The Poetical Works of Thomas Parnell/Poem 9
THE VIGIL OF VENUS.
WRITTEN IN THE TIME OF JULIUS CÆSAR, AND BY SOME
ASCRIBED TO CATULLUS.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
The spring, the new, the warbling spring appears,
The youthful season of reviving years;
In spring the loves enkindle mutual heats,
The feather'd nation choose their tuneful mates,
The trees grow fruitful with descending rain
And drest in differing greens adorn the plain.
She comes; to-morrow Beauty's empress roves
Through walks that winding run within the groves;
She twines the shooting myrtle into bowers,
And ties their meeting tops with wreaths of flowers,[1]
Then rais'd sublimely on her easy throne,
From Nature's powerful dictates draws her own.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
The spring, the new, the warbling spring appears,
The youthful season of reviving years;
In spring the loves enkindle mutual heats,
The feather'd nation choose their tuneful mates,
The trees grow fruitful with descending rain
And drest in differing greens adorn the plain.
She comes; to-morrow Beauty's empress roves
Through walks that winding run within the groves;
She twines the shooting myrtle into bowers,
And ties their meeting tops with wreaths of flowers,[1]
Then rais'd sublimely on her easy throne,
From Nature's powerful dictates draws her own.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
'Twas on that day which saw the teeming flood
Swell round, impregnate with celestial blood;
Wandering in circles stood the finny crew,
The midst was left a void expanse of blue;
There parent Ocean work'd with heaving throes,
And dropping wet the fair Dione rose.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
Swell round, impregnate with celestial blood;
Wandering in circles stood the finny crew,
The midst was left a void expanse of blue;
There parent Ocean work'd with heaving throes,
And dropping wet the fair Dione rose.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
She paints the purple year with varied show,
Tips the green gem, and makes the blossom glow;[2]
She makes the turgid buds receive the breeze,
Expand to leaves, and shade the naked trees:
When gathering damps the misty nights diffuse,
She sprinkles all the morn with balmy dews;
Bright trembling pearls depend at every spray,
And kept from falling, seem to fall away.
A glossy freshness hence the rose receives,
And blushes sweet through all her silken leaves;
(The drops descending through the silent night,
While stars serenely roll their golden light,)
Close till the morn, her humid veil she holds;
Then deck'd with virgin pomp the flower unfolds.
Soon will the morning blush: ye maids! prepare,
In rosy garlands bind your flowing hair:
'Tis Venus' plant: the blood fair Venus shed,
O'er the gay beauty pour'd immortal red;
From Love's soft kiss a sweet ambrosial smell
Was taught for ever on the leaves to dwell;[3]
From gems, from flames, from orient rays of light,
The richest lustre makes her purple bright;
And she to-morrow weds; the sporting gale
Unties her zone, she bursts the verdant veil;
Through all her sweets the rifling lover flies,
And as he breathes, her glowing fires arise.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
Tips the green gem, and makes the blossom glow;[2]
She makes the turgid buds receive the breeze,
Expand to leaves, and shade the naked trees:
When gathering damps the misty nights diffuse,
She sprinkles all the morn with balmy dews;
Bright trembling pearls depend at every spray,
And kept from falling, seem to fall away.
A glossy freshness hence the rose receives,
And blushes sweet through all her silken leaves;
(The drops descending through the silent night,
While stars serenely roll their golden light,)
Close till the morn, her humid veil she holds;
Then deck'd with virgin pomp the flower unfolds.
Soon will the morning blush: ye maids! prepare,
In rosy garlands bind your flowing hair:
'Tis Venus' plant: the blood fair Venus shed,
O'er the gay beauty pour'd immortal red;
From Love's soft kiss a sweet ambrosial smell
Was taught for ever on the leaves to dwell;[3]
From gems, from flames, from orient rays of light,
The richest lustre makes her purple bright;
And she to-morrow weds; the sporting gale
Unties her zone, she bursts the verdant veil;
Through all her sweets the rifling lover flies,
And as he breathes, her glowing fires arise.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
Now fair Dione to the myrtle grove
Sends the gay Nymphs, and sends her tender Love.
And shall they venture? Is it safe to go,
While Nymphs have hearts, and Cupid wears a bow?
Yes, safely venture, 'tis his mother's will;
He walks unarm'd and undesigning ill,
His torch extinct, his quiver useless hung,
His arrows idle, and his bow unstrung.[4]
And yet, ye Nymphs, beware, his eyes have charms,
And Love that's naked, still is Love in arms.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
Sends the gay Nymphs, and sends her tender Love.
And shall they venture? Is it safe to go,
While Nymphs have hearts, and Cupid wears a bow?
Yes, safely venture, 'tis his mother's will;
He walks unarm'd and undesigning ill,
His torch extinct, his quiver useless hung,
His arrows idle, and his bow unstrung.[4]
And yet, ye Nymphs, beware, his eyes have charms,
And Love that's naked, still is Love in arms.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
From Venus' bower to Delia's lodge repairs
A virgin train complete with modest airs:
"Chaste Delia, grant our suit! or shun the wood,
Nor stain this sacred lawn with savage blood.
Venus, O Delia! if she could persuade,
Would ask thy presence, might she ask a maid."
Here cheerful quires for three auspicious nights
With songs prolong the pleasurable rites:
Here crowds in measures lightly-decent rove,
Or seek by pairs the covert of the grove,
Where meeting greens for arbours arch above,
And mingling flowerets strew the scenes of love.[5]
Here dancing Ceres shakes her golden sheaves:
Here Bacchus revels, deck'd with viny leaves:
Here wit's enchanting God in laurel crown'd
Wakes all the ravish'd Hours with silver sound.
Ye fields, ye forests, own Dione's reign,
And, Delia, huntress Delia, shun the plain.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
A virgin train complete with modest airs:
"Chaste Delia, grant our suit! or shun the wood,
Nor stain this sacred lawn with savage blood.
Venus, O Delia! if she could persuade,
Would ask thy presence, might she ask a maid."
Here cheerful quires for three auspicious nights
With songs prolong the pleasurable rites:
Here crowds in measures lightly-decent rove,
Or seek by pairs the covert of the grove,
Where meeting greens for arbours arch above,
And mingling flowerets strew the scenes of love.[5]
Here dancing Ceres shakes her golden sheaves:
Here Bacchus revels, deck'd with viny leaves:
Here wit's enchanting God in laurel crown'd
Wakes all the ravish'd Hours with silver sound.
Ye fields, ye forests, own Dione's reign,
And, Delia, huntress Delia, shun the plain.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
Gay with the bloom of all her opening year,
The Queen at Hybla bids her throne appear;
And there presides; and there the favourite band,
Her smiling Graces, share the great command.
Now, beauteous Hybla, dress thy flowery beds
With all the pride the lavish season sheds;
Now all thy colours, all thy fragrance yield,
And rival Enna's aromatic field.[6]
To fill the presence of the gentle court
From every quarter rural Nymphs resort,
From woods, from mountains, from their humble vales,
From waters curling with the wanton gales.
Pleas'd with the joyful train, the laughing Queen
In circles seats them round the bank of green;
And "lovely girls," she whispers, "guard your hearts;
My boy, though stript of arms, abounds in arts."
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
The Queen at Hybla bids her throne appear;
And there presides; and there the favourite band,
Her smiling Graces, share the great command.
Now, beauteous Hybla, dress thy flowery beds
With all the pride the lavish season sheds;
Now all thy colours, all thy fragrance yield,
And rival Enna's aromatic field.[6]
To fill the presence of the gentle court
From every quarter rural Nymphs resort,
From woods, from mountains, from their humble vales,
From waters curling with the wanton gales.
Pleas'd with the joyful train, the laughing Queen
In circles seats them round the bank of green;
And "lovely girls," she whispers, "guard your hearts;
My boy, though stript of arms, abounds in arts."
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
Let tender grass in shaded alleys spread,
Let early flowers erect their painted head.
To-morrow's glory be to-morrow seen,
That day old Ether wedded Earth in green.[7]
The Vernal Father bid the spring appear,
In clouds he coupled to produce the year;
The sap descending o'er her bosom ran,
And all the various sorts of soul began.
By wheels unknown to sight, by secret veins
Distilling life, the fruitful goddess reigns,
Through all the lovely realms of native day,
Through all the circled land, the circling sea;
With fertile seed she fill'd the pervious earth,
And ever fix'd the mystic ways of birth.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
Let early flowers erect their painted head.
To-morrow's glory be to-morrow seen,
That day old Ether wedded Earth in green.[7]
The Vernal Father bid the spring appear,
In clouds he coupled to produce the year;
The sap descending o'er her bosom ran,
And all the various sorts of soul began.
By wheels unknown to sight, by secret veins
Distilling life, the fruitful goddess reigns,
Through all the lovely realms of native day,
Through all the circled land, the circling sea;
With fertile seed she fill'd the pervious earth,
And ever fix'd the mystic ways of birth.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
'Twas she the parent, to the Latian shore
Through various dangers Troy's remainder bore:[8]
She won Lavinia for her warlike son,
And winning her, the Latian empire won.
She gave to Mars the maid, whose honoured womb
Swell'd with the founder of immortal Rome:
Decoy'd by shows the Sabine dames she led,
And taught our vigorous youth the means to wed.
Hence sprung the Romans, hence the race divine,
Through which great Cæsar draws his Julian line.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
Through various dangers Troy's remainder bore:[8]
She won Lavinia for her warlike son,
And winning her, the Latian empire won.
She gave to Mars the maid, whose honoured womb
Swell'd with the founder of immortal Rome:
Decoy'd by shows the Sabine dames she led,
And taught our vigorous youth the means to wed.
Hence sprung the Romans, hence the race divine,
Through which great Cæsar draws his Julian line.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
In rural seats the soul of Pleasure reigns;
The life of Beauty fills the rural scenes;
E'en Love, if fame the truth of Love declare,
Drew first the breathings of a rural air.
Some pleasing meadow pregnant Beauty prest,
She laid her infant on its flowery breast;
From nature's sweets he sipp'd the fragrant dew,[9]
He smil'd, he kiss'd them, and by kissing grew.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
The life of Beauty fills the rural scenes;
E'en Love, if fame the truth of Love declare,
Drew first the breathings of a rural air.
Some pleasing meadow pregnant Beauty prest,
She laid her infant on its flowery breast;
From nature's sweets he sipp'd the fragrant dew,[9]
He smil'd, he kiss'd them, and by kissing grew.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
Now bulls o'er stalks of broom extend their sides,
Secure of favours from their lowing brides.
Now stately rams their fleecy consorts lead,
Who bleating follow through the wandering shade.
And now the Goddess bids the birds appear,
Raise all their music, and salute the year.
Then deep the swan begins, and deep the song
Runs o'er the water where he sails along;
While Philomela tunes a treble strain,
And from the poplar charms the listening plain.
We fancy love express'd at every note,[10]
It melts, it warbles, in her liquid throat:
Of barbarous Tereus she complains no more,
But sings for pleasure, as for grief before;
And still her graces rise, her airs extend,
And all is silence till the Siren end.
Secure of favours from their lowing brides.
Now stately rams their fleecy consorts lead,
Who bleating follow through the wandering shade.
And now the Goddess bids the birds appear,
Raise all their music, and salute the year.
Then deep the swan begins, and deep the song
Runs o'er the water where he sails along;
While Philomela tunes a treble strain,
And from the poplar charms the listening plain.
We fancy love express'd at every note,[10]
It melts, it warbles, in her liquid throat:
Of barbarous Tereus she complains no more,
But sings for pleasure, as for grief before;
And still her graces rise, her airs extend,
And all is silence till the Siren end.
How long in coming is my lovely spring?
And when shall I, and when the swallow sing?
Sweet Philomela, cease; or here I sit,
And silent lose my rapturous hour of wit:
'Tis gone, the fit retires, the flames decay,
My tuneful Phœbus flies averse away.
His own Amycle thus, as stories run,
But once was silent, and that once undone.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.[11]
And when shall I, and when the swallow sing?
Sweet Philomela, cease; or here I sit,
And silent lose my rapturous hour of wit:
'Tis gone, the fit retires, the flames decay,
My tuneful Phœbus flies averse away.
His own Amycle thus, as stories run,
But once was silent, and that once undone.
Let those love now, who never lov'd before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.[11]
- ↑ PERVIGILIUM VENERIS.
Cras amet, qui numquam amavit; quique amavit, eras amet.
Ver novum, ver jam canorum: vere natus orbis est,
Vere concordant amores, vere nubent alites,
Et nemus comam resolvit de maritis imbribus.
Cras amorum copulatrix inter umbras arborum
Implicat gazas virentes de flagello myrteo. - ↑ Cras Dione dicit, jura fulta sublimi throno.
Cras amet, qui numquam amavit; quique
amavit, cras amet.
Tunc liquore de superno, spumeo ponti e globo,
Cærulas inter catervas, inter et bipedes equos,
Fecit undantem Dionen de maritis imbribus.
Cras amet, qui numquam amavit; quique
amavit, cras amet.
Ipsa gemmis purpurantem pingit annum floribus,
Ipsa surgentes papillas de Favoni spiritu - ↑ Urguet in toros tepentes, ipsa roris lucidi,
Noctis aura quem relinquit, spargit humentes aquas,
Et micant lacrymæ trementes decidivo pondere;
Gutta præceps orbe parvo sustinet casus suos;
In pudorem florulentæ prodiderunt purpuræ.
Humor ille, quem serenis astra rorant noctibus,
Mane virgines papillas solvit humenti peplo.
Ipsa jussit mane ut udæ virgines nubant rosæ,
Fusæ prius de cruore deque Amoris osculis,
Deque gemmis, deque flammis, deque solis purpuris. - ↑ Cras ruborem qui latebat veste tectus ignea,
Unico marita nodo non pudebit solvere.
Cras amet, qui numquam amavit; quique
amavit, cras amet.Ipsa nimfas diva luco jussit ire myrteo:
Et puer comes puellis. Nec tamen credi potest
Esse Amorem feriatum, si sagittas vexerit.
Ite Nimfæ: posuit arma, feriatus est amor:
Jussus est inermis ire, nudus ire jussus est:
Neu quid arcu, neu sagitta, neu quid igne læderet. - ↑ Sed tamen nimfæ cavete, quod Cupido pulcher est:
Totus est inermis idem, quando nudus est Amor.
Cras amet, qui numquam amavit; quique
amavit, cras amet.Compari Venus pudore mittit ad te virgines:
Una res est quam rogamus: cede virgo Delia;
Ut nemus sit incruentum de ferinis stragibus.
Ipsa vellet ut venires, si deceret virginem:
Jam tribus choros videres feriatos noctibus,
Congreges inter catervas, ire per saltus tuos, - ↑ Floreas inter coronas, myrteas inter casas.
Nec Ceres, nec Bacchus absunt, nec poetarum Deus;
Decinent, et tota nox est pervigila cantibus.
Regnet in silvis Dione: tu recede Delia.
Cras amet, qui numquam amavit; quique
amavit, cras amet.Jussit Hyblæis tribunal stare diva floribus;
Præsens ipsa jura dicit, adsederunt Gratiæ.
Hybla totos funde flores, quidquid annus adtulit,
Hybla florum rumpe vestem, quantus Ænnæ campus est - ↑ Ruris hic erunt puellæ, vel puellæ montium,
Quæque silvas, quæque lucos, quæque montes incolunt.
Jussit omnis adsidere pueri mater alitis,
Jussit et nudo puellas nil Amori credere.
Cras amet, qui numquam amavit; quique
amavit, cras amet.Et recentibus virentes ducat umbras floribus:
Cras erit qui primus æther copulavit nuptias
Ut pater roris crearet vernis annum nubibus, - ↑ In sinum maritus imber fluxit almæ conjugis,
Ut fœtus immixtus omnis aleret magno corpore.
Ipsa venas atque mentem permeante spiritu
Intus occultis gubernat procreatrix viribus,
Perque cœlum, perque terras, perque pontum subditum,
Pervium sui tenorem seminali tramite
Imbuit, jussitque mundum nosse nascendi vias.
Cras amet, qui numquam amavit; quique
amavit, cras amet.
Ipsa Trojanos nepotes in Latino transtulit;
Ipsa Laurentem puellam conjugem nato dedit; - ↑ Moxque Marti de sacello dat pudicam virginem;
Romuleas ipsa fecit cum Sabinis nuptias;
Unde Ramnes et Quirites, proque prole posterum
Romuli matrem crearet et nepotem Cæsarem.
Cras amet, qui numquam amavit; quique
amavit, cras amet.
Rura fœcundat voluptas: rura Venerem sentiunt.
Ipse Amor puer Dionæ rure natus dicitur.
Hunc ager, cum parturiret ipsa, suscepit sinu; - ↑ Ipsa florum delicatis educavit osculis.
Cras amet, qui numquam amavit; quique
amavit, cras amet.Ecce, jam super genistas explicant tauri latus!
Quisque tuus quo tenetur conjugali fœdere.
Subter umbras cum maritis ecce balantum greges:
Et canoras non tacere diva jussit alites.
Jam loquaces ore rauco stagna cygni perstrepunt:
Adsonat Terei puella subter umbram populi;
Ut putas motus amoris ore dici musico,
Et neges queri sororem de marito barbaro. - ↑ Ilia cantat: nos tacemus. Quando ver venit meum?
Quando faciam ut celidon, ut tacere desinam?
Perdidi musam tacendo, nec me Phœbus respicit.
Sic Amyclas, cum tacerent, perdidit silentium.
Cras amet, qui numquam amavit; quique
amavit, cras amet.