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Commentator: Maren-Sofie Roestvig

Translator: G. Hils

The Augustan Reprint Society

MATHIAS CASIMIRE SARBIEWSKI

With an Introduction by Maren-Sofie Roestvig

Publication Number 44

Los Angeles William Andrews Clark Memorial Library University of California 1953

GENERAL EDITORS

ASSISTANT EDITOR

ADVISORY EDITORS

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

INTRODUCTION

Mathias Casimire Sarbiewski vas a Polish Jesuit whose neo-Latin Horatian odes and Biblical paraphrases gained immediate European acclaim upon their first publication in 1625 and 1628. The fine lyric quality of Sarbiewski's poetry, and the fact that he often fused classical and Christian motifs, made a critic like Hugo Grotius actually prefer the "divine Casimire" to Horace himself, and his popularity among the English poets is evidenced by an impressive number of translations.

Casimire, Ode IV, 44

Then let fierce Goths their strongest chains prepare; Grim Scythians me their slave declare; My soul being free, those tyrants in the face I'll stare.

In the Romantic period Casimire's fame was again revived. While still a young man, Coleridge planned a complete translation of Casimire's odes, but never finished more than the ode "Ad Lyram." It was also Coleridge who said that with the exception of Lucretius and Statius he knew no Latin poet, ancient or modern, who could be said to equal Casimire in boldness of conception, opulence of fancy, or beauty of versification. A knowledge of the themes and techniques of this Latin poet should therefore be of interest to all students of English poetry.

Maren-Sofie Roestvig University of Oslo

NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION

The ODES of CASIMIRE

LONDON,

The ODES of CASIMIRE

Cum infestae Thracum Copiae Pannoni? excessissent.

Od. 1. Lib. 1.

Jam minae saevi cecidere belli: Jam profanatis mal? pulsa terris Et salus, & pax niveis revisit Oppida bigis: Iam fides, & fas, & amaena praeter Faustitas, laeto volat arva curru: Iam fluunt passim pretiosa largis Saecula rivis. Candidi soles veterisq; venae Fontibus nati revocantur Anni: Grandinat Gemmis, riguoq; Coelum Depluit Auro.

The threats of cruell Warre now cease:, In stead of them safety and peace, Banish'd th'unhallowed earth, doe please 'Returne in their white Waine; Faith joyn'd with Truth, and Plenty too O're pleasant fields doe nimbly goe; The precious Ages past, doe flow With liberall streames againe. Cleare dayes, such yeares as were of old Recalled are, o'th' ancient mold, The Heavens hayle Pearles, and molten Gold Doth raine down-right in showres;

Lactis, & fusi per aprica mellis Garruli Campos secu?re rivi: Et superfuso tumu?re plenae Nectare ripae. Laetior vulg? seges inquietis Fluctuat culmis, titubantq; frugum Uberes Campi, nec avara sulcis Invidet aestas. Pastor Erranteis comitatus Hoedos Provocat raucas calamo cicadas: Mugiunt Colles, & anhela fessis Silva Iuvencis.

The streams which Milk and Honey yeild, Their passage cut through open field, And the full banks with Nectar swell'd Doe drowne the flowrie plaine. The glad Corne in the restles stalke Waves, and the fields as wee doe walke, So fruitfull reele, to any balke The Heat no spight doth owe. The Herdsmans Pipe to's wandring Goats, Provokes the Grashoppers hoarse notes; The tyred Herd with strayned throats, Makes Hills and Woods to low.

The Laurell signe long life to thee, Let Fates and destinies agree To twine thy thred, which cannot bee Cut 'till th'appointed time. May shee amidst those glorious fires, For thy sake, pittying our desires, 'Bout whom the beauteous starrs inquires, And flowing measures swim; May shee, I say, our Country's griefe Cure, and the chast complaints releive Of all our youth, and willing eares Apply to th' praiers of all our Peeres.

Ad Aurelium Lycum.

N? plus aequo de advers? fortun? queratur.

Ode 2. Li. 1.

Indignas, Lyce, naenias, Et maestum gemitu pectus, & hispidis Frontem nubibus expedi, Cum Sol non solito lumine riserit, Et fortuna volubilis Fati difficilem jecerit aleam. Quod vexant hodi? Noti, Cras lambent hilares aequor AEtesiae. Moestum sol hodi? caput, Cras laetum roseo promet ab aequore. Alterno redeunt choro Risus & gemitus, & madidis prop? Sicci cum Lacrymis joci. Nascuntur mediis gaudia luctibus, Sic fatis placitum. suis Tempestiva fluunt fata periculis.

Fessos duxit heri boves, Dat magnis hodi? jura Quiritibus: Et quae bobus ademerat, Imponit Gabiis, & Curibus juga. Idem Phosphorus aspicit Magnum quem tenuem viderat Hesperus. Quod si seria ludicris Fortuna placeat texere; Rusticus Hesternam repetet casam, Ridentis populi non humilis jocus: Et queis rexerat omnia, Findet laurigeris ligna securibus. Quod si defuerit salix Fasces pauperibus subjiciet focis.

Od. 13. lib. 1.

Vitae humanae brevitatem benefactis extendendam esse.

E Rebus Humanis Excessus.

Humana linquo: tollite praepetem Nubesque ventique. Ut mihi devii Montes resedere, & volanti Regna porcul, populosque vastos Subegit aer! jam radiantia Delubra Divum, jam mihi regiae Turres recessere, & relicta in Exiguum tenuantur urbes; Totasq; qua se cunque ferunt vaga Despecto Gentes. O lacrymabilis Jncerta fortuna! ? fluent?m Principia, interit?sque rerum!

Lift me up quickly on your wings, Ye Clouds, and Winds; I leave all earthly things; How Devious Hills give way to mee! And the vast ayre brings under, as I fly, Kingdomes and populous states! see how The Glyst'ring Temples of the Gods doe bow; The glorious Tow'rs of Princes, and Forsaken townes, shrunke into nothing, stand: And as I downward looke, I spy Whole Nations every where all scattred lye. Oh the sad change that Fortune brings! The rise and fall of transitory things!

H?c ducta primis oppida moenibus Minantur in Coelum: h?c veteres ruunt Mur?que turresq;: h?c supinas Paen? cinis sepelivit arces. H?c mite Coelum, sed rapidae ruunt In Bella Gentes: h?c placida sedent In pace, sed lat? quietos Dira lues populatur agros.

Here walled townes that threatned Heav'n, Now old and ruin'd, with the earth lye even: Here stately Pallaces, that thrust Their heads i'th'ayre, lye buried all in dust. Here the Ayre Temp'rate is and mild, But the fierce people rush to warres, most wild: Here in a joyfull peace they rest, But Direfull Murraines their quiet fields lay wast.

H?c paen? tellus tota micantibus Ardet sub armis: stant acies adhuc Pendente fatorum sub ictu, Et dubio furor haesitavit In bella passu: parte ali? recens Jam mista Mavors agmina mutuam Collisit in mortem, & Cadent?m Caede vir?m, Cumul?sque latos Insternit agros: h?c Mareotica Secura merces aequora navigant, Portusq; certatim frequentes Centum operis populisque fervent.

Here the whole Land doth scorching lye Under the glittering Armes o' th'Enemy: Under the hovering stroke o' th' Fates The Armies yet both stand; and fury waites With doubfull steps, upon the warre; Fresh courage here, the mingled troopes prepare. Each against other fiercely run, And mutually they worke destruction: The slaughtered heapes in reeking gore With bloudy covering spread the fields all o're: Here on safe Seas, as joyfull prize Is strip'd away th'AEgyptian Merchandize, Whilst the full Havens thick beset, Doe furiously with fierce contention fret.

Alterna rerum militat efficax In damna mundus. Cladibus instruit Bellisq; rixisq; & ruinis Sanguineam libitina scenam, Suprema doxec stelligerum dies Claudat Theatrum. Quid morer hactenus Viator aurarum & serenas Sole domos aditurus usque Humana mirer? tollite praepetem Festina vatem, tollite nubila Qua solis & Lunae Labores Caeruleo vehit aethra Campo.

Ad Publium Memmium.

Od. 7. Lib. 2.

Ad Asterium. Ode 8. lib 2.

VV'Are mock'd with 'baytes that fortune flings And fed with th'empty husks of things: Shadowes, not friends we entertaine; W'are pleas'd with the deceitfull traine Of words, and thinke them deeds. But when Th'unconstant wheele shall turne agen To th' parting Goddesse, wee shall see Those friends the selfe-same words deny. Things Humane under false names please. Our gifts match not our promises; Religion, lesse to be doth use, Then the large language of our vowes.

Ex sacro Salomonis Epithal.

Ode 19. l. 2.

Similis est dilectus meus capreae, hinnuloque cervorum.

Thou shunnest me, like to a fearfull Roe, Which, as the stormy North-winds blow, Or the rough noise o' th' suddaine Easterne blast, Is snatch'd away with forcelesse hast. For th'early frost the trembling leaves doth fright, Or else the Father of the light Hath hewne from th'ecchoing rocks his thundring darts, Hee hastens with such doubtfull starts. But till I find thee, I'le not cease, nor rest, But cry aloud, Returne, ? Christ: And when with swifter speed thou fly'st away, Returne againe, ? Christ, I'le say.

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