APPENDIX. NUMBER II A Latin Epitaph ascribed to Milton, with Cowper's opinion of it. In March, 1793, when Cowper was preparing to publish his Milton, I sent him the Epitaph on Cardinal Mazarine, with the following account of the manner, in which it had then happened to engage my attention. "A very intelligent, and friendly collector of scarce books, sent me, the other day, from his own library, a little old miscellany, published by Gildon in 1692, containing the Epitaph on Mazarine, ascribed to Milton, exactly as I enclose it to you. I perfectly remember reading the Epitaph, when I was young, and admiring it so much, that many detached lines of it remained in my memory. In hunting for it among my own books, I find it in a miscellany of several volumes, entitled State Poems, printed in 1703. The Epitaph is not ascribed to any author in my book; but Milton is named, in the preface, as a contributor to the collection, and I find in the volume no other work that can be imputed to him." Julii Mazirini Cardinalis Epitaphium, authore John Milton. Hic jacet Julius Mazirinus, Galliæ Rex Italus Ecclesiæ Prosul Laicus, Europæ prædo purpuratus, Fortunam omnem ambiit, omnem corrupit; Civile bellum compressit, sed commovit ; Beneficia possedit, et vendidit; Negotiator in templo, Tyrannus in Regno, Prædo in Ministerio, Vulpes in Consilio, Grassator in Bello, Solus nobis in pace hostis. Fortunam olim adversam, aut elusit aut vicit; Et nostro seculo vidimus Adorari fugitivum, Imperare civibus exulem, Quid deinde egerit, rogas? Paucis accipe. Ferreum nobis seculum induxit, sibi ex auro nostro 3 Quorundam capiti, nullius fortunis pepercit, Pluribus tandem morbis elanguit, 7 Vincenni se arcibus inclusit moriturus; 8 Id quidem apte 9 Quæ sivit carcerem ; Diu lædentem animam retinuit, ægre reddidit, 1o Sic retinere omnia didicerat, Nil suâ sponte reddere. Constanter tamen visurus est mori, quid mirum? " Ne morbum quidem novere qui curabant ; Mortuus est tamen, ni fallimur; moriens Reliquit Præsulibus pessima exampla, miscellany of several volumes, entitled State Poems, printed in 1703. The Epitaph is not ascribed to any author in my book; but Milton is named, in the preface, as a contributor to the collection, and I find in the volume no other work that can be imputed to him." Julii Mazirini Cardinalis Epitaphium, authore John Milton. Hic jacet Julius Mazirinus, Galliæ Rex Italus Ecclesiæ Prosul Laicus, Europæ prædo purpuratus, Fortunam omnem ambiit, omnem corrupit; Civile bellum compressit, sed commovit ; 2 Hostes cladibus, cives oneribus afflixit; Omnibus nocuit. Negotiator in templo, Tyrannus in Regno, Prædo in Ministerio, Vulpes in Consilio, Grassator in Bello, Solus nobis in pace hostis. Fortunam olim adversam, aut elusit aut vicit; Et nostro seculo vidimus Regnare proscriptum. Quid deinde egerit, rogas? Paucis accipe. Lusit, fefellit, rapuit: Ferreum nobis seculum induxit, sibi ex auro nostro Aureum fecit. 4 Quorundam capiti, nullius fortunis pepercit, 6 Plures ei mortes cœlo irrogante, & Quæ sivit carcerem ; 5 Diu lædentem animam retinuit, ægre reddidit, 1o Sic retinere omnia didicerat, Nil suâ sponte reddere. Constanter tamen visurus est mori, quid mirum? " Ne morbum quidem novere qui curabant ; Mortuus est tamen, ni fallimur; moriens Regem regno, Regnum Regi restituit; Reliquit Præsulibus pessima exampla, 3 |