Quick to redeem the prey their plighted lords 590 To bear the purchased prize in safety to the shore. Backward they move, but scorn their pace to mend ; 595 Then seek the stairs, and with slow haste descend. Thrust full on Cymon's back in his descent, The blade returned unbathed, and to the handle bent. Stout Cymon soon remounts, and cleft in two 600 His rival's head with one descending blow: And as the next in rank Ormisda stood, He turned the point; the sword enured to blood Bored his unguarded breast, which poured a purple flood. C05 The ravishers turn head, the fight renews; The hall is heaped with corps; the sprinkled gore 610 615. 620 625 630 Key, the spelling of the folio edition, quay being here meant. The spelling key was similarly preserved in "Annus Mirabilis," stanza 231. See note on "Sigismonda and Guiscardo," line 133. This is another example of the pronunciation of key as kay, rhyming with weigh and with sea, which was similarly pronounced. See note on pronunciation of sea in line 16 of "Verses to the Duchess of York," p. 32. A war ensues, the Cretans own their cause, 635 640 INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 66 The first translated hymn, the “ Veni, Creator Spiritus," has been from the first in collections of Dryden's Poems: it was printed in Tonson's folio edition of 1701. The translations of the " Te Deum" and the " Hymn for St. John's Eve" were first published by Sir Walter Scott, who had no doubt of their authenticity. Scott received them from Captain MacDonogh of the Inverness militia: they had been the property of Mr. Charles Butler, who has mentioned them in his "Tour through Italy:' Mr. Butler's death they passed into the hands of Dr. Alban, from whom Captain MacDonogh acquired them. Scott, in publishing them, says: "I think most of my readers will join with me in opinion that both their beauties and their faults are such as ascertain their authenticity." on Four small pieces ascribed to Dryden in the" State Poems" (vol. ii. pp. 215 and 216, and vol. iii. p. 132), on Hyde, Earl of Rochester's dismissal from the Treasury in 1687, on King James II. after the Revolution of 1688, on the Duke of Buckingham, and on the Duchess of Portsmouth, are probably none of them his. A longer piece, called "Tarquin and Tullia," in the third volume of the " State Poems," also ascribed to Dryden, is clearly not authentic; and the same may be said of “Suum Cuique." The two last-named poems are Satires on William and Mary and their Government. All these spurious pieces are printed in Scott's edition of Dryden's works, being treated by him as doubtful, if not spurious. They all appeared in a collection of Dryden's poems for the first time in the edition of the British Poets, for which Johnson made his celebrated Lives. VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS. TRANSLATED IN PARAPHRASE. CREATOR Spirit, by whose aid The world's foundations first were laid, O source of uncreated light, Plenteous of grace, descend from high, Rich in thy sevenfold energy! Thou strength of his Almighty hand, Whose power does heaven and earth command. Proceeding Spirit, our defence, Who dost the gift of tongues dispense, And crownst thy gift with eloquence. Refine and purge our earthy parts; But, oh, inflame and fire our hearts! And lest our feet should step astray, Make us eternal truths receive, Immortal honour, endless fame, Attend the Almighty Father's name : 35 Who for lost man's redemption died : Eternal Paraclete, to thee. * There is a pronunciation in Scotland of glebe as glibe, which may help to explain this rhyme of light and Paraclete. See rhyme of decrees with ratifies and relies in "The Hind and the Panther," part 2, line 82. |