"THE LILY BELLS ARE WET WITH DEW."
(To the Editor of the Mirror.)
Sir,—I have taken the liberty of transmitting to you a piece of a Latin ode, which appears to me to be the original of the song—"The lily bells are wet with dew," in Miss Mitford's "Dramatic Scenes," which appeared in your miscellany of June 23, 1827.
It is copied from an old book published in the year 1697, by Charles Elford, entitled "Gemmae Poetarum."
If you think it worthy insertion, I should feel obliged by its appearance. Yours respectfully,
J.T.S.
Lilia rorescuut, jubara osculo blande rosarum
Florem tangunt—ô, dives odore,
O, splendens tinctû floretum—est ...
Surge Feronia, et sertum texe
Cæsariem nunc implectare tuum coracinum
Ne æstu medio sol flores abripiat.
In coelo tenuis nubes est, lenta susurra
Cum aurâ veniunt—aut imbrem vaticinans
Aut nivem: orire, Feronia, crinem stringere cauté
Sertum age, ne veniat tempestas minitans.
I have translated it thus, which you may perceive is strictly literal:—
The lilies are wet with the dew—the sunbeams with a kiss gently touch the flower of the roses.—O the garden is rich of scent—is bright of hue.—Arise Feronia and weave the garland even now to braid thy ravenlike hair, lest at mid-day the sun should spoil the flowers.—In the sky there is a little cloud, gentle whisperings come with the gale—they tell of rain or snow.—Arise Feronia and carefully weave the garland to bind up thy hair, lest the threatening storm should come.