* and neither do the cattle any longer delight in the ftalls, or the ploughman in the fire-fide; nor are the meadows whitened by hoary frosts. Now Cytherean Venus leads up the dance by moon-light; and the comely graces in conjunction with the nymphs, shake the ground with alternate feet; while ardent Vulcan inflames the laborious forges of the Cyclops. Now it is fitting Now it is fitting to incircle the fhining head either with verdant myrtle, or with fuch flowers as the relaxed earth produces. Now likewise it is fitting to facrifice to Faunus in the fhady groves, whether he demands a lamb, or is more pleased with a kid. Pale death knocks at the cottages of the poor and the palaces of kings with an impartial pace. O happy Seftius, the fhort fum total of life forbids us to form remote expectations Presently fhall darkness, and the ghofts fo much talked of, and the fhadowy manfion of Pluto op prefs you: where when you fhall once arrive, yo fhall neither decide the dominion of the bottle b dice, nor fhall you admire the tender Lycidas, with whom now all the youth is inflamed, and for whor ere long, the ladies will grow warm. ODE V. To PYRRHA. They are miferable who are captivated by her charms as for his own part, he has escaped from them, from a fhipwreck. WHAT dainty youth, bedewed with liqui perfumes, carcaffes you, Pyrrha, in for pleafar The fame as nitidi capilli, shining hair. Epif. I. 14. 3 †The Romans used to caft lots who should be toast-mafte Grato, Pyrrha, fub antro? Qui nunc te fruitur credulus aurea : Fallacis! Miferi, quibus Intentata nites. Votiva paries indicat uvida Sufpendiffe potenti Veftimenta maris Deo. CARMEN VI AD AGRIPPAM. Se jocofis verfibus natum, bellicis virtutibus celebrandis minime parem effe. CRIBERIS Vario fortis, & hoftium Victor, Mæonii carminis alite,* Quam rem cunque ferox navibus aut equis Nos, Agrippa, neque hæc dicere, nec gravem Nec curfus duplicis (a) per mare Ulyffei, Emulo. ATTERBURY. (a) Duplices. 5 Daudes pleafant grotto, "midft a profufion of rofes? For whom do you fillet up your golden hair, unaffectedly delicate? Alas! how frequently fhall he deplore your perfidy and the alter'd gods; and, through inexperience be amazed at the feas, rough with blackening ftorms, who now credulous enjoys you all-precious; who hopes you will be always difengaged, always amiable, ignorant of the faithlefs gale! Wretched are thofe, to whom you untried feem fair! The facred wall of Neptune's temple demonftrates, by a votive tablet, that I have confecrated dropping garments to the powerful god of the fea. ODE VI. To AGRIPPA. HORACE's genius is fitter for amorous fubjects, than to celebrate the exploits of heroes. YOU fhall be deferibed by Varius, with all the flight of the Mæonian verse, as brave and a fubduer of your enemies, whatever atchievements your fierce foldiery fhall have accomplished; under your command, either a fhip-board, or on horfe-back. We humble writers, Ō Agrippa, neither undertake thefe high fubjects, nor the deftructive wrath of inexorable Achilles, nor the voyages of the crafty Ulyffes, nor the cruel houfe of Pelops while diffidence, and the Mufe who prefides over the peaceful Lyre, forbids me to diminish Laudes egregii Cæfaris, & tuas Quis Martem tunica tectum adamantina Nos convivia, nos prælia virginum CARMEN VII. AD MUNATIUM PLANCUM. 15 20 Propofite Tiburtini feceffus amœnitatem defcribit. LAUDABUNT alii claram Rhodon, aut My tylenen, Aut Ephefum, bimarifve Corinthi Monia, vel Baccho Thebas, vel Apolline Delphos Infignes, aut Theffala Tempe. Sunt quibus unum opus eft intactæ Palladis urbem (a) Carmine perpetuo celebrare, & Undique decerptæ frondi (b) præponere olivam. Aptum dicit equis Argos, ditefque Mycenas. Me nec tam patiens Lacedæmon, 5 10 Nec diminish the praises of illuftrious Cæfar, and yours, through defect of genius. Who with fufficient dignity will ever defcribe Mars cover'd with his adamantine coat of mail, or Meriones embrown'd with Trojan duft, or the son of Tydeus,* a match for the gods by the favour of Pallas? We, whether free, whether enamour'd ourselves, with our accustomed levity, fing of banquets; we of the battles of maids, defperate against young fellowswith pared nails. ODE VII. To MUNATIUS PLANCUS. He defcribes the pleasant retreat of Tibur. The poet advifes him to drive away care with wine, after the example of Teucer. OTHER poets fhall celebrate the famous Rhodes, or Mitylene, or Ephefus, or the walls of Corinth fituated between two feas, or Thebes illuftrious by the birth of Bacchus, or Delphi by Apollo's Oracle, or the Theffalian Tempe. There are fome whofe whole employment is to chant in endless verfe the city of the spotlefs virgin goddefs Pallas, and to prefer the olive † to every other leaf that's gathered. Many a one, in honour of Juno, celebrates Argos productive of generous horfes, and rich Mycena. Neither patient Lacedæmon fo much struck me (or my fancy) neither fo much * Diomede. B †The favourite tree of Pallas. |
