CATULLUS.

SIRMIO.

SIRMIO, fair eye of all the laughing isles
And jutting capes that rise from either main,
Or crown our inland waters, with glad smiles
Of heartfelt joy I greet thee once again,
Scarce daring to believe mine eyes, that see

,
No more Bithynia's plains, but fondly rest on thee,

5

My own, my chosen Home! Oh, what more blest
Than that sweet pause of troubles, when the mind
Flings off its burthen, and when, long oppress'd
By cares abroad and foreign toil, we find

Our native home again, and rest our head
Once more upon our own, long-lost, long-wished-for bed!

10

Hoc est, quod unum est pro laboribus tantis;
Salve, o venusta Sirmio, atque hero gaude :
Gaudete vosque, Lariæ lacus undæ :
Ridete quidquid est domi cachinnorum.

15

This, this alone, o'erpays my ev'ry pain !
Hail! loveliest Sirmio, hail ! with joy like mine
Receive thy happy lord! Thou liquid plain
Of Laria's lake, in sparkling welcome shine!

Put all your beauties forth ! laugh out! be glad ! In universal smiles this day must all be clad !

EPITAPH

ON

A YOUNG LADY.

[I am ashamed to say that I have forgotten who was the author of these touching Lines. They have always struck me as among the tersest and most classical specimens I know of a Christian Epitaph.]

a

CARA, vale! ingenio præstans, pietate, pudore,

Et plusquam natæ nomine cara, vale !

Cara, vale! donec veniat felicius ævum,

Quando iterum tecum, sim modo dignus, ero.

5

Cara, redi, lætá tum dicam voce, paternos

Eia age in amplexus, cara Maria, redi !

EPITAPH

ON

A YOUNG LADY.

DEAR Child, farewell! that didst in worth,

Wit, piety, so far excel !
By closer ties than those of birth

Knit to my heart, dear Child, farewell !

5

Dear Child, farewell! till Time bring round

Those blessed ages, yet in store, When I, if haply worthy found,

Shall meet thee face to face once more !

10

Dear Child, oh come, no more to part,

Shall I exclaim in rapture then; To bless a Father's arms and heart,

My Child, my Mary, come again!