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GILOf th is edition of Boccaccio’
s O lympia550 cop i es have been printed , wh ich
500 are for sale .
This is No .
BOCCACCIO 'S OLYMPIAW ITH ENG L ISH RENDE
BY PROFESSOR I . GOLLANCZ , L‘
ITT.D F .B .A.
PRINTED AT THE FLORENCE PRESS. LONDON
TO COMMEMORATE THE SIX HUNDREDTHANNIVERSARY OF BOCCACClO
'
S BIRTH MCMX
B O G G
O L YEDITEDWITH AN ENGLISH RENDERING
BY I SRAEL GOL L ANCZ
ACC I O’
M P I A
MCCCXII I MCMXI I I
L YMPIAN I From thy laurel that ne’
er fades
O A tender leaf athwart our pathway fal ls ,And , fragrant with sweet violet, recalls
The dearest blossom in thy love-l it glades.
Far from thy Roses .with desire imbrued .Far from thy Garden , where with wanton laysPlague-haunted dames gallants sped their days.A floweretal l too frail thy tears bedew
'
d .
Not F iammetta, but thy Angel-childLed thee foot-sore the Hill-top to ascend ,The h igh O lympus of the undefiled.
There Beatrice on V iolante smiled ,And told of fair Eletta , thy child-fr iend.And playedw ith Pleasant Pear l , sowise and mild .
F ROM BO CCACC I O 'S
P ETRARCH MART IN
T ER S TO
S ICNA.
JOHANNIS BOCCACCI DE CERTALDO
AD FRANCISCUM PETRARCHAM LAU
REATUM FAMILIARIS EP ISTOLA.
NTERL OCUTI sumus in hortulo tuo, assistentibus ex amicis nonnullis. consed imus ; ibi explicatiori placidoque sermone, domum , l ibros , et
tua omnia obtulit, et quantum in ea fuit, matronalisemper gravitate servata . sumpsissem .
lnde has inter oblationes et ecce modestiori passuquam deceret aetatem Electa tua d ilecta mea, etantequam me nosceret r idens aspexit. a m egonon laetus tantum sed avidus ulnis suscepi . Primointuitu virgunculam ol im meam suspicatus. Quiddioam i Si mihi non credis,Cuilelmo Ravennatimedico, etDonato nostro qui novere credito. Eadem.
quae mcae fuit, Electae tuae facies est, idem risus,eademque oculorum laetitia. gestus incessusqueet eadem totius corpusculi habitudo, quamquamgrandiuscula mea, eoque aetate esset provectior,quintum quippe jam annum attigeratetd imidium ,
dumultimo illamvid i. Insuper si idem id ioma fuisset.verba eadem erant atque simplic itas . Quid multa l
FROM BOCCACC IO'
S LETTER TO PE .
TRARCH ,DESCRIBING H IS VISIT TO
FRANCESCA, PETRARCH’
S DAUGHTER.
AT VEN ICE, IN THE YEAR MCCCLXVII .TELLING OF ELETTA, FRANCESCA
’
S
LITTLE DAUGHTER.
E sat chatting in your garden , and someof your fr iends who were there joinedin the talk . Francesca most graciously
pressed me to make myself at home , and profferedme your books 6‘ all your belongings , ! all she hadIwas to consider mine ; but not foramomentdid sheforget the modest demeanour of the perfect wife .Shewas welcoming me , when , lo , there before mewas your dear l ittle Eletta, my little friend ! Howgracefully she came along ! One could not have ex
pected such grace in so young a child . Before shecould knowwho I was , she smiled at me so sweetly.
Whatjoywas m inewhen I sawher !Whatahungerseized my heart as I held her in my arms ! At first lthought it was my own girl ie - the l ittle maid oncemine . Need I say more ? You
'
l l hardly believe me .
But ask DoctorWill iam of Ravenna and our friendDonatus . They know. Your l ittle Eletta is the veryimage of my lost one . She has the same laugh . the
ln nihilo differentes esse cognovi , nisi quia aureacaesaries tuae est,meae internigram rufamque fuit .Heu mihi ! quotiens dum hanc prosaepe amplector, etsuis delectorcollocutionibus, memoria subtractae mihi puellulae lacrimas ex oculis usque deduxit, quasdemum in suspirium versas emisi , advertente nemine .
same joyous eyes , the same bearing and gait ; sheholds her dear l ittle body just the same way. Mygirl ie was perhaps sl ightly taller. but then she wasolder : she was five and a halfwhen I saw her last.Had the ir d ialect been the same , they would havespoken the same words - the same simple artlesswords . I can see no difference.except that Eletta
'
s
hair is golden. while my girl ie'
s was chestnutbrown . Ah me ! how often. wh ile I fondled yourl ittle one , and l istened to her sweet prattle, did thememory of the l ittle daughter reft from me bringtears to my eyes ! How often. when no one ohserved . did I sigh awaymy tears !
EP I STOLA AD FRATREM MART INUM
DE SIGNA.
UARTA decima Ecloga Olymp ia diciturOlympos graece , quod splendidum seu lucidum latine sonat, et inde caelum ; et ideo
huic eclogae attributum est , quoniam in ea plurimum de qualitate caelestis regionis habeatur sermo . Collocutores quattuor sunt : Silvius , Camalus ,Therapon , atOlympia . Pro Silvio me ipsum intellego
,quem sic nuncupo eo quod in sylva quadam
huJus eclogae primam cogitationem habuerim.
Camalos graece , latine somat hebes vel torpens, ccquod in eo demonstrentur mores torpentis servi .Therapon , hujus significatum non pono , quia nonmem ini , nisi iterum revisam librum , ex quo de caeteris sumpsi , et ideo ignoscas. Scis hominis memoriam labilem esse etpotissime senum . Pro Olympiainte llego parvulam filiam meam ol im mortuam eain aetate in quamorientes caelestes eifi ci cives cred imus : et ideo ex Violante dum viveret, mortuamcaelestem , id est Olympiam , voco.
FROM A L ETT E R TO MART I N DA
S IGNA.
H IS fourteenthEclogue is called Olympia,from the Greek Olympus , s ignifying inLatin splend idus or luc idus , 6
‘ so Heaven .
Hence the name Olympia is given to this Eclogue .s ince much is told here in concerning the heavenlyrealm .
“The speakers are four in number : Silvius .Camalus, Therapon . and O lymp ia. By Silvius Imean myself, and so I name myself here , becausethe first thought of this Eclogue came to me in awood . Camalos is from a Greek word signifyinghebes ortorpens, that is, dull or sluggish -a type ofthe lazy servant . Of Therapon I am not givingyouthe meaning ; indeed I cannot recal l it unless I referto the bookwhence I took the rest. So this youwillnot learn from me . You know how slippery is memory, and especially the memory of old men . ByOlympia I mean my l ittle daughter, who died atthat age at which , aswe believe , those who die become the citizens of heaven . ’And so for Violante .as she was named when l iving. I call her nowO lympia-the angel ic.
HERE BEG INS BOCCACCIO'
S FOUR
TEENTH ECLOGUE ENTITLED OLYMPIA, WHERE IN THE SPEA! ERS ARE
S I LV I U S , CAMAL US , THERAPON ,
OLYMP IA.
S I LV I U S . CAMA L U S ,TH ERA PON ,
OLYMPIA
S I L V lU S .
ENTIO , u i fallor, pueri , pia numina rurisL aetari ,6rcantu volucrum nemus omne repleri ,Itque red itque L ycosblando cummurmure ;quidnam
V iderit ignoro ; cauda testatur am icum .
lte igitur, jam clara dies difl’unditur umbris
Praecantata diu ; quid sit perqu irite , qu idve
V iderit inde L ycos noster, compertaque ferte .
CAMAL US .
UM nequit in somnumm iserum componere pectus.lmperatex moll i recubans heu cespite maestus
Silvius. etnoctis pavidas lustrare tenebrasVult puero s longo fessos in luce labore .
S lLV lU S .AMALE , dum primos terris praestabit lberusNocturnos ignes , currus dum Del ia fratris
Ducetad occasum , dum sternet cerva leones ,Obsequium praestabithero sine murmure servus .
S I LV I U S , CAMA L U S . THE RA PON ,
O LYM P I A
S 1 LV lU S .
F I err not , the sylvan sprites rejoice .List, boys , with song of birds the grove is filled .
With gentle whine Luke scampers to and fro ;Something he sees ; as for a fr i end he wags .Bright day , long heralded , bestreaks the shades :Go , seek ye what it is , and what good LukeYonder has seen ; and quickly bring me word .
CAMAL US .
UR master, when alack ~he cannot lullHis aching heart to sleep , from downy bed
Cives orders , and poor we , toil-weary boys ,What recketh he? must forth éview dread night.
S I L v lU S .
NWestern Oceanwhen the Dawn’
s first streakl llumines Earth , when Del ia westward leadsHer brother ’s team , when hinds o
’
er lions vaunt,
A servant then perchance will do as bid .
O Therapon,stabul i tu solve repagula nostri,
Pone metum , videas catulus quid V iderit, oro.
THERAPON .
FESTINA , fac , surge senex ! Jam corripit ignisJam veteres quercus , 6’
noctem lumine vincit ;Uritur omne nemus , fervens jam flamma penatesLambit. Groccursu lucis perterritus intraFestinus redii . Lambit jam flamma penates !
S I LV I U S.Astorum venerande deus , Pan , deprecoradsis lEtvos. o pueri , flammis occurrite lymphis.
S iste parum ,Therapon , paulum cons iste .Qg id istud i
Quid video ? sanusne satis sum ? dormio forsan .
Non facio ! Lux ista quidem , non flamma vel ignis.Nonne vides laetas frondes corylosque virentesLuminis in medio , val idas ac undique fagoslntactas ? Immo , nec nos malus ardor adurit.
THERAPON .
l spectes caelo testantur sidera noctem ,
ln silvis lux alma diem . Quid grande paratur?
But, Therapon , do thou unbar the door !Fear not ; see thou. I pray.what Luke has seen .
THERAPON.
ASTE , sir, arise , come forth ! Our ancient oaksAre all by fire possessed ; l ight conquers night.
The grove is all a-glow ; fierce flames now lapThe very gods within . Awed by the sight ,I hied me thence . The flames the gods now lap !
S I LV lU S.AN , holy God of shepherds . be my help !Go ye , my boys , with water face the flames.
Stay, Therapon ! stay here awhile . What is't ?
What see I ? Am I sane ? Perchance I sleep .
Nay, yonder l ight, it is nor flame nor fire .
Seest not the branches fair, the hazels greenAmid the glow , the beech-trees all aboutInviolate ? _Here burns no evil heat .
THERAPON.
OO ! Skyward ! Spangled stars betoken night .Daylight the wood illumes .What wonder next ?
S lLV U S .
8IC natura vices variat, noctemque diemqueEXplicuitmixtos terris ; nec lumina Phoebae ,
Nec Sol is radios cerno . Non sentis odoresInsolitos silvis , nemus hoc si forte SabaeumFecissetnatura parens ? Quos inde recentesNox peperitflores ? Quos insuper audio cantus ?Haec superos ambire Iocos etpascua s ignant.
OLYMPIA.
ALVE dulce decus nostrum , pater optime . salveNe timeas, sum nata tibi. Qp id lumina flectis ?
S ILV lU S .
ESCIO numvigilem , fateor, seu somnia cernam ,
Nam coram genitae voces 6 dulcis imagoStant equ idem ; timeo fall i , quia saepe per umbrasI llusere dei stolidos.Nos claustra petamus !
OLYMPIA.
SILV 1 , quid dubitas ? an credis,Olymp ia patremL udat, Grin lueam sese sine numine divum
S I LV lU S .
O Nature marks her changes ; day and nightCommingled she displays . But here I see
Nor Phoebe’s beams nor Sol
’
s. Rare fragrancesFeel
'
st not, as if Dame Nature here had madeA grove of Araby ?What flowers freshHasNight brought forth ?Whatstrainshear I above ?Cod-haunted spots 6’ pastures these things show .
OLYMP IA .
AIL . chiefest glory. dearest father, hail !Fear not, I am thy daughter.Why this look ?
3 I LV IU S .FAITH , I know not, do I wake or dream !My child
’
s voice hear I , and her image sweetStands here before me . Fool ! Too oft the godsWith shadows tr ick dul l mortal s. Let us home !
OLYMPIA.
I L V I U S . doubt not ! Think'
st thou OlympiaWould mock her father, or herself reveal
Against G od ’
s will ? To dry thy tears I come .
S I LV 1 U S .
OWknow I ,'
tis no trick of love or dream .
O too be loved ! thy father’
s dearest h0pe !What god restrained thee , child ?Me Fusca toldThat , whilst l journey
’
d to Campania'
s I'i l lIS,Ve suvian pastures , thou from us wast reft ,And. h id in sacred soil , wast lost to sight .Thinking
'
twas so , in misery I mourned ;Iwailed thee , daughter mine , on mountain heights.In woods and far-off glades, and called thee oft.
But me , if I be worthy, tell what hauntsHave held thee this long day.Who gave to theeThy robe so white , entwined with yel low gold ?What l ight shines in th ine eyes, ne
'
er seen before ?Thy comrades who ?Wondrous. howgrown art thouIn so brief time ! Thou seem
'
st for spousal fit.
OLYMP IA.
HE vestments , sire ,wh ich thou to me didst give ,Great Mother Earth holds in her m ighty lap .
These robes , this form , this beauty, heavenly bright ,The Virgin gave : with Her I was. But. lo ,My comrades hast ne
'
er seen before ? Rejoice !
S I L V lU S .
NONmeminividissequidem , nec pulchrior, inquam,
H is Narcissus erat, non tal is denique Daphnis,
Qui Dryadum spes laeta fuit , non pulcherAlexis !
OLYMPIA.
NON Marium Iulumque tuos dulcesque sororesNoscis,6 egregiosvultus ?Tua pulchra propago est
S I LV IU S .
BSTUL IT efligies notas lanugine malas,Umbratas vidisse, meis . Jam jungite dextras ,
Amplexusque meos ac oscula lacta veniteUtpraestem satiemque animam ! Q i as , Pan , tibi laudes,Quas, Silvane , canam ? Pueri , nudate palaestras,Et ludos agitote patrum . Stent munera fagisVictorum suspensa sacris, paterasque parateSpumantes vino ; laetum cantate L yaeum,
Et sertis ornate lares ; altaria surgantCaespite gramineo ; Triviae mactate bidentem
Candidulam , Noctique piae sic caedite fulvam .
Fer calamos pueris,Therapon, fer serta puellis.
S 1 LV IU S .
ICALL them not to mind. More beauteous sureWas not Narcissus, nor was Daphnis such ,The wood-nymphs
’
darl ing, nor Alexis fair !
OLYMPIA
!NOW ST thou thyMarius not , thy Iulus, too ,And these sweet sisters mine ?Thydear ones all I
S I LV lU S .HE down-soft cheeks I knew. the ir image lacks ;Beshaded cheeks I see . Now join we hands
Embrace we now ; and come , let kisses sweetBe pressed , to sate my soul. Thy praises, Pan.How shal l I sing, and thine , Sylvanus ? Boys,Stripyou for wrestl ing ; lead our ancient games !From sacred beeches hang the victors
’
meeds !Let beakers foam ; and jocund Bacchus laud !With garlands deck the gods ; with grassy turfHeap h igh the ir altars ! To Diana slayA heifer white ; to Night a tawny beast !Reeds for the lads, good youth for Iasses wreaths
OLYMPIA.
UNT. S i lvi, calam i , sunt serta decentiaEt s i tanta tibi cura est deducere festum
Ignotos silvis modulos cantabimus istis.
S I LV IU S .MMO ,
silva silet, tacitus nunc defluitArnus,
Et silet omnis ager , pueri , vos atque silete .
OLYMPIA.
‘
VIVIMUS aeternum meritis et num ine GodriAurea qui nuper celso dem issus Olympo
Parthenu in gremium , revocav it saecula terris ;Turpia pastorum passus convitia , cedroAflixus, leto concessit sponte triumphum :
Vivimus aeternummeritis et numine Godri.
Sic priscas sordes , morbos , scabiemque vetustamInfecti pecoris praeclaro sanguine lavit .H incque petens valles Plutarch i saepta refrinxit,In solem retrahens pecudes armentaque patrum :Vivimus aeternum meritis et numine Godri .
Morte h inc prostrata , campos reserav itodorosElysii , sacrumque gregem deduxit in hortosMellifluos, victor lauro quercuque refulgens,
OLYMP IA.
EEDS , S ilvius , have we here , 6' goodlywreaths ;And , if so please thee festal cheer to stir,
Strains wil l we chant thesewoods have never known .
8 I LV IU S .USHED is the wood ; Arno flows silently :Hushed are the fie lds ;6‘ hushed beye ,myboys,
OLYMP IA.
NDL ESS our l ife by Codrus’
grace d ivine !He , sent of late from h igh Olympus down
Into the Maid , the Golden Age recalled ;Shepherds
’
vile scorn He dreed , on cedar hung ;A triumph gave He Death , of H is free will .Endless our l ife by Codrus
’
grace d ivine !
So from the blemished sheep He washed old taints.Old malad ies and sores , with His bright blood ;Then sought He Pluto
’
s dales, broke up his folds ,And brought to l ight the Father
'
s flocks and herds.Endless our l ife by Codrus
’
grace d ivine !
Death slain , Elysium'
s fragrant fields He oped ;To gardens honey-sweet His host He led ,Victor all-bright with laure l and w ith oak
Optandasque dedit nobis per saecula sedes :Vivimus aeternum meritis etnumine Godri .
Exuvias in fine sibi pecus omne resumetIpse
,iterum veniens, capros d istinguetab agnis ,
Hosque feris linquet, componet sed ibus illasPerpetuis, caeloque novo post tempora claudetVivimus aeternum meritis et numine Godri.
’
S ILVIU S.ENTIS , quam stulti L atios cantare putamusPastores calamis perdentes tempora vocum ?
Maenalios vidi juvenes per dorsa L ycaei ,Threicium etvatem solitum deducere cautes
Carmine , nec quemquam possum concedere tanti ,Ut similem natis faciam . Quae guttura l quae vox !
Qu is concentus eratl stipulis quis denique flatus !
Non equidem nemoris custos, regina canori,Call iope, non ipse Deus, qui praesidetantroG orgoneo,aequ iparetl F lexere cacumina quercus,Et tenues nymphae tacitos petiere regressusIn lucem ; mausere lupi catulique tacentes.Praeterea, o juvenes sensistis carminis hujusCaelestes sensus ?Numquam mihiTityrus ol imCantavit similes , senior nec Mopsus apricisParrhasius silvis. Sanctum6 memorabile totum est !
28
And gave us evermore the wished-for homes.Endless our l ife by Codrus
’
grace divine !
At doomsday, when the ir slough all kinds resume ,He comes again , to part the lambs from goats,These to wild beasts, to Thrones eternal those :Anon a heaven new wil l compass them.
Endless our l ife by Codrus' grace divine l
S I L V I U S .HAT fools be we , to think that Latin swainsCan pipe and sinn heirnotes are out of time.
Arcadian youths upon their mountain-slopes,The Thracian sire who with his song drew rocks,Al l have I known yet none so high I holdAs l ike unto theseyouths.What throats what tones !What harmony !What music from the ir reedsThe Guard ian of the Grove , the Queen of Song,Call iope, nor e
’
en the God who rulesO
'
er Hel icon , could vie ! The oaks bent low,
And tender wood-nymphs sought the silent gladesUnto the l ight : yea,wolves and hounds stood mute.Tell me ,ye youths, caught ye the heavenlysenseOfyon sweet strain ? Ne
’
er Tityrus sang so ,Nor aged Mopsus in his sunny wood .
Sacred it is. to be remembered aye
Unto the maids, from me , give snow-wh ite dovesUnto the lads strong bows from Isch iros !
OLYMPIA.
OLD thou them ITo the glorious cl imes we hauntNought mortal comes . Immortals shun things frail .
S_I LV I U S .
HATclimes, oh ,daughterm ine ,whatcl imes, I pray?Yon roof us all will cover ; quiet sleep
Green sward will give ; a turf'
neath oak our board ;The crystal brook our fount of richest draughts ;And our wildwoodlands chestnuts ripewil l bring,And apples fresh : our fruitful herd young kidsAnd cheese .Whatother cl imes , then ,wouldye seek ?
OLYMP IA.
AVE I not told thee , father dear, that EarthThe trappings keeps that thou to me didst give ?
I am not what I was, the child thou knewest ;Now am I numbered with the god-l ike throng.
Me fair Olympus calls , my comrades eke ;Homeward we turn . Sweet father mine , farewell !
S I LV I U S .EAV
’
ST thou me wretched thus. I weep todeath .
OLYMPIA.
ONE, precor, luctus ; credisne refringere fatum
Nunc lacrim is ? Omnes silvis quotcumque creatiNascimur in mortem ; feci quod tu quoque , Silvi,Post facies . Noli , quaeso , lacerare deorumInvidia aeternos annos. Tibi crede quietemPost funus, laudesque pias mi reddito caelo ,
Quod moriens fugi mortem , nemorumque labores.Separor ad tempus, post haec me qu ippe videbisPerpetuosque trabes mecum fel iciter annos.
S I LV IU S .
N lacrimis oculos fundam , tristemque senectam l
Heu. quibus in silvis post anxia fata requiramTe profugam, ex nostris bis raptam viribus uln is ?
OLYMPIA.
ELYSIUM repeto , quod tu scansurus es ol im .
S I LV I U S .
L YS IUM, mem ini , quondam cantare solebatMinciades stipula, qua nemo doctior usquam .
Estne, quod ille canit, vestrum ? Didicisse juvabit.
OLYMPIA.
SEnserat il le quidem vi mentis grandia quaedam,
Ac m parte loci faciem, sed pauca canebat,
OLYMPIA.
WAYwith grief I Th ink'
st thou to burst thy fateWith tears ? As many as created be,
We all are born for death . I have but doneWhat thou shalt do. Rate not with spleen, I pray,The gods
'
eternal years .Trow peace is thineHereafter: render praise to Heav
’
n for me ,That, dying, I
'
scaped death and toils below.
Awhile apart, sure thouwilt see me soon ,And lead with me in bl iss unendingyears.
S ILV I U S .
INE eyeswillwastewith tears, mineagewill pine .After l ife
'
s woes in what wood shal l I seekThee,fleeinghence, twice reft from thesem ine arms?
OLYMPIA.
ELYS IUM I seek, where thou wilt come.
S I LV I U S .
LYSIUM ! The Mantuan bard , meth inks,Sang once 6 piped thereof; was none more skilled .
Is th ine the spot he sang ? Fain would I learn .
OLYMPIA .
IS mighty mind , indeed , some glor iesgrasped,Some beauties of the place : he sang but few
Si videas, quam multa tenet, quam pulchra piorumElysium sedesque deum gratissima nostrum .
S lLV I U S .
UOS tenet iste locusmontes ?Q11 ibus insitus oris?uae nonMinciades vidit , seu sponte reliqu it
Da nobis . Audire fuit persaepe laborumUtile solamen ; venietmens forte vidend i.
OLYMPIA.
ST in secessu pecori mons invius aegro ,
Lumine perpetuo clarus, quo primus ab imisInsurgit terris Phoebus, cui vertice summoSilva sedet palmas tollens ad sidera celsas,Et laetas pariter lauros , cedrosque perennes,Palladis ac oleas optatae pacis am icas .
Quis queath inc varios flores , quis posset odores
n s lenis fert aura loco , quis d icere rivosArgento similes , mira scaturigine circumOmnia rorantes , lepido cum murmure flexus,Arbustis mixtos , nunc h inc nunc inde trahentes ?Hesperidum potiora locus fert aurea poma.Sunt auro volucres pictae , sunt corn ibus aureisCapreol i Grmites damae, sunt insuper agnaeVelleribus u iveis , claro rutilantibus auro ;Suntque boves , taurique simul , pinguesque juvencae
Of all the many joys E lysium holds ,Home of the blest, our Gods
'
most fair abode !
S I LV I U S .HATmountains hath it ? Inwhat regions set ?What he saw not, or what he left unsung,
Tell me ! To hear was oft sweet balm for toil .Perchance the soul will yearn those sights to see.
OLYMPIA.
REMOTE , beyond the reach of sickly sheep ,Brightwith perpetual light, a mountain rears :
There Phoebus first , from Earth below , ascends :On topmost peak a wood , with towering palms,With festal laurels , cedars ever-green ,Peace-loving ol ive-trees , to Pallas dear.Who could describe the many flowers ? the scentsThe zephyrs waft ? andw ho the silvery streams ,Their wondrous waters sprinkl ing all about,Meandering here and there with murmur sweet,And drawing in their course full many a bough?Such golden fruit th
'
Hesperides ne’
er sawGold-hued are birds there , and gold-horned goatsAnd gentle deer ; moreover, lambs are thereWhose snowy fleeces gleam with brightest gold ;And oxen , too , and bulls, and fatted cows ,
Insignes omnes auro , mitesque leones,Crinibus 6 mites gryphes radiantibus auro :Aureus est nobis sol , ac argentea luna ;Etmajora quidem quam vobis sidera fulgent.Ver ibi perpetuum , nullis oifenditur austris,
L aetaque temperies loca possidet, exulat indeTerrestris nebula et nox etdiscordia rerumMors ibi nulla manet gregibus , non aegra senectus ,Atque graves absunt curae maciesque dolorque.
Sponte sua veniunt cunctis optata. Q i id ultra ?Dulcisono resonat cantu mitissimus aer.
S I LV lU S .
IRA refers, sanctamque puto sedemque deorum
Q i am memoras silvam. Sed quisnam praesidet il l i ?Et comites, mea nata , refer, ritusque locorum.
OLYMPIA.
HAC in gram ineo summo sedetaggere grandisArcesilas , servatque greges , 6 temperat orbes,
Cujus enim si forte vel is describere vultus,Incassum facies ; nequeuntcomprehenderementes.Est alacer, pulcherque nimis , totusque serenus,Hujus et in gremio jacet agnus candidus , ex quoSilvicolis gratus c ibus est, 6'
vescimur illo .lnde salus venit nobis , 6' vita renatis.
Resplendent all with gold ; yea, l ions tame ,And griflins tame , their maneswith gold all bright .Golden our sun , and silvern is our moonGrander than yours the stars that shine on us .’
Tis ever Spring ; no southern gale str ikes there ;A joyous calm the place pervades. Earth 's mists,And Night , all things that jar, are banished thence .
Death comes not to the flocks , nor ail ing Age ;And far are grievous cares, and want , and grief.Things wished for freely come to all .What more ?The air, so soft, with sweet-toned song resounds.
S I LV I U S .
ARVEL S thou tell'
stl Sure , sacred is that wood ,The Gods
'
abode ! But who o'
errules it , say ;Who dwell therein , and what the usages ?
OLYMP IA.
ICH , on a grassy mound , in glory sitsArcesilas, shepherding flocks and worlds.
But,verily , would
’
st thou His aspect know ,
It were in vain ; the mind this cannot grasp.
All life is He , too fair, wholly serene ;And in His bosom rests a Lamb , milk-white ,Sweet Sustenance for folk , whereby we l ive ;Thence comes our weal , and l ife to those re-born .
And from Them both al ike there flames a fire.
Wondrous to trow To all things spreads that l ight :The sad it comforts. purges the mind
'
s eye.Counsel s thewretched , strengthens those that fall ,With sweetest love informs the souls ofmen .An aged band of Satyrs. suppl iant,The ir hoary locks with rosy chaplets crowned ,Stand there ;with lute6 song the Lamb they praise.And then the Purple Order, well revered.Their temples al l engirt with laurel greenAt cross-roads these with pipes the true G od sang,And , strong of soul , they conquered cruel toils.Then come the Snow-white Host ; l il ies their browsEnwreathe . To these is joined our l ittle band ,Thy ch ildren fair. The Saffron Order next.Il lustrious, resplendent, with loud voiceSing praises of the Gods, and serve the ! ing.'Mong theseAsylas sang ; how calm his look ,When first the mount received me from the woods !
S I LV I U S .ID myAsylas then ascend the mount ?Worthy was he , gentle , of ancient faith
A noble type. God grant we meet again IBut knew he thee,when to the heights thou camest ?
OLYMPIA .
EMMO equidem applaudens injecit brachia col lo :Etpostquam amplexu s laetos ac oscula centum
Impressit fronti , multis comitantibus, inquit,Venisti
,o nostri soboles carissima Silvi ?
De Libano , nunc , ‘
sponsa,veni , sacrosque hymenaeos
Cantemus, matremque viri mea neptis honora .
Meque trabens ,genibusflexis,quo pulchra sedebatParthenos posu it. Lac ta haec suscepit in ulnisAncillam, dixitque pie
‘
.
“
Mea filia nostris
Ecce choris jungere piis, sponsique fruerisAeternis thalamis, et semper Olympia caelo
Quae fueras terris Violantes incl ita fies.lnde dedit vestes quas cernis . S i tibi narrem
Quos cantus tunc silva dedit , quos fi stula versusPastoris lyrici , credes vix. Omne per antrumInsonu it carmen montis, tantusque refulsitIgnis, ut exuri dixisses omnia flammis,
Et totum rosei cecidere per aera flores.
S I LV I U S .
QUAE sit Parthenos nobis super adde , precamur.
OLYMPIA.
ALMA Jovis genitrix haec est. et fi l ia nati ,Splendens aula deum , cael i decus, inscia noctis ,
OLYMP IA.
GLEEFUL , he threw his arms about my neck ;! issed me a hundred times , embraced me oft :
And then , a mighty concourse with him ,said :
“
Hast come . my Silvius'
beloved child ?Come hither, love ,
’
and Hymen'
s holy laysSing we ; and Manhood
'
sMother honour thou !Then me he led , and down I knelt where satThe V irgin beauteous. Joyful She claspedHer maid . 6 kindly spake :
"
Now, daughter mine ,Enter Our bl issful choirs ; thou shalt enjoyEternal Spousal , as OlympiaIn Heaven known , who V iolante wast.The raiment that thou seest she gave me then .
Were I to tell the strains the woods then gave .The tuneful Shepherds
'
notes, thou'
dst scarce bel ieve .
The mountain’
s song resounded through the caveAnd fire so flashed , that all th ings seemed a-glow ;And scattered from above fell roseate flowers .
S I LV I U S .
WHO is the Virgin ? Tell me now , I pray .
OLYMP IA.
OVE 'S Gracious Mother She , His Daughter ekeTheGods'Queen-Mother,Heaven
’
sGem ,Night sBane
Aethereum sidus, pastorum certa salutisSpes, custosque gregum , requ iesque optata laborum .
Hanc fauni nymphaeque colunt, hancgrandis ApolloL audibus extollit cythara , dominamque fatetur.
Q iae residens sol io patris veneranda vetusti ,A dextris geniti , tanto splendore refulget,Ut facie silvam. montem , collesque, polosque
L aetificet formosa nimis. Cui candida circumAgmina cygnorum vol itant, matremque salutant,Luminis aeterni sponsam. genitamque cientes.
S I LV IU S .ET vos quid, pueri , plauduntdum gutture cygni ?
OLYMPIA.
NOS pueri legimus flores, factisque corollisCingimus intonsos crines , laetisque choreis
Amb imus s ilvam. fontes, rivosque sonoros .Et, mediis herbis ludentes. vocibus altisParthenu placidae meritos cantamus honoresEtgeniti laudes par iter. Quis gaudia silvaeEnumerare queat?Quis verbis pandere ? Nemo !Induatutvolucres pennas , quibus alta volatuExpetatetvideat, opus est ; sunt cetera frustra .
42
Celestial Star, the Shepherds’
certain hope ,Their flocks
’
sure guard , theirwished-for rest from toil lFauns Her adore , and nymphs ; Apollo greatWith lute exalts Her praise , and owns HerQueen .
She , worsh ipful , upon the Father’
s throne ,On right-hand of the Son , full brightly shines .Her Iookthewoods and mountains , hills and poles .Makes glad . Too fair is She . About Her flyWh ite swan-l ike bands ; as Mother hail they Her ,As Spouse and Daughter of Eternal L ight !
S I LV I U 5 .
AND what do ye , while thus the swans acclaim ?
OLYMPIA.
WEyouths cull flowers 6 ,with thewreathswe make ,Our unshorn locks we crown.W ith dances glad
We circle woods and founts and sounding brooks :And . sporting
’
mid the grasses ,with loud voiceWe chant due praises of the gentle Maid ;And eke the Son we laud . The wood
’
s del ightsWho can recount ?Who tell in words ?Not one IF irst must he put on wings , as bird , by fl ightTo seek and see the heights ; else all is vain .
S lLV I U S.
SUNToptanda quidem ; sedquism ih i Daedalususquam
Q i i tribuatpennas agiles, nectatque lacertis,Ostendatque viam facilem , doceatque volatum ?
OLYMPIA.
ASCE famem fratris, lactis da pocula fassis,Adsis detentis, etnudos contege, lapsos
Erige dum possis, pateatque forensibus antrumHaec aquilae volucrespraestabuntmunera pennasAtque , deomonstrante viam , volitabis in altum .
S ILV I U S .UO tendis ? quo, nata, fugis, miserumque parentemImplicitum linquis lacrimis? Heu cessit in auras
Aethereas, traxitque simul , quos duxit, odores .In mortem lacrimis ibo. ducamque senectam.
Vos , pueri , vitulos in pascua pellite ; surgitLucifer, etmediis jam sol emittitur umbris.
EXPLIC IT OLYMPIA EGLOGA QUARTADEC IMA .
S ILV IU S .
’
TWERE to be wished ! But who. as De dalus.W il l give me agi le wings, and bind them on
Show me the easy way, and teach me fl ight ?
OLYMP IA.
HY brother feed , give to the weary m ilk,To pr isoners alms ; the naked clothe , the fallen
Raise ,wh ile thou canst : and l ist to thosewho plead .
Such ofli ceswil l give thee eagle ’s wings ;And, God thy guide, thou wilt to Heaven fly.
S I LV I U S .
WH ITHER, my daughter, whither fleest thou,Leaving thy father tearful Ah , she passed
To upper a ir, and drew the scents she brought.With tears my l ife I
’
ll dree, and fare to death .Boys, dr ive the calves afield ! Lo , Phosphor gleams,And Sol emerges now from m isty shades.
HERE ENDS THE FOURTEENTH EGLOGUE , ENTITLED OLYMPIA.
Y interest in Boccaccio ’s OLYMP IAdates from 1904 , in which year my friendProfessor W . H . Schofield , of Harvard ,
reprinted from the Publ ications of the ModernLanguage Association of America , xix, 1 , an article on
“
The Nature and Fabric of The Pearl .in which he attempted , altogether unconvincingly in my judgment, to disprove the obviousautobiographical interpretation of the poem, andto maintain that its elegiac setting was a mere l iterary device for deal ing with certain theologicalproblems. An Appendix was added embodyingsupplementary information concerning the sourceof the Poem . in which Dr. Schofield stated thatafter his article had been printed his attention wasdirected by Dr. E . ! . Rand , ofHarvard, toBoccac
cio’
s Eclogue . He proceeded to demonstrate thedependence of the Engl ish poem upon the Latinas its direct source , 6 somewhat strangely, insteadof being induced by the new fact
”
to mod ify hisformercontent1on maintained that the undoubtedelegiac real ityof the alleged original actually confirmed his views as to the non autobiographicalcharacter of The Pearl . After compar ing thetwo poems
,he was , however, forced to admit that,
in saying that the Eclogue was its source , he d id
h
not mean more than that it was the starting-pointof the author ’s conception . I do not propose onthe present occasion to traverse his arguments. Iam none the less grateful to Dr. Schofield , althoughafter long study of the two poems I have come tothe conclusion that there is no definite evidenceof any indebtedness on the part of the author ofPearl to Boccaccio
’
s poem , 6 that such parallelsas may be discovered in the two poems are due tothe poets
’
common knowledge , ideas , and bel ief.Moreover, in one striking instance the sim ilaritydoes not really exist. In both cases ,
”
it was pointedout,
“ the poet , grieving for a dead child , fallsasleep on the ground in a leafy arbor but exmoll i caespite recubans indicates a soft pillow,
and not the ground .With the dangers of parallelism before me , I attempted to consider the question independently ; for which purpose I foundit necessary, in the first place , to prepare anadequate text of the Eclogue , and further, inorder to understand it aright , to render it intoEngl ish .
The poem was included in collections of LatinEclogues printed in Florence . 1504 , and in Basle ,1546; and again in
”Carmina I llustrium Poetarum
ltalorum ,
”
Florence . 1 7 19. Al l these texts are unsa
tisfactory, though the last is perhaps the best ofthem. To Dr. Oscar Hecker belongs the high distinction of having d iscovered what he has provedto be Boccaccio
’
s autograph manuscript of theEclogues, including
“
Olympia. H is discovery isset forth in a remarkable volume,
"BoccaccioFunde ,
"
1901 , where among other treasures heprints from the precious volume in the Bibl iothecaRiccardiana at F lorence the text of
“
Olympia.letter for letter, in the poet
’
s own orthography.
minutely reproducing the original.With the helpof this text, I have been able to correct somebad errors in the 1 7 19 text, which I have taken asthe basis of the present edition . The spelling andpunctuation have been normal ized in accordancewith modern usage.Among the ch ief emendationsdue to Dr. Hecker ’s d iscovery, the following maybe noted :
“
mixtos for "myrtos," p . 20 agitote
"
foragitate,
"
24 ;“
surgant"
for"
surgunt, 24 ;“ s it
"
for“
s i,”
so“
moriar’ for “moriat,
”
30 credisne”
forcredisfe ,
"
32 . Many obvious misprints in the 1 7 19text presented no great diffi culty. In one or twocases I have perhaps taken an unwarrantablel iberty in altering Boccaccio
’
s Latin, as in givingCal l iope " for “
Call iopes,”
28;-cp.
“
V iolantes,"
4o
and “ inde ” for “
inque,
”
40 ; but I hope that this
normal izing may be pardoned in so far as it adds tothe pleasure of the reader.The extracts from Boccaccio
’
s letters to Petrarchand Martin da Signa are from Corrazzi
’
s Le Lettere edite e inedite diMesserG iovanni Boccacc io,with some sl ight modifications .The first page of the MS . is reproduced as frontispiece . To Professor Robert Davidsohn , the historian of Florence, I am indebted for much kindness in the matter.In addition to Dr. Hecker
’
s work, the followinginvestigations should be noted : Hortis, Studij sul leopere latine del Boccaccio, 1879 : Zumbini , LeEcloghe del Boccaccio , G iornale stor ico dellalett. ital . vii : Dobelli , I l culto del Boccaccio perDante , G iornale Dantesco , An . v, fasc . v, vi , vn ;EnricoCarrara,Un oltretomba Bucol ico 1899 -thelast an interesting eflort to explain allusions, proper names, and sources, with special reference toDante . So far as diction is concerned , the poet
’
schief debt, directly and indirectly, is to Virgil .Whatever occasional defects may be found inthe Latinity of the poem are amply compensatedby the all-pervading grace of sentiment and feelmg.
The date of Olympia is about 1361 , some two or
three years after the child'
s death at the age offive and a half.It is not known who is to be understood by Fusca
,
probably the child’
s mother. Asylas is evidently areference to Boccaccio
’
s father. ByMopsusHomeris to be understood ; Virgil by Tityrus ; Dante byMinciades.Codrus , forChrist, in Olympia
’
s Hymn,
is explained by the Athenian king’s self-sacrificefor his country
’
s sake . I sch iros is the Greek Taxapéc,strong, mighty. Similarly, the form Parthenos ,withthe second vowel as lengthened
,should be noted .
Arcesilas is probablyused in its etymological senseof
“
Chieftain .
"
A gloss in the margin of the MS .
gives“
L ycos,"
the name of the dog, as from theGreek, and equivalent to
”
albus . Therapon , thesource of which the poet forgot, is evidentlyOepcimuv
,an attendant .
De L ibano, sponsa, ven i , the songAsylas invitesOlympia to sing with him , is from the fourth chapter of the Song of Songs :
Tota pulchra es , am ica mea, et macula non estin te .
Veni de L ibano, sponsamea,veni de L ibano,veni .
Coronaberis de capite Amana , de vertice Sanir etHermon ;
”
etc.
A l ike sorrow befel l two poets , and each foundsolace in song. The one a pioneer of the Renaissance ~ characteristically, under the influence ofhis great I tal ian Master, harmonizedVirgil ian formwith Christian bel ief. The other-a didactic English poet, far from the new l iterary currents -bethought him of the Pearl of the Gospel , and foundhis inspiration in the visionary scenes of the NewJerusalem, coloured by med iaeval allegory. In h ispoem,
“
the river from the Throne " of the Apocalypge met
'
the waters of thewells,"
devised by S irMirth for the Garden of the Rose .In accordance with theological fancy, in eachpoem the transfigured child , grown in wisdom , appears as matured also in age,
“
jo ined in EternalSpousal .
"
No longer the children they were , theyteach with bold authority lessons of resignation 6the mystic properties of Heaven moreparticularly.who in her argumentative skill recallsthe figure of Reason in the at thesame time , to the dreamer she is stil l
“
my l ittle
queen ,
"
and , for al l“ her royal array, his treasure
so smal l and sweetly sl ight. So. too , O lympia’
svoice and image are those of Violante -
“
virgun
cula mea.
"
The child angel ic, matured in Heaven“ for spousa l fit
" is stil l the child for dreamer and
poet. In the ! ingdom all are as ch ildren . And soeven to Dante , in the hour of his imperil led loyaltyto her memory, Beatrice first appears con quel levestimenta sanguigne, col le qual i apparve primaagli occhi miei, e pareami giovane , in sim ile etadea quella in che prima la vidi.
"
Un iversity of London , ! ing’
s CollegeDecember, 1913.
