Campion: Ad Thamesin

Totum hoc poema gratulationem in se habet ad Thamesin de Hyspanorum fuga, in qua adumbrantur causa quibus adducti Hyspani expeditionem in Angliam fecerint. eae autem sunt, avaratia, crudelitas, superbia, atque invidia. deinde facta apostrophe ad reginam pastoraliter desinit.

This whole poem contains a congratulation to the Thames on the flight of the Spaniards, in which are sketched the causes by which, being led on, the Spaniards made an expedition into England. And these are avarice, cruelty, pride, and envy. then, having made an apostrophe to the queen, it ends pastorally.

nympha potens Thamesis soli cessura Dianae,
caeruleum caput effer aquis: carchesia late
quae modo constiterant signis horrenda cruentis,
ecce tuos trepide liquere fugacia portus.
non tulit Hispanos crudelia signa sequentes

nymph, mighty Thames, about to yield the soil to Diana,
raise your blue head in the waters: carchesia far and wide
which but now had stood with horrid bloody standards,
behold your ports flee in panic, fleeting and trembling.
she did not suffer the Spaniards following cruel ensigns

Neptunus pater, et multum indignantia spumis
aequora, non Deus aetherea qui fulminat arce,
nubila qui solvit, ventorumque assidet alis.
ille suos cultus, sua templa, suosque Britannos
proteget, ultricemque suam victribus armis. 10
nec Romana feret purgatis orgia fanis
reffluere, aut vetitas fieri libamen ad aras.
o pietas odiosa Deo, scelerataque sacra,
quae magis inficiunt (damnosa piacula) sontes.

Neptune the father, and the seas foaming with great indignation,
not the God who thunders from the aethereal citadel,
who unlooses the clouds, and sits upon the wings of the winds.
he will protect his cults, his temples, and his Britons,
and will avenge with his victorious arms 10
nor will Roman orgies return to purified shrines,
or forbidden libations be made to the altars. O piety hateful to God, and accursed rites,
which more defile the guilty (damnosa piacula).

est locus Hesperiis, Diti sacer, abditus undis, 15
quem pius occuluit Nereus, hominumque misertus
Oceanus, quemque ipse deis metuendus Apollo
luminis inditio quod detegit omnia, sensit
ignotis sub aquis melius potuisse latere.
at pater umbrarum, cui Nox parit horrida natos

there is a place in the Hesperian lands, sacred to Dis, hidden beneath the waves, 15
which pious Nereus concealed, and Oceanus, pitying of men,
and which Apollo himself, fearsome even to the gods by the revelation of light that uncovers all things, perceived
could better lie hidden beneath unknown waters. But the father of shadows, to whom Night bears dreadful offspring

terribiles, nigro vultus signante corymbo
ille per obscuras petit antra immania silvas
aurea, silvarum Stygiae sub tegmine nymphae
atra tenebrosis spectant in fontibus ora.
Eumenides regem comitantur, et ortus Echidna            25
Cerberus, et quae monstra tulit furialis origo,
quos caput horrendum quatiens sic alloquitur Dis:
     "paci inimica cohors, nunc iras sumite pleno
pectore, nunc totas penitus diffundite vires,
exululate sacros, et quos horrere susurros           30
ipse velim, collecta simul conflate venena,
tabe Promethea riguus quas Caucasus herbas,
Tantaleaeve ferunt limphae, Phlegethonve Acheronve,
laethificas armate manus, Anioque Tyburque
sentiat infusum virus, Duriusque Tagusque,

terrible ones, whose faces marking the black crest,
he seeks through dark caverns, vast woods
golden nymphs of the woods under the Stygian covering
gaze with black, shadowy mouths in the springs.
The Eumenides accompany the king, and Echidna sprung forth           25
Cerberus, and those monsters which the furious origin bore,
whom, shaking his horrendous head, Dis thus addresses:
     "hostile-to-peace cohort, now take up angers with full
breast, now utterly pour forth your whole strengths,
shriek the sacred things, and those whom whispers make to shudder           30
I myself would wish, poisons having been gathered and kindled together,
the Promethean rot with which Caucasus drenched certain herbs,
or the waters of Tantalus bear, or Phlegethon or Acheron,
arm your hands with death-bringing things, and let Anio and Tibur
feel the poured-in venom, and the sterner Tagus,

diraque Avernales exuscitet unda furores,
irarumque minas, avidique incendia belli."
     dixit, et effugiunt quassantes ore colubros
anguicomae. Ditim dolor excitat, evolat antro,
et vagus excurrit sinuosi margine ponti           40
atra velut nubes ventis agitata, senemque
Oceanumque vocat, et rauco clamore remugit.
constiterant fluctus, egere silentia venti,
cyaneis os tollit aquis venerabile numen
aequoreum, madidasque comas a fronte removit,           45
Ismarias superare nives albedine visas.

dread and Avernian wave may rouse up furies,
and threats of wrath, and the greedy fires of war."
     he spoke, and the snake‑haired ones flee, shaking serpents
from their mouths. Rich pain arouses, flies forth from the cave,
and wandering runs along the sinuose margin of the winding stream           40
like a black cloud driven by winds, and calls the aged
Ocean, and with a hoarse cry bellows back. The waves had stood, the silences of the winds were gone,
a venerable sea‑numen lifts his face from the dark‑blue waters
and brushes the wet locks from his brow,           45
seeming to outshine with whiteness the Ismarian snows.

quamvis nulla senis subiit reverentia Ditem,
sic tamen affatur, mollitque astutia vultum:
"o qui luctantes civiliaque arma gerentes
imperio fluctus componis, et aequora late

although no reverence of the old man toward Dis arose, yet thus he addresses him, and with cunning softens his countenance:
"O you who, struggling and bearing civil arms,
by command compose the waves, and the seas far and wide

fusa, et sidentes ruptis de montibus amnes,
cur invisa iacet, cur haec vacat insula cultu?
pondere terra gemit, foeto maturuit alvo
resplendens aurum; ferit hoc mortalia sydus
pectora, tu solus prohibes quod amabilis auri

poured forth, and the rivers, seated, burst from the broken mountains,
why does this hated thing lie, why does this isle stand empty of cultivation?
the earth groans under weight, it ripened with a foetal womb
shining gold; this mortal star strikes the hearts,
you alone forbid what is lovable of gold

suadet amor facinus. non has Romanus ad oras,
non venit Hispanus castris assuetus et armis,
nec quisquam Italiae, tua monstra natantia terrent.
esto precor facilis, quosque ingens gloria Martis
extulit Hesperios, animis rebusque potentes 60
excipe, conde sinu, nostroque in littora siste."
quem contra Oceanus: "tibi, Dis, patet Orcus, et omnis
vis terrena, nocensque aegris mortalibus aurum
verum siquid habent, et habent tua munera pulchri.

love urges the deed. Not the Roman to these shores comes,
nor the Spaniard, seasoned to camps and arms,
nor any of Italy, your floating monsters terrify.
Be, I pray, forgiving; receive, enclose in your fold, and set ashore
those whom the immense glory of Mars has raised, Hesperian, mighty in spirit and affairs 60
accept, harbor them, and fix them on our coasts."
To whom Oceanus: "To you, O Gods, Orcus lies open, and all
earthly force, and gold harmful to sick mortals—
if they have any truth at all, and they possess your fair gifts.

sunt Angli, sunt Troiana de gente Britanni, 65
qui pacem numenque colunt, et templa fatigant.
sin longa spectes serie numerosa trophaea,
has etiam spectes immensae molis arenas."
ingemuit, traxitque imo suspiria corde
Tartareus, spumaque oris barbam albicat atra.

there are the Angli, there are Britanni of Trojan stock, 65
who worship peace and the numen, and wear out temples.
but if you behold a long series of numerous trophies,
you will also behold these sands of immense bulk."
he groaned, and drew up sighs from his inmost heart
the Tartarean, and the dark foam of his mouth whitened his beard.

agressumque tuas, decus o regina Britannum,
virtutes narrare, fremens occoepit acutis
obturbare senem stridoribus, et ferus ira
concussit piceos scabra rubigine dentes.
ardebant oculi, vultu pax exulat omnis,

and having assailed your virtues, O glory, O queen of the Britons,
roaring he began to trouble the old man with sharp rattlings,
and with savage wrath he shook his pitch-black teeth with coarse rust.
his eyes were blazing, all peace fled from his countenance,

excidit obsequium et meditata precamina, diras
evomit atque minas quales irata Medea.
"et tibi," ait, "quoniam levis est mea visa potestas,
rumpam fundamenta maris quae tegmine nostras
obfuscant aedes, post imas quaere sub umbras 80
in fluctus requiem, sedemque cadentibus undis."
horruit Oceanus (vitium formido senile est).
sed quid non ausit demens furor, et mala praeceps
in sua? vix motum longa mulcedine Ditem
leniit, et malus impetratis rebus abivit.

obedience and her practised charms fell away, and she vomits forth dire curses
and threats such as the angry Medea. "and to you," she says, "since my seen power is slight,
I will break the foundations of the sea which with their covering darken our houses;
then seek beneath the lowest shades in the waves a resting-place, 80
a seat for you among the falling waters."
Ocean shuddered (fear is an aged vice).
but what would not mad fury dare, and evil headlong upon its own?
scarcely did prolonged gentleness soothe Pluto's movement,
and the wicked one departed, her petitions having been granted.

carbasa tenduntur subito venientibus Euris,
et ruit aequoreos male gratum pondus in armos.
cogitat Oceanus rapido nunc mergere ponto,
nunc gravibus scopulis, in acutaque figere saxa.
cauta iram cohibet mens, at vindicta dolentem

sails are suddenly spread for the coming East Winds,
and the sea-born weight rushes, ill-pleasing, onto the shores.
Ocean ponders now to plunge into the swift deep,
now onto heavy reefs, and to drive the rocks into the sharp places.
a cautious mind restrains its anger, but vengeance, grieving

oblectat, sensitque animo te, Drace, futurum
exitio Hispanis, clarumque insignibus ausis
Frobucerum, pariterque novis successibus oras
ampla reportantem ad patrias spolia auripotentem
Candisium: audaces animos fortuna secundat.

it pleases him, and he felt in his mind that you, Drace, were destined for the destruction of the Spaniards,
and Frobucerus, famous for his conspicuous daring, and likewise Candisium, rich in gold, bringing with new successes ample spoils to the native shores:

excipit Hesperios Dis, quem tegit aurea palla,
corporis et tenebrae vestis fulgore coruscant,
vix hunc credideris caecas habitare cavernas,
squallentemque situ Stygiis sordere sub umbris.
o quam splendescit Venus aurea! suavis in auro est

Hesperian Dis receives him, whom a golden palla covers,
the body and the garment of darkness glitter with splendour,
scarcely would you believe that he inhabits blind caverns,
and that, foul from neglect, he soils beneath Stygian shadows.
O how golden Venus gleams! she is sweet in gold

100

gratia, multos honos, absque auro gratia nulla est.
propter Avarities stat inhospita, lumine laeta
sollicito; mirum, hoc laetatur in hospite, nullum
quae colit hospitium! Libica est procul invia Syrtis
per vada, stant tacitae longa insuetudine silvae,

Grace, much honor; without gold there is no favour.
Because of Avarice it stands inhospitable, glad in a restless light;
marvelous—it rejoices in this guest, who pays no heed to hospitality!
Far off lie the Libyan pathless Syrtes through the shallows,
the silent woods stand, long unused to habitation,

105

semper et obdormit tranquilla in montibus Eccho,
dissimilisque sui, non est qui suscitet illam.
moenibus obsepta est sublimibus aerea turris,
Mulciber hanc vario torquens errore viarum
aeternum statuit non expugnabile tectum.

always Echo sleeps tranquilly in the mountains,
and unlike herself; there is no one to rouse her.
A brazen tower, beset with lofty battlements, stands,
Mulciber, turning this by the varied error of its ways,
set it up as an everlasting, unconquerable roof.

110

haec domus, hic misera insomnis noctesque diesque
thesaurum observat caeca tellure sepultum.
et quia causa deest, fingit sibi monstra timenda,
formidatque animo quas non praesenserat umbras.
turribus aeriis tuta est si credere posset,

this house, here miserable, sleepless both night and day
keeps guard over a treasure buried in blind earth.
and because a cause is lacking, she invents for herself monsters to be feared,
and dreads in her mind shades which she had not foreseen.
she would be safe in airy towers, if she could but believe it,

115

tuta loco, extructis ingens super aequor arenis.
alta per exiguam clauduntur moenia portam,
hanc sola ingreditur, nunquam egreditur nisi Plutus
evocet, eximium hunc spretis habet omnibus unum.
proxima purpurea succedit cuspide Caedes,

safe in its place, vast, piled up above the sea on sands.
high ramparts shut around the narrow gate,
this alone she enters; she never goes forth unless Plutus
calls — spurning all others, he holds this one outstanding and sole.
next, Slaughter follows with a purple spearpoint,

120

suspitiose oculos obliquans, atque cruentum
vix animo halato cor in ilia gurgitat atra,
atra aestu, rabieque insana fellis adusti.
ultima subsequitur manifesta Superbia curru,
fastiditque solum, sellam haud dignatur eburnam

looking askance with a suspicious eye, and the blood-stained,
dark heart, scarcely breathing with spirit, gushes into the entrails,
black with heat, and mad with rage, scorched by gall.
Last follows manifest Superbia in her chariot,
and she scorns the ground, the ivory seat she does not deign

125

qua vehitur, quam traxit avis Iunonia pompam
pennarum expandens, gemmasque elata recludens.
agmina conveniunt, dextras utrinque dederunt,
Dis ait: "Hesperii, satis est dextraeque moraeque,
mensa diesque vocant, periit pars optima lucis."

where she is borne, which pomp the Juno-like bird drew, spreading her pennons and displaying the upborne gems.
the ranks assemble, they gave right hands on either side, he said to the gods: "Hesperians, enough of hands and delays,
the table and the day call; the choicest part of the light has perished."

130

applaudunt regi umbrarum portuque recedunt.
ecce fatigatos laevo curvamine coeli
lentus agens Hyperion equos, curruque reclinans,
viderat Hesperios, et quis novus incola terras
venit in ignotas miratur, eoque morantes

they applaud the king of shades and withdraw to the harbour.
behold, Hyperion, slow, driving his weary horses through the leftward curve of the sky,
and leaning upon his chariot, had seen the Hesperians, and whoever a new inhabitant is who comes
to unknown lands marvels at them, and at that marveling they linger

135

cursores animat, Tethidosque hortatur ad undas.
interea ingentem vino cratera propinant,
indulgentque epulis Dis cum regaliter usis
hospitibus, donec gelidis stipata tenebris
induxit somnos nox, atque papavera sparsit.

he quickens the coursers, and urges the Tethidian nymphs to the waves.
meanwhile they hand round a huge cratera of wine,
and indulge at banquets with the gods, having entertained their guests regally,
until night, crowded with icy darkness, brought on sleep, and strewed poppies.

140

postera deformes roseo velamine texit
umbras Aurora, et simulatis fronte capillis.
concurrunt Stygiae feriuntes tympana nymphae,
et recinunt miserum clamoso gutture carmen.
ducentesque choros dominum regemque requirunt.

the following dawn clad the misshapen shades in a rosy veil
and with hair contrived into a brow.
the Stygian nymphs run together, striking their tambourines,
and they rehearse a doleful song with clamorous throat.
and, leading the choruses, they seek their lord and king.

145

turba petit silvas somno experrecta madentes
rore levi suavesque expirans gramen odores.
valle sub obscura liquidis argenteus undis
fons erat, Invidiae sacer, hunc, Narcisse, petisses
tutus, in adversam quia nulla repercutitur lux

the throng seeks the woods, roused from sleep, dripping
with light dew and breathing forth the sweet scents of the grass.
Beneath the shadowy valley a spring stood, silver with liquid waves—
a spring sacred to Envy; this you, Narcissus, would have sought safely,
for no light is cast back toward the opposite side

150

seu lucis radius speciem, sed quicquid in orbe
est usquam limphis manifesto cernitur illis.
fons mundi speculum est, sed qui speculatur in illo
morbum oculis haurit macidum, et lethale venenum.
huc divertentes cum Dite Hyspana iuventus

or the beam of light’s apparition, — but whatever in the orb is anywhere is plainly perceived by those waters.
the spring is the world’s mirror, but he who peers into it draws up for his eyes a wasting disease, and a lethal poison.
turning hither, when the Spanish youth with Dite

155

immisere oculos avide putealibus undis,
et sub aqua mirantur aquas, urbesque, domosque.
agnovere suos portus, nemora, arvaque et aurei
lucida signa Tagi. longe omnibus eminet una
cuncta mari tellus, celeberrima rupibus albis,

they thrust their eyes eagerly into the well-like waves,
and under the water they marvel at waters, and cities, and houses.
you would recognize your own harbors, groves, and fields, and the bright signs of the golden Tagus.
far above all the sea rises one land alone, most celebrated for its white cliffs,

160

hanc spectant, et agros, urbes, vada, flumina, fontes
laudant inviti, hac una regione morantur,
quaeque vident cupiunt, atque invidere videndo.
paulatim increvit pulmonibus ardor anhelis,
lividus ora color, macies cariosa medullas

they gaze upon this, and the fields, the cities, the shallows, the rivers, the springs
they praise, unwilling, and in this one region they tarry,
and whatever they see they desire, and they envy by seeing.
gradually a ardor grew in the panting lungs,
the face a livid color, a wasting gnawing the marrows

165

occupat, illi acres pugnant superare dolores.
iamque odio locus est, nec iam discedere possunt.
sic miseri cum flamma aedes circumflua vastat,
excussi somnis media sub nocte paventes
corpora proriperent, obsistit at obvius ignis,

it seizes them; they fiercely struggle to overcome their pains.
and now the place is hateful, nor can they any longer depart.
thus when the surrounding flame lays waste the houses, wretched as they are,
having shaken off sleep in the midst of the night, trembling,
they would rush forth their bodies, but an opposing fire stands in the way,

170

cernentesque adversa oculos, et cassa moventes
effugia exurit feralis taeda lacertos.
ostquam irretitas acies, et vulneris aestus
senserat arderi et frangi iuvenilia corda
Dis, arrisit aquis, laetusque silentia rupit:

and seeing the hostile eyes, and vainly moving their evasions
the funeral torch consumes their arms.
since the battle‑lines were ensnared, and the tide of wound
had felt the youthful hearts to burn and to be broken
to the gods he smiled upon the waters, and joyfully he broke the silence:

175

"spectatae satis, o iuvenes, nimiumque recedant
coelestes lymphae, mens est et numen in illis.
ecce ferunt violas detexaque lilia nymphae,
ecce struunt in serta rosas fontemque coronant."
nondum extreme gravis diverberat ora loquentis

"Seen enough, O youths, and may the heavenly waters withdraw no more;
there is a mind and a numen in them.
behold the nymphs bear violets and lilies unplucked,
behold they weave roses into garlands and crown the spring."
not yet had the speaker's mouth been struck by the utmost gravity

180

imber, et obducto recidentia nubila coelo.
tristis hiems et nox nullo suadente resurgit
vespere, terrarumque orbem intempesta recondit.
per iuga dissiliunt fluctus, volvuntur et imas
in valles, teretesque trahunt de montibus ornos.

rain, and with the sky overcast the clouds falling back.
dreary winter and night, with no one persuading, rise again at evening,
and unseasonably shut up the orb of lands.
over the ridges the waves burst apart, and are rolled even into the lowest
valleys, and drag down the smooth ash-trees from the mountains.

185

intremuere omnes, Dis autem interritus umbras
increpat, et facilem concussit arundine terram.
terra tremit, nigrasque aditum patefecit ad arces.
at dirupta iam ruituris subvolat Auster
nube, pruinosisque cadentes sustinet alis.

they all trembled; but Auster, undaunted, reproves the shades of the dead
and smote the yielding earth with a reed.
the earth quakes, and bares a black approach to the citadels.
but now from a shattered cloud Auster sweeps upward
and upholds the falling frosts upon his wings.

190

Taenarium nemus umbriferum, tacitaeque cavernas
noctis, et aeternum quibus obdormire sepulchris
adsuevit Morphei pater, haec praetervolat aestu
fulmineo, donec portas prope sensit opacas
stantem Hecaten, mediis qua circumcingitur umbris.

The shadowy grove of Taenarus, and the caves of silent night, and the eternal sepulchres to which the father of Morpheus was wont to sleep, these he sweeps over with a tempestuous, lightning-like blast, until he near perceived the dusky gates and Hecate standing, around whom she is girded by the surrounding shades.

195

desilit hic terramque vagis amplectitur ulnis.
laeta viro occurrit Plutonia, dumque stupescit
haud expectatos comites, fugit imbrifer Auster,
et numerosa horret niveis concussa capillis
styria, luctificique fluunt cum grandine nimbi.

he descends here and embraces the ground with wandering arms.
Plutonian Joy meets the man, and while he, astonished,
at unexpected companions, the rain-bringing South Wind flees,
and Styria shudders, its hair shaken with abundant snow,
and the storm’s hail pours forth along with grieving clouds.

200

delitias facit hospitibus, Stygiosque lepores
Dis, et in obscuros Trivia comitante recessus
monstrat iter. stant mensae epulis vinoque repletae,
aureo et effulgent operosa cubilia tecto.
accubuere, canente suam accumbentibus Orpheo

he fashions delights for his guests, and Stygian hares for Dis,
and, Trivia accompanying, shows the way into obscure retreats.
the tables recline with banquets and are filled with wine,
the couching-places gleam, worked and gilded with a golden roof.
they lay themselves down, Orpheus singing his song to those reclining

205

Euridicen, quaeque olim inter Rhodopeia saxa
fudit ad umbrosas quercus, tenuesque miricas.
Quin etiam immites Thressas flevisset, et Hebro
dimersum caput et cytheram, si non dea mater,
flens dea Calliope, nati compresserat ora.

Euridice, and she who once among the Rhodopean rocks
sang to the shady oaks, and to the slender myrtles.
Nay, she would even have made the fierce Thracian women weep, and the Hebrus,
his head and cithern severed, if not the goddess mother,
weeping, Calliope, had checked the mouth of her son.

210

conticuit, subitoque oritur miserabile murmur,
quale sepulturis cum naenia flebilis inter
affines canitur resono plangore gementes.
lugentque Hesperii nequaquam in vatis honorem,
pestiferi sed enim torquentur imagine fontis, 215
visorumque memor furit aegris dira cupido
pectoribus, totasque aedes singultibus implent.
nec sua turpari moesto convivia luctu
sustinet ulterius Cereris gener, atque ita fatur:
"ita leves umbrae, celsas ad sydera pinus

fell silent, and suddenly a pitiable murmur rises,
such as at burials when a doleful funerary-song among
kinsfolk is sung, groaning with echoing lamentation.
And the Hesperians mourn in no wise for the prophet’s honour,
but are indeed tormented by the image of the pest-bearing spring, 215
and a dire desire rages in the sick breasts remembering the seen
and fills the whole house with sobs.
Nor does Ceres’ son any longer endure his banquets made foul by sorrowful mourning,
and thus he speaks:
"thus the light shades, the tall pines to the lofty stars

220

extruite, et fluidas lato super aequore turres,
vosque nisi hospitii pigeat fortassis Iberi.
exhilarate animos, neu quem simulachra dolorem
vana ferant. nam quae niveis fronte insula saxis
emicuit spectans Helecen gelidumque Booten

raise up, and build your watery towers upon the broad sea,
and you, unless perhaps the Iberians be averse to hospitality.
cheer the spirits, lest any simulacra bring sorrow to someone in vain.
for she who gleamed with a snowy forehead of island rocks
gazing at Helecen and chilly Bootes

225

insula, dives opum sedes, veneranda Britannis,
ingentes diffisa suis horrere carinas
discet, et Hispano tandem succumbere ferro."
     cincta sub haec aderat torto caput angue Megaera,
horrida tela, ignes, et ahenea monstra ministrans.           230
ergo incenduntur furiis, Stygiasque ad arenas
armati incedunt, nigros ubi cernere manes
littoribus tot erat, quot apes praesepia circum,
aut aestate solent turmatim irrepere sulcis
formicae. cursansque ignito horrendo flagello

island, rich seat of wealth, venerable to the Britons,
will learn to shudder, its huge keels split from their fastenings,
and at last to yield to Spanish iron."
     circled beneath these things was Megaera, her head with a coiled snake,
dreadful with weapons, tending fires, and brazen monsters.           230
therefore they are set aflame with furies, and, armed, they advance to the Stygian sands
where black shades could be seen along the shores
as many as the bees that circle a hive about,
or as in summer the ants are wont to creep in throngs along furrows;
and running with a terrifying fiery scourge

235

undique Tysiphone cessantes verberat umbras.
iam sed in immensum ceu turres seu iuga Pindi
increvere rates, quas et mirata iuventus
Hesperia, et Stygio faciunt vota impia regi.
incubuere omnes, et olenti littore classem

Tysiphone smites the yielding shades from every side.
but now into the immense, as if towers or the ridges of Pindus,
the ships rose, which both Hesperia’s admiring youth
and the Stygian make impious vows to the Stygian king.
all lay upon it, and the fleet on the scented shore

240

diducunt mare per gelidum, Cynosuris euntes
respicit, aspectu sed dedignante Calistho,
iamque fremens, ut erat vultu illaetabilis ursa
unguibus immites nimbos concussit, et auras
nubibus infestat, pugnamque Aquilonibus Austros

they cleave the sea through the gelid deep, going toward Cynosura they look back,
but Calistho, disdainful of the sight, and now roaring, as she was a harsh-visaged bear,
with savage claws she shook the storms, and harasses the airs with clouds, and sets the Aquilones against the Austri

245

adversum insituit, veteresque resuscitat iras.
     at tu, nympharum Thamesis pulcherrima, limphis
alta tuis, procul ut vidisti hostilia signa,
tu dea flumineam spaciosa gurgite frontem
celata, aequoreas turbasti fluctibus undas           250
donec Ibera cohors ventorum pulsa furore,
et virtute virum, per Hybernica saxa refugit.
illic dira fames Scythicas illapsa per auras,
et Lybico vesana sitis de pulvere nata,
tum Phlegetonteae pestes, rabidique furores,

sets itself against, and revives the ancient wrath.
     but thou, Thames, most beautiful of nymphs, in thy deep
waters, when from afar thou didst behold the hostile standards,
thou goddess, thy riverine brow spacious with flood
hidden, didst trouble the sea-waves with thy surges           250
until an Iberian cohort of winds, driven by fury,
and by the valour of men, fled through Hibernian rocks.
there fell upon them dire famine rushing through Scythian airs,
and maddened thirst sprung from Libyan dust,
then the plagues of Phlegethon, and rabid furies,

255

ingratusque sibi dolor, et sua funera Erinnis
exornans, nigra Hyspanos sub Tartara mittunt.
     sic o sic pereant advorsis undique fatis;
ira Calisthoniae trepidisque impendeat ursae,
sive bibant Tyberim, vel aquas torrentis Iberi,           260
sive Aurora novo, sero vel sole recedens
Hesperus illustret gentes, umbrasque repellat.
sic pereat, quicunque tuas fleturus in oras
vela inimica dabit Brutique nepotibus, et diis,
o vetus hospitium, sanctumque Britannia nomen!

and ungrateful grief to himself, and decking his own funerals with the Erinys,
the black ones send the Spaniards beneath Tartarus.
thus, O thus may they perish by hostile fates on every side;
may the wrath of Calisthonia and of the trembling bear hang over them,
whether they drink the Tiber, or the waters of the rushing Iberian, 260
whether Aurora with a new sun, or Hesperus withdrawing late from the sun,
shall enlighten the nations and drive back the shades.
so perish whoever, weeping, shall give hostile sails to your shores
and to the grandchildren of Brutus, and to the gods,
O ancient hospitality, and holy name Britannia!

265

tuque viresce diu, dea, ceu Daphneia laurus,
tu, dea, tu foelix Anglorum numen Elisa
non aconitum in te virus, non ensis acumen,
nec magicum vim carmen habet, nec flamma calorem.
scilicet integrum divina potentia pectus 270
firmat et humano dedit inviolabile ferro.
ergo diu vigeas: procul hinc fuge, pigra senectus,
Ismarioque cuba glaciali frigida saxo,
vel steriles inter quas alluit Ister arenas.

and you flourish long, O goddess, like the Daphnean laurel,
you, goddess, you fortunate numen of the English, Elisa—
no aconite's poison is in you, no sword's keen edge,
nor does a magic charm possess force, nor does flame possess heat.
scilicet integrum divina potentia pectus 270
fortifies the whole breast and has given it inviolable to human iron.
therefore may you thrive long: flee far hence, sluggish old age,
and from the Ismarian couch and its icy rock, cold to lie upon,
or the sterile sands among which the Ister washes.

i fuge, coelestes animas tentare nefandum est .

Go, flee; it is wicked to tempt heavenly souls.

275

fallor? an excessit tardo per inane volatu?
ecce autem rigidam trahit inter nubila pallam,
et tremit, et cani recidunt horrore capilli.

Am I mistaken? or has he gone forth through the void on slow wing?
behold, however, he draws a rigid pall amid the clouds,
and trembles, and his hoary hairs fall back with horror.

at te, diva, rosis ambit formosa iuventa,
atque Heliconiacas aspergit floribus undas. 280
o diva, o miseris spes Elisabetha Britannis
una, senectutem superes, pulsisque superstes
hostibus, innumeros gemines virtutibus annos.

But thee, O goddess, fair youth enwreathes with roses,
and sprinkles the Heliconian waves with flowers. 280
O goddess, O Elizabeth, sole hope of wretched Britons,
thou alone, outlive old age, and, surviving the beaten
enemies, grant innumerable twin years to thy virtues.