The Odes of Casimire - Part 7
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Part 7

Ode 13. l. 4.

If mournfull eyes could but prevent The evils they so much lament Sidonian Pearles, or Gems more rare, Would be too cheap for ev'ry teare.

But moyst'ned woes grow fresh, and new, As Come besprinkled with the dew.

Teare followes teare, and fruitfull griefe Hath from it selfe, its owne reliefe.

The man whom Fortune doth espy With drooping spirit, and moyst'ned eye, Shee, often strikes; ill Fate, amaine Runs Scarr'd no notice being ta'ne.

Bewayle not then thy selfe, deare friend, Or evills that on thee attend; What they expell, teares cherish oft; Hard things deny to yeild to soft.

Mischance is conquered, when she spies A valiant patience with dry eyes.

_Ad Crispum Laevinium._

Rogatus cur saepe per viam caneret, respondet.

_Ode 44. Lib 4._

To Crispus Laevinius.

_Being asked why hee sung so often as hee travailed, hee answers._

_Ode 44. Lib. 4._

c.u.m meam nullis humeros onustus Sarcinis tec.u.m patriam reviso Laetus, & parvo mihi c.u.mque dives Canto viator.

Tu siles mstum: tibi cura Musas Demit, & multi grave pondus auri.

Quaeque te quondam male fida rerum Turba relinquet.

Dives est qui nil habet; illa tantum Quae potest certa retinere dextra, Seque fert sec.u.m vaga qu, migrare Jussit egestas.

As cheerefully I walke with thee, My shoulders from all burdens free.

Our native soyle again to see Rich to my selfe I sing, Whil'st care strikes thee, and thy Muse dumb, The heavy weight of thy vast summe, Or what estate in time to come The faithlesse rout may bring.

Hee's rich that nothing hath; Hee that In's certaine hand holds his estate, That makes himselfe his constant mate Where need commands him go;

Quid mihi, qui nil cupiam, deesse Possit? umbro si placet una _Pindi_ Vallis: o sacrum nemus, o jocosa Rura Camna!

Quae meos poscet via cunq; gressus, Delphici mec.u.m, mea regna, colles Itis, & fessum comitante circ.u.m- Sist.i.tis umbra.

Me Gothus saevis religet catenis, Me Scythes captum rapiat; soluta Mente, vobisc.u.m potero tremendos Visere Reges.

What can I want, that nought desire?

Then _Pindus_ vale, I reach no higher: O sacred Grove! O pleasant quire In those coole shades below!

What paths soe're my steps invite Ye Delphian hills, my sole delight Doe goe with mee; in weary plight, And veyle me with good grace.

Let th'_Goth_ his strongest chaines prepare, The _Scythian_ hence mee captive teare, My mind being free with you, I'le stare The Tyrants in the face.

_Ad Munatium._

Nihil in rebus humanis non taedio plenum esse.

_Ode 15. Lib. 4._

To Munatius.

_That nothing in humane affaires is not full of tediousnesse._

Ode 15. l. 4.

Nil est, _Munati_, nil, iterum canam, Mortale, nil est, immedicabilis Immune taedi. Clarus olim Sol proavis atavisque n.o.bis, Parum salubris, nec macula reus d.a.m.natur una; quicquid in arduo Immortale mortales _Olympo_ Vidimus, invidiae caduca Fuscamus umbra. non placet incolis Qui Sol avitis exoritur jugis; Aut prisca quae dudum paternam Luna ferit radiis fenestram.

Nothing _Munatius_, nothing I sing't againe, That's mortall, nothing from th'uncured paine Of tediousnesse is free. The Sun Which bright to our forefathers shone To us, but little healthfull, doth appeare, And though not guilty of one spott, not cleare: Whatsoe're immortall thing we see In high _Olympus_, silly wee Doe over-cast with Envy's shade; here one From his owne native Hills the rising Sun.

Disclaimes; or th'ancient Moone, that strikes Her beames through's fathers gla.s.se, dislikes.

Caelo quotannis, & patriis leves Migramus arvis; hunc tepidae vocant Brumae Batavorum, huic aprici Ausoniae placuere soles.

Frustra; fideles si dominum retr Morbi sequuntur, nec tacitus Dolor Absist.i.t, aut Veiente curru, Aut Veneta comes ire cymba.

Each yeare we change our ayre, and soyle, so light; Him, _Hollands_ warmer Climate doth invite: Another differs, and doth cry _Ausonia_'s clearer Suns please mee.

In vaine all this, if faithfull sicknesses Wait close behind; if secret griefes ne're cease, All's one, whether in Chariot Thou goest, or in Venetian boat.

Tandemque n.o.bis exulibus placent Relicta; certam cui posuit domum Virtus, huic nunquam paternae Fumus erit lacrymosus aulae.

Virtus agresti dives in otio Sese ipsa claudit finibus in suis Plerumque, & insonti quietum In palea solium reclinat.

Poore exiles! then, things left doe please us most, Who a sure building can from vertue boast, To him the smoke of's father's Hall Doth never hurt his eyes at all.

Vertue oft-times, rich in a rustick ease Confines her selfe to her owne private blisse; And in the guiltlesse straw, her throne With great delight can leane upon.

Ad Iesum Opt. Max.

Ex sacro Salomonis Epithalamio.

_Indica mihi quem diligit anima mea, ubi pascas, ubi cubes in meridie._

Ode 19. Lib. 4.

Dicebas abiens: Sponsa vale; simul Vicisti liquidis nubila pa.s.sibus.

Longam ducis, Jesu, In desideriis moram.

Ardet iam medio summa dies polo, Jam parcit segeti messor, & algidas Pastor c.u.m grege valleis, Et picta volucres petunt.

At te quae tacitis destinet otiis O Jesu regio? quis mihi te locus Caecis invidet umbris, Aut sp.i.s.sa nemorum coma?

Scirem quo jaceas cespite languidus, Quis ventus gracili praeflet anhelitu, Quis rivus tibi grato Somnum praetereat sono; Ah! ne te nimio murmure suscitent Nostrae diluerent flumina lacrymae, Et suspiria crudis Miscerentur Etesiis.

Out of _Solomon_'s sacred Marriage Song.

CHAP. 1. 7.

_Tell mee (o thou whom my soule loveth) where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noone, &c._ pa?af?ast????

Od. 19. Lib. 4.

Thou said'st, farewell my Spouse, & went'st away More fleet then Clouds with liquid paces stray: Oh what a longing, Jesu thus With thy delay thou mak'st in us?