows, sparkling, free;And all, my love, to pleasure thee.There sound enchanting symphonies;The clear high notes of flutes arise;A singing girl and artful boyAre chanting for thee strains of joy;He touches with his quill the wire,She tunes her note unto the lyre:The servants carry to and froDishes and cups of ruddy glow;But these delights, I will confess,Than pleasant converse charm me less;Nor is the feast so sweet to meAs dear familiarity.

"Then come now, sister of my heart,That dearer than all others art,Unto mine eyes thou shining sun,Soul of my soul, thou only one!I dwelt alone in the wild woods,And loved all secret solitudes;Oft would I fly from tumults far,And shunned where crowds of people are.O dearest, do not longer stay!Seek we to live and love to-day!I cannot live without thee, sweet!Time bids us now our love complete.Why should we then defer, my own,What must be done or late or soon?Do quickly what thou canst not shun!I have no hesitation."

"Implet silvas atque cuncta modulis arbustula,Gloriosa valde facta veris prae laetitia;Volitando scandit alta arborum cacumina,Ac festiva satis gliscit sibilare carmina."