APPENDIX.
[Allusion is made, more than once, in this volume, to Cardinal Mezzofanti’s habit of amusing himself and his friends by writing short metrical pieces in various languages, and of composing or correcting the odes recited by the pupils at the annual Polyglot Academy of the Propaganda. In the absence of other data for judging of his skill as a linguist, these fragments, trifling though they be, are of considerable interest; and I had hopes of being able to form a little collection of them, as a contribution to the enquiry regarding him. Unfortunately my search for these remains, trivial and fugitive as most of them must have been, has been very unsuccessful. I am only able to add a few to those which appear in the sheet of fac-similes, or which have been already incidentally introduced in the course of the narrative.
The short pieces recited at the Propaganda Academy, being the property of the pupils themselves, are not preserved in the college archives. I have only succeeded in obtaining four of these pieces:—two from Rome, a Greek Anacreontic Ode, and a couple of stanzas in the Grisons dialect; and two in Angolese from the Rev. Charles Fernando, Missionary Apostolic in Ceylon.
The Abbate Mazza, Vice-Rector of the Pontifical Seminary at Bologna, has kindly sent me a Hebrew Psalm addressed by Mezzofanti, as a tribute on his Jubilee (or the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination as a priest), to his old friend and master, Father Emmanuel Aponte; and a Latin Hexameter Poem, descriptive of St. Peter’s Church at Rome, recited by him in the Accademia degli Arcadi, on his being elected a member of that body.
These little pieces, it need hardly be said, are offered merely as specimens of Mezzofanti’s power as a linguist, and not as possessing any striking excellence, whether of poetry or sentiment. It is only just to his memory to add that, judging from his well-known habit of composition, they may all be presumed to be literally impromptu, and are entitled to the full indulgence usually accorded to such productions.]
I. Hebrew Psalm,[576] addressed to Father Emmanuel Aponte—on the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination.
לסיוף מהזופאנתי
א. שמך עמנואל שס טוב כשמן תורף ץל כן רצו נץריﬦ ואהיבוך וזקניﬦ גם המה בקשו חכמה שפתיך
ב. מה גאוו צל צייﬦ רגליך מבשר משמיץ משמיץ שלוס מבשר טוב משמיץ ישוץה
ג. אור גגה בארצסו בץﬨ באך ממזרת מאז הגדלת השמחה והרביﬨ דץﬨ ומוםר נﬨﬨ לרﬥ דורשי בינה ואור פני אדני בכל מץשיך ראו ץינינו
ד. הנה היום החלפת כנשר לבוא משכנות אדגי ואחרי חמישים שנﬣ תוצא עוד לחם ויין כהן לאל ץליון כהן ץולם ץל דברתי מלכיצדך
ה. לכו נננו לארנדי ﬨשוץה לעור ישץנו כי התלה זקן טוכ חסיד לו לגשת אליו לכהן להתפלל לפניו ולכתר ץןיגו
ו. גתת ארני לעמגואל חן וכבוד כי ﬣלך בתמים למד חןכמה ועאה עדק
ז. וץﬨה לנך אזנך אלהיﬦ מלך הכבור ץנה עבדיך תלמידי זקן טוב תן לו ארך ומיﬦ ורצון וברכה תעטרהו
Transcriber’s Note: A better version might be:
ליוסף מהזופאנתי
א. שמך עמנואל שם טוב כשמן תורק על כן רצו נערים ואהיבוך וזקנים גם המה בקשו חכמה שפתיך
ב. מה גאוו על איים רגליך מבשר משמיע משמיע שלום מבשר טוב משמיע ישועה
ג. אור נגה בארצנו בעת באך ממזרח מאז הגדלת השמחה והרבית דעה ומוסר נתת לכל דורשי בינה ואור פני אדני בכל מעשיך ראו עינינו
ד. הנה היום החלפת כנשר לבוא משכנות אדגי ואחרי חמישים שנה תוצא עוד לחם ויין כהן לאל עליון כהן עולם על דברתי מלכיצדך
ה. לכו רננו לאדני תשועה לצור ישענו כי הפלה זקן טוב חסיד לו לגשת אליו לכהן להתפלל לפניו ולכפר עלינו
ו. נתת אדני לעמגואל חן וכבוד כי הלך בתמים למד חכמה ועאה עדק
ז. ועתה לנך אזנך אלהים מלך הכבוד ענה עבדיך תלמידי זקן טוב תן לו ארך יומים ורצון וברכה תעטרהו
Latin Translation.
Josephus Mezzofanti.
1. Nomen tuum, Emanuel, nomen bonum, sicut oleum effusum, propterea excurrerunt adolescentes, et dilexerunt te. Et senes ipsi quoque quæsierunt sapientiam labiorum tuorum,
2. Quam speciosi fuerunt in insulis pedes tui, evangelizans predicator! prædicans pacem, evangelizans bonum, prædicans salutem!
3. Luxfulsit in terra nostra, quando venisti ab oriente: ex eo tempore magnificasti lætitiam et multiplicasti scientiam, et eruditionem dedisti omnibus quærentibus intelligentiam; et lumen vultus Domini in omnibus operibus tuis viderunt oculi nostri.
4. Ecce hodie innovas te sicut aquila, ut intres in habitacula Domini: et post quinquaginta annos profers adhuc panem et vinum, sacerdos Dei Altissimi, sacerdos in eternum secundum ordinem Melchisedec.
5. Venite exultemus Domino, jubilemus petræ salutis nostræ; quia segregavit senem bonum sanctum sibi, ut accederet ad eum, ut fungeretur sacerdotio, ut ovaret ante faciem ejus, ut propitiaret super nos.
6. Dedisti Domine Emanueli gratiam et gloriam, quia ambulavit in integritate, docuit sapientiam, et operatus est justitiam.
7. Nunc ergo inclina aurem tuam, Deus Rex Gloriæ! Exaudi servos tuos, discipulos senis boni! Da illi longitudinem dierum et beneplacito ac benedictione corona his illum!
II. Greek Anacreontie Ode “On the Adoration of the Shepherds,” composed for the Propaganda Academy.
Ὁ καιρὸς ἦλθεν ᾔδη
Ὁν εἵσαν οἱ προφήται·
Υἱος δ’ ὁ του Θέοῖο
Ἐξ ουρανῶν κατήλθεν,
Ἱνα βροτους σαὤσῃ.
Αύτὸς δ’ Ἄναξ ἀνάκτων,
Ἐκ Παρθένου γενητὸς,
Θρόνον Θεῳ πρέποντα,
Οὐκ εἶχεν, ἄλλὰ φάτνον.
Ὁ δ’ Ἄγγελος παραστάς
Τοἶς ποιμεδιν, διδάσει
Ὡς κόσμου ἤλθ’ ὁ Σωτήρ.
Oἱ δ’ εὐθεώς λαβόντες
Δῶρα βρέφει φέεουσι,
Χάριν δ’ ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ εὖρον.
Πένης δ’ ὅλως ἅμ’ ἆυτοίς
Ἀμνὸν τὸν εἶχε μοῦνον
Ἤνεγκε τῴ Νεογνῷ.
Ὁ Παῖς ὁρᾷ τὸν ὰμνόν,
Καί προζγελᾲ διδόντι.
Τὶ τότ’; Ἔγνω γἕρ αὑτου
Τῦπὸν—Θεοῦ περ αὐτός
Ὁ πρᾶος ἐστίν ἀμνός
Ἁμαρτίας ἀφαιρὡν
Tόυ κόσμου—Αμνὲ, χαἶρε!
Ἄρον δ’ ἁμαρτίας μου!
Ἄρον—χάριν τε δός μοι!
III. Latin Hexameter Poem, recited in the Arcadian Academy at Rome.
J. M.
PASTOR ARCAS.
Romuleas Arces, fulgentia Templa Tonantis
Quae fuerant dudum, conscendo munere vestro,
Arcades; et celsas sedes teneo, Arcas et ipse,
Et parvi custos nemoris. Sed non ego doctus,
Aut calamos inflare leves, aut dicere versus;
At geminare sonos gaudens, et reddere voces,
Quas longinqua edit gens, aut contermina nostræ.
Hic adsum, florens postquam est exacta juventa,
Temporaque adventans mihi tardior inficit aetas,
Adsumus hic, patriosque lares, et linquimus arva,
Pinguia quæ Rheni preterfluit unda minoris:
Linquimus et colles, varium queis Daedala tellus
Submittit florem et vites—tua munera, Bacche!
Linquimus et turres, quarum altera celsa minatur
In cœlum, impendit præfracto vertice flexa
Altera, nutanti similis jam jamque ruenti.
Adsumus hic tandem, Eumetes[577] cum tempora vittâ
Tergeminâ redimit, cœlique oracula promit.
Scilicet hic nobis suprema e sede benignus,
Annuit. Æternam tum nos advenimus Urbem.
Hic vestra assidue lustrans decora alta, Quirites,
Quaeque recens tulit, et quæ prisci temporis aetas.
Vocibus hæc refero, “Vos terque, quaterque beati,
Non peritura quibus vulgata est fama per orbem!”
Eximia at quoties cerno heic monumenta virorum,
Felsina quos aluit, quosve extulit infula Petri,
Quive aedes vestras decorant et Templa, Quirites,
Tunc animus nobis patriæ exardescit amore!
Dulcia tune nostrum pertentant gaudia pectus!
Tum Templum ingressus, quo nil præstantius aevis,
Praeteritis vidit Sol, aspicietque futuris,
Admiror molem ingentem, artificumque labores,
En mihi spectanti fulget morientis imago,
Mira senis,[578] sapiens qui dia volumina pandit!
Aspice, ut in genua is procumbens corpore toto,
Brachia demittit, languentia lumina torquet,
Et capit extrema, eternae sed pabula vitæ,
Illic cerne modo, ut malo suspenditur alto,
Saevi qui morbi contagia depulit Urbe!
Hinc miles validis incurvat viribus arcum,
Atque hinc acer equus permissis fertur habenis:—
Diffugiunt matres, puerique, ignobile vulgus;—
Ast Heros ad cœlum ardentia lumina tendit,
Dicenti similis:—“Nostrum accipe, Christe, cruorem!”
Protinus en Michael exerto devolat ense,[579]
Ac monstrum horrendum sub tristia Tartara mittit,
Parte alia occubuit cœlesti percita amore,
Et volat ad superos virgo de germine Petri![580]
Hæc præclara artis miracula, Felsina prodis,
In tua cum varios inducis vela colores!
Sed quinam effulgent niveo de marmore vultus!
En opus, en!—Algarde, tuum, et spirantia signa![581]
Attila hic, ille Leo: demissi nubibus instant
Et Petrus et Paulus, magnæ tutamina Romæ!
Attila terrarum metus, et squalentibus armis,
Horridus, ense ferox Martis, (sic namque putaret,
Ensem quem Pastor vitulæ vestigia læsæ,
Atra cruore sequens Scythiis invenerat agris,)
Elatosque gerens animos cœlique flage lum,
Sese compellans, sibi totum adsciverat Orbem.
Ergo suis atrox erumpit sedibus, atque
Bella ciet populis late, crudelia bella;
Omnia namque furens ferro populatur et igne;
Efferus incedit per membra fluentia tabo;
Respicit, et gaudet loca jam convulsa ruinis.
Immites primum Dacas juga ferre coegit;
Tum quoque Bistonios, dein Odrysiosque feroces;
Illyriumque; tuas exin, Germania, terras!
Illum nec Rhenus nec Gallia terret ovantem;
Pulsus, proh, remeat, pelagi ceu refluit unda!
Ocius ille domum rediit: pudor incitat iras;
Agmina dira legit, bellumque ferocius urget,
Ac nova Romanæ meditatur praelia genti.
Qualis percussus saevo leo vulnere, pugnam
Integrat, et late silvas rugitibus implet;
Talem Hunnorum Rex gestans in corde furorem,
Italiae ingreditur campos et milite complet.
Omnis humo fumat jam Aquileja; Mediolanum,
Et Verona ruunt; Ticinum et Parma fatiscunt:
Attila per medias cædes bacchatur et ignes:
Sed nihil ille actum reputat, dum Roma superstes.
Ire parat Romam: convellit signa, movetque
Agmina; cen apium ducunt examina reges!
Tunc illum miles dictis affatur amicis.
“Quo tibi nunc iter? Heu! acies Alaricus in Urbem,
Induxit;—mox ingreditur dum mænia Rhegi,
Connubiumque parat, fato decedit acerbo!”
Hæc audit, dubiusque hæret. Mox æstuat ira
Dux, movet et castra. Est eadem sententia menti,
Cum subito miserisque dolens, et cœlitus actus,
Magnus adest Leo, sacra vitta et veste decorus.
Constitit ille tremens, stupet, et vox faucibus hæret!
Verba deinde audit dulci stillantia melle;
Mitescunt animi dictis, et corda residunt.
“Attila quo cessere minæ, quo spiritus acer?”
Hæc miles. Contra Hunnorum Rex talia fatur:
“Nonne duos aetate graves atque ore severo,
Delapsos caelo spectas mortemque minantes,
Districtis gladiis? Feror hinc!—Jam tollite signa,
Et patrios fines, montes silvasque petamus:—
Mens hand illa mihi bello contendere Divis!”
Hæc ait, et nostris excedit finibus Hunnus.
Ast nullæ servant latebræ, nullique recessus,
Persequitur quos ira Dei. Namque Attila, solvit
Dum metibus sese, parat et dulces hymenæos,
Occubuit proprio suffusus nocte cruore!
Est Deus in cœlis fandi memor atque nefandi!
At Leo contendit Romam, jussitque lubentes,
Et Petro et Paulo persolvere vota Quirites;
Et Petrus et Paulus resonant per templa, per aedes!
Felix Roma! Tibi hæc data sunt munimina cœlo!
Et dedit Eumetem mitis Deus atque benignus!
Imperat Eumetes, et pax dominabitur Orbi!
Arcades, o Petrum et Paulum celebrate canentes;
Et vestros repetent septena cacumina versus!
Vos Petri Paulique fidem servate, Quirites!
Eternum servate fidem, servabitis Urbem!
IV. Epiphany Ode in the Angolese language, written for the Academy of 1845.[582]
He Zambi! Mubundulula,
Mubundulula coettu.
Mu Quixixi Quitombi,
Quitombi, O—vundu,
O Riala muca cuffua mucutu,
Muca! I’nhia!
Tctembuca!
Kieno ki Miscino,
Skitatu miscino,
A—ssueta a Belem,
A-beza camona,
Camona cafeli.
Nhi-bula-canu,
Una camona Zambi,
Zambi ni Riala ni,
Mubundulula via Quinixi,
Ocutanhinha u-a-gile,
Hi Riala! batessa ocutanhinha,
Beza a-camona,
A-camona cafeli,
Eyè muca muno,
V. Angolese Ode for the Academy of 1846.
Tctembuca, Tctembuca!
I’nhai? Kieno ki,
Amona—Miscino,
Kitatu Misciso,
A-bocala monsu,
Monsu via Kian cu,
Kieno-ki! una-a-beza,
A-beza camona,
Camona cafeli.
Ah! nghi-bala cana,
Tina camona Zambi,
Monandanghi Zambi,
Mubundulula, Mobundulala, coettu!
VI. Epiphany Ode in the Grisons, or Graubünden, Dialect.
Steila che partas legerment,
E trej reigs clomag d’alg orient,
Ti clara steila ventireila,
Meinag a Dieu l’olma fideiola!
O Telg da Dieu! o mig salvader!
D’ilg pievelg tuttig ti ey sprindrader!
Gloria al Bab che Ti ha envian!
Piugch alg Christgang ehe Ti has trostigian!