TRANSLATIONS. SONG OF THE SAILORS OF SALAMIS. (From SOPHOCLES, Ajax, v. 596.) FAIR Salamis, the billow's roar Thy son is in a foreign clime Where Ida feeds her countless flocks, Far from thy dear remembered rocks, Worn by the waste of time,Comfortless, nameless, hopeless,--save In the dark prospect of the yawning grave. And Ajax, in his deep distress Allied to our disgrace, Hath cherished in his loneliness The bosom friend's embrace. Frenzy hath seized thy dearest son, The deeds that he hath done Seem hostile all to hostile eyes ; The sons of Atreus see them, and despise. Woe to the mother, in her close of day, Her loved one's story whispered in her ear! 66 No quiet murmur like the tremulous wail Piercing, and wild, and loud, shall mourn the tale; there. Oh! when the pride of Græcia's noblest race Sets rayless-joyless-quenched in cold decay, The never-waking sleep, than linger on, Thou wretched father, for thy dearest son, Thy best beloved, by inward Furies torn, The deepest, bitterest curse, thine ancient house hath borne ! (NOVEMBER 29, 1821.) THE DEATH OF AJAX.* (From OVID'S Metamorphoses.) THE Kings were moved; conviction hung The weapons of the fallen brave. That Chief, unshrinking, unsubdued, Had grasped his spear in fire and feud Had stemmed fierce Hector's wild alarm,-- By nothing could the hero fall Save by the pangs that conquer all! He snatched the falchion from his side; In many a glorious field of yore This blade has blushed with Phrygian gore, * This and the two succeeding pieces were written in a College Examination. 15* And when mine own shall glisten, mine A warrior by a warrior's brand.” He spoke, and, smiling sternly, pressed The same fair flower had wept beside It syllables on every leaf (MAY, 1822.) ENEAS AND THE SIBYL. (From VIRG. Æn. vi. 255.) BUT look, where first the God of Day Shriek out their ominous moan. She spoke, and through the cavern led: They went, unseen, through cold and cloud, Mirk was the air, as when through night |