lucasta-第36章
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rous stale； Thus slacked is her Stygian fire； And she vouchsafes now to retire。 Anon the toad begins to pant； Bethinks him of th' almighty plant； And lest he peece…meal should be sped； Wisely doth finish himself dead。 Whilst the gay girl； as was her fate； Doth wanton and luxuriate； And crowns her conqu'ring head all or With fatal leaves of hellebore。 Not guessing at the pretious aid Was lent her by the heavenly maid。 The neer expiring toad now rowls Himself in lazy bloody scrowls； To th' sov'raign salve of all his ills； That only life and health distills。 But loe！ a terror above all； That ever yet did him befall！
Pallas； still mindful of her foe； （Whilst they did with each fires glow） Had to the place the spiders lar Dispath'd before the ev'nings star。 He learned was in Natures laws； Of all her foliage knew the cause； And 'mongst the rest in his choice want Unplanted had this plantane plant。
The all…confounded toad doth see His life fled with his remedie； And in a glorious despair First burst himself； and next the air； Then with a dismal horred yell Beats down his loathsome breath to hell。
But what inestimable bliss This to the sated virgin is； Who； as before of her fiend foe； Now full is of her goddess too！ She from her fertile womb hath spun Her stateliest pavillion； Whilst all her silken flags display； And her triumphant banners play； Where Pallas she ith' midst doth praise； And counterfeits her brothers rayes； Nor will she her dear lar forget； Victorious by his benefit； Whose roof inchanted she doth free From haunting gnat and goblin bee； Who； trapp'd in her prepared toyle； To their destruction keep a coyle。
Then she unlocks the toad's dire head； Within whose cell is treasured That pretious stone； which she doth call A noble recompence for all； And to her lar doth it present； Of his fair aid a monument。
It will be seen that this poem partly turns on the mythological tale of Arachne and Minerva； and the metamorphosis of the former by the angry goddess into a spider （）。
i。e。 CARAK； or CARRICK； as the word is variously spelled。 This large kind of ship was much used by the Greeks and Venetians during the middle ages； and also by other nations。
The poet rather awkwardly sustains his simile； and employs； in expressing a contest between the toad and the spider； a term signifying a naval battle； or； at least； a fight between two ships。
Lovelace's fondness for military similitudes is constantly standing in the way； and marring his attempts at poetical imagery。
A form of RAMPART； sanctioned by Dryden。
Medicinal herb or plant。
Blended。
CAMPANIA may signify； in the present passage； either a field or the country generally； or a plain。 It is a clumsy expression。
In the sense in which it is here used this word seems to be peculiar to Lovelace。 TO PICKEAR； or PICKEER； means TO SKIRMISH。
So that。
THE SNAYL。
Wise emblem of our politick world； Sage Snayl； within thine own self curl'd； Instruct me softly to make hast； Whilst these my feet go slowly fast。
Compendious Snayl！ thou seem'st to me Large Euclid's strict epitome； And in each diagram dost fling Thee from the point unto the ring。 A figure now trianglare； An oval now； and now a square； And then a serpentine； dost crawl； Now a straight line； now crook'd； now all。
Preventing rival of the day； Th' art up and openest thy ray； And ere the morn cradles the moon； Th' art broke into a beauteous noon。 Then； when the Sun sups in the deep； Thy silver horns e're Cinthia's peep； And thou； from thine own liquid bed； New Phoebus； heav'st thy pleasant head。
Who shall a name for thee create； Deep riddle of mysterious state？ Bold Nature； that gives common birth To all products of seas and earth； Of thee； as earth…quakes； is afraid； Nor will thy dire deliv'ry aid。
Thou； thine own daughter； then； and sire； That son and mother art intire； That big still with thy self dost go； And liv'st an aged embrio； That like the cubbs of India； Thou from thy self a while dost play； But frighted with a dog or gun； In thine own belly thou dost run； And as thy house was thine own womb； So thine own womb concludes thy tomb。
But now I must （analys'd king） Thy oeconomick virtues sing； Thou great stay'd husband still within； Thou thee that's thine dost discipline； And when thou art to progress bent； Thou mov'st thy self and tenement； As warlike Scythians travayl'd； you Remove your men and city too； Then； after a sad dearth and rain； Thou scatterest thy silver train； And when the trees grow nak'd and old； Thou cloathest them with cloth of gold； Which from thy bowels thou dost spin； And draw from the rich mines within。
Now hast thou chang'd thee； saint； and made Thy self a fane that's cupula'd； And in thy wreathed cloister thou Walkest thine own gray fryer too； Strickt and lock'd up； th'art hood all ore； And ne'r eliminat'st thy dore。 On sallads thou dost feed severe； And 'stead of beads thou drop'st a tear； And when to rest each calls the bell； Thou sleep'st within thy marble cell； Where； in dark contemplation plac'd； The sweets of Nature thou dost tast； Who now with time thy days resolve； And in a jelly thee dissolve； Like a shot star； which doth repair Upward； and rarifie the air。
Anticipating； forerunning。
It can scarcely be requisite to mention that Lovelace refers to the gradual evanescence of the moon before the growing daylight。 It is well known that the lunar orb is； at certain times； visible sometime even after sunrise。
ANOTHER。
The Centaur； Syren； I foregoe； Those have been sung； and lowdly too： Nor of the mixed Sphynx Ile write； Nor the renown'd Hermaphrodite。 Behold！ this huddle doth appear Of horses； coach and charioteer； That moveth him by traverse law； And doth himself both drive and draw； Then； when the Sunn the south doth winne； He baits him hot in his own inne。 I heard a grave and austere clark Resolv'd him pilot both and barque； That； like the fam'd ship of TREVERE； Did on the shore himself lavere： Yet the authentick do beleeve； Who keep their judgement in their sleeve； That he is his own double man； And sick still carries his sedan： Or that like dames i'th land of Luyck； He wears his everlasting huyck。 But banisht； I admire his fate； Since neither ostracisme of state； Nor a perpetual exile； Can force this virtue； change his soyl： For； wheresoever he doth go； He wanders with his country too。
i。q。 HUKE。 〃Huke；〃 says Minshen； 〃is a mantle such as women use in Spaine； Germanie； and the Low Countries； when they goe abroad。〃 Lovelace clearly adopts the word for the sake of the metre； otherwise he might have chosen a better one。
THE TRIUMPHS OF PHILAMORE AND AMORET。
TO THE NOBLEST OF OUR YOUTH AND BEST OF FRIENDS； CHARLES COTTON； Esquire。
BEING AT BERISFORD； AT HIS HOUSE IN STAFFORDSHIRE。 FROM LONDON。
A POEM。
Sir； your sad absence I complain； as earth Her long…hid spring； that gave her verdures birth； Who now her cheerful aromatick head Shrinks in her cold and dismal widow'd bed； Whilst the false sun her lover doth him move Below； and to th' antipodes make love。
What fate was mine； when in mine obscure cave （Shut up almost close prisoner in a grave） Your beams could reach me through this vault of night； And canton the dark dungeon with light！ Whence me （as gen'rous Spahys） you unbound； Whilst I now know my self both free and crown'd。
But as at Meccha's tombe； the devout blind Pilgrim （great husband of his sight and mind） Pays to no other object this chast prise； Then with hot earth anoynts out both his eyes： So having seen your dazling glories store； It is enough； and sin for to see more。
Or； do you thus those pretious rayes withdraw To whet my dull beams； keep my bold in aw？ Or； are you gentle and compassionate； You will not reach me Regulus his fate？ Brave prince！ who； eagle…ey'd of eagle kind； Wert blindly damn'd to look thine own self blind！
But oh； return those fires； too cruel…nice！ For whilst you fear me cindars； see； I'm ice！ A nummed speaking clod and mine o
