The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-12-04
The History Of q Famous Poem,

Inc HlslOry OF q alnous = Odenis
Popes ode, called "The Dying Chris
tan to His Soul" hasa history of its own
which is curious and interesting.
The Emperor Hadrian, whose reign ex-
tended into the second century after
Christ, was cultivator Of literature In
a desultory sort of way, and while
upon his death-bed composed little ad-
dress to his soul, half playful and half
pathetic, containing no thought above
the level of heathenism, and yetso grace.
full in expression that it has survived
pretty much all of the more ponderous
works of his contemporaries 1t ran
thus: &c."
HApRIANI NoaIEHTls AD AMMAN.
Animula yagula, blandula,
Hospes, comesque corporis,
Ouac nunc abibis In loca?
Pallidula, rigida, nudula,
Nee, ut soles, dabis joca.
In the Spectator for November 10,
l712, is printed prose translation which
was contributed by Pope: "Alas, my
SOUL thou pleasing companion of this
body, thou feeting thing that art now
deserting it, whittier art thou fying3
To what unknown region7 Thou art all
trembling, fearful, and Pensive. Now
what is to become of thy former wit and
humor? Thou shalt jest and be gay no
more" The translation is stiff enough,
and it bears but little of the favor of
the original; but it marks one step in
the mental process by which Pope at
last arrived at very beautiful result.
In his letter accompanying this transla-
ton he says: !" I was the other day in
company with five or six men of some
learning, when CHANGING to mention the
famous verses which the Emperor Had
rian spoke on his death-bed, they were
all agreed that it wasa piece Of gayety
unworthy that prince in those circum-
stances. I could not but differ from
their opinion. Methinks it was by no
means gay, but very serious soloquy
to his soul at the point of his departure
in which sense / naturally took the
verses at my first reading them, when I
was very young, and before knew what
Interpretation the world generally put
upon them"
1t was this serious aspect of Hadrian's
Animula-in which he spoke of his
"little soul" as one uses pet name for
dear friends and children even under
the most solemn circumstances-that
took possession of Pope's mind. Steele,
in acknowledging the letter says: "The
other (Pope) inclosed for my perusal an
admirable poem, which I hope will
shortly see the light" This was the
first draft of the ode commencing:
"vital spark Of heavenly fame"
which was intended as a paraphrase on
the Aaimula. Pope did not include it in
the first correct edition ofhis works, pub
lished in 1717, and Steele's benevolent
hope that it might "shortly see the light"
was not gratifed for more than twenty
years after it was first written. How
many amendments and rewrittings it un-
derwcnt cannot now be told; but that the
Animula kept running in Pope's head is
shown by the fact that in 1885 he pub
lished metrical translation of it as fol-
lows:
All, feeting spirit! wandering fire,
That long hast warmed my tender breast,
Must thou no more this frame inspre7
No more pleasing, cheerful guest:
Whittier, ah whittier art thou flying:
To what dark, undiscovered shore?
Thou seem'st all trembling, shiyering, flying
Thy wit and humor are no more.
The verses of the heather emperor
were in the course of time by Pope bap-
tized into the sentiments of Chris
tianity, and they have since become
among the best known, and probable the
most highly esteemed, OF all his writings.