XVIII.

THE DEATH OF MARCELLUS.

Clausus ab umbroso qua ludit pontus Averno.

WHERE barred from dark Avernus sports the wave, And Baiae's steaming waters warm the soil— Where lies Misenus in his sandy grave,

And sounds the road paved with Herculean toil;

Here—when earth's cities felt his strong right arm, Loud clashed the cymbals to the Theban godFell Baiae now, and fraught with grievous harm! What baleful power has in thy waters trod?

Here sank to Stygian streams the flower of men,
And in thy lake a spirit now he roams.
Say what availed him rank or virtue then,

A mother's care and Caesar's home of homes?

What-crowded theatres with awnings gay?
His work his mother did with labour due?
He died ere twenty summers passed away;
So many virtues his! his years so few!

Go cheer thee, and of glorious triumphs dream ;
List the thronged theatres' applauding call;
Outshine proud Attalus; let jewels gleam

In splendid games-the fire will claim them all.

Here all-or rich or poor-alike must fare;
This path, though loathèd, all must tread in time,
The triple-headed hound implore in prayer,

And the dark raft of Hell's grim boatman climb.

Though brass and steel encase the wary wight, Death drags his head from forth his mask of mail; Nor doth fair Nireus' face, Achilles' might,

Or Croesus' gold, Pactolus-poured, avail.

Such woe swept off the unconscious Greeks of yore, When second love cost great Atrides dear;

But O may he who to the fatal shore

Bears the blest shades across the dismal mere,

Bear to its goal Marcellus' lifeless clay,
By that same course the lord of Sicily,
Brave Claudius, took, and Caesar sailed away
From human paths to gem the starry sky!

XIX.

ON FEMALE INCONTINENCE.

Obicitur totiens a te mihi nostra libido.

You often taunt me with my hot desire;
Believe me, you're consumed with fiercer fire.
When once you've burst the reins and spurned control,

You know not how to curb your smitten soul:
Sooner shall fire be quenched in burning grain,
And rivers seek their fountain-heads again,
Syrt a calm port and wild Malea yield

A tranquil shore, and the poor sailor shield,
Than mortal e'er your mad career arrest,
And check the fury of your vicious breast.
Lo! she who bore the Cretan bull's disdain
Put false fir cow-horns on, her end to gain;
Salmonis burning for Enipeus' arms,
Gave to the river-god her maiden charms;
Foul Myrrha left her aged father's bed

To screen 'neath new-born leaves her hateful head :
Why name Medea's love, which, turned to hate,
Butchered her babes the mother's ire to sate?

Or Clytemnestra, whose unholy flame

Made Pelops' royal house Mycenae's shame?
Scylla, for Minos' beauty all a-fire,

Shore the bright lock whose loss discrowned her sire.

O fatal dower for doting maid to bring,
Love's treason oped thy gates, O luckless king!
Be happier torches yours, expectant brides!
Lashed to the Cretan ship the maiden rides.
Yet meetly Minos sits as judge below,
Just-though victorious—to his vanquished foe.

XX a.

THE INVITATION.

Credis eum jam posse tuae meminisse figurae,
Vidisti a lecto quem dare vela tuo?

THINK'ST thou that he who lately left thy bed Remembers still thy form of matchless mould? O hard of heart! to leave his love for gold! Was all wide Afric worth the tears thou'st shed?

And thou art trusting to the gods above! 'Tis but an airy idle dream, I trow; Poor simple maiden, 'tis as likely now

His heart is pining for another love.

Beauty and chaste Minerva's arts are thine,

And thee thy grandsire's bays bright lustre lend; Happy thy lot if thou hast one true friend : I shall be true-speed hither and be mine.

xx b.

TO CYNTHIA.

Nox mihi prima venit; primae date tempora noctis.

PROLONG 'twill soon be here—our first glad night;
O lady Moon! extend thy wonted stay;
Thou, too, who lengthenest thy summer ray,
Phoebus, abridge the hours of lingering light.

First we must make a league, our rights lay down, And laws to which we may ourselves appeal. Great Love himself our covenant shall seal; Our witness thou, Night's many-jewelled crown!

How many hours must I this talk prolong,
Ere Venus calls to Love's delightful fray!

Still, when no bonds a union firmly stay,
The gods no vengeance take for nightly wrong.

And soon caprice doth every tie undo

Imposed in lust's ungovernable hour;

May our first nuptial omens give us power To keep our love still leal, our hearts still true.

Then let whoe'er a holy shrine shall scorn,
Invoked to ratify the faith he plights,
Or violate the sacred marriage-rites,
Feel all the woes of ill-timed union born.