AN AN-TEA ANACREONTIC—No. 4.
The following ode is somewhat freely translated from the original of a Chinese emigrant named CA-TA-NA-CH, or the “illustrious minstrel.”
We have given a short specimen of the original, merely substituting the Roman for the Chinese characters.
ORIGINAL.
As-ye-Te-i-anp-o-et-sli-re
Y-oun-g-li-ae-us-di-din-spi-re
Wen-ye-ba-r-da-wo-Ke-i-sla-is
Lo-ve-et-wi-nea-li-ket-op-ra-is
So-i-lus-tri-ou-spi-din-th-o-u
In-s-pi-re-thi-Te-ur-nv-ot-a-rin-ow
&c. &c.
TRANSLATION.
As the Teian poet’s lyre
Young Lyæus did inspire;
When the bard awoke his lays,
Love and wine alike to praise.
So, illustrious Pidding, thou
Inspire thy tea-urn votary now,
Whilst the tea-pot circles round—
Whilst the toast is being brown’d—
Let me, ere I quaff my tea,
Sing a paean unto thee,
IO PIDDING! who foretold,
Chinamen would keep their gold;
Who foresaw our ships would be
Homeward bound, yet wanting tea;
Who, to cheer the mourning land,
Said, “I’ve Howqua still on hand!”
Who, my Pidding, who but thee?
Io Pidding! Evoe!