ODE II. TO AUGUSTUS CÆSAR. OW Jove enough of snow and direful hail NOW On earth has pour'd: to see his red right hand E'en sacred temples with the bolt assail, Awe-struck the people stand. The nations dread lest that sad age come back, When fishes in the tallest elm stuck fast, Where late his resting-place had made the dove, His waters by th' Etruscan shore repell'd, Whilst he t' avenge his too sad Ilia's woes, How 'gainst themselves the sword the people drew, How fought, made scarce their parents' vices through, Our youth shall learn with pain. Quem vocet Divům populus ruentis Cui dabit partes scelus expiandi Sive tu mavis, Erycina ridens, Quam jocus circumvolat, et Cupido: Sive neglectum genus, et nepotes Respicis, auctor, Heu nimis longo satiate ludo; Quem juvat clamor, galeæque læves, Vultus in hostem. Sive mutatâ juvenem figurâ Ales in terris imitaris, almæ Filius Maiæ, patiens vocari Serus in cœlum redeas; diuque Lætus intersis populo Quirini ; Neve te nostris vitiis iniquum Tollat. Hic magnos potiùs triumphos, Hìc ames dici pater, atque princeps: Neu sinas Medos equitare inultos, Te duce, Cæsar. What God shall we to prop the falling state Heed of their pray'rs to take? To whom by Jove shall be the part allow'd Or smiling Erycina thou incline, Whom Mirth and Cupid on the wing attend; Tired of thy sport, alas! too long pursued; Or changed thy form, dear Maia's winged son, Do thou on earth a stripling imitate, Letting thyself be greeted as the one T'avenge great Cæsar's fate. To heav'n return not till a distant time, Here mighty triumphs rather choose t' abide, Our chief, O Cæsar, thou. ODE III. SECUNDAM VIRGILIO NAVIGATIONEM PRECATUR. IC te Diva potens Cypri, Sic fratres Helenæ, lucida sidera, Ventorumque regat pater, Reddas incolumem, precor; Circa pectus erat, qui fragilem truci Primus; nec timuit præcipitem Africum Nec tristes Hyadas, nec rabiem Noti; Quo non arbiter Adriæ Major tollere, seu ponere vult, freta. Quem mortis timuit gradum, Qui siccis oculis monstra natantia, Prudens Oceano dissociabili Terras, si tamen impia Non tangenda rates transiliunt vada. ODE III. TO THE SHIP IN WHICH VIRGIL WAS SAILING TO ATHENS. AY Cyprus' Queen divine so guide thy way, So Helen's brothers, stars who brightly glow, And so the Father whom the winds obey, None save Iapyx being allow'd to blow, And fear had none of Afric's headlong blast Than whom no greater pow'r the waters deep And saw the turgid billows of the sea, And rocks Acroceraunian wreck-bestrew'd? To little purpose has Divine foresight Lands separated by th' unsocial main, If impious vessels, in the Gods' despight, Leap channels that uncross'd should aye remain. |