Od. iv. 7. DIFFUGERE nives; redeunt jam gramina campis, Arboribusque comæ : Mutat terra vices, et decrescentia ripas Flumina prætereunt: Gratia cum Nymphis geminisque sororibus audet Ducere nuda choros. Immortalia ne speres monet annus, et almum Quæ rapit hora diem. Frigora mitescunt Zephyris: ver proterit æstas Interitura, simul Pomifer auctumnus fruges effuderit; et mox Bruma recurrit iners. Damna tamen celeres reparant cœlestia lunæ : Quo pius Æneas, quo dives Tullus et Ancus, Pulvis et umbra sumus. Quis scit, an adjiciant hodiernæ crastina summæ Tempora Dî superi? 5 10 15 1 Od. iv. 7. THE snows are gone, the fields resume their verdant hue; The trees their leaves renew: The earth is freshly clad; the late swoll'n streams, now low, Within their limits flow: The sister Graces three, and Nymphs unzon'd advance, 5 And lead the festive dance. The seasons' change, the hours that steal our days, explain Immortal hopes how vain! Springs banish Winter's frosts-Summers succeed to Springs, Then fruitful Autumn brings Her ripen'd treasures forth; and soon the earth again Is bound in wint'ry chain. But Nature's losses soon the circling months repair; We, when we journey, where Æneas, Tullus, Ancus, all have gone before, That Heav'n to this day's sum will add another day, 10 15 Cuncta manus avidas fugient hæredis, amico Quæ dederis animo. Cum semel occideris, et de te splendida Minos Non, Torquate, genus, non te facundia, non te Infernis neque enim tenebris Diana pudicum Nec Lethæa valet Theseus abrumpere caro 20 25 Whate'er with lib'ral hand thy gen'rous bounty shares, Shall 'scape thy greedy heirs; 20 When thou shalt once have died, and Minos shall on thee Have pass'd his stern decree, Torquatus, not thy blood, thine eloquence, thy worth, To win Hippolytus from out that dark domain Chaste Dian strove in vain; Nor Theseus could from bonds of Lethe's slumb'rous wave His lov'd Pirithöus save. CATULLUS. Car. xxxi. AD SIRMIONEM PENINSULAM. PENINSULARUM, SIRMIO, insularumque Vix mî ipse credens Thyniam, atque Bithynos 5 Liquisse campos, et videre te in tuto. O quid solutis est beatius curis? Cum mens onus reponit, ac peregrino Labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum, Desideratoque acquiescimus lecto. 10 |