Chapter 1

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The Augustan Reprint Society

MATHIAS CASIMIRE SARBIEWSKI

_The Odes of Casimire, Translated by G. Hils_

(1646)

With an Introduction by Maren-Sofie Roestvig

Publication Number 44

Los Angeles William Andrews Clark Memorial Library University of California 1953

GENERAL EDITORS

RICHARD C. BOYS, _University of Michigan_ RALPH COHEN, _University of California, Los Angeles_ VINTON A. DEARING, _University of California, Los Angeles_ LAWRENCE CLARK POWELL, _Clark Memorial Library_

ASSISTANT EDITOR

W. EARL BRITTON, _University of Michigan_

ADVISORY EDITORS

EMMETT L. AVERY, _State College of Washington_ BENJAMIN BOYCE, _Duke University_ LOUIS BREDVOLD, _University of Michigan_ JOHN BUTT, _King's College, University of Durham_ JAMES L. CLIFFORD, _Columbia University_ ARTHUR FRIEDMAN, _University of Chicago_ EDWARD NILES HOOKER, _University of California, Los Angeles_ LOUIS A. LANDA, _Princeton University_ SAMUEL H. MONK, _University of Minnesota_ ERNEST C. MOSSNER, _University of Texas_ JAMES SUTHERLAND, _University College, London_ H. T. SWEDENBERG, JR., _University of California, Los Angeles_

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

EDNA C. DAVIS, _Clark Memorial Library_

INTRODUCTION

Mathias Casimire Sarbiewski (1595-1640) vas a Polish Jesuit whose neo-Latin Horatian odes and Biblical paraphrases gained immediate European acclaim upon their first publication in 1625 and 1628.[1] 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.

G. Hils's _Odes of Casimire_ (1646), here reproduced by permission from the copy in the Henry E. Huntington Library, is the earliest English collection of translations from the verse of the Polish Horace. It is also the most important. Acknowledged translations of individual poems appeared in Henry Vaughan's _Olor Iscanus_ (1651), Sir Edward Sherburne's _Poems and Translations_ (1651), the _Miscellany Poems and Translations by Oxford Hands_ (1685), Isaac Watts's _Horae Lyricae_ (1706), Thomas Brown's _Works_ (1707-8), and John Hughes's _The Ecstasy. An Ode_ (1720). Unacknowledged paraphrases from Casimire include Abraham Cowley's "The Extasie,"[2] John Norris's "The Elevation,"[3] and a number of Isaac Watts's pious and moral odes.[4] Latin editions of Casimire's odes appeared in London in 1684, and in Cambridge in 1684 and 1689.

Another striking example of the direct influence of Casimire upon English poetry is presented by Edward Benlowes's _Theophila_ (1652). This long-winded epic of the soul exhibits not only a general indebtedness in imagery and ideas, but also direct borrowings of whole lines from Hils's _Odes of Casimire_. One example will have to suffice:

Casimire, Ode IV, 44

_Theophila_, XIII, 68

Let th' _Goth_ his strongest chaines prepare, The _Scythians_ hence mee captive teare, My mind being free with you, I'le stare The Tyrants in the face....

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.

Casimire's greatest achievement was in the field of the philosophic lyric, and in a number of cases he anticipated poetic techniques and motifs which later grew popular also with the English poets. Thus, long before Denham and Marvell, he practised the technique of investing the scenes of nature with a moral or spiritual significance. A comparison of Casimire's loco-descriptive first epode on the estate of the Duke of Bracciano with Denham's _Cooper's Hill_ (1642) reveals that the Polish poet was the first to mix description with moral reflection, and to choose the gentle hills, the calmly flowing river, and a retired country life as symbols of the Horatian golden mean.

Some of Casimire's richest imagery is found in his paraphrases of _Canticles_, and particularly in Ode IV, 21. Parts of this ode provide a striking parallel to the famous fifth stanza of Marvell's "The Garden." In it Horace and Virgil meet with Solomon, the _hortus conclusus_ of the Hebrew poet merging with the landscape of retirement as we find it in Virgil's eclogues or in Horace's second and sixteenth epodes. Much of Casimire's poetry, is indeed best understood as a conscious effort to apply the allegorical technique of _Canticles_ to the classical _beatus ille_-themes,[5] just as his thought presents an interesting combination of Stoic and Platonic ideas.

The Polish poet, who was a university professor and a doctor of theology, may easily have learned from the Hermetic writers how to combine these great classical traditions. There is direct proof of Casimire's familiarity with the Hermetic tradition in his Ode II, 5 ("E Rebus Humanis Excessus"), which is a paraphrase of _Libellus I_, sections 25 and 26.[6] Since Henry Vaughan was familiar with Casimire's poetry, it is reasonable to suspect that Vaughan's own treatment of Hermetic motifs owed much to this influence. If one compares Vaughan's religious nature lyrics and Casimire's odes, a number of common poetical motifs are easily found, and so we are here again faced with the fact that themes which became popular in England in the mid-seventeenth century were anticipated in the Latin odes of Casimire.[7]

Hermetic ideas are also encountered in Casimire's third epode, which combines a Horatian Stoicism with a neo-Platonlc or Hermetic interpretation of the classical landscape of retirement. An avowed reply to Horace's second epode, it expands the Horatian philosophy through the addition of three new themes: the theme of solitude, the theme of the Earthly Paradise, and the theme of Nature as a divine hieroglyph. Its presentation of the garden ecstasy of the retired _beatus vir_ thus strikes the same note to which we know from Mildmay Fane's "To Retiredness" and Andrew Marvell's "The Garden." In slightly adapted form, these themes were to flourish in the poetry of the Countess of Winchilsea, Isaac Watts, John Hughes, and a number of early eighteenth-century nature poets.

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.[8] 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

1. For a complete bibliography, see Carlos Sommervogel, Bibliotheque de la Compagnie de Jesus (Bruxelles et Paris, 1896), VII, 627-646.

2. In the preface to _The Ecstasy. An Ode_ (1720), John Hughes comments on Cowley's indebtedness, in "The Extasie," to Casimire.

3. Norris's indebtedness has been pointed out by Hoxie N. Fairchild, _Religious Trends in English Poetry_ (New York, 1939- ), I, 110, n. 21.

4. Compare Watts's "False Greatness," "'Tis Dangerous to Follow the Multitude," and "The Kingdom of the Wise Man" to Casimire's Ode IV, 34; IV, 10; and IV, 3.

5. By this term is understood the themes presented in Horace's second epode on the happy country life.

6. Hermes Trismegistus, _Hermetica_, ed. Walter Scott (Oxford, 1924-36), I, 129.

7. No study has as yet been made of Casimire's influence upon English literature, but I hope shortly to publish the results of my own investigation of this problem.

8. Coleridge prefaced his translation of the ode "Ad Lyram" with this remark. See also _Biographia Literaria_, ed. John Shawcross (Oxford, 1907), II, 209. For further critical estimates, see Sir John Bowring, trans., _Specimens of the Polish Poets_ (London, 1827), and Caecilius Metellus, pseud., "On the Life and Writings of Casimir," _The Classical Journal_, XXV (1822), 103-110.

* * * * * * * * *

The ODES of CASIMIRE

Translated by _G. H._

LONDON,

Printed by _T. W._ for _Humphrey Moseley_, at the signe of the Princes Armes in _Pauls_ Church-yard, _1646_.

The ODES of CASIMIRE

_Translated by_ G. H.

_Printed for _Humphrey Moseley_ at the Princes-Armes in Pauls Churchyard 1646. W. M. sculp:_

[Decoration]

_Od. 1. Lib. 1._

Cum infestae Thracum Copiae Pannonia excessissent.

[Decoration]

Od. 1. Lib. 1.

When the hatefull forces of the Thracians departed out of _Pannonia_.

Jam minae saevi cecidere belli: Jam profanatis male 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;

Meq; veraci cecinisse plectro Inter Octobreis, tua festa, pompas, Prisca _Saturni_ rediisse saecla, Approbat Orbis. Aurei patrum niveiq; mores, Exul & sera procul usq; Thule, Candor, & pulchro remeare virtus Audet _Olympo_.

Whilst I with my Prophetique string Thy Winter feastivalls doe sing, The whole world doth with Ecchoes ring Old _Saturn's_ age is ours. Our Fathers pure and golden rule Exil'd as farre as farthest Thule, Justice from bright _Olympus_ schoole Comes boldly back againe.

Lactis, & fusi per aprica mellis Garruli Campos secuere rivi: Et superfuso tumuere plenae Nectare ripae. Laetior vulgo 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.

Pace subsultant juga, pace rident Tetrica rupes: leve separatos Otium colleis amat, & sequestri Gaudia pagi. Te _Ceres_ flavis redimita culmis, Magne pacati moderator orbis, Te suis AEstas opulenta Circum- fundit aristis. Supplici Myrtus tibi servit umbra, Serviunt Lauri: tibi celsa longe Quercus assurgit, tremuloq; pinus Vertice nutat. Siderum praeses, dominusq; terrae, Lucida Romam speculatus aree, Regna tranquillet, Cupidoq; patrem Te velit orbi.

The Mountaines leape, and rough Rocks smile For gentle Peace rejoyceth still Such solitary roomes to fill Hills set apart, 'lone Townes. _Ceres_ with yellow Chaplet, and The Summer rich with eares doth stand, Great Prince of our appeased Land, Thee to encompasse round. The Myrtle begs with humble shade To serve thee and the Laurel's glade; The lofty Oake doth rise; Its head The trembling Pine doth bow; Hee that o're Starrs and earth hath powre, Beholding us, from his bright Towre, Calms all, and sets thee father o're The covetous world below.

Laurus annosum tibi signet aevum: Fata te norint, properentque parcae Nescium carpi tibi destinatos Stamen in annos. Quaeq; formosos sedet inter igneis, Sedulam pro te miserata _Romam_ Virgo, quam circum glomerantur albis Astra choreis. Curet effusas Latii querelas, Virginum castas juvenumque voces Curet, & votis procerum reclinem accommodet aurem.

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.

_Ode 2. Lib. 1._

Ne plus aequo de adversa fortuna queratur.

To _Aurelius Lycas_.

Ode 2. Li. 1.

_That hee would not complaine too much of adverse fortune._

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 hodie Noti, Cras lambent hilares aequor AEtesiae. Moestum sol hodie caput, Cras laetum roseo promet ab aequore. Alterno redeunt choro Risus & gemitus, & madidis prope Sicci cum Lacrymis joci. Nascuntur mediis gaudia luctibus, Sic fatis placitum. suis Tempestiva fluunt fata periculis.

Unmanly howlings, _Lycuas_, leave, Thy sad breast doe not vex, nor grieve; Thy rugged brow from cloudes set free, Although with usuall beames 'on thee The Sun not shines; or fortune late Hath throwne the hardest chance of Fate. With th' waves, that South windes tosse to day, The cheerfull Easterne gales will play; The Sun that now hangs downe his head, With joy from blushing _Thetis_ bed I'th' morne will rise. Laughter and woe Keepe time, and in their courses goe. Cleare merriment succeeds wet eyes, And joyes in mid'st of sorrows rise. Thus pleaseth it the Fates, that flow With various hazards here below.

Fessos duxit heri boves, Dat magnis hodie 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.

Hee who his Oxen tyr'd, did drive, Doth lawes to day, to th' City give: And the same yokes he tooke from those, Upon the Citizens impose. The day-starre great, that man doth see, Whom th'Evening saw in low degree. But if the things that serious are With Fortunes pastimes to compare Doth please you; See, this Country-man Betakes himselfe to's farme againe, Of's jeering neighbours th'only sport, And with those Axes which i'th' Court Hee ruled all with, Cleaves his wood, Whose Helves are made of Laurell good. And if a want of wood there growes, The _Fasces_ on the fire he throwes.

Ad _Tarquinium Lavinum_.

Od. 13. lib. 1.

Non si Sol semel occidit, Non rubris iterum surget ad Indiis; Nec si quos celeris rotae Sors non exiguo proruit impetu, Non lapsos iterum levet, Arguto docilis ludere cum joco. Ne spem projice, _Tarquini_: Cujus paene retro lambere pulverem Et vestigia diceris, Cum fortuna levem verterit orbitam, Effusam super & luto Fumantem poteris cernere purpuram. Tunc & risibus abstine, Neu turpi domino Lumina paveris: Neu calces nimium, memor Fortunae geminam saepe jaci pilam.

To _Tarquinius Lavinus_.

_Ode 13. lib. 1._

As if the Sun that once doth set, From th' blushing East a new birth doth not get As if that those whom Fortunes frowne By the swift violence of her wheele, throwes down, Shee would not raise again with ease, So active in such nimble sports as these. Despaire not (Sir) whose footsteps now Thou'rt said to kisse, and lick the dust of's shooe, Let Fortune her light wheele but turne, And then _Tarquinius_, thou shalt soon discerne From his proud height, him downward thrust, His trampled robes smoking in mire and dust. Thy jeeres and laughter then forbeare, His all-bespattred lookes thou shalt not feare, Nor trample on, remembring how Fortune a double ball doth often throw.

Ad _Publium Memmium_.

_Ode 2. Lib. 2._

Vitae humanae brevitatem benefactis extendendam esse.

Qua tegit Canas modo bruma valleis, Sole vicinos jaculante monteis Deteget rursum. Tibi cum nivosa Bruma senecta In caput seris cecidit pruinis, Decidet nunquam. Cita fugit AEstas, Fugit Autumnus, fugient propinqui Tempora veris: At tibi frigus, capitiq; cani Semper haerebunt, neq; multa Nardus Nec parum gratum repetita dement Serta colorem. Una quem nobis dederat juventus: Una te nobis rapiet senectus: Sed potes, _Publi_, geminare magna Saecula fama, Quem sui raptum gemuere cives. Hic diu vixit. Sibi quisq; famam Scribat Haeredem: rapiunt avarae Cetera Lunae.

To _Publius Memmius_.

_Ode 2. Lib. 2._

_That the shortnesse of mans life is to bee lengthened by good deeds._

The Valleys, now, all clad in gray By Winter, when Sol darts his ray On neighbouring hills, hee'l naked lay, As heretofore. But when the winter of thy yeares With snow, within thy locks appeares, When hoary frost shall dye thine haires, It parts no more. Summer, and Autumn's quickly gone, Th'approaching Spring will passe as soon: Gray hayres, and chilling cold alone With thee will stay. To thy ill colour, Nard distill'd, Nor the renew'd perfumes o'th' field Of flowres, can any vertue yeild, Or tak't away. Thee, whom thy youth hath giv'n to day. At night old age will take away. Thy time to double, is, to lay A fame most bright. Whom snach'd by death, his friends bemone, He hath liv'd long. Let every one Write Fames sole heire: that's free alone, From th' rape of night.

E Rebus Humanis Excessus.

_Ode 5. Lib. 2._

_A Departure from things humane._

_Ode 5. Lib. 2._

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! o fluentum Principia, interitusque 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!

Hic ducta primis oppida moenibus Minantur in Coelum: hic veteres ruunt Murique turresq;: hic supinas Paene cinis sepelivit arces. Hic mite Coelum, sed rapidae ruunt In Bella Gentes: hic placida sedent In pace, sed late 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.

Hic paene tellus tota micantibus Ardet sub armis: stant acies adhuc Pendente fatorum sub ictu, Et dubio furor haesitavit In bella passu: parte alia recens Jam mista Mavors agmina mutuam Collisit in mortem, & Cadentum Caede virum, Cumulisque latos Insternit agros: hic 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.

Nec una Marti causa, nec unius Sunt Arma moris. Bellat Adultera Ridentis e vultu voluptas, Inq; _Helena_ procus ardet orbis. Hic verba bellis vindicat: hic canis, Heu vile furtum! Se mala comparant; Rarum sub exemplo superbit, Nec sceleris scelus instar omne est.

_Mars_ hath his divers Causes, and His severall fashion'd weapons to command. From the Adultresse smiling lookes Pleasure doth fight, and unto Warre provokes, The doting world with _Helen_ burnes. This sordid man, oh base advantage! turnes Revenge of vvords to blowes; Mischiefe begets it selfe, from mischiefe growes. Small sins by example higher dare, Nor doth all sin, alvvaies like sin appeare.

Eous illinc belligera latet Sub Classe pontus: Jam _Thetis_ aenea Mugire flammarum procella, & Attonitae trepidare cautes, Et ipsa circum littora percuti Majore fluctu. Sistite barbari, Ferroq; neu simplex, & igni & Naufragio geminate fatum.

There th'Easterne Sea lyes coverd o're With vvarlike Fleets: _Thetis_ begins to rore With stormes of flaming Brasse, and here Th'astonish'd Rocks all trembling stand with feare. The troubled Sea vvith vvinds beset With stronger vvaves 'gainst the full shore doth beat. Forbeare, cruell men to multiply With fire, Sword-vvrack your single destiny.