1567-1620 c. AD
Trans RMBullard
Latin (Renaissance Era)
THOMAE CAMPIANI AD THAMESIN
ARGUMENTUM
Totum hoc poema gratulationem in se habet ad Thamesin de Hyspanorum fuga,
[This entire poem is a celebration designed to the Thames, on account of the escape of the Hyspani,]
in qua adumbrantur causa quibus adducti Hyspani expeditionem in Angliam fecerint.
[when they made a journey to England, the Hyspani, once led out, were overwhelmed consequently by certain reasons;]
eae autem sunt, avaratia, crudelitas, superbia, atque invidia.
[Yet, avarice, cruelty, pride, and jealousy, these were the reasons.]
nympha potens Thamesis soli cessura Dianae,
caeruleum caput effer aquis:
[Hail powerful nymph of the Thames, you willing to yield to the Diana alone, peek out your caerulean head from the water.]
carchesia late
quae modo constiterant signis horrenda cruentis,
ecce tuos trepide liquere fugacia portus.
[Here are goblets, glittering with their bloody signs, which they had just set up, and behold them fleeing your ports in fright.]
non tulit Hispanos crudelia signa sequentes 5
Neptunus pater, et multum indignantia spumis
aequora, non Deus aetherea qui fulminat arce,
nubila qui solvit, ventorumque assidet alis.
[Father Neptune did not bear the Hispani following their unsophisticated signs, nor the sea water raging greatly into a foam, nor did the God, who flashes in his lighting-bound citadel, and releases the storm clouds, and sits upon the wings of the winds.]
ille suos cultus, sua templa, suosque Britannos
proteget,
[It is this one protects their sites of worship, their temples, and their citizens of Britain]
ultricemque suam victribus armis. 10
[and their avenger in her victorious arms.]
nec Romana feret purgatis orgia fanis
reffluere,
[And he cannot bear to have orgies of the Romans poured back into the shrines he has cleansed,]
aut vetitas fieri libamen ad aras.
[or for there to a breach in altars that are forbidden.]
o pietas odiosa Deo,
[o, piety, spiteful to God,]
scelerataque sacra,
[and you wicked rites of religion,]
quae magis inficiunt (damnosa piacula) sontes.
[which have caused more innocent casualties--cursed examples of defilement.]
est locus Hesperiis, Diti sacer, abditus undis,
[There is a land hidden away from the waters of the West, one sacred to Death,]
15
quem pius occuluit Nereus,
[which pious Nereus kept secret]
hominumque misertus
Oceanus,
[and Ocean, the cause of men's misery,]
quemque ipse deis metuendus Apollo
luminis inditio quod detegit omnia, sensit
ignotis sub aquis melius potuisse latere.
[and which Apollo himself, fearful for his divine light that covers all things completely, perceived that it could have rested more secretly beneath uncharted waters.]
at pater umbrarum,
[but the father of shadows,]
cui Nox parit horrida natos 20
terribiles,
[for whom shuddering Night birthed her frightful sons,]
nigro vultus signante corymbo
ille per obscuras petit antra immania silvas
aurea,
[that famous one who, with a black serpent marking his face, sought the tremendous caves of gold through gloomy forests]
silvarum Stygiae sub tegmine nymphae
atra tenebrosis spectant in fontibus ora.
[the Stygian nymphs beneath the foliage of the forests watch the black shores in their shady fountains.]
Eumenides regem comitantur,
[The Rages accompany their king]
et ortus Echidna 25
Cerberus,
[and Cerberus emerges with the Echidna,]
et quae monstra tulit furialis origo,
[and whatever monstrosities the Fury's birth bore,]
quos caput horrendum quatiens sic alloquitur Dis:
[and whoever men thus the shuddering head of Death thusly addresses, while it shakes:]
nympha potens Thamesis soli cessura Dianae,
caeruleum caput effer aquis:
[Hail powerful nymph of the Thames, you willing to yield to the Diana alone, peek out your caerulean head from the water.]
carchesia late
quae modo constiterant signis horrenda cruentis,
ecce tuos trepide liquere fugacia portus.
[Here are goblets, glittering with their bloody signs, which they had just set up, and behold them fleeing your ports in fright.]
non tulit Hispanos crudelia signa sequentes 5
Neptunus pater, et multum indignantia spumis
aequora, non Deus aetherea qui fulminat arce,
nubila qui solvit, ventorumque assidet alis.
[Father Neptune did not bear the Hispani following their unsophisticated signs, nor the sea water raging greatly into a foam, nor did the God, who flashes in his lighting-bound citadel, and releases the storm clouds, and sits upon the wings of the winds.]
ille suos cultus, sua templa, suosque Britannos
proteget,
[It is this one protects their sites of worship, their temples, and their citizens of Britain]
ultricemque suam victribus armis. 10
[and their avenger in her victorious arms.]
nec Romana feret purgatis orgia fanis
reffluere,
[And he cannot bear to have orgies of the Romans poured back into the shrines he has cleansed,]
aut vetitas fieri libamen ad aras.
[or for there to a breach in altars that are forbidden.]
o pietas odiosa Deo,
[o, piety, spiteful to God,]
scelerataque sacra,
[and you wicked rites of religion,]
quae magis inficiunt (damnosa piacula) sontes.
[which have caused more innocent casualties--cursed examples of defilement.]
est locus Hesperiis, Diti sacer, abditus undis,
[There is a land hidden away from the waters of the West, one sacred to Death,]
15
quem pius occuluit Nereus,
[which pious Nereus kept secret]
hominumque misertus
Oceanus,
[and Ocean, the cause of men's misery,]
quemque ipse deis metuendus Apollo
luminis inditio quod detegit omnia, sensit
ignotis sub aquis melius potuisse latere.
[and which Apollo himself, fearful for his divine light that covers all things completely, perceived that it could have rested more secretly beneath uncharted waters.]
at pater umbrarum,
[but the father of shadows,]
cui Nox parit horrida natos 20
terribiles,
[for whom shuddering Night birthed her frightful sons,]
nigro vultus signante corymbo
ille per obscuras petit antra immania silvas
aurea,
[that famous one who, with a black serpent marking his face, sought the tremendous caves of gold through gloomy forests]
silvarum Stygiae sub tegmine nymphae
atra tenebrosis spectant in fontibus ora.
[the Stygian nymphs beneath the foliage of the forests watch the black shores in their shady fountains.]
Eumenides regem comitantur,
[The Rages accompany their king]
et ortus Echidna 25
Cerberus,
[and Cerberus emerges with the Echidna,]
et quae monstra tulit furialis origo,
[and whatever monstrosities the Fury's birth bore,]
quos caput horrendum quatiens sic alloquitur Dis:
[and whoever men thus the shuddering head of Death thusly addresses, while it shakes:]
