season of the fruit-bearing autumnal year. For the destined victim, which is pastured in the snowy Algidum, amongst the oaks and holm trees, or thrives in the Albanian meadows, with its throat shall stain the axes of the priests. It is not required of you, who are crowning our little gods with rosemary, and the brittle myrtle, to solicit them with a great slaughter of sheep. If an innocent hand touches the altar, a magnificent victim will not pacify the offended Penates* more acceptably than a consecrated cake and crackling salt.

ODE XXIV.

TO THE COVETOUS.

He inveighs against the vices of his age, and proposes remedies for them.

THOUGH more wealthy than the hoarded (or unrifled) treasures of the Arabians and rich India, you should possess yourself by your edifices of the whole Tyrrhenian and Apulian seas; yet, if cruel fate fixes its adamantine grapples upon the topmost roofs, you shall not disengage your mind from dread, nor your life from the snares of death. The Scythians that dwell in the plains, whose carts, ac, cording to their custom, draw their vagrant habitations, live in a better manner, and so do the rough Getæ, whose uncircumscribed acres produce fruits and corn free to all alike, nor is a longer than annual tillage agreeable, and a successor relieves him

• Household gods.

Defunctumque laboribus

Equali recreat sorte vicarius. Illic matre carentibus

Privignis mulier temperat innocens;

Nec dotata regit virum

Conjux, nec nitido fidit adultero.

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Dos est magna parentium

Clarust postgenitis: quatenùs, heu nefas!

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Virtutem incolumem odimus,

Sublatam ex oculis quærimus invidi.

Quid tristes querimonia

Si non supplicio culpa reciditur? Quid leges sine moribus

Vanæ proficiunt, sí neque fervidis

Pars inclusa caloribus

Mundi, nec Boreæ finitimum latus, Duratæque solo nives

Mercatorem abigunt? horrida callidi Vincunt æquora navitæ ?

Magnum pauperies opprobrium jubet Quidvis et facere et pati,

Virtutisque viam|| deserit arduæ.

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who has accomplished his labours by an equal right. There the guiltless wife spares her motherless children-in-law, nor does the portioned spouse govern her husband, nor puts any confidence in a sleek adulterer. Their portion is the eminent virtue of their parents, and a chastity reserved from any other man by a steadfast security: and it is forbidden to sin, or the reward is death. O, if there be any one willing to remove our impious slaughters, and civil rage; if he is desirous to be inscribed THE FATHER OF THE STATE, on statues erected to him, let him dare to curb insuperable licentiousness, and be famous to posterity; since we (O injustice!) detest virtue while living, but invidiously seek for her after she is taken out of our view. To what purpose are our woful complaints, if sin is not cut off with punishment? of what efficacy are empty laws, without morals to enforce them? if neither that part of the world which is precluded by the fervent heats, nor that side which borders upon the north, and snows hardened upon the ground, keep off the merchant, and the expert sailors get the better of the horrible seas. Poverty, being esteemed a great reproach, impels us both to do and to suffer any thing, and desert the path of virtue as too dif ficult. Let us then cast our gems and precious stones, and useless gold, the cause of extreme evil, either into the Capitol, where the acclamations and crowd of applauding citizens call us, or into the adjoining ocean. If we are truly penitent for our

Vel nos in mare proximum

Gemmas, et lapides, aurum et inutile, Summi materiam mali,

Mittamus; scelerum si bene pœnitet, Eradenda cupidinis

Pravi sunt elementa, et teneræ nimis Mentes asperioribus

Formandæ* studiis. Nescit equo rudis Hærere ingenuus puer,

Venarique timet; ludere doctior,

Seu Græco jubeas trocho,

Seu malis vetitâ legibus aleâ :

Cùm perjura patris fides

Consortem socium fallat et hospitem, Indignoque pecuniam

Hæredi properet. 'Scilicet improbæ

Crescunt divitiæ: tamen

Curte nescio quid semper abest rei.

CARMEN XXV.

AD BACCHUM.

DITHYRAMBUS.

Augusti laudes, Baccho auspice, exequi meditatur.

QUO me, Bacche, rapis tui

Plenum? quæ nemora, quos agor in specus,

Velox mente novâ? quibus

Antris, egregii Cæsaris audiar

Eternum meditans decus

Stellis inserere, et concilio Jovis?

Firmandæ studiis. Bentl.

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enormities, the very elements of depraved lusts are to be erased, and the minds of too soft a mould should be hardened by severer studies. The noble youth knows not how to keep his seat on horseback, and is afraid to go a-hunting, more skilled to play (if you choose it) with the Grecian troque or dice, which are prohibited by law; while the father's perjury can deceive his co-heir, partner, and friend, and he hastes to get money for an unworthy heir. In a word, iniquitous wealth increases; and yet something is ever wanting to the incomplete fortune.

ODE XXV.

TO BACCHUS.

A DITHYRAMBIC.

His design is to praise Augustus, being elevated' to it through the inspiration of Bacchus.

WHITHER, O Bacchus, are you hurrying me, replete with your influence? into what groves, into what recesses am I ́ driven, actuated with uncommon spirit? In what caverns, meditating the immortal honour of illustrious Cæsar, shall I be heard, enrolling him amongst the stars, and the council of Jove? I will utter something extraor