F

LEET Faunus oft Lycæus leaves behind

To seek Lucretilis, my pleasant seat; And from my goats aye keeps the rainy wind

And summer season's scorching heat.

The wives of their strong-smelling husband stray
Devious, the safe woods through, no danger near,
In search of thyme, and th' hidden arbute's spray;
The young kids too no longer fear

Mars' favourite the wolf, nor the green snakes,
Whenever, Tyndaris, the dales around,

And slant Ustica's smooth-worn rocks he makes
With his melodious pipe resound.

The Gods me guard: my muse and piety

The Gods delight. Here then from full horn know A plenty, rich unto satiety,

Of rural charms for thee shall flow.

Here in secluded vale, the dog-star's fire
Screen'd from, thou of Penelope shalt sing
And Circe frail as fair, on Teïan lyre,

With love for one both labouring.

Here shalt thou cups of harmless Lesbian drain
Beneath the shade; the son of Semele

Here too shall from encount'ring Mars abstain;
And fear not that, suspecting thee,

The brutal Cyrus his rough hand should lay
On thee, with him ill able to contend,

Or from thy curls thy chaplet tear away,

Or undeserving garment rend.

ODE XVIII.

AD QUINTILIUM VARUM.

ULLAM, Vare, sacrâ vite priùs severis arborem Circa mite solum Tiburis, et mœnia Catili. Siccis omnia nam dura Deus proposuit; neque

Mordaces aliter diffugiunt solicitudines.

Quis post vina gravem militiam, aut pauperiem crepat?
Quis non te potiùs, Bacche pater, teque, decens Venus?
At, ne quis modici transiliat munera Liberi,
Centaurea monet cum Lapithis rixa super mero
Debellata; monet Sithoniis non levis Evius ;
Cùm fas atque nefas exiguo fine libidinum
Discernunt avidi. Non ego te, candide Bassareu,
Invitum quatiam: nec variis obsita frondibus
Sub divum rapiam. Sæva tene cum Berecynthio
Cornu tympana, quæ subsequitur cæcus amor sui,
Et tollens vacuum plus nimio gloria verticem,
Arcanique fides prodiga, pellucidior vitro.

ODE XVIII.

TO VARUS.

ARUS, the sacred vine's the tree for planting round

VAR

The walls of Catilus and Tibur's kindly ground:

For God makes all seem hard to those their wine who

slight;

'Tis wine alone can put corroding care to flight.
Who o'er his wine of dread war talks, or poverty?
Who not of Bacchus more, or, comely Venus, thee?
But who would Bacchus' gifts abuse, let him be taught
How in their cups the Lapitha and Centaurs fought;
How Evius too can be with the Sithonians stern,

When they, their lusts inflamed, but slender line discern
'Twixt right and wrong. I will not, 'gainst thy will, incite
Thee, candid Bassareus; nor drag into the light
Thy leaf-veil'd mysteries. Thy timbrel harsh restrain
And Berecynthian horn; for aye come in their train
Blind self-love, glory with her empty head too high
Upheld, and Faith of things told under secrecy
All prodigal, than glass of more transparency.

E

M

ODE XIX.

AD GLYCERAM.

ATER sæva Cupidinum

Thebanæque jubet me Semeles puer,

Et lasciva licentia,

Finitis animum reddere amoribus.

Urit me Glyceræ nitor
Splendentis Pario marmore puriùs :

Urit grata protervitas,
Et vultus nimiùm lubricus aspici.
In me tota ruens Venus

Cyprum deseruit; nec patitur Scythas,

Et versis animosum equis
Parthum dicere, nec quæ nihil attinent.
Hìc vivum mihi cespitem, hìc
Verbenas, pueri, ponite, thuraque

Bimi cum paterâ meri.

Mactatâ veniet lenior hostiâ.

ODE XIX.

TO GLYCERA.

HE cruel mother who the Cupids bore,

THE

And youthful son of Theban Semele,
And wanton licence bid me think once more
Of loves I fancied ended were for me.
The dazzling Glycera, more purely bright

Than Parian stone, I burn when I behold; Her witching face too tempting for the sight, And pertness sweet, in flames my heart enfold. All Venus me invading Cyprus quite

Hath left; nor lets me of the Scythian sing, Or Parthian, brave when turn'd his horse in flight, Nor, save herself, of any other thing.

Bring hither, boys, the turf all fresh and green,

Vervain and frankincense bring here to me; With these a cup of wine two years hath seen: A victim slain more lenient she will be.