The Sonnets, Triumphs, and Other Poems of Petrarch Part 101

In all things else my fortune was complete, In this alone some cause had I to mourn That first I saw the light in humble earth, And still, in sooth, it grieves that I was born Far from the flowery nest where you had birth; Yet fair to me the land where your love bless'd; Haply that heart, which I alone possess'd, Elsewhere had others loved, myself unseen, And I, now voiced by fame, had there inglorious been."

"Ah, no!" I cried, "howe'er the spheres might roll, Wherever born, immutable and whole, In life, in death, my great love had been yours."

"Enough," she smiled, "its fame for aye endures, And all my own! but pleasure has such power, Too little have we reck'd the growing hour; Behold! Aurora, from her golden bed, Brings back the day to mortals, and the sun Already from the ocean lifts his head.

Alas! he warns me that, my mission done, We here must part. If more remain to say, Sweet friend! in speech be brief, as must my stay."

Then I: "This kindest converse makes to me All sense of my long suffering light and sweet: But lady! for that now my life must be Hateful and heavy, tell me, I entreat, When, late or early, we again shall meet?"

"If right I read the future, long must you Without me walk the earth."

She spoke, and pa.s.s'd from view.

MACGREGOR.

THE TRIUMPH OF FAME.

PART I.

_Da poi che Morte trionf nel volto._

When cruel Death his paly ensign spread Over that face, which oft in triumph led My subject thoughts; and beauty's sovereign light, Retiring, left the world immersed in night; The Phantom, with a frown that chill'd the heart, Seem'd with his gloomy pageant to depart, Exulting in his formidable arms, And proud of conquest o'er seraphic charms.

When, turning round, I saw the Power advance That breaks the gloomy grave's eternal trance, And bids the disembodied spirit claim The glorious guerdon of immortal Fame.

Like Phosphor, in the sullen rear of night, Before the golden wheels of orient light He came. But who the tendant pomp can tell, What mighty master of the corded sh.e.l.l Can sing how heaven above accordant smiled, And what bright pageantry the prospect fill'd.

I look'd, but all in vain: the potent ray Flash'd on my sight intolerable day At first; but to the splendour soon inured, My eyes perused the pomp with sight a.s.sured.

True dignity in every face was seen, As on they march'd with more than mortal mien; And some I saw whom Love had link'd before, Enn.o.bled now by Virtue's lofty lore.

Caesar and Scipio on the dexter hand Of the bright G.o.ddess led the laurell'd band.

One, like a planet by the lord of day, Seem'd o'er-illumined by her splendid ray, By brightness hid; for he, to virtue true, His mind from Love's soft bondage n.o.bly drew.

The other, half a slave to female charms, Parted his homage to the G.o.d of arms And Love's seductive power: but, close and deep, Like files that climb'd the Capitolian steep In years of yore, along the sacred way A martial squadron came in long array.

In ranges as they moved distinct and bright, On every burganet that met the light, Some name of long renown, distinctly read, O'er each majestic brow a glory shed.

Still on the n.o.ble pair my eyes I bent, And watch'd their progress up the steep ascent.

The second Scipio next in line was seen, And he that seem'd the lure of Egypt's queen; With many a mighty chief I there beheld, Whose valorous hand the battle's storm repell'd.

Two fathers of the great Cornelian name, With their three n.o.ble sons who shared their fame, One singly march'd before, and, hand in hand, His two heroic partners trod the strand.

The last was first in fame; but brighter beams His follower flung around in solar streams.

Metaurus' champion, whom the moon beheld, When his resistless spears the current swell'd With Libya's hated gore, in arms renown'd Was he, nor less with Wisdom's olive crown'd.

Quick was his thought and ready was his hand, His power accomplish'd what his reason plann'd; He seem'd, with eagle eye and eagle wing, Sudden on his predestined game to spring.

But he that follow'd next with step sedate Drew round his foe the viewless snare of fate; While, with consummate art, he kept at bay The raging foe, and conquer'd by delay.

Another Fabius join'd the stoic pair, The Pauli and Marcelli famed in war; With them the victor in the friendly strife, Whose public virtue quench'd his love of life.

With either Brutus ancient Curius came; Fabricius, too, I spied, a n.o.bler name (With his plain russet gown and simple board) Than either Lydian with her golden h.o.a.rd.

Then came the great dictator from the plough; And old Serra.n.u.s show'd his laurell'd brow.

Marching with equal step. Camillus near, Who, fresh and vigorous in the bright career Of honour, sped, and never slack'd his pace, Till Death o'ertook him in the n.o.ble race, And placed him in a sphere of fame so high, That other patriots fill'd a lower sky.

Even those ungrateful lands that seal'd his doom Recall'd the hanish'd man to rescue Rome.

Torquains nigh, a sterner spectre stood, His fasces all besmear'd with filial blood: He childless to the shades resolved to go, Rather than Rome a moment should forego That dreadful discipline, whose rigid lore Had spread their triumphs round from sh.o.r.e to sh.o.r.e.

Then the two Decii came, by Heaven inspired, Divinely bold, as when the foe retired Before their Heaven-directed march, amazed, When on the self-devoted men they gazed, Till they provoked their fate. And Curtius nigh, As when to heaven he cast his upward eye, And all on fire with glory's opening charms, Plunged to the Shades below with clanging arms, Laevinus, Mummius, with Flaminius show'd, Like meaner lights along the heavenly road; And he who conquer'd Greece from sea to sea, Then mildly bade th' afflicted race be free.

Next came the dauntless envoy, with his wand, Whose more than magic circle on the sand The frenzy of the Syrian king confined: O'er-awed he stood, and at his fate repined.

Great Manlius, too, who drove the hostile throng p.r.o.ne from the steep on which his members hung, (A sad reverse) the hungry vultures' food, When Roman justice claim'd his forfeit blood.

Then Cocles came, who took his dreadful stand Where the wide arch the foaming torrent spann'd, Stemming the tide of war with matchless might, And turn'd the heady current of the fight.

And he that, stung with fierce vindictive ire, Consumed his erring hand with hostile fire.

Duillius next and Catulus were seen, Whose daring navies plough'd the billowy green That laves Pelorus and the Sardian sh.o.r.e, And dyed the rolling waves with Punic gore.

Great Appius next advanced in sterner mood, Who with patrician loftiness withstood The clamours of the crowd. But, close behind, Of gentler manners and more equal mind, Came one, perhaps the first in martial might, Yet his dim glory cast a waning light; But neither Bacchus, nor Alcmena's son Such trophies yet by east or west have won; Nor he that in the arms of conquest died, As he, when Rome's stern foes his valour tried Yet he survived his fame. But luckier far Was one that follow'd next, whose golden star To better fortune led, and mark'd his name Among the first in deeds of martial fame: But cruel was his rage, and dipp'd in gore By civil slaughter was the wreath he wore.

A less-ensanguined laurel graced the head Of him that next advanced with lofty tread, In martial conduct and in active might Of equal honour in the fields of fight.

Then great Volumnius, who expell'd the pest Whose spreading ills the Romans long distress'd.

Rutilius Ca.s.sus, Philo next in sight Appear'd, like twinkling stars that gild the night.

Three men I saw advancing up the vale, Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail; Dentatus, long in standing fight renown'd, Sergius and Scaeva oft with conquest crown'd; The triple terror of the hostile train, On whom the storm of battle broke in vain.

Another Sergius near with deep disgrace Marr'd the long glories of his ancient race, Marius, then, the Cimbrians who repell'd From fearful Rome, and Lybia's tyrant quell'd.

And Fulvius, who Campania's traitors slew, And paid ingrat.i.tude with vengeance due.

Another n.o.bler Fulvius next appear'd; And there the Father of the Gracchi rear'd A solitary crest. The following form Was he that often raised the factious storm-- Bold Catulus, and he whom fortune's ray Illumined still with beams of cloudless day; Yet fail'd to chase the darkness of the mind, That brooded still on loftier hopes behind.

From him a n.o.bler line in two degrees Reduced Numidia to reluctant peace.

Crete, Spain, and Macedonia's conquer'd lord Adorn'd their triumphs and their treasures stored.

Vespasian, with his son, I next survey'd, An angel soul in angel form array'd; Nor less his brother seem'd in outward grace, But h.e.l.l within belied a beauteous face.

Then Nerva, who retrieved the falling throne, And Trajan, by his conquering eagles known.

Adrian, and Antonine the just and good, He, with his son, the golden age renew'd; And ere they ruled the world, themselves subdued.

Then, as I turn'd my roving eyes around, Quirinus I beheld with laurel crown'd, And five succeeding kings. The sixth was lost, By vice degraded from his regal post; A sentence just, whatever pride may claim, For virtue only finds eternal Fame.

BOYD.

PART II.

_Pien d' infinita e n.o.bil maraviglia._

Full of ecstatic wonder at the sight, I view'd Bellona's minions, famed in fight; A brotherhood, to whom the circling sun No rivals yet beheld, since time begun.-- But ah! the Muse despairs to mount their fame Above the plaudits of historic Fame.

But now a foreign band the strain recalls-- Stern Hannibal, that shook the Roman walls; Achilles, famed in Homer's lasting lay, The Trojan pair that kept their foes at bay; Susa's proud rulers, a distinguish'd pair, And he that pour'd the living storm of war On the fallen thrones of Asia, till the main, With awful voice, repell'd the conquering train.

Another chief appear'd, alike in name, But short was his career of martial fame; For generous valour oft to fortune yields, Too oft the arbitress of fighting fields.

The three ill.u.s.trious Thebans join'd the train, Whose n.o.ble names adorn a former strain; Great Ajax with Tydides next appear'd, And he that o'er the sea's broad bosom steer'd In search of sh.o.r.es unknown with daring prow, And ancient Nestor, with his looks of snow, Who thrice beheld the race of man decline, And hail'd as oft a new heroic line: Then Agamemnon, with the Spartan's shade, One by his spouse forsaken, one betray'd: And now another Spartan met my view, Who, cheerly, call'd his self-devoted crew To banquet with the ghostly train below, And with unfading laurels deck'd the brow; Though from a bounded stage a softer strain Was his, who next appear'd to cross the plain: Famed Alcibiades, whose siren spell Could raise the tide of pa.s.sion, or repel With more than magic sounds, when Athens stood By his superior eloquence subdued.

The Marathonian chief, with conquest crown'd, With Cimon came, for filial love renown'd; Who chose the dungeon's gloom and galling chain His captive father's liberty to gain; Themistocles and Theseus met my eye; And he that with the first of Rome could vie In self-denial; yet their native soil, Insensate to their long ill.u.s.trious toil, To each denied the honours of a tomb, But deathless fame reversed the rigid doom, And show'd their worth in more conspicuous light Through the surrounding shades of envious night.

Great Phocion next, who mourn'd an equal fate, Expell'd and exiled from his parent state; A foul reward! by party rage decreed, For acts that well might claim a n.o.bler meed: There Pyrrhus, with Numidia's king behind, Ever in faithful league with Rome combined, The bulwark of his state. Another nigh, Of Syracuse, I saw, a firm ally To Italy, like him. But deadly hate, Repulsive frowns, and love of stern debate, Hamilcar mark'd, who at a distance stood, And eyed the friendly pair in hostile mood.

The royal Lydian, with distracted mien, Just as he 'scaped the vengeful flame, was seen And Syphax, who deplored an equal doom, Who paid with life his enmity of Rome; And Brennus, famed for sacrilegious spoil, That, overwhelm'd beneath the rocky pile, Atoned the carnage of his cruel hand, Join'd the long pageant of the martial band; Who march'd in foreign or barbarian guise From every realm and clime beneath the skies But different far in habit from the rest, One tribe with reverent awe my heart impress'd: There he that entertain'd the grand design To build a temple to the Power Divine; With him, to whom the oracles of Heaven The task to raise the sacred pile had given: The task he soon fulfill'd by Heaven a.s.sign'd,-- But let the n.o.bler temple of the mind To ruin fall, by Love's alluring sway Seduced from duty's hallow'd path astray; Then he that on the flaming hill survived That sight no mortal else beheld, and lived-- The Eternal One, and heard, with awe profound, That awful voice that shakes the globe around; With him who check'd the sun in mid career, And stopp'd the burning wheels that mark the sphere, (As a well-managed steed his lord obeys, And at the straiten'd rein his course delays,) And still the flying war the tide of day Pursued, and show'd their bands in wild dismay.-- Victorious faith! to thee belongs the prize; In earth thy power is felt, and in the circling skies.-- The father next, who erst by Heaven's command Forsook his home, and sought the promised land; The hallow'd scene of wide-redeeming grace: And to the care of Heaven consign'd his race.

Then Jacob, cheated in his amorous vows, Who led in either hand a Syrian spouse; And youthful Joseph, famed for self-command, Was seen, conspicuous midst his kindred band.

Then stretching far my sight amid the train That hid, in countless crowds, the shaded plain, Good Hezekiah met my raptured sight, And Manoah's son, a prey to female sleight; And he, whose eye foresaw the coming flood, With mighty Nimrod nigh, a man of blood; Whose pride the heaven-defying tower design'd, But sin the rising fabric undermined.

Great Maccabeus next my notice claim'd, By Love to Zion's broken laws inflamed; Who rush'd to arms to save a sinking state, Scorning the menace of impending Fate Now satiate with the view, my languid sight Had fail'd, but soon perceived with new delight A train, like Heaven's descending powers, appear, Whose radiance seem'd my cherish'd sight to clear There march'd in rank the dames of ancient days, Antiope, renown'd for martial praise; Orithya near, in glittering armour shone, And fair Hippolyta that wept her son; The sisters whom Alcides met of yore In arms on Thermodon's distinguish'd sh.o.r.e; When he and Theseus foil'd the warlike pair, By force compell'd the nuptial rite to share.

The widow'd queen, who seem'd with tranquil smile To view her son upon the funeral pile; But brooding vengeance rankled deep within, So Cyrus fell within the fatal gin: Misconduct, which from age to age convey'd, O'er her long glories cast a funeral shade.

I saw the Amazon whom Ilion mourn'd, And her for whom the flames of discord burn'd, Betwixt the Trojan and Rutulian train When her affianced lover press'd the plain; And her, that with dishevell'd tresses flew, Half-arm'd, half-clad, her rebels to subdue.

Her partner too in lawless love I spied, A Roman harlot, an incestuous bride.

But Tadmor's queen, with n.o.bler fires inflamed, The pristine glory of the s.e.x reclaim'd, Who in the spring of life, in beauty's bloom, Her heart devoted to her husband's tomb; True to his dust, aspiring to the crown Of virtue, in such years but seldom known: With temper'd mail she hid her snowy breast, And with Bellona's helm and nodding crest Despising Cupid's lore, her charms conceal'd, And led the foes of Latium to the field.

The shock at ancient Rome was felt afar, And Tyber trembled at the distant war Of foes she held in scorn: but soon she found That Mars his native tribes with conquest crown'd And by her haughty foes in triumph led, The last warm tears of indignation shed.

O fair Bethulian! can my vagrant song O'erpa.s.s thy virtues in the nameless throng, When he that sought to lure thee to thy shame Paid with his sever'd head his frantic flame?

Can Ninus be forgot, whose ancient name Begins the long roll of imperial fame?

And he whose pride, by Heaven's imperial doom, Reduced among the grazing herd to roam?

Belus, who first beheld the nations sway To idols, from the Heaven-directed way, Though he was blameless? Where does he reside Who first the dangerous art of magic tried?

O Cra.s.sus! much I mourn the baleful star That o'er Euphrates led the storm of war.

Thy troops, by Parthian snares encircled round, Mark'd with Hesperia's shame the b.l.o.o.d.y ground; And Mithridates, Rome's incessant foe, Who fled through burning plains and tracts of snow Their fell pursuit. But now, the parting strain Must pa.s.s, with slight survey, the coming train: There British Arthur seeks his share of fame, And three Caesarian victors join their claim; One from the race of Libya, one from Spain, And last, not least, the pride of fair Lorraine, With his twelve n.o.ble peers. Goffredo's powers Direct their march to Salem's sacred towers; And plant his throne beneath the Asian skies, A sacred seat that now neglected lies.

Ye lords of Christendom! eternal shame For ever will pursue each royal name, And tell your wolfish rage for kindred blood, While Paynim hounds profane the seat of G.o.d!

With him the Christian glory seem'd to fall, The rest was hid behind oblivion's pall; Save a few honour'd names, inferior far In peace to guide, or point the storm of war.

Yet e'en among the stranger tribes were found A few selected names, in song renown'd.

First, mighty Saladin, his country's boast, The scourge and terror of the baptized host.

Noradin, and Lancaster fierce in arms, Who vex'd the Gallic coast with long alarms.

I look'd around with painful search to spy If any martial form should meet my eye Familiar to my sight in worlds above, The willing objects of respect or love; And soon a well-known face my notice drew, Sicilia's king, to whose sagacious view The scenes of deep futurity display'd Their birth, through coming Time's disclosing shade.

There my Colonna, too, with glad surprise, 'Mid the pale group, a.s.sail'd my startled eyes.