ADDRESSED TO A LADY, WITH A PRINT OF CORNELIA. WHEN Rome was yet in antient virtue great, Ere tyrant CESARS had unnerv'd the state; Soon as from school her boys, the GRACCHI, came; "Behold my jewels (cried the happy Dame) "These are the gems a mother most should prize, "These glitter brightest to maternal eyes." Her inmoft foul confounded at the view, The felf-admonifh'd vifitant withdrew. Such were the matrons virtuous Rome admir'd: From such sprang patriots who, by toils untir'd, Even to the laft defpotic fway defied; And, vanquifh'd in the noble conflict-died. One fuch I could, but may not name (for fhe, TRANSLATED. CORNELIA. EXPERTA nondum CÆSARUM tyrannidem, Romana ftabat res; eratque adhuc sui Urbs domina, cunctas quæ fubegerat manu; Oculo irretorto frigidifque laudibus Cernit reverfos-" En mihi caros (ait) "Solùm lapillos! Nulla matrem tam juvat Confpecta gemma, quam fibi quas ipfamet "Parit." Reprênsa his vocibus matrona abit. Talefque Roma, dum manebat libera, Sufpexit ufque foeminas; quæ filios Peperêre GRACCHOS, ftrenuos ob patriam Pugnare pro patriâque item fortes mori. Talemque ego hodiè nominare fœminam Poffem (fed illa fors vetaret) quæ fuis Impendit omnes, prifca ceu CORNELIA, Natis labores; gemmulifque cæteræ Turbæ relictis, ipfa opes vivas habet. QUAND UAND L'AMOUR nacquit à Cythere, On intrigua dans le pays; VENUS dit, Je fuis bonne mere; "C'est moi, qui nourrirai mon fils.” W HEN LOVE was born of heavenly line, What dire intrigues difturb'd Cythera's joy! Till VENUS cried, "A mother's heart is mine "None but myself shall nurse my boy." But, infant as he was, the child In that divine embrace enchanted lay; And, by the beauty of the vase beguil❜d, Forgot the beverage-and pin'd away. "And must my offspring languish in my fight? (Alive to all a mother's pain, The Queen of Beauty thus her court address'd) "No: Let the most discreet of all my train "Receive him to her breast: "Think all, he is the God of young delight." Alors la CANDEUR, la TENDRESSE, La GAÏTÉ vinrent s'offrir; Et même la DELICATESSE : Nulle n'avoit de quoi le nourrir. On penchoit pour la COMPLAISANCE, Mais l'enfant eût été gâté : On avoit trop d'experience, Pour fonger à la VOLUPTÉ. Enfin de ce choix d'importance Quelqu'une propofa l'ESPERANCE, Et l'enfant s'en trouva fort bien. On pretend que la JOUISSANCE, Qui croyoit devoir le nourrir, Jaloufe de la preference, Guettoit l'enfant pour s'en faifir. |