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Crefcentem fequitur cura pecuniam,
Majorumque fames. jure perhorrui
Late confpicuum tollere verticem,
Maecenas, equitum decus.

Quanto quifque fibi plura negaverit,
A dis plura ferit. nil cupientium

Nudus caftra peto; et transfuga divitum
Partes linquere geftio:

Contemtae [a] dominus fplendidior rei,
Quam fi quidquid arat non piger Appulus
Occultare meis dicerer horreis,

Magnas inter opes inops.

Purae rivus aquae, filvaque jugerum
Paucorum, et fegitis certa fides meae,
Fulgentem [b] imperio fertilis Africae
Fallit, fortè beatior.

Quanquam nec Calabrae mella ferunt apes,
Nec Laeftrygonia Bacchus in amphora
Languefcit mihi, nec pinguia Gallicis

Crefcunt vellera pafcuis;

Importuna tamen pauperies abeft:
Nec, fi plura velim, tu dare deneges.
Contracto melius parva cupidine
Vectigalia [c] porrigam,

Quam fi Mygdoniis regnum Halyattici
Campis continuem. multa petentibus

Defunt multa. bene eft, cui Deus obtulit

Parca, quod fatis eft, manu.

[a] Contentae dominus.

[b] Fulgente imperio. BENTL.
[c] Vectigalia colligam. SANAD,

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fierce captains of ships. Care, and a thirst for more, is the confequence of increafing wealth. Therefore, O Mæćenas, thou glory of the Roman knights, I have justly dreaded to raise the far confpicuous head. As much more as any man shall deny himfelf, so much more fhall he receive from the gods. Naked as I am, I seek the camps of thofe that covet nothing; and as a deferter, rejoice to quit the fide of the wealthy: a more illuftrious poffeffor of a contemptible fortune, than if I could be faid to treasure up in my granaries all that the industrious Apulian cultivates, poor amidft abundance of wealth. A rivulet of clear water, and a wood of a few acres, and a certain profpect of my good crop, are bleffings unknown to him who glitters in the proconfulfhip of fertile Africa: I am more happily circumstanced. Though neither the Calabrian bees produce honey, nor wine ripens to age for me in a Formian cask, nor rich fleeces increase in Gallic pastures, yet diftrefsful poverty is remote, nor if I defired more, would you refufe to grant it me. I fhall be better able to extend my fmall revenues by contracting my defires, than if I could join the kingdom* of Halyatticus to the Phrygian plains. Much is wanting to those who covet much. "Tis well with him, to whom God hath given what is neceffary with a fparing hand.

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CARMEN XVII,

AD AELIUM LAMIAM.

Hortatur ad diem craftinum, qui ater et nubilus fore videbatur, hilare tranfigendum.

AELI, vetufto nobilis ab Lamo

(Quando et priores hinc Lamias ferunt Denominatos, et nepotum

Per memores genus omne faftos)
Auctore ab illo [a] ducis originem,
Qui formiarum moenia dicitur
Princeps, et innantem Maricae.
Litoribus tenuiffe Lirin

Late tyrannus. cras foliis nemus
Multis, et alga litus inutili
Demiffa tempeftas ab Euro

Sternet; equae nifi fallit augur
Annofa cornix. dum potes, aridum
Compone lignum: cras genium mero
Curabis, et porco bimeftri,

Cum famulis operum folutis.

[a] Illo ducit originem. HEINS.

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CARMEN

ODE XVII.

To AELIUS LAMIA.

He exhorts him to spend the morrow, which threatened to be dark and cloudy, in a liberal indulgence,

Ælius, who art nobly defcended from the ancient Lamus (* for as much as they report, that both the firft of the Lamian family had their name from hence, and all the race of the defcendants through faithful records) you derive your origin from that founder, who is faid to have poffeffed, as prince, the Formian walls, and Liris gliding to the fhores of Marica-an extenfive potentate. To-morrow a tempest sent forth from the east shall strew the grove with many leaves, and the fhore with useless sea-weed, unless that old prophetess of rain, the raven, deceives me. up the dry wood while you may; to-morrow you fhall indulge your genius with wine, and with a pig of two months old, with your flaves difmiffed from their labours.

Pile

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ODE

This parenthesis is judiciously omitted by SANADON.

CARMEN XVIII.

AD FAUNUM.

HYMNUS.

Ut fibi propitius fit.

FAUNE, Nympharum fugientum amator,

Per meos fines et aprica rura
Lenis incedas, abeafque parvis
Acquus alumnis :

Si tener pleno cadit hoedus anno,
Larga nec defunt Veneris fodali
Vina craterae; vetus ara multo
Fumat odore:

Ludit herbofo pecus omne campo,

Cum tibi Nonae redeunt Decembres :

Feftus in pratis vacat otiofo

Cum bove pagus:

Inter audaces lupus errat agnos:
Spargit agreftes tibi filva frondes:
Gaudet invifam pepuliffe foffor
Ter pede terram.

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