CAN A MONARCH BE TRULY HAPPY.

Borne, like thy bubbles (1), onward from a boy (2)
I wanton'd (3) with thy breakers (4) - they to me
Were a delight; and if the freshening sea
Made them a terror - 'twas a pleasing fear,
For I was, as it were, a child of thee,

And trusted to thy billows far and near,

And laid my hand upon thy mane (5), as I do here.

BYRON.

255

CAN A MONARCH BE TRULY HAPPY.

Oh! Philotas,

Thou little know'st the cares, the pangs of empire.
The ermined pride (6), the purple that adorns
A conqueror's breast, but serves, my friend, to hide
A heart that's torn, that's mangled (7) with remorse.
Each object round me wakens horrid doubts;
The flatt'ring train, the sentinel that guards me,
The slave that waits (8), all give some new alarm,
And from the means of safety dangers rise.

(1) Bubbles, globules.

(2) From a boy, depuis ma jeunesse.

(3) To wanton, folâtrer.

(4) Breakers, brisants, flots.

(5) Mane, crinière.

(6) Ermined pride, pompe, robe garnie de fourrure, her

mine.

(7) Mangled, déchiré, navré.
(8) To wait, attendre, servir.

Ev'n victory itself plants anguish here,

And round my laurels the fell (1) serpent twines. MURPHY (Grecian Daughter, Act 3, Scene 1).

SONG OF THE FIRST DESTINY, IN MANFRED.

The captive usurper,

Hurl'd down from the throne,

Lay buried in torpor,

Forgotten and lone;

I broke through his slumbers,

I shiver'd (2) his chain,

I leagued him with numbers

He's tyrant again!

With the blood of a million he'll answer my care,

When Vice triumphant holds her sovereign sway,
And men, through life, her willing slaves obey :
When Folly, frequent harbinger (3) of crime,
Unfolds her motley (4) store to suit the time;

(1) Fell, adj., sanguinaire.

(2) To shiver, v. a., briser, écraser. Ce verbe est aussi neutre et signifie trembler, frémir.

(3) Harbinger, avant-coureur.

(4) Motley, varié, de plusieurs couleurs.

HENRI V. TO HIS SOLDIERS.

When knaves and fools combined o'er all prevail;
When Justice halts (1) and Right begins to fail,
E'en then the boldest start from public sneers (2),
Afraid of shame, unknown to other fears,
More darkly sin (3), by Satire kept in awe (4),
And shrink from ridicule, though not from law.

BYRON.

HENRY V. TO HIS SOLDIERS.

What's he that wishes for more men from England?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin :
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow (5)
To do our country loss; and if to live,

The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous of gold;

Nor care I, who doth feed upon my cost (6);
It yearns (7) me not, if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires :
But if it be a sin to covet honour,

I am the most offending soul alive.

257

(1) To halt, boiter, s'arrêter.

(2) Sneers, railleries, satire.

(5) More darkly sin, cachent leurs crimes avec plus de soin.

(4) Kept in awe, retenu, réprimé, effrayé.

(5) Enow pour enough, assez.

(6) To feed upon my cost, (7) To yearn, chagriner.

vivre à mes frais.

No, 'faith, my Lord, wish not a man from England;
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour,
As one man more methinks would share from me,
For the best hopes I have. Don't wish one more;
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which (1) hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy (2) put into his purse :
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship (3) to die with us.

SHAKSPEARE.

ADDRESS TO THE SUN.

Most glorious Orb! thou wert a worship (4) ere
The mystery of thy making (5) was reveal'd!
Thou earliest minister of the Almighty,

Which gladden'd (6), on their mountain tops, the hearts
Of the Chaldean shepherds till they pour'd

Themselves in orisons (7). Thou material God !

And representative of the Unknown

(1) Which, qui. - N. B. Ce mot n'est plus employé en parlant des personnes, excepté dans le sens de lequel, laquelle, dans les interrogations.

(2) For convoy, pour son voyage.

(3) Fellowship, société.

(4) Worship, culte.

(5) Making, création.

(6) To gladden, réjouir, charmer.

(7) Poured themselves in orisons, témoignèrent leur reconnaissance dans leurs prières.

VIRTUE PREFERABLE TO RANK.

Who chose thee for his shadow (1)! Thou chief star!
Centre of many stars! which mak'st our earth
Endurable (2), and temperest the hues

And hearts of all who walk within thy rays!
Sire of the seasons! Monarch of the climes (3),
And those who dwell in them! for near or far,
Our inborn spirits (4) have a tint of thee,
Even as our outward aspects;

And shine, and set (5) in glory.

thou dost rise,

BYRON.

259

VIRTUE PREFERABLE TO RANK.

What tho' no gaudy (6) titles grace my birth!
Titles, the servile courtier's lean (7) reward!
Sometimes the pay of virtue, but more oft

The hire (8) which greatness gives to slaves and sycophants:
Yet Heav'n that made me honest, made me more

Than e'er a king did when he made a lord.

ROWE.

(1) Shadow, ombre, image.
(2) Endurable, supportable.
(3) Climes, climats, régions.

(4) Inborn spirits, âmes, esprits innés.

(5) To set, en parlant des astres, signifie coucher, se concher.

(6) Gaudy, fastueux.

(7) Lean, maigre.

(8) The hire, la solde.