The ardent love which Laeda’s offspring showed,
The twins she bore through Jupiter’s deceit,
Fails when compared with love with which Christ glowed:
He’s God and Man, whose purity’s complete.
If the beloved Pollux shared with Castor,
His brother, life, the gain was qualified,
If one lived for the other death was master:
If one arose, one perished with the tide.
But life which is beyond death’s might and main
Christ gains, and also gives to the elect.
The living praise: His death won’t be in vain:
Don’t be lost, through His victory’s effect.
For deep in hell there is a place secreted
For everything by which you were defeated.
Another Elizabeth Weston; comment on translation would be appreciated!
Mortem non gustabunt
Non fratres inter tantus fuit ardor amantes,
Quos decepta tulit Laeda furore Jovis: which deceived took Laeda with fury
Jove
Quanto hominum mitis flagrabat amore Redemptor,
Qui Deus, & puro corpore purus homo est.
Mutate enim Pollux charo cum Castore vitam
Fratre suam; certa conditione tamen.
Alter ut alterius moriatur orogine vitae:
Dumque hic surgite quis, ille feratur aquis.
At vitam, alterius Christus sine morte perennem
Obtinet, Electis & dat habere suis.
Vivus ovat; non te mors illius ergo fefellit:
Ne pereas, sed eas per supera, ille perit.
Omnia qui te eum victurus secula, solus
Expertem stygiae te facit esse plagae.
