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O DE XI

To QUINTIUS HIRPINUS.

He endeavours to divert the mind of Quintius from public and private folicitudes, to a tafle for gaiety and enjoyment.

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Quintius Hirpinus, forbear to be inquifitive what the Cantabrian, and the Scythian, divided from us by the interpofition of the Adriatic, is meditating; neither be fearfully folicitous for the neceffaries of life, which requires but a few things. Youth and beauty fly fwift away, while fapless old age expels the wanton loves and gentle fleep. The fame glory does not always remain to the vernal flow'rs, nor does the ruddy moon fhine with one continued afpect: why, therefore, do you fatigue your mind, unequal to eternal projects? Why do we not rather, (while it is in our power) thus carelessly reclining under a lofty plane-tree, or this pine, with our hoary locks made fragrant with rofes, and anointed with Syrian perfume, indulge ourfelves with generous wine? Bacchus diffipates preying cares. What slave at hand here instantly to cool fome cups of ardent Falernian in the paffing ftream? Who will tempt the vagrant wanton Lyde from her houfe? See that you bid her haften with her ivory lyre, not ftaying to drefs her hair, but being content to have it collected into a careles kpot after the Spartan fashion.

ODE

CARMEN XII.

AD MECENATEM.

Se Licymnia addicum non poffe ad graviora ar gumenta adfurgere.

OLIS longa feræ bella Numantiæ,

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Nec dirum Annibalem, nec Siculum mare

Pano purpureum fanguine, mollibus

Aptari citharæ modis;

Nec fævos Lapithas, et nimium mero
Hylæum; domitofque Herculea manu
Telluris juvenes, unde periculum
Fulgens contremuit domus

Saturni veteris: tuque pedeftribus
Dices hiftoriis prælia Cæfaris,
Mæcenas, melius, ductaque per vias
Regum colla minantium.

Me dulces domine Mufa Licymniæ
Cantus, me voluit dicere lucidum
Fulgentes oculos, et bene mutuis
Fidum pectus amoribus:

Quam nec ferre pedem dedecuit choris,
Nec certare joco, nec dare brachia
Ludentem nitidis virginibus, facrò
Dianæ celebris die.

Num tu, quæ tenuit dives Achæmenes,
Aut pinguis Phrygiæ Mygdonias opes,
Permutare velis crine Licymniæ,

Plenas aut Arabum domos?

Nec durum Annibalem.

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O DE XII.

To MÆ CENA S.,

That he was fo given up to Licymnia, that he could not rife to more ferious fubjects.

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not infift that the long wars of fierce Numantia, or the formidable Hannibal, or the Sicilian fea, impurpled withCarthaginian blood, fhould be adapted to the tender lays of the lyre: nor the cruel Lapithe, nor Hylas, exceffive in wine, and the earth-born youths (giants) fubdued by Herculean force, from whom the fplendid habitation of old Saturn dreaded danger. And you yourfelf, Maecenas, with more propriéty fhall recount the battles of Cæfar, and the necks of haughty kings led in triumph thro' the streets, in hiftorical profe. It was the mufe's will that I fhould celebrate the fweet strains of my miftrefs Licymnia, that I fhould celebrate her bright darting. eyes, and her breaft, laudibly faithful to mutual love; who can with a grace introduce her foot into the dance, or, fporting, contend in raillery, or join arms with the tight virgins on the celebrated Diana's festival. Would you, Mecenas, change one of Licymnia'streffes for all the richAchæmenes poffeffed, or the Mygdonian wealth of fertile Phrygia, or all the dwellings of the Arabians, replete with treafures?

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Dum flagrantia detorquet od ofcula
Cervicem; aut facili fævitia negat,
Quæ pofcente magis gaudeat eripi,
Interdum rapere occupet.

CARMEN XIII.

Dire in arborem, cujus cafu pene fuerat obtritus.

LLE + et nefafto te pofuit die,
Quicunque primum, et facrilega manu
Produxit, arbos, in nepotum

Perniciem, opprobriumque pagi.

Illum et parentis crediderim fui
Fregiffe cervicem, et penetralia
Sparfiffe nocturno cruore

Hofpitis. Ille venena Colcha,

Et quidquid ufquam concipitur nefas,
Tractavit, agro qui ftatuit meo
Te trifte lignum, te caducum

In domini caput immerentis.
Quid quifque vitet, nunquam homini fatis
Cautum eft in horas. Navita Bofphorum
Poenus perhorrefcit, neque ultra

Cæca timet aliunde fata;

Miles fagittas, et celerem fugam
Parthi; catenas Parthus, et Italum
Robur; fed improvifa lethi

Vis rapuit, rapietque gentes.
Quam pene furvæ regna Proferpinæ,
Et judicantem vidimus

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Sedefque

Fragrantia.

Illum ct. Hiens.

-Illum, 6. Bentl.

Et reducem fugam.

Bentl.

fures? Efpecially when The turns her neck to meet the ardent kiffes, or with a gentle cruelty denies, what she would more delight to have ravifhed by the petitioner,fometimes the eagerly anticipates to fnatch them herself.

O DE XIII,

To the tree, by the fall of which he had like to have been crush'd.

Tree, he planted you in an inaufpicious hour, whoever did it first, and with an impious. hand raised you to the deftruction of pofterity, and the fcandal of my ground. I cou'd believe that he had broke his own father's neck, and ftained his moft fecret apartments with the midnight blood of his gueft. He has practifed the Colchan poifons, and whatever wickednefs is any where conceived, who planted in my field thee, a forry log; thee, ready to tumble on the head of thy inoffenfive master. What we ought to be aware of, no man is fufficiently cautious at all hours. The Carthaginian failor thoroughly dreads the Bofphorus; nor, beyond that, does he fear his hidden fate from other quarter. The foldier dreads the arrows and the expeditious retreat of the Parthian; the Parthian, the chains and force of the Italians: but the unexpected affault of death has carried off, and will carry off the world in general. How near was I feeing the dominions of auburn Proferpine, and acus fitting in judgement; the felected-manfions VOL. I.

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